The Orphan in Near-Space (The Space Orphan Book 2)

by Laer Carroll

  "You're not writing a PhD dissertation and have to come up with a logical outline. Just say the first thought that comes to mind."

  Jane took another sip of her wine to give herself some time to let the thoughts come.

  Or maybe feelings. That was what welled up from...wherever.

  "I want to be with him so bad it hurts. The time away from him seems like forever. I don't understand it. I only spent a few minutes... Well, I suppose it was over two hours. But it doesn't seem that way. I'm confused. How can such a short time make it seem as if I know his heart and soul? That we're meant for each other? It's illogical."

  Natalie stared out through the screen. Not at her family but at the pool. Jane knew she saw neither.

  "It's been so long since I felt that way...."

  She paused. "I remember... Yes, it's an instant attraction. It's called falling in love. Those are just words to people who've never felt it. But they're so true to the feeling, as if you're actually falling."

  "Well, I don't have the same reaction most people do to falling. I just recover without thinking about and fall on my feet. I think my people were built to live in space, in zero-G if need be, and to adjust easily to sudden changes in gravity's orientation. But the abruptness of suddenly falling, yes, that part I feel."

  "I think this quick attraction is nature's way of insuring the propagation of the race, so that we have kids as soon as our bodies make that possible."

  Natalie was fully in her medical doctor role now, seeing everything as biology. Jane appreciated that. It gave her some objectivity when the situation had become suddenly so emotional.

  "Mom, Jane, mind if I come in? It's gotten so male-bonding ritual out here. A mere girl has no place in singing meat, apparently."

  "Dear, we're talking about something private--"

  Jane interrupted. If Suzie was excluded from the discussion it would hurt her terribly. Besides, maybe she could contribute. She was just beginning to date and perhaps was going through the same confusion that Jane was.

  "Something she might be able to help with. Come in, Suze."

  "Ah, OK," Natalie said. "Get a soft drink and sit here." She indicated the deck chair beside them.

  The girl pulled it closer to the two of them and sat. She already had a can of something to drink in one hand.

  Jane said, "You know I'm an orphan, right? We talked about it one night, ah, a year ago? How I was abandoned in a coma in a park and don't remember much about what came before?"

  "Yeah. Weird. Like you were some kind of experiment gone wrong, or just--"

  "Discarded. Yes. Don't avoid the word. I don't feel rejected or anything. It's just a fact to me."

  "I know you said that when we talked about it, but I wondered if you were just saying that."

  "Nope. Completely emotional value-free. Anyway, bits and pieces of my previous life have been coming back to me over the years, and some of them fit together and some of them I have to guess about. One thing I realized, or guessed, is that my family, or tribe, or whatever, matures more slowly than everyone else. So we start to date later. And for the first time I've met a man I really like."

  "At your age? Why, you're so--" The girl took a sudden sip of her drink.

  Jane grinned at her. "Yeah, so ADVANCED in age."

  She took a sip of her own drink.

  "I never dated in high school. The boys always seemed so lame, like kids."

  "Tell me about it. It's like they think they have to act like jerks to be thought grown up!"

  "And in the Academy I was too busy to think about social stuff. Anyway, when I was up in the space station these last few weeks--"

  "That is so cool! That you're an astronaut!"

  "I met a man there, and we talked, and it seems like we've known each other for years even though it was only an hour or two. He said to call him when I got back on Earth."

  "And you did! And what happened?"

  "No. That's what we were talking about. Should I call him?"

  "Well, of course! Wait, is there something wrong with him? He's married? Or... Or something...?"

  "He's twice my age. He's 48."

  "Wow. That's...ancient."

  "He doesn't seem like it. He might pass for someone ten years his age. Or younger. He's in terrific shape."

  Jane paused, thinking of what he'd looked like. That tennis player's lean physique and strong arms, those big hands...

  "He's a hottie, is he? Did you two...?"

  Suzie glanced at her step mother, suddenly realizing she was about to ask if Jane had slept with the man. Natalie leaned over to refill her wine glass, seemingly oblivious.

  "He kissed me when we said Good night, just a quick kiss on the lips. Almost casual.

  "And now I'm wondering if he's forgotten me. Or changed his mind about getting together when I got back to Earth. I'd feel so dumb if I called him and he said, 'Jane who?'"

  "Hmm."

  Natalie was looking on, seemingly content that Suzie had taken on the role of confidant and advisor.

  "And I'm wondering what people will think, him and me, him so old and me so young."

  Natalie said, as Suzie paused to consider this new perspective, "Do you intend to marry him? Start a long-term relationship? That seems premature. Why not just keep it casual and see what develops? In our society, even today, lots of older men and younger women go out with each other."

  Suzie said, her attitude disgusted, "And if an older women dates a younger man, boy, howdy, it's perverted and a disgrace. She's a cradle robber!"

  Jane said, "If truth be told, I'm more concerned about what Kate and Nicole will say. They'll think I can do better."

  Suzie said, "Well, I say screw them, screw everybody. Do what makes you happy!"

  Jane could see that Natalie was hiding a smile behind her wine glass. She wondered for a moment what conversations the girl's "do what makes you happy" comment were going to trigger.

  She leaned down and pulled her phone from her purse, dialed a number from memory.

  "Phil? It's Jane, Jane Kuznetsov. You remember me from the space station...?"

  "Of course I do. I was just thinking about calling you, and wondering if you'd even remember me. Also I was wondering if you'd be too busy to bother with having dinner with me."

  "And I was wondering the same thing. You have so many friends and deals and demands on your time--"

  "Not a one of which is more important than spending time with such a fascinating woman as you, Jane Kuznetsov."

  "What bullshit. I have your number, Phil Newman. You're a Texas bullshitter."

  "I am hurt to the core. So much so that you'll have to make it up to me. Say, tomorrow night, dinner."

  "You're on. I'll pick you up at 7:00 at your place. Dress nice but not too formal."

  "I feel terribly emasculated being bossed around by a woman. I'm so turned on. It's a date."

  Then, softly, "I'm so glad you called, beautiful, fascinating woman. Sleep well tonight."

  Her voice came out softer than she'd intended. "You too, Phil."

  She punched the Terminate icon on her phone, dropped it into her purse, and took a big drink from her wine glass.

  The other two women were staring at her as if they were watching wonders.

  Natalie smiled. "Now that's what's I call decisive decision making."

  Suzie squealed and jumped up to come give Jane a forceful hug.

  <>

  Her parents were already asleep when Jane got home late from Natalie's. As usual they slept late on Sunday and she was finishing the last of her breakfast when they got up and began theirs.

  She waited until they were sitting with her at the table to start talking.

  "Mom, Dad, I want you to know something. I met a man up on the station and we're going out tonight."

  Her mother gave a little shriek and, covering her mouth, began laughing. Her father scowled and asked who he was.

  "He's an entertainment producer. That means movies, TV, Br
oadway shows, and sports."

  Her father's scowl altered to thoughtful as he got Phil's name then changed to distracted as he began to surf the Web with his slate/phone/computer.

  Her mother said, "What's he like? Tall, short, old, young? Nice?"

  "Definitely nice. He's mature, sophisticated I suppose, but not snooty about it. He listens. He asks questions. And listens to the answers."

  "What does he look like?"

  Jane had been prepared for this question. She handed over her slate with a TMZ celebrity page showing photos of him with a brief bio.

  "Oh, dear," was her mother's first comment. Then later "Oh, dear!" as she began to skim the photos shown. Finally she put the slate down near Jane's breakfast plates.

  "Well, he's certainly a handsome man."

  Jane was not surprised that a glance at her slate showed her mother had last looked at an image of Phil at a society event with a hot young movie star, his arm around her waist and she in a lipstick red tight evening gown. She had a Spanish look, long curly midnight hair, and dramatic features.

  Then, "He certainly likes young women." With a carefully neutral tone to "young."

  "He's 48. I like that. Young men don't interest me. They just don't seem anywhere near as mature as I am."

  "I always thought you'd be interested in fine young men like those two boys who work for you."

  Jane laughed at the thought of dating either of those two.

  "I love those two. I'd risk my life for them, maybe give it to save them. But deep conversations with them? Start a family with them?"

  "You're thinking of starting a family?"

  "No, Mom. That's just an example of something serious. That is a decade away, at least." More like several decades, given that she'd learned she'd have a life span of several centuries, maybe millennia.

  Her father put his slate down.

  "He's a billionaire. Lots of irons in the fire, like that soccer team. All that must keep him busy. Maybe too busy to spend the time with someone."

  "The same could be said of me."

  "But when your work day is done you live a normal life."

  "We'll see. This is just the first date. Maybe the only date." If he screwed it up. If SHE screwed it up!

  "What are you going to wear?"

  "I'll have to think about it."

  "Well, you don't have anything real nice in your closet. We need to go shopping."

  Her mother glanced at the big round clock on the kitchen wall. "Get yourself ready. The stores will be open by the time we get to the mall."

  <>

  There were several major shopping areas in Pasadena. They visited the block-sized open-air Paseo Colorado mall in Old Town Pasadena first. Malena focused on "nice stuff for a date" there. This was informal but nice summer dresses and pants, blouses and jackets, and several light outfits which included short-sleeved dresses and matching light jackets.

  After nearly two hours of that they had a light lunch at an Italian restaurant in the mall and took the several shopping bags back to Malena's SUV.

  "Now we need something for when you go on a red carpet or to a society event or the opera or ballet."

  "Mom! I haven't even gone on my first date yet!"

  "Immaterial. There's no way he's not going to be taking you to all sorts of up-scale events. A good-looking young woman like you, who can look like a movie star when you're all made up? He'd be crazy not to be crazy about you.

  "Speaking of which, I called Kate and Nicole. They'll be at home at 3:00 to help you with your hair and makeup."

  Jane blew out a big breath. She'd seen her mother in this state before. Best to just go along with it. Besides, she was a multimillionaire. What did she have to spend the money on if not to make her mother happy?

  The Americana-at-Brand mall in Glendale, the city a dozen miles to the west of Pasadena, was a multistory closed shopping center around a large green park. It included some very posh shops. There Malena found gowns suitable for the up-scale events she optimistically foresaw Jane needing. These included three long dresses in sky blue, pale green, and lilac bordering on purple. Jane was especially taken with a short tight blue dress of vertically ribbed cloth with a subtle sheen.

  Malena approved. "I never would have picked that out for you. But it does show your quite nice legs, dear."

  <>

  At 3:00 Kate and Nicole showed up at the Kuznetsov's home. They had someone in tow: an older blond woman who might have once been a model. Jane's two friends were burdened with several cases belonging to her.

  "Jane, Malena," said Kate. "This is Hilary Longstreet. For this first date we wanted you to have the very best hair stylist. Nicky and I are competent. But Hilary here is an artist. She's done actresses going to the Oscars. She's our treat to you."

  Malena said, "Welcome, Ms. Longstreet. I'm Jane's mother, Malena. Would you like some water, tea, something else?"

  "I prefer Aquafina if you have it, but Evian or Perrier are fine too. Thank you.

  "Now let's get set up. Some place with easy access to running water."

  They examined the bathrooms but they were too small. By moving the dining room table the kitchen became a salon with the addition of a portable shampoo chair brought in by the two Space Force women from the hair dresser's van.

  The hair dresser had a running monologue of showbiz gossip as she gave Jane a shampoo then trimmed her still-damp hair, being very "subtle" she said.

  "I like to enhance what you already have, not do major makeovers unless you want it. Your hair, your friends tell me, have to fit under a pilot's helmet so it has to be short. I'll basically just shape it a bit and poof it up.

  "After you get off the flight line, just give it a rinse with a conditioner that I'm leaving you. Then do a WARM blow-dry, not a hot one, and comb it out. This should do you quite well for the next three weeks."

  The hair dresser left after an hour, leaving Jane very pleased with the result. Her short hair was much the same but subtly (as Longstreet had said) better.

  Next came a woman in another van who scrubbed Jane's face, very carefully to keep from "damaging the skin" and interfering with the new hairdo.

  Jane showered wearing one of the hair coverings from the box left her by the hair dresser and dressed. She chose white sandals with a modest built-up heel of one inch, a white dress with big red roses on it with a silky sheen, and a red armless blouse with a halter top of the same silky material as the dress. Over it she placed a light jacket with the same roses-over-white design as her dress.

  At 6:15 she came downstairs from her room to the scrutiny of her mother and friends. Sitting on the living room couch with glasses of something they looked her up and down and had her turn around "slowly!" to get the full effect of the makeover. They highly approved.

  Malena stood with tears in her eyes and gave Jane a very careful hug to keep from disturbing anything.

  "My little girl! Her very first date."

  <>

  In the garage Jane started up her Porsche and briefly assumed her cyborg state. SHE double-checked the vehicle's readiness, entered the address of Phil Newman in the trip advisor, and dropped back into her biological part. Then she backed into the street and began the half-hour trip to Beverly Hills.

  It was a pleasant one. Southern California at the beginning of autumn was the perfect time of year, neither hot nor chill. A recent wash of thunderstorms had cleaned the air and at this time of day, just before sunset, the world was gilded in warm colors. She played tangos as she drove, pieces from a new album from Quarteto Nuevo Tango.

  Nearing the city she turned left off the freeway and passed over the hilly area called Beverly Ridge. This was a long east-west range of hills which separated Beverly Hills from the San Fernando Valley a few miles to the north. Descending almost to the flat mid-LA area, she turned right, west, and entered into the sliver of Beverly Hills which lived on the lower hillsides of the ridge.

  She threaded her way through winding streets to
one of several mansions, some taking up entire blocks, some sharing a block with two to four other large homes.

  Phil's took up a whole block separated from the surroundings with a high hedge which no doubt contained hidden security alarms and video cameras. She turned into a driveway through stone walls which blocked access.

  As she neared the high openwork gate blocking entrance it slowly parted to let her drive into a driveway beyond which stood the blond stone façade of a two-story building. It ended in a traffic circle surrounding a fountain of water issuing from the throat of a dragon statue looking skyward.

  Standing on the upward part of a low set of wide stairs which led up to the doors behind him was her date, Phil Newman.

  She pulled up to the slice of driveway nearest him. He was already descending and approached the side of the Porsche nearest him, the passenger side. Jane triggered the robotic door to open and he entered the car.

  "You look terrific," he said.

  "Thank you, sir. You too."

  He did indeed. He wore tan running shoes, dark-grey jeans, and a long-sleeved blue-plaid shirt covered by a brown leather jacket. His brown hair was a bit long and he'd recently shaved the trace of beard and mustache he'd worn on the space station. Jane caught a whiff of a lime-and-leather cologne as he leaned over and pecked her nearest cheek.

  "Are you hungry?"

  "Yes, sir, I am indeed. What kind of restaurant did you pick out? You recall that I said I'd eat anything which didn't try to eat me."

  "One that serves a menu so large you can have almost anything that suits your fancy. Plus it has a terrific view."

  "So give my trip advisor the address. Computer, Trip Advisor please."

  "Ready Jane," came the robot which managed all aspects of the car for her.

  Phil leaned over and spoke a bit loudly to the car's dashboard. The address was in Santa Monica on the Pacific Ocean to the west and south.

  The robot answered with a map and a drive path on the dashboard's display and said, "That trip takes 10.4 miles and 35 minutes at current traffic levels."

  "Thank you, mi pungyo."

  Phil said, "Spanish and, Chinese?"

  She nodded as she accelerated around the traffic circle and headed for the gate, which was opening again to let her out.