Chapter 50 #2
Mish shook her head. “I’m still trying to digest it all.
But of course, yes, I’d like to stay, and…
” Her brow folded into a worried crease.
“After what Cody said, I thank you all for not pressing me about Birler, my husband. Some of you have tried to talk to me about this, and I—I don’t know where my husband is.
” Her voice thinned. “He has not answered any of my communications. I don’t know if he is simply out of range, or if…
” She broke off, closing her eyes tightly.
“But I’ll be staying. And if he returns, he can choose to stay if he wishes.
My children will make their own way in life once they reach maturity, but my home is here, with all of you. ”
Holly gazed at Mish, taking in her clear distress, which she usually hid beneath a layer of disarray and hustle. She had fourteen children to look after, and they required considerable supervision. Now she was dealing with the fact that her partner was missing, without knowing if he would return.
Sam frowned. “Have you tried contacting the salvage rig he’s stationed on?”
Mish’s lips twisted. “I have. There’s no response at all.
It’s beyond Galactic Enforcement’s range.
They can’t do anything about ships that travel that far beyond the quadrant.
It’s largely unknown to us, what lies out there.
” Mish cleared her throat. “Regardless, I’m in.
I love living here, and I hope perhaps one day I can tend bar at the lounge.
I’d like to contribute more, once I have a little more time.
” She smiled, but it was tight and thin.
It offered a glimpse of what was beneath the way she presented herself every day.
And what was beneath that was heavy and troubled.
Holly’s chest ached for her friend. “If there’s anything we can do to help find Birler, we’ll do it.”
She glanced at Harry, who had been observing all of this with great interest. He had been quiet as well, which was uncharacteristic.
But now his expression had sobered. “I don’t have Fungi Frolickers in deep space on salvage rings,” he said.
“But I will put a call out to my followers, asking if they have seen or heard of your husband. I’m very sorry, my dear.
” He leaned over and patted Mish’s hand.
“You’ve been incredibly strong through all of this. ”
Mish smiled at him and turned her hand over to squeeze his. “Thank you, Harry. That tincture you gave me really did settle my nerves.”
Harry winked at her. “I’ve got a stronger one if you need it. Just let me know.”
He turned to Holly. “I think your plan is splendid. Happy to be a part of it. And very curious to find out the actual terms. I know that our dear Alyce and Sam have not been paid properly in quite some time. I’m sure that will be improved?
” He raised his brows. “And how does all this actually work?”
This was Mr. Binn’s territory. He nodded and sent copies of the contract to everyone’s d-pad, although not everyone had brought one, so they shared.
They talked about the proposed breakdown of who would own what percentage of the forty-nine percent that was being offered, taking notes and tweaking things here and there.
Tyer was not happy with his proposed share and wanted less for reasons he would not elaborate on.
And for the next hour, conversation centered on how the new ownership structure of Moone’s Landing would work.
Rasker, who had been sitting quietly beside Holly the whole time, reached over and took her hand. While discussions happened around them, he leaned toward her ear. “You handled that beautifully. And for what it’s worth, this is the right thing to do.”
“I hope so,” she said. “This allows future residents to apply for part ownership, to earn it through time and contribution. And it also gives other members the ability to challenge a resident’s ownership if they act badly, or steal, or do something that doesn’t align with the intended spirit of what we’ve built here.
” She closed her eyes and squeezed his hand.
“I have no idea what Moone’s Landing will be like hundreds of years from now, and neither did Oliver when he built this place.
He had the best of intentions keeping it in the family, but that almost didn’t work out. ”
Rasker’s cool gray eyes held hers with a gaze of love and quiet devotion.
“Oliver’s focus was on building Moone’s Landing, but he didn’t plan for a possible future that wasn’t ideal.
He assumed his son was just like him and would build on what he started.
” He brushed his thumb across her knuckles.
“You know that things can go awry, and you’re trying to create a system that accounts for that.
In this regard, you are similar to Oliver Moone.
You want to build something that lasts, that is important, but you have the foresight that your great-grandfather lacked.
” His voice dropped. “I love you, Holly Greene-Moone. And I am looking forward to earning my own small ownership of this station.”
Holly’s stomach did a little dance. “I don’t think you’ll be eligible,” she said, with a smile that she hoped hid her nerves.
He raised one brow. “Really? Why not? If I live here a long time and contribute…” His smile was teasing, but he was curious. She could see that.
“I think we should take a little walk,” Holly said. “There’s something I need to discuss with you.”