Page 88 of Space Junk: Houston, We Have a Hottie
They talk a bit more before promising a special announcement after the commercial break.
“Holy. Fucking. Shit,” Rose says, her fingers flying over her phone.
“What?” I ask, my eyes barely leaving the TV.
“That Siemens thing?” she asks while reading her phone screen. She chuckles. “Sounds like semen.”
I put my hands on either side of my head, trying to ease the pounding. “Rose. Focus.”
She looks up at me, thumbs hovering over the screen.
“What about her award?” I prompt.
“Oh, yeah. Jackie won, like, a hundred grand,” Rose says.
“What?”
“Yeah.” Rose’s head dips back to her phone. “And the MacArthur Fellowship? That’s over a half million.”
“What?”
Rose gives me an odd look when she sees the expression on my face. “Why are you so surprised? Didn’t you know?”
I think back to all those times Jackie and I could’ve talked about money, instances that it would’ve been such a natural segue to explain my family’s background, and in turn she could’ve shared this with me. But every time money came up, I’d shied away or just plain shut down the conversation. ‘Cause I was afraid money would change her view of me. Like Beth. Like Mom with Dad.
Nausea that has nothing to do with the remaining alcohol in my system rises in my throat.
“You didn’t know?” Rose asks when I don’t reply. She looks down for a moment. “Wait. You did tell her about us though, right? I mean, you two got pretty serious before you fucked it up. You had to have told her about the oil and the ranch.”
“I—”
“Flynn?”
“Um, no. I didn’t.”
Rose shakes her head. “No wonder she jammed all that cash in my purse on the sly after I bought those clothes for her.” She laughs. “Although knowing Jackie, she would’ve done that anyway.” She gives me a pointed look. “You know, you and Holt made me go to a therapist after Mom and Dad died. But I’m starting to think it was you two who needed the help. You guys are both trying so hard to not repeat their mistakes, you keep making other, more idiotic ones.”
“What do you mean?”
“Um, Holt sleeping with your ex and spending all his time on the ranch. Determined to keep the West Ranch legacy alive. You, worried every woman is a gold digger like Mom and pushing Jackie away when her dream job doesn’t include some safe little cubicle behind security access doors.”
Huh.
Commercials over, Rose turns back to the TV.
The news comes back with a close-up of Vanessa.
“Hello and welcome back. I’m Vanessa Hughes. Today’s segment touched on the recent emergency spacewalk at NASA and the men and women being called the saviors of the International Space Station.” She turns to look at a different camera. “The first United States astronauts were elected in 1959. Men from military service, mostly pilots. Over the years, NASA’s group of highly selective individuals chosen for space flight has evolved. Now both men and women from all different backgrounds have proudly flown into space under the American flag.” The camera moves out, panning to the side, where seven men and women are lined up in blue NASA jumpsuits.
Jackie’s in the middle.
“Today that selection process continues. Here stand the seven men and women chosen for the next class of astronauts.” She turns to the group, applauding softly. “Congratulations.”
“Holy shit,” Rose breathes. “She did it.”
The newscaster goes down the line, introducing the new astronauts. A man from the Air Force Academy with a masters degree from MIT. A woman from the Naval Academy who’s a Gates Cambridge Scholar. A Colorado native who earned his doctorate in geology from UCLA.
When all the credentials have been established and the formal announcements made, Vanessa asks about family and personal hobbies. Down the line each astronaut talks about their husband, wife, fiancé, kids. When she gets to Jackie, Jackie simply says ‘single’ and moves on to her love of the stars.
