Page 3 of Space Oddities

“Setting up fundraising for the next campaign.”

“I see.” The light changes, and I accelerate while mentally preparing myself for whatever boring event he needs me to attend.

“We’ll talk about the plan we have for your next steps at the fundraiser there.”

I take a right on NASA Road 1. “I’ll—wait, what next steps?”

He lets loose a long-suffering sigh. “I think it’s fairly obvious you’re never going to be an astronaut.” He snorts. “Don’t have the stones for it.” His mumbled comment comes through clear as day over the Bluetooth. “So now is the perfect time for you to transition into politics.”

My knuckles whiten on the steering wheel, making the car swerve.Fuck.

He continues, “You made a name for yourself with that silly woman and the International Space Station thing a while ago, and now NASA is rising in popularity. Americans love space again.”

I can’t help but smile at how off-base he is. “Are you calling Dr. Jackie Darling Lee, a woman who holds various degrees, who practically single-handedly saved the International Space Station and who was recently promoted to astronaut asilly woman?”

“I wouldn’t if you married her.” As if all a woman is good for is what she can bring to a marriage. My mother’s pale, stoic faces flashes in my mind. “Can’t beatthatpress.”

Everything with him is about image. “Jesus, Dad. She’s engaged.”

“Just one more time you were too slow on the uptake.”

The dig hits home. I don’t know why. It isn’t like I haven’t heard these things a million times by now. I would’ve thought I’d be numb to it. Maybe because there was a fleeting moment when I did think I should ask Jackie out. But that was before Trish.

“But marriageiswhat I’m calling to talk about.”

I nearly miss my turn onto Space Center Blvd. “What?”

“Marriage. Now that you’re going into politics, you need someone at your side who knows the game, someone who can help you succeed.”

I pull over into the Gilruth Center’s parking lot. NASA’s gym. It’s either that or crash the car. “I never said I was going into politics.”

“ButIdid.”

I hate that tone. It’s the tone that comes before he takes something important away from me. And he’ll keep taking until I give in to whatever he wants. I have a lifetime of experience with this. Toys, pets, friends, opportunities, my mother. Nothing is sacred to this man.

“I had the pleasure of lunching with Donald Hightower the other day. Made sure he knew I had a vested interest in the direction NASA is taking.”

Donald Hightower, deputy director of NASA, appointed by the President of the United States.

Rage builds inside me. Slow and steady, until I’m fairly sure I could rip the steering wheel off in one go. Years of practice allows me to sound unaffected. “Is that right?”

“That’s right. So if you want to leave NASA looking like a hero instead of having yet another failure on your resume, you’ll meet who I want you to meet and start preparing your election acceptance speeches.”

The dash goes black.

How did a night that started so spectacularly end so horribly?

Two

Adhesion Thrust

Trish

“Son of a biscuit!”I jump up and down, holding my bare foot that I just whacked into the cabinet. I rub it until the pain turns into a dull throb and I can place it gingerly back on the floor.

Each limping step toward the couch is accompanied by a muttered “crap.” Thankfully, it only takes a few hobbles to get there, since I’m in my trailer.

I need to calm down. If I freak out, I’ll start making mistakes.

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