Page 26 of A Sky Full of Stars
Charlotte knew all about eclipsing binaries – twin stars that orbit around a central mass, causing a periodic dimming of the constellation’s brightness as one passes in front of the other in the earth’s line of sight. The most famous eclipsing binary, Algol, often nicknamed the Demon Star, lay in the constellation of Perseus and was one of the first things she tried to look for when, as a child, she became interested in astronomy. They’d become a bit of an obsession for her over the years, and she was fairly sure that there was no documented evidence of an eclipsing binary on Volucris before the turn of the twenty-first century. The shape of the constellation, which resembled a bird in flight, wings outstretched towards the more famous constellations of Lyra and Cygnus, was documented, but no eclipsing binaries had been recorded to her knowledge.
Of course, she couldn’t keep every piece of information about every discovery in her head, and the first thing she needed to do was a Google search, and then look for academic papers. It might just be that it had slipped her mind. Eclipsing binaries, while significant, were more often important because they provided data for calculations about other astronomical bodies and events. It was definitely possible that the discovery of the Volucris eclipsing binary was just a footnote in relation to another, bigger event.
Charlotte began to search carefully through the material for what was left of 1994. These included copies of the photographic plates that had been taken, printouts of calculations and, excitingly, some tentative early correspondence between Martin Ashcombe and the University of North West Wessex. An email to a Professor Jacobson at the university had been sent, but sadly, no reply to Martin’s initial enquiries was in evidence from the file. Charlotte hadn’t heard of Jacobson, but she made a note of his name and resolved to ask Professor Edwin, her head of department, if he had, when she got the chance.
The names aside, though, a discovery like this was so unexpected. Charlotte’s job, as far as she’d been told, was merely to collate and archive the remaining materials from the observatory. How could something potentially so significant have been missed in the years since the observatory had ceased to function?
Carefully, she placed the documents down on the desk and took several photos with her phone. She needed a second opinion on what she’d found, and also a record of the information that was less delicate and damageable. After she’d stored them safely in the archive box, she entered the details into the database, but she coloured the text in red, so it would catch her eye during a search. She needed to get someone else to verify what she’d found. Briefly, she considered actually calling Professor Edwin, but she knew he was on holiday and wouldn’t want to be disturbed. Then it came to her. Much as their recent history was tricky, there was no one, save Professor Edwin, who was better placed to advise. Taking a deep breath, she found a small spot where she had a little phone reception and sent a text to Todd.
27
Charlotte didn’t hear back from Todd until Friday, but she had plenty to occupy her in the meantime. There were hundreds of documents in the filing cabinets, all requiring careful sifting and prioritising, and various other pieces of historical material that had escaped the prying eyes of trespassers. These had been shoved in a suspension file marked ‘Miscellaneous’ at the back of the current drawer she was archiving, but lots of the materials in the file were from earlier dates. They ranged from the amusing: a flyer for a ‘Dancing Under the Stars’ party out on the field dated 15 June 1990: a flattened paper wrapper from a tube of Polo mints that someone must have dropped by accident into the file while working on it; and, poignantly, a snapshot of the Lower Brambleton Astronomical Society standing around the telescope and raising a glass. The festive colours of the jumpers they were wearing, and the odd Santa hat, suggested a Christmas celebration, and Charlotte smiled as she remembered what Brian O’Connor had told her about the parties the group had enjoyed. She smiled more broadly when she identified a much younger Brian himself in the photo, and then caught her breath when she saw a visibly pregnant woman raising a glass of orange juice and standing next to a tall, handsome dark-haired man who had one arm protectively wrapped around her. They all had huge smiles on their faces, and with a jolt Charlotte realised that this must be one of the last photographs of the group together before Laura and Martin’s twins were born. She turned over the photo and saw someone had written the date,December 1989.
Looking at the happy faces shining out from the photo, Charlotte saw how much Tristan resembled his mother: he had her colouring, and, having seen him looking much happier at the pub the other night, he shared her bright, all-encompassing smile. She thought about Thea, Tristan’s sister, and realised that she, too, looked very like her mother. The photo would have to go in an archive box, but before she filed and catalogued it, she pulled out her phone and took the best snap of it that she could. Brian might like to see it, and she was sure Lorelai would. She paused, considering whether or not she should show it to Tristan. He hadn’t really spoken much about his family to her yet, and she didn’t want to presume that he’d automatically want a reminder of things from a virtual stranger. Putting the photo carefully in its own box for now, she moved onto the other contents of the current file she was working with.
A ping from her mobile some time later drew her attention away from the paperwork. She’d virtually given up expecting any kind of mobile phone service when she was inside the observatory building, but every so often a rogue data wave would meander its way from wherever the nearest phone mast was and make contact with her phone. Swiping her screen, she saw it was a message from Todd to say that he was out of the office but he’d be back in school briefly the following week. Could he give her a call then?
Rather than wait to call him, she drafted an email, attached the photos of the documents she’d found and then sent it to his work email address. He was now working at Georgia State University, which meant he’d have access to a whole lot more useful information than she did. If he could shed some light on why this potential discovery had lain unrecorded all these years, then she was prepared to swallow her pride. The shock of the discovery about Volucris could be put on hold for a few more days, until Todd had seen the papers: it had been in the filing cabinet for nearly three decades, after all.
28
Saturday dawned bright and sunny, and Charlotte woke with a combination of excitement and nerves. She and Tristan had exchanged a few texts since they’d agreed to their day out in Bristol, but she hadn’t seen him since the previous Saturday evening. She wasn’t surprised: the Observatory Field development was gaining momentum, and while she’d been working up at the site, she’d noticed earth movers and levellers being brought in, ready to flatten the ground, and, eventually, demolish the building. She still felt sad that by the end of the summer it would no longer exist, but at least her work was ensuring the contents of the observatory’s library would be preserved for future generations.
After a quick breakfast of strawberry jam on toast, Charlotte waited for Tristan to arrive at Nightshade Cottage. Lorelai hadn’t commented on their arranged date, but Charlotte had the feeling that somehow she knew about it. There was an additional warmth to the older woman’s eyes when she mentioned her grandson’s name in passing, and she’d offered to dog sit for Charlotte when she had said she was going out for the day.
‘If you’re sure that’s all right?’ Charlotte replied. She’d planned their day with Comet in mind and had intended taking Tristan up to Clifton Down to stretch all of their legs but leaving the dog in Lorelai’s care would free them up a little more.
‘It’s fine, dear,’ Lorelai smiled. ‘He can help me do some gardening.’
Charlotte smiled back. Lorelai seemed to spend her life in the garden, when she wasn’t looking after her great-grandchildren, and so she knew Comet would be fine, too. She hadn’t yet had time to show Lorelai the snapshot of the photo she’d found of LBAS, but she hoped she’d get the chance over the weekend. She felt a little nervous about showing her, but she hoped Lorelai would be pleased to see it.
At that moment, they both heard the familiar sound of Tristan’s car pulling onto the driveway. ‘Have a lovely time.’ Lorelai looked as though she was about to say something else and Charlotte paused, anticipating some hokey grandma warning about taking care of her grandson.
‘Tristan’s a tricky one,’ Lorelai said in the end. ‘I love the boy, of course, but I’d suggest you take care of your heart, should it start to flutter. He’s not had the best track record with commitment, from what I gather.’
‘You were the one who was encouraging us to spend some time together,’ Charlotte reminded her gently. ‘Are you saying you’ve decided it’s not such a good idea, after all?’
‘Oh, no,’ Lorelai replied. ‘But it would be remiss of me not to give you a quiet reminder that he’s nothing if not complicated.’
‘I’ll bear that in mind.’ Charlotte smiled at Lorelai, though in truth the older woman’s warning had unnerved her. She was just out of a break-up… could she really cope with too much emotional baggage?
Resolving just to take today for what it was, a lovely chance to explore the city of Bristol with someone she liked, she tried to shake off those feelings. It was one date: she wasn’t going to marry the guy.
Tristan came around the corner of the cottage and seemed surprised to see Charlotte and Lorelai in conversation. Charlotte didn’t miss the wary look that flashed across his features as he clocked them.
‘Hello, Gran,’ Tristan said as he approached the two women. ‘Warning Charlotte off me? Telling her what an absolute scoundrel I am?’
Lorelai gave a short laugh. ‘Of course not, dear. Just wanted to wish you both a lovely day.’
Charlotte couldn’t help feeling tickled by the way Tristan obviously knew his grandmother so well. ‘At least,’ she said, ‘I suppose going out with me saves you the embarrassment of introducing someone new to your grandma! That bit’s out of the way, at least.’
‘Oh, Tristan very rarely introduces his girlfriends to me,’ Lorelai said breezily. ‘In fact, I can’t remember the last time he did.’ She shook her head. ‘It’s probably just as well. There’s less for me to enquire about that way.’
‘We’ll see you later, Gran,’ Tristan said, leaning down to kiss Lorelai’s cheek. He turned to Charlotte. ‘Are you ready? Any clues on our plans for the day?’
‘Wait and see,’ Charlotte teased. ‘Just head for Bristol, and I’ll guide you from there.’
‘Fair enough.’ Tristan’s eyes softened as he looked down at her, and Charlotte felt something stirring in her abdomen that definitely wasn’t her digestion. He paused just long enough for Lorelai to give a discreet cough.
