Page 86 of Space Cowgirl: Houston, All Systems Go
“I just wish she was here for the unveiling.” Melissa spins in a circle, appreciating the final results.
“Yeah. Me too.” The house, filled with Jules’ touch, lacks only one thing: Jules herself. And I guess I better get used to that.
Twenty-Two
Gravity Assist
Jules
NASA needsto update their offices. True, a lot of buildings have undergone some upgrades lately, but not the one I’m in. My eyes feel small and dry from lack of sleep, and the overhead fluorescent lights are not helping.
“How was the vacation, Starr?” chief of the astronaut office, Luke Bisbee, asks, in his normal jolly tone. The guy is six foot three, the tallest you can be as an astronaut, with a barrel chest, and he always has a smile on his face. He once made the mistake of wearing a green polo shirt and became forever cemented as NASA’s jolly green giant.
I shrug in the conference room chair, feeling too many emotions about the past few weeks and much too tired to comment on them. “Glad to be back.”
The old office chair Luke currently occupies squeaks as he leans back. “No one can accuse you of not loving your job.”
“No, but theyareaccusing you of other things.” Emily, my public relations point of contact, looks prim as ever in her Peter Pan collared blouse with an honest-to-God brooch pinned to her chest. It’s Saturn, made up of multiple-colored crystals and a gold ring. It’s small and cutesy and if anyone ever found out, I’d kill them, but I kind of like it.
Luke scowls at the small woman, an unusual reaction for the Jolly G. “Really, Em? You’re going to bringthatup?”
She doesn’t blink at the larger man’s expression. “Don’t ‘really, Em’ me, Luke. You know we have to.”
Amused at the two, despite the aggravating topic, I raise my hands to make peace. “It’s okay, guys, I’m well aware of what’s being said. First the cancelled flight, then the runaway horse. Plus, whoever this ‘inside source’ is that that Susan woman claims to have at NASA.”
Em nods, folding her hands on the table. “Yes, well, luckily she hasn’t been taken too seriously. The source won’t come forward and you’re too well loved by the public for them to turn on you over unsubstantiated bullshit.”
I raise my eyebrows. Never knew the prim lady had it in her to swear at work.
“What?” Em sits up straighter in her chair when Luke and the other two people in the room, Skylar and Joe, astronaut trainers, laugh. “I’m a very busy person and this Susan woman is trying to make my job harder. I don’t like it and I don’t likeher.”
I force a smile. “Yeah, well, me either.”
Clearing his throat, Luke takes over. “Hopefully, the press will have something else to run with in the near future.” He nods to Skylar and Joe. “We’re finalizing the next mission and the commander position is being assigned. And as I’m sure you’re aware, you’re a top candidate.”
I sit up straighter. “Thank you, sir.”
“Eh.” He rolls his eyes. “Cut the ‘sir’ crap. Makes me feel old.”
“Youareold,” Em mutters.
Everyone but Luke snickers.
NASA is all about ‘work hard, play hard,’ and there is a decent amount of chops busting going on at any given time, but the looks Luke and Emily are throwing each other seem to imply that there might be a little something else going on.
“Anyway,” Joe cuts in before Luke retaliates, “as Luke was saying, the next mission, which is currently twelve months out, needs a commander.”
For the next twenty minutes they outline the various experiments and EVAs already planned, and hint at a few others that could happen.
“The announcement will shut down the haters as well,” Emily says in a pleased voice.
I nearly choke trying to speak too fast. “Now wait a minute.” I glance around the room. “I don’t want this as a public relations stunt. I want this because Iearnedit.” Otherwise what was the point of all these years of work for? Of blocking phone numbers? Of pushing relationships and personal matters aside?
Holt’s face flashes in my mind, and I catch myself rubbing that spot on my chest again.
“Jules.” Luke’s voice is calm and reassuring. “This isn’t a PR stunt.” He shoots Em an irritated glance. She rolls her eyes at him. “You have always been top of your class, first to arrive, last to leave. You can juggle multiple responsibilities at once, and most importantly, you know when to delegate.”
“That’s the hardest part, ironically,” Joe adds. “Astronauts are all top of their class, but not everyone can let things go and trust their team.”
