“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
Psalm 23:6 KJV
Kennedy Space Center
Merritt Island, Florida
November 2052
Mae let the glass door close behind her. She tilted her head back as she squinted into the lengthening sunlight. A light autumn breeze ruffled her long skirt. Between the nearly year-long trip back, subsequent debriefing, and the carefully monitored rebuilding of her strength, freedom had been a long time coming. There would be no more off-world missions, no more life-threatening malfunctions. She just might turn into a regular nine-to-fiver.
She chuckled. Who was she kidding? There was no such thing as nine-to-five in the space program. Besides, she didn’t want to retire until Michael got home from his own Mars landing. A bright red Chevy Belair convertible chugged into the parking lot, sporting white wall tires. The antique was almost a hundred years old, but the 1950’s curves were as shiny as when it rolled out of the factory.
A scruffy white-haired man sat behind the wheel, wearing a fedora and a red bowtie the same shade as the car. Mae waved to him, and he winked her way as he eased the car into park alongside the sidewalk. He smoothed his beard.
Light glinted off the car window as he opened the door. Butterflies dive-bombed in her stomach, and she resisted the urge to bounce on her toes. They’d written back and forth every day since that fateful day in July, but this was the first time she’d seen him since before she’d left for Solace Station. Michael had given his blessing when Abel asked to court his mother, and Mae was excited to begin this new part of life.
He pulled the fedora from his head and crushed the brim between his hands. “Hello, Mae.” He adjusted his bowtie and cleared his throat. He began again, “Hello, Mae. You’re beautiful.” He didn’t add anything else, but stepped close enough that Mae could see the sparkle in his blue eyes.
Heat climbed her cheeks, and she squeezed her hands together. “Abel. It’s wonderful to see you.” She caught the giggle that tried to escape. What foolishness. She was almost sixty, for heaven’s sake, but her smile only widened until her mouth hurt.
Abel asked, “Ready? Lovely weather for their wedding.” He came alongside her and offered his arm.
Mae slipped her hand easily through the crook of his elbow. “Oh, yes, Michael was so nervous. He’s texted and called about a dozen times today. You’d think he’d planned the whole beach wedding himself. Penelope must be a saint with the patience of Job to put up with him.”
Abel shrugged. “The things we do for love.” Abel placed his hand over her fingers and squeezed. His warmth sent a thrill through her. “I’ve thanked God every day for his grace in sparing you. I love you, Mae.”
Mae beamed and gave Abel a sideways glance. She’d never heard sweeter words. “I love you, Abel Onizuka,” she said. “I worried myself sick wondering if this,” she waved her hand between them, “would be the same as the letters.”
He opened the passenger door for her and paused. “Is it?”
“Better, I think.” She settled into the black leather bench seat. “God blessed me with a second chance at life and love. God has gone with me wherever I go, and He blessed me with you.”
From Earth to Mars or the Milky Way to the Andromeda Galaxy,
wherever the light may lead, Yahweh is there.
Thank you for reading Circular Horizon.
Dedication
Dedicated to the Memory
of the Challenger Crew
Thirty years ago
Seven Brave Explorers with
Stars in their Souls
28 January 1986
~
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