“Good luck. It’s an incredible opportunity.”
“Thanks,” I’d said.
He’d swallowed and grimaced. “You’re getting back with the athlete, aren’t you?”
I’d shrugged. “We’re friendly again. I’ve missed him in my life.” I’d leaned in closer. “And just so you know, Paxton studied astrophysics. He recently graduated from Rice University—top of his class. And he was the one to get me interested into the field back in high school.”
I didn’t mention that he’d piqued my interest when we were nine, and he’d built a rocket out of leftover corrugated metal that we’d played in for the next three years. Paxton told the story differently—saying I’d been the reason forhisinterest in space. I guess who’d captivated whom didn’t matter as much as that we’d both focused on a similar degree.
Jeremy’s eyes had widened. “Guess I was wrong on all counts,” he’d mumbled.
When he’d turned on his heel and walked away, I hadn’t bothered to watch him go. I’d just snapped the plastic lid onto my to-go coffee and smiled as I’d headed out into the watery sunshine, happy to be boxing up my meager belongings and excited to see Paxton.
* * *
By the secondday of the drive, I was stiff from all the sitting, so I took some time to poke through Old Town Albuquerque during an early lunch, enjoying the warm air and the backdrop of Sandia Mountain as I nibbled on green-chile-slathered enchiladas.
“Too bad New Mexico doesn’t have a professional hockey team,” I murmured.
The older gentleman seated at the counter next to me chuckled. “Hija, we don’t have any professional teams. Our whole state population is smaller than most major cities.” He smiled kindly and tipped his head toward the mountain I’d been admiring. “But we got something nicer, no?”
I smiled back, relaxed and lighter now that I was nearly a thousand miles from Jeremy and Space Elevated. “You do. Got any work in the aerospace industry?”
“You haven’t heard of the Space Port? You don’t know about the NASA contract with UNM?” He clucked his tongue. “Definitely not a local.” Again, he smiled. “Let’s just keep that industry between you and me, ’kay?”
He chuckled as he took a bite of his beans, and I nodded. But I was intrigued. It was pretty here. I’d have to find out more about the NASA connections.
I spent that night in a small Texas town that had three motels to choose from, along with two gas stations and a truck stop. My bed was clean, but the food wasn’t as good as the Albuquerque restaurant, so I hustled back on the road in the morning.
Six hours later, I made it to Houston. Or, as Paxton called it,driving hell. After living in a small New England hamlet and then in the tightly packed housing of the Bay Area, I remained unprepared for driving through the Houston sprawl. The edges of the city began with the typical gas stations and truck stops, but those went on and on, interspersed with farmland and strip malls, for miles—until I hit the suburbs with their amalgam of houses and shops and restaurants.
I gasped, feeling growing trepidation as a car slid across the multiple lanes of traffic, missing my bumper by mere inches.
“Oh my…”
Nope, I wasn’t used to this. Culture shock set in harder when I made out the dual downtowns: the first was larger and filled with high-rises that had to be one hundred stories. The second set of skyscrapers was slightly south and west. That, I knew, was the Galleria and the general area of Paxton’s home—the place I would be staying until I figured out what to do about lodging. Despite Paxton’s relentless welcome, I told myself I could still find my own place, if I needed to for any reason.
But it was time to move forward. Was all this serendipity? Had fate decided Paxton and I were meant to be together, or was I reading too much into this newest round of upheaval? Right now, there was no way to know. The only certitude I had was that Houston drivers were aggressive, and this city was actually an amalgam of former townships that had been swallowed in its constant growth.
It took another harrowing forty-five minutes, but I finally pulled into Paxton’s driveway. I cut the engine and closed my eyes, needing a moment to calm down. But then excited chatter heading toward me had me lifting my head.
Ida Jane led the pack, coming toward me confidently with a big wave and bigger smile. Behind her were the four other women I recognized, three of whom had babies strapped to them in various fabric contraptions. The fourth was older by about a decade, with flame-colored hair and the sleekest pair of green glasses I’d ever seen. Paloma, the coach’s wife. She exuded a friendly capability I wanted to achieve.
New life goal added to my list right there.
“You’re here!” Ida Jane said as she opened my door. “I brought the welcoming crew.”
Millie, Keelie, and Naomi, all of whom kept contact with some part of their babies, be it tiny head or bottom, smiled at me and waved.
“They’re sleeping,” Keelie said in a hushed voice. “So we don’t want to jiggle them too much with hugs. But later, we’ll squeeze you hard to show you how happy we are that you’re here!”
I grinned back, excited to spend more time with this great group. “I’ll look forward to the dog pile.”
Naomi snorted. “Girl, don’t give me ideas.”
Paloma offered a bright smile. “Let’s get you out of the car and give those legs a good stretch. Houston traffic is a nightmare no matter the time of day, but any time after about two o’clock and you’re in for it.”
I nodded. My leg throbbed from being still too long, and I wobbled as I stood. Nothing new there, but I hated the pins-and-needles sensation that followed. The women waited patiently, not commenting on my issue, for which I was very thankful.
