Chapter 4
4
M axim parked the car, and they walked into the E. Cernan Building for the retirement of Betty Lents, who had meant so much to NASA over the years. She wasn’t an aeronautical engineer, an astronaut, or anything flashy. Betty started in the secretary pool in 1975 and earned her BS, CPA, and master’s degrees. She was often in a support position and made everyone look good. The men and women for whom she worked knew she was a significant part of their success, thus the big send-off for her retirement. Her life would make a good bio-pic because, on top of everything else, she was a single mother to six children. Each one of them graduated college, at least. The parking lot for the reception was as full as it was on a work day.
Maxim grabbed Tabitha’s hand as they walked in. The first one she saw was Virginia, who Tabitha and Mel thought was having an affair. She was with her husband, and they looked as happy as could be.
“It’s good to see Virginia smiling. Her brother, also her best friend, just accepted an assignment in San Diego. She took it hard because she and her brother had never been separated,” Maxim said.
"Oh, I didn't know that, and that’s too bad.” Tabitha felt horrible for thinking the worst about Virginia. She should know better than to engage in gossip like that, and thankfully, it hadn't spread beyond her and Mel. She didn’t spread it any further and she assumed Mel hadn’t either. Tabitha had better fill Mel in because if the falsehood slipped out, it would spread like wildfire.
Many of the comments Tabitha received from fellow employees were about her upcoming three months off. It was once a requirement to use the sabbatical to enrich your work life. You could write a book, visit a different space station in another country, or volunteer for something that coincides with your position at NASA. Thank goodness they changed the policy because, after twelve years, she really needed a break.
A plaque was going to be placed on the wall in her honor, and a separation bonus of an extravagant amount was given to Betty. That garnered her brightest smile of the night. It was short and sweet. Tabitha didn't even have a chance to drink a glass of wine.
She found Mel and her husband Dale, who were anxious to leave. The four of them got out fast without saying many goodbyes, and some would refer to it as an Irish farewell. Tabitha thought of it as the need to get away from anything work-related. There were so many people that no one noticed.
“We’re heading to Anson’s on the tip of Merritt. It’s on the river. Are you familiar with it?” Tabitha asked Maxim as they pulled out of the parking lot.
“I’ve been there a couple of times. The wine list is lacking, and the calamari was previously frozen. My entre and the ambiance were good, so this time I’ll know what to order,” he replied.
“Beer and fish?” she jokingly asked.
“Good guess, but I’m going with the shrimp and good Russian vodka.”
“Shouldn’t you skip anything made there?”
“Nah, my palette isn’t political,” Maxim said. “I must sound like a food snob, and maybe I am, but living in Paris, you develop a taste for the finer things. I hope, someday, I can take you to Paris. Going with someone who really knows the city is much better than using a guidebook.”
Tabitha tensed at the last thing he said. They had talked and no future plans were supposed to be planned. She hoped it was just a knee-jerk comment. Moving past it as if it wasn’t even said was what Tabitha had done before. She remembered what Deb had said about someone getting hurt, and Tabitha was beginning to think she was right. She had talked about going away and not wanting a long-distance relationship. How could a broken heart not be his fault, too? Maxim seemed to be setting himself up for failure.
Mel, Dale, Tabitha, and Maxim were seated on the outside deck. Tabitha had too much to do the following day, so she drank seltzer, and Dale hardly drank at all, so they were the designated drivers. Mel, Dale, and Tabitha lost a friend to a drunk driver, so neither of them drove if they even sniffed alcohol. Maxim was good, too, and called a car service if he needed to.
Maxim moved his chair closer to Tabitha, which he didn’t usually do, and Tabitha normally liked that he didn’t crowd her. Mel noticed her discomfort, and the girls left for the bathroom.
“What’s up with you, Tabitha?” Mel asked. “It looks like you’d like to be anywhere but here.”
“No, oh God, don’t take it personally. The more I push Maxim away, the closer he gets. I thought I knew how to repel a man,” she said.
Mel laughed. “My advice is to relax and enjoy Maxim while you’re here in his company. Let him shower you with affection. He knows you’re leaving, and if he chooses to say the long goodbye this way, then so be it.”
“I hear you. I think I’m stressed about saying goodbye to Deenie. It’s probably similar to how you felt about Shannon and Billy leaving. Those feelings are pouring over into this Maxim stuff. Being with him has always been light and airy, and I should try to keep it that way until it’s time for me to go,” Tabitha said.
“You’re going on vacation and not leaving for boot camp. At least enjoy tonight because this is one of the last nights you’ll be with me and Dale,” Mel said. “Give me a little joie de vie. Life looks pretty darn good for you right now, so don’t make problems where there are none.”
Tabitha gave Mel a big hug. “You had better call me every day because I rely on your pep talks. Seriously, what comes out of your mouth changes everything.”
“We’re lucky that we have such a long history together. It lets us trust each other. You turned things around for me when Shannon left for Notre Dame. You quoted that stupid poster that I had on my wall in middle school about setting free something you love.”
“Yeah, I was grasping for straws thinking what to say. I’m glad I could help.”
“Let’s get back to the table and let them buy us an expensive meal,” Mel said.
They locked arms and walked to the table together. Tabitha was grateful, as always, for the great friends they had. There was plenty of teasing about Maxim's snobbishness about food, which was on full display. She and Maxim ended up having a fabulous night, and Deenie was fast asleep when they stopped at Tabitha's house for a nightcap.