It was late in the evening when Susan and Robert Thompson returned to Miller's Bluff. Earlier in the day, Robert watched his wife walk aimlessly around their empty house. He knew she what she was going through-- she was thinking about her girls. Sometimes the memories came back and washed over her like rapid water making it's way to sea. Today had been one of those days.
Robert sat down in his leather chair and recalled the day's events. It started around mid-morning. Susan had been upstairs cleaning out a closet when she found them-two little pink jewelry boxes. She was sitting on the floor sobbing when he found her. In each hand she held the identical lockets that had belong to her precious children. The lockets were gifts from her father to his granddaughters. He had presented them to his only daughter the day the babies were born. Cake and Missy had worn those little chains when they were infants. Robert remembered Susan placing locks of their hair in the little hearts the first time she took them for haircuts. He watched from the doorway as she gently placed them back into the music boxes. Wiping her tears from her eyes, she reached into the tiny box that had once belonged to Missy. Susan fingered a solid gold ring on the tip of her smallest finger. She raised it to her lips and kissed it tenderly.
"Missy." She cried quietly.
By the time Robert moved from the doorway to her side she was sobbing loudly. He wrapped his arms around her and held her against his chest. "Oh my baby," she sobbed into his shoulder.
"I know Honey. I know." Robert said gently as he rocked her back and forth.
Thinking that it might help her to get away from all the memories, Robert suggested they drive into town for dinner. He was surprised when Susan agreed to go. Since the accident she had insisted on staying close to home.
They drove into town to one of the three local establishments. She chose LuLu's Cafe. The Cafe was in an old converted house. The place was in desperate need of a good painting, what was left of the original paint was peeling off in wide white strips. The front door of the cafe was an old screen door and it squawked loudly when it was opened, notifying all the others in attendance that you had arrived. They recognized several people in the cafe and waved to several as they passed. The cafe had a counter on one side that faced a mirror-covered wall. The red bar stools were old and that's the way the local folks like it. People who didn't want to be bothered could sit at the counter and eat in peace. Or they might strike up a conversation with Horace, the cook, if they were so inclined. Horace was a bit of a legend in these parts. He'd been struck by lightening 4 times and had lived to tell about it.
Booths lined the adjacent wall and the Thompsons selected one in the middle of the room. Gladys, an old waitress from way back, approached the table carrying her pad. Gladys was dressed in jeans and a flannel shirt of blue and green. Her red hair was piled high on her head and it carried enough hair spray to hold the style in place during a Texas tornado. She reached for her pencil and retrieved it from up hair. "What'll it be?" She sneered.
Robert smiled as he glanced over at his wife. Some things never changed and LuLu's was one of them. Susan returned his smile and shook her head slightly. "Bring us a couple of bourbons." Robert said. Gladys moved off to retrieve their drinks.
"Susie?"
She looked up from her menu and met his eyes. "I'm not hungry."
"Darlin', you have to eat. Please." He pleaded as he looked as his increasingly thin wife.
Susan reached across the table and took his hand. He rubbed the back of her hand with his fingers. Her hand seemed very thin just like the rest of her. She rarely ate these days.
Gladys returned with the bourbons and waited impatiently for the Thompsons to order their food. They decided on hamburger steaks and Gladys moved away from the table. "Susie, my Love. Why don't we take a trip?" Robert said trying to be upbeat.
"To where?" She asked a slight smile crossing her face.
Robert returned her smile, "Wherever you want to go. You name it and I'll make the arrangements."
Susan face lit up. "Why don't we go to the islands?" she said excitedly. "Let's call Missy..." Her words trailed off as she realized what she'd said. She leaned forward and covered her face with her hands. Robert slid out of his booth and into hers before her first tear fell. "Oh my Susie. It's okay Honey." He held her until the emotion passed.
Gladys appeared with their dinner and two more bourbons. They ate in virtual silence each lost in their own thoughts. After dinner they headed back to Miller's Bluff and now Robert sat watching her as she moved around the den without purpose. He reached over and flipped on the television. There appeared to be some kind of special report on and Robert turned up the volume.
"This is Gina Peeples. We've just received word that the moon, which left earth's orbit 6 months ago, has been found. I repeat the moon has been found."
Susan rushed to stand in front of the television grabbing for Robert as he joined her. They waited and watched. "This is Gina Peeples reporting from Florida. We've just learned that about an hour ago the Space Commission received a transmission on their secure channel advising them that the wayward group of space travelers led by Melissa Thompson, sister of Alpha's Chief Medical Officer Helena Russell, has indeed reached the moon. Most of the 300 occupants of Moonbase Alpha are said to be alive and in good shape."
Susan felt the room begin to spin. The last thing she remembered hearing before she fainted were the words, "alive and in good shape." When she regained consciousness she realized that Robert was on the phone talking to someone. Slowly she sat up and focused on the television. They were replaying parts of the transmissions received by the space commission. A dark haired male reporter was sitting at a desk when the message was over he stated, "The voice you just heard is that of Commander John Koenig. As you heard, he states that the majority of his crew is alive and well. Amazingly, he reports that his crew has been away from earth and traveling through space for 5 years. While here on Earth, the Moon has only been missing for 7 months."
Robert joined Susan on the couch. He turned her toward him and took her hands. "They're alive-both of them." His wife searched his eyes quickly as if looking for some confirmation in them. "Alive?" She said the word softly as if saying it aloud might make it untrue. "That was Neil on the phone. John sent a message with the first ship to return. They're alive, Susan. Our girls are alive!" His tears fell and mixed with her as they held onto one another tightly. After several long minutes, she pulled back "John's alive?" Robert shook his head. "Alan?" She asked. Robert chuckled then kissed her hand, "Yes, Alan too."
Susan clung to Robert as her tears returned. "Oh Missy, you were right, they were alive." She said softly.
Robert waited for the moment to pass then he kissed her cheek and pulled back. "Susie, they're coming home-soon."
"They are?" A smile unlike any he'd seen since September 13th spread across her face.
"As soon as next week."
"Really?"
"Really, my love."
"Oh Robbie!" She practically jumped into his arms. "They're coming home. My babies are coming home!"
As the Thompsons celebrated, the television continued its coverage. Moonbase Alpha had been found and her crew was on its way home.
Maureen J. Long
May, 2000