Star Dust (26 page)

Then Lisa turned to Anne-Marie. “Beau West pushed me during recess.”

“He what?”

“He pushed me. And I told Mrs. Green and Beau got detention.”

“But did he apologize?” Kit asked, concern in his eyes.

“Yes, but I don’t think he seemed very sorry.”

Not to be outdone, Freddie said, “Robbie Reynolds saw a coral snake down by the lake.”

“Tell me how he knew it was a coral snake,” Kit asked.

“The red and yellow stripes were next to each other.”

“Red touches yellow kills a fellow,” Kit and Freddie said together.

And at that, Anne-Marie had to laugh. Because the most famous man in America was sitting at their table, and the kids wanted to talk about playground fights and snakes. And he wanted them to.

She laughed until her shoulders were quivering, until she had to wipe her eyes with her napkin and take a few deep breaths to settle down. She really owed her parents another thank you for the house. Who could have predicted it would come with one ideal next-door neighbor?

“You okay?” Kit asked, smiling.

“Perfect.”

And she was.

Anne-Marie handed the last plate to Kit, which he carefully dried before setting it into the cupboard.

It had been an uneventful meal. The kids had asked about the flight, but once he’d described the lift off and weightlessness and told them that he hadn’t seen any aliens or even Mars, they’d wanted to talk about school and their friends. Which was fine with him. After typing up his report and talking to the press, he was a little tired of discussing the flight.

The kids were asleep, the dishes were done, Bucky was fed… one last thing for him to do tonight. The most important thing.

Anne-Marie set her hip against the counter and gave him a look. One that asked,
What’s next?

He knew what he wanted next. He only hoped she wanted it too.

He caught her hand. “Come look at the stars with me.”

They slipped through the back door, hand in hand, shutting the slider as quietly as possible to keep from waking the kids.

It felt very… married.

Before he’d met her, such a feeling would have sent him into a panic. But now it felt right. Perfect. He wanted this feeling every night, sharing it with this woman.

Once they were outside, she threw herself into his arms and he caught her gladly. He kissed her hard under the stars, pouring all of his longing and relief into it.
Finally, I’m home
.

The kiss had heat, but wasn’t scorching.
It was a prelude to the rest of their lives.

After a time, he pulled away. As enjoyable as this was, he had some things to say. “I’m sorry I called you a distraction. You’re not. Well, you are. But the best kind.”

She set a hand on his chest. “The wives—they explained things to me. How it was about more than my feelings. Or even yours.”

He couldn’t lie about that. “It
was
about more than us. I never would have hurt you for anything less. But now that it’s over…” God, he hoped he was doing this right. He couldn’t read the expression on her face, had to forge ahead blindly. “It could be about just us from now on. And the kids. If you wanted.”

That was it. He only hoped it would be enough for her.

Her posture seemed considering but not yielding—for all that she stayed in his arms. “You’ll still be an astronaut,” she pointed out. Which wasn’t an answer.

He’d always be an astronaut—he’d grabbed a record that no one else could touch now. But there would be others going to space behind him. “The press won’t care so much about me once the preparations for the next mission start.” At least, he hoped they wouldn’t.

“It’s not the press I’m worried about. It’s us.”

His heart sank. His life, the scrutiny he was under—it was too much.

“When you were up there,” she went on, “I was never so scared in my life. No one has ever made me feel so much, not even Doug. The kids, of course, but that’s different. Kit, I was terrified.”

“I’m not going up again. Once was enough.” And it was. A man couldn’t live up in the stars.

Kit wanted to make his life with her.

She eased against him, sighing. “What was it like?” Her words floated in wonder.

“The stars were… they were pretty.” Once again, words failed him. “The best part was the weightlessness, really. It’s like you’re swimming through air, all of you buoyant and free. I wouldn’t mind that again.” He rubbed his mouth against her hair, breathed deeply of her scent. “Actually, the best part was seeing Earth. It was perfect. Like heaven floating there in space. And knowing that you and the kids were down there, safe and sound, waiting for me to come back…” He swallowed hard. “That was the best part,” he admitted huskily.

“You coming back safely was the best part,” she said.

His chest tightened. Her confession gave him hope enough to ask his ultimate question. “I had some time to think, waiting for the launch, and I was wondering if maybe you’d let me court you.”
 

He held himself still, waiting, hoping. He’d survived a trip to space; he could survive a rejection from her. Couldn’t he?

She looked up at him, but said nothing, her expression rather like a judge’s, weighing what he’d said in her mind. Perhaps a woman who’d been burned before in marriage couldn’t be tempted into it again.

“Or not,” he went on. “We could go on being neighbors. Neighbors having a secret affair.” Not really what he wanted, but he’d take what he could get from her. “But I should warn you: your kids are really smart. They’ll figure out something’s up sooner or later.”

Maybe a low blow to use the kids, but he was getting desperate.

She gave a small laugh. “Are you trying to chase away my other suitors, Commander Campbell?”

“You bet I am. Because I love you.”

A small smile played over her mouth. It wasn’t cold or sarcastic or removed.

“That’s convenient. Because it so happens that I love you too.”

“Everything is going my way, then.” He tightened his arms around her, attempting to pull her in to seal it with a kiss.

Anne-Marie, however, had other ideas. She put her hand over his mouth. “You know that Doug… that is, he wasn’t faithful to me. At all. I won’t put up with that again.”

“You won’t have to. Since I met you, I haven’t been able to think of another woman.”

“All Houston’s blondes will be so sad.”

“I prefer redheads.” She made a face. “I prefer you.” She rolled her eyes, but then she preened like a satisfied cat. “So is it true, Mrs. Smith? Are you mine?”

Her smile was wide, brighter than even the sun at noon, and his heart leapt. “Well, I’m certainly not anyone else’s.”

He kissed her then with the stars as witness. They could gape all they liked. The only things he was interested in now were earthbound.

Cape Canaveral, Florida

Three Months Later

“Oh my goodness, we’re going to see an actual launch! Up close!” Lisa practically sang out that last bit as she climbed out of the car, pushing past her brother in her haste to get closer to the launch site.

“Hang on,” Kit called. “And we’re not getting that close. Just closer than most people.” He shook his head as Lisa ignored him.

Both the kids had been over the moon when he’d told them he was taking them to see the next launch. Almost as excited as they’d been when Anne-Marie had announced that she was going to marry him. Today the kids’ excitement level had shot outside the solar system.

He didn’t blame them. He’d learned a few things about excitement and shock over the past few months. He kept waiting for Anne-Marie to change her mind or realize he was getting the better end of the deal. She hadn’t, though. She just kept making him pot roast and rolling her eyes at him. But she also let him kiss her, so the heady feeling kept going. It was better than lift off.

Freddie hopped alongside his sister, the both of them vibrating out of their skin. Anne-Marie came along behind, looking less impressed than her children.

Kit held back by the car, just watching them as they walked toward the rocket. His family. Or soon to be, at any rate.

Anne-Marie stopped, turned back to him. “Aren’t you coming? We can’t get in without you.”

This might be his favorite view of her. The gingham dress showed off her trim waist and the flare of her hips. And the saucy look she was giving him? He hoped he never got over the jolt she gave him. ASD could keep the rockets; he’d found what he needed in her.

“Yep.”

They went past security and found their way to where the more minor dignitaries were: other astronauts, a couple of the more senior engineers.

Freddie and Lisa said hello to the astronauts with slightly less awe than they had the first time at Margie’s dinner party. They were already getting used to this space life.
 

Then the kids moved on to the engineers and questioned them about every aspect of the launch, including some things Kit himself didn’t know or care about. They really were such smart kids. They were going to go far.

He himself hung back, holding onto Anne-Marie’s left hand, the one wearing the simple engagement ring they’d picked out together. She was craning her neck to peer up to the top of the rocket, her mouth slightly open. She looked adorable.

“You rode at the top of one of those?” she asked under her breath.

“I did.” Truth be told, he was feeling a little overwhelmed looking at the rocket from here. He had ridden a rocket to space? And had come back again?

He’d done it, and it still felt a little unreal.

“It’s so big,” she said, softly, awestruck.

Mine was bigger.
Or maybe,
I never get tired of hearing you say that.
He looked around for Carruthers, who’d probably offer, “That’s what all the girls tell me
,”
but Kit held back. This was a historic occasion, after all.

The five-minute countdown started over the loudspeaker and everyone settled into place. The kids came back. Lisa stood in front of her mother so Anne-Marie could loosely hug her from behind. Freddie took a place next to Kit. Kit put a hand on his shoulder, thinking that Freddie would be embarrassed by a hug. Or at least Kit would’ve been at his age.

They all watched the waiting rocket, quiet. Anticipating.

Finally, finally: “Ten, nine, eight…”

Kit held his breath too as “Ignition!” rang out from the speakers.
 

The ground beneath their feet began to vibrate, clouds billowing from the bottom of the rocket. Kit tightened his hold on Freddie’s shoulder.

The rocket lifted from the ground sluggishly. That had surprised Kit at first, how languid the launch really was.
 

Anne-Marie’s and the kids’ mouths dropped open, their expressions now ones of open wonder. Kit just watched them all, enjoying their reactions. He’d seen a rocket launch before, but their reactions were infinitely more enjoyable.

The rocket finally slipped free of its mooring, the tower falling away, and made its escape from the atmosphere.

They all watched in silence until the rocket disappeared into the blue.

As soon as it did the kids started bouncing again. “Oh my…” Freddie snuck a glance at his mom. “Gosh,” he finished lamely.

Kit laughed, because he understood the impulse.
Gosh
didn’t quite cover a rocket launch, but Anne-Marie had surprisingly strong feelings about profanity. It was good he was coming into Freddie’s life.

“When will he be back?” Lisa asked.

“Two days,” Kit said.

“I hope he comes back safely,” Anne-Marie said, giving Kit a look that was half worried, half appreciative.

“They’ll bring him back just fine,” Kit said, returning her look. “Like they did with me.”

He’d seen the stars, he’d felt weightless, he’d made history. But that was over. He’d given the public their share. He was keeping the rest for himself—and for her.

He clapped his hands to get the kids’ attention. “Okay. What should we do today? Go to the beach?”

“The beach, the beach!” the kids yelled.

“Commander Campbell,” a reporter called at him, “can we get a statement about…”