4. Stellar parallax
FOUR
STELLAR PARALLAX
Vance
“Bodie, you with me?”
“Hmm?” Blinking, I break away from the view of Munich, Germany outside the large window and glance around the room. The whole of the European Space Agency EVA team is looking at me. Shit.
ESA lead Sebastian DuMont frowns. “I was wondering about the connectors.”
Connectors? I have no idea what he’s talking about. I was too busy thinking of coral chiffon and finger guns.
Clearing my throat, I try to think of how to stall for time.
Luckily, Ian shifts forward in his seat, drawing the group’s attention to him. “Personally, I think there will be plenty of slack in the cabling to route and wire-tie cleanly before mating the connectors.”
“Yes, that’s right.” I throw Ian a grateful smile.
He raises one questioning brow but doesn’t say anything, which is one of the many things I like about working with Ian.
He and I have worked together here and there over the years, but now that he’s been promoted to EVA director, we’ll be working a lot of the same projects.
Even so, as the group continues its discussion on the order of operations, I curse myself for being distracted. I’m on point for this spacewalk mission to build out Bartolomeo, the International Space Station’s first outside payload hosting platform.
As a mechanical engineer and scientist, I’m excited that the spacewalk on the outer payload hosting platform is right in my wheelhouse. I’ve been waiting for such a moment to highlight my special skill sets.
It never once bothered me being second to Julie Starr or whoever the point man was on the spacewalks.
I mean, I was going out into space , what did I care whether I was calling the shots or following them?
But ever since they named me lead on Bartolomeo, I’ve been looking forward to being more than a helping hand or a ‘glorified flashlight,’ as Jules likes to joke.
And now I’m letting myself get distracted by a one-night stand.
True, it was an epic one-night stand. But still.
“ESA is on board with all the safety checks,” Sinan, my European counterpart, declares, helping the meeting come to a close.
At the start of this trip to Germany, I spent my off-time going to beer gardens with Sinan.
And although Sinan is one hell of a wingman, the image of the busty blonde leaning back against the barn wall with her hand under her gown just won’t quit.
Not even the local Fr?uleins could scrub the image from my memory.
Astronauts are explorers at heart. So it makes sense that I love to figure out the who, what, when, where, and why of things. Maybe if I just find out more about Rose, I can satisfy my curiosity and stop replaying our time together.
The last slide of the presentation goes up on the screen, and I glance at it, making sure I know what’s going on. When I’m sure I won’t be caught off guard again, I pick up my pen and start working on the Rose problem.
All I have is a first name, she’s friends with Jackie, and she was a bridesmaid.
I write Rose , bridesmaid , Jackie’s friend and West family guest on my notepad. I try and think of something else, but I don’t think roll of fifties in her cleavage or likes to go commando is going to help me out here. I drop my pen and pinch the bridge of my nose.
It was only supposed to be one night. As such, I made it a point that night not to ask more about who she was at the wedding. Keep the mystery and all that.
Reading over my notes, I’m seriously regretting that decision right now.
The screen goes black, and the meeting winds down.
I catch Ian eyeing the paper in front of me and quickly shuffle stuff on top of it.
I guess I could ask him; his girlfriend was a bridesmaid too.
But it’s rather embarrassing asking one co-worker if they know the full name of the girl you cut out of your other co-worker’s wedding with to have sex.
People talk about what sights to see and where they’re going for dinner as they gather their things. Someone brings up a group outing. Even European space agencies like to work hard and play hard, just like NASA.
“What do you say, guys?” Sebastian looks expectantly at Ian and me, trying to get a group together for pub hopping in town.
“Sorry, DuMont, I’m sightseeing.” Ian gathers his notes. “My girl wants to check out Frauenkirche.”
“Ah, the Cathedral of Our Lady.” Sebastian nods. With his longer hair falling into his face and his thick accent, he’s quintessentially European. “A great starting point in Old Town for sightseeing.” He assesses Ian. “Though I didn’t know you had a daughter.”
Ian’s phone lights up and he grabs it. “I don’t,” he says, distracted by his text.
I laugh at Sebastian’s confusion, and step in for Ian as he did for me. “Kincaid means his girlfriend.” I nudge Ian. “Though, who knows, maybe Ian likes to be called Daddy.”
“I see.” Sebastian laughs with me, but by the look on his face, he doesn’t see at all. Some things are just lost in translation, I guess.
Ian doesn’t look up as he texts back.
“And what about you?” Sebastian asks me. “ If you think you can keep up with us Germans, that is.”
Ian puts his phone down to gather his notes. His phone is still open to the text screen. Trish’s name at the top.
An idea forms.
“Any other day I’d take you up on that challenge, DuMont.” I lean back in my chair, hands behind my head. “But I’ve got plans.”
“Is this a coincidence or what?”
The look of dismay on Ian’s face is priceless as I saunter up to him and Trish exiting the south tower of Frauenkirche, one of the most visited sights in Munich.
“Why, hi-ya, Bodie.” In contrast, Ian’s girlfriend lights up with a smile when she sees me. “Are you here to see the Devil’s footstep too?” She points to where I’m standing.
Glancing down, I grin. I hadn’t realized my foot was nearly on top of the tile with the legendary fallen angel boot imprint. “Something like that.” I lean down to greet her, bending over more than I’m used to.
I’ve only ever seen Trish in sky-high heels, so standing next to her in sightseeing sneakers is a bit of a shock. Even with her hair pulled up in a top-knot, she barely comes up to my shoulder.
Ian quirks a brow at me, much like he did at our meeting.
“We went up the south tower first since a large group of tourists came in before us and were taking pictures of the tile.” She thumbs behind her. “You want to go up? We’ll wait for you.”
“Thanks, but that’s okay.” I step back out of the way for her to snap a picture of the boot print. “Want me to take a picture of the both of you?”
“Really? That’d be great, sugar.” She hands me her camera, and Ian, still looking wary, puts an arm around her.
I hold up the camera and step back, getting them and the boot print in the shot, along with the large arched wooden door in the background. It’s a pretty cool picture. “You won’t mind if I tag along with you guys, will ya?” I hand her phone back, trying not to laugh as Ian frowns.
“Of course not.” Trish looks at the screen. “Sheesh, babe, why the serious face?”
I have to cough to cover my amusement.
Thirty minutes later, we’ve seen everything there is to see at Frauenkirche, and Trish excuses herself to the restroom. No sooner does she turn the corner down the hall than Ian faces me, arms crossed.
“All right. What are you really doing here?”
I shrug. “Sightseeing.”
“Like hell you are.” His words sound annoyed, but he’s given away by the smile on his face.
Remembering him looking at my notes, I have a feeling Ian knows exactly why I’m here. I play dumb, leaning against the church pillar. “This is a beautiful church. A top sight to see in Munich.”
“So this has nothing to do with you hearing me tell DuMont where I was going?”
I shrug.
“Uh huh. So why haven’t you taken one picture while ‘sight-seeing’?” The man air quotes me.
“Thought you’d appreciate all the pictures I was taking of you and Trish.” I look over his shoulder. “Speak of the devil.”
Trish emerges from the restroom before Ian can call bullshit.
When I decided not to ask Ian for help, the next easiest starting place was Trish.
Not only is she here in Germany, but she was the one I saw Rose interacting with the most at the wedding.
Plus, if I can get her to bring up the subject herself, maybe I can keep my interest quiet.
“Be polite somewhere else,” Ian mutters right before Trish reaches us.
“So.” She looks back and forth between Ian and me. “Where to now, boys?”
“Why don’t we check out New Town Hall?” I gesture to the church exit. “It’s only a few minutes’ walk from here, and there’s a cool astronomical clock in the tower.”
“New Town Hall?” Trish asks.
“He means Neus Rathaus.” Ian’s German dialect is perfect. The guy is annoyingly cool sometimes.
“Oh goody.” Trish bounces on her tiptoes in her sneakers. “I wanted to go there.”
“Then by all means, shall we?” I offer her my arm. Ian scoffs.
Trish throws her boyfriend a reproving look before praising me with a smile. “Such a gentleman.” When she takes my arm, Ian rolls his eyes. It’s kind of hilarious to see my normally strait-laced co-worker looking more like a jealous teenager than the grown son of a senator that he is.
Having been here a few times from previous trips, I lead the way out of the cathedral and toward Old Town Center.
Ian’s shoes drag on the cobblestones behind Trish and me as we walk down the pedestrian-only street.
“Oh, a hat shop.” Trish points to the window front, where mainly traditional German hats are on display.
“They even have fascinators.” She points to a feathery bright pink tuft of fabric that I’m guessing is what she means.
“I didn’t know those were worn here too.
I thought they were just for British weddings. ”
Weddings .
“Jackie’s wedding was pretty great, huh?” I try for nonchalance, pretending to look at the sights while watching Trish out of the corner of my eye.
Trish closes her eyes and lets out a wistful sigh. “Wasn’t it?”