Page 31 of Across the Universe

Bill is stunned. He had no hopes of being chosen for this mission. In his mind, his assignment to Dr. Sheinbaum's roster of clients has all but benched him for the time being, so hearing his name come out of North's mouth is as shocking for him as it is for everyone else. He pauses, letting his coworkers trickle out of the conference room before he stands, alone in the long, narrow room with the empty chairs and the window that looks out at the launch pad in the distance.

"Booker." Bill turns and sees Arvin North in the doorway. "Speak with you a moment?"

"Of course, sir."

North re-enters the conference room and stands with a chair in front of him, both hands kneading the backrest as he watches Bill warily. Arvin North glances back at the doorway to assure that they're alone.

"This decision wasn't taken into consideration lightly," North says, not quite meeting Bill's eye. "I had my misgivings, given your involvement in the Gemini investigation, and also knowing that your work with the good doctor isn't yet complete." Finally, he lifts his gaze to meet Bill's. "Incidentally, how is that going?"

Bill feels his neck flush and he turns back to the window. "Fine," he says. "I've made every meeting, and done everything she's asked of me. But I suppose you probably know that."

"Good, good," North says absently. "I know your attendance is spotless, but I know nothing of what you talk about in there. As I'm sure you're aware, that's privileged information."

Bill turns back to face his boss. "How much will she tell you when I'm done?"

North shrugs. "She'll tell us only what we need to know, I suppose: how fit you are for the program, and whether you've made strides with your… personal stuff."

The use of this phrase rankles Bill and he runs a hand over his short hair. "But that's just it: if these things are mypersonal stuff, then why am I being forced to go over them in order to remain in good standing at work?"

North frowns at him, giving Bill a disbelieving look. "Because, Booker. Your personal life is infiltrating your work life, and that's not going to cut it here. I've seen your temper, I'm aware of some of your heavier baggage, and I'm hearing disconcerting things about your extracurriculars here at the Cape." He looks at Bill pointedly. "And all of those things are potentially detrimental to your focus and to your success here at NASA. Am I making myself clear?"

Bill coughs to fill the silence between them. He knows instinctively that Arvin North is referring to Jeanie, and that he disapproves strongly. There is a feeling between them of a disappointed headmaster confronting a wayward pupil, and Bill bows his head.

"Yes, sir," Bill says, both chagrined and mildly annoyed that word of his indiscretion has reached Arvin North. "Very clear."

But when Bill lifts his head again, the room is empty.

Arvin North has made his point, and now he's gone.

CHAPTER11

Jo

Her new storyis occupying most of Jo's imagination these days, and as February merges into March, which fades slowly into April, she quickly works her way towards the first fifty pages of a novel that she feels proud to send to Martin Snell at Snell & Banks Literary. She stays up late at night, she wakes up as early as she can, and while the children are at school, she quickly does the grocery shopping, types at the kitchen table as the laundry finishes its spin cycle, and then tries to squeeze in as many pages as possible while the chicken or the pot roast or the meat loaf are cooking in the warm, fragrant kitchen.

On a Saturday in mid-April, Jo is at the public park in Stardust Beach, biting into an apple as she sits at a picnic table between Carrie and Jude. Across the table, Frankie and Barbie are comparing the colors of their nail polish by spreading their fingers wide and placing their hands flat against the table.

"I think she's coming in May," Jude says, sounding awed.

"Who?" Frankie glances up from her frosty pink nails.

Anticipation dances in Jude's eyes. "My mother. We've been in touch, and I invited her to come visit. I haven't seen her since 1941."

Barbie forgets about her red nail polish instantly. "Oh, Jude!" she says, her voice breathy with excitement. "This is huge!"

Jude nods. "It is. I couldn't believe when the private investigator tracked her down… it was overwhelming."

"Well, sure," Frankie says, pulling her pack of cigarettes from her purse. "You haven't seen her in twenty-five years, and you're a fully grown woman now with a husband and two kids."

Frankie's words land on Jude, and her eyes grow increasingly wider. "That's true. What if we have nothing in common? What if there's nothing to talk about?"

Jo puts an arm around Jude's shoulders as they sit beneath the giant southern magnolia tree and watch their children running around, playing tag, taking turns on the swings, and laughing in the bright April sunshine.

“You will absolutely have things in common,” Jo assures her, letting her arm rest on Jude’s shoulders as she gives her friend a little shake. “Come on, Jude—this is your mother!”

Jude shakes her head and puts her long, slim fingers to her face delicately. “I think I’m just scared that she won’t be proud of how I’ve turned out.”

The women are a chorus of support.

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