Peter said, “We have figured out how to fly to the moon, but the problem is getting back. You will die if you go with me.”
“But we still fly to moon?” asked Viktor, surprisingly still excited.
“If we are successful, yes, you and I will fly to the moon,” answered Peter.
Viktor cocked another grin. “And I keep both nuts?”
Peter laughed. “Absolutely. You’re going to need some balls for this mission.”
All three laughed.
AT LAST MOST EVERYONE had left the wake. Peter had been focused all day on his dad’s funeral and the mission. With the wake winding down, and both Viktor and Dmitri up to speed and on board to help, Peter could now spend time getting to know Anya. Viktor and Dmitri had gone back to his dad’s office to work out final details for Viktor to fly back to Russia so he could settle up his estate before meeting Peter in Los Angeles. He planned on using his high level government contacts to get his visa revised so he could return to America. Dmitri told Peter he last saw Anya in the backyard.
The backyard was now empty of people. Sitting alone on a bench with her back slightly to him was Anya, staring over his mom’s garden. Peter stood for a moment to take in the sight. Anya’s dress was cut low in the back, her black hair flowing just past her shoulders. A slight cool breeze blew her hair to one side of her back. His mom’s garden was in full spring bloom, and the bright red roses were a striking contrast to Anya’s black dress. She looked so beautiful and peaceful. Peter slowly walked up from behind, taking in one last look of this lovely sight before placing his hand lightly on her back. “Is this seat taken?”
Startled at first, Anya looked up. She smiled and motioned toward the bench. “Please.”
Peter sat on the wooden bench. His dad had made it years ago for his mom. “This garden is one of my mom’s true loves,” Peter said while looking over the flowers. “She and Dad often sat here talking and holding hands.”
Anya looked at him. “They were lucky to find each other. They sound like they were a wonderful couple.” Turning back to the roses she said in a soft voice, “Your mom did a great job with this garden. It’s so peaceful and beautiful out here.” She put her hand on top of his and gave it a slight squeeze. “I am so sorry about your dad.”
Peter liked her aggressiveness. He felt like a schoolboy with a crush, which intrigued him. He couldn’t remember the last time he had felt that way. Looking into those beautiful blue eyes he responded with a simple, “Thank you.”
Anya abruptly lifted her hand and turned back to the garden, changing to a more combative voice. “So any idea why my dad is going back to Russia tomorrow? After meeting with you, he was all excited and said he needed to get back home right away. I was going to spend my three week vacation touring America with him.”
Peter grimaced; he was sorry to hear he had ruined her vacation plans. He didn’t want to lie, but he didn’t feel this was the right time to discuss it, especially given how the mission was going to end. Her dad should be the one to give her the details. “Sorry about that, but it has to do with my dad. Viktor is going to help out on a project for Dad that is time sensitive, which requires him to come back to the United States in a few days after he settles some matters in Russia.”
“So you’re not going to tell me why?”
“Not now.” Peter shook his head. Changing the subject was best. “So you’re taking some time off?”
“Some. I come out to America often because of work, so this trip was a mixture of work and play. So, even though dad is going back, I plan to stay.”
The two sat in silence for a moment. Anya turned and looked directly at Peter with a smile. “So a handsome man like you never found his soul mate?”
She had obviously listened to his eulogy. This was an interesting question to ask. Surely she knew he would ask the same question back. Knowing she was engaged, he felt she was setting up an opportunity to tell him if Dean was the right man or not. He liked her plan of attack and hoped for the best when he answered, “No, I never have found my soul mate. Have you?”
She took a moment to look back over the garden, as if deciding what she was going to say. If she answered “Yes” and it was Dean, then he was dead in the water. The wait seemed forever. Finally, she turned back and looked Peter squarely in the eyes and said those words he so wanted to hear. “Nope. I’m still looking.” She gave him a smile with a wink.
The two of them seemed frozen for a moment looking at each other. Peter sensed his opportunity so he leaned in for a kiss. Anya leaned in too, and they kissed. A simple yet passionate kiss.
They spent most of the night on the bench alone, catching up on each other’s lives. Peter was happy to learn Anya’s relationship with Dean had been over for awhile. Though they were still engaged, she said it was more for convenience reasons. Dean was already seeing someone else. She said they just hadn’t officially ended it.
Both Dmitri and her dad had left earlier in the evening after kissing her goodnight and working out that Peter would bring her back to the hotel. Peter’s mom had come out occasionally to check on them, offering drinks or food. Each time, she had a big grin on her face. He was glad to see her smile after such a tough day.
Long after the house had cleared and his mom had gone to bed, Peter and Anya sat on the bench holding hands. They talked until the early morning hours. Peter eventually drove her back to the hotel. Something special about Anya intrigued Peter. He had met and been with many women in his life and always sensed he would know when he met that right one. Anya felt like that woman, possibly even his soul mate. He watched the sun come up as he headed back to his mom’s, the inside of his car beginning to warm from the sun’s rays. Feeling the sun’s warmth, he couldn’t help think of how ironic it was to possibly find the right woman toward the end of his life.
14
SPACEQUEST
Peter’s first impression of SpaceQuest’s facility in southern California was one of awe. The daunting five-story mirrored glass structure seemed to go on forever. Everything he saw was new and first class. He had just arrived and was getting a personal tour from the CEO, Allen Ferguson. He was happy to have gotten in a few hours of sleep on the flight over, dreaming of Anya the whole way. It was time to clear his head and focus on the task at hand. He intently listened to the heavyset man who came across as a confident go-getter. Their first stop was the back half of the building which housed large sections of the Newton 9 rocket, along with simulators, a few Galileo capsules, and even the mockup Soyuz that NASA sent.
After inspecting most of the equipment, they approached what looked like the simulator for the Galileo capsule. Allen patted the side of the equipment. “This is where you will probably spend most of your time, in this simulator, and in the weightless training pool.”
Peter looked over the machine, which had an actual modified Galileo capsule sitting on a hydraulic platform with pistons surrounding the bottom portion to simulate movement. The capsule was white with SpaceQuest’s logo painted in navy blue along with the American flag.
Peter felt this was as good a time as any to tell Alan about Viktor. “Allen, I know NASA told you this would be a one man mission, but I have recruited another astronaut to help out.”
Looking startled, Allen asked, “Really, who?”
“Viktor Alexandrov,” said Peter.
“Viktor Alexandrov, the Soviet cosmonaut? Isn’t he dead? How old is that guy?”