Dan said, “I want to joke something about needing someone to do the dishes, but man, this is tough news. You’ll be greatly missed.” Everyone raised their shot glasses. “Hear, hear.”
Rebecca sat up and sniffled. “Well, since the trip is ending and our crew is splitting up and it’s my birthday, and I’m super drunk, I say we must dance again.”
Dr Mags turned the volume back up and Jeffrey, Rebecca, Dan, Dr Mags, and Sarah all danced in one big circle with their arms around each other rocking back and forth.
Beckett whispered, “You okay?”
Luna nodded, “I didn’t realize how many people are orphaned. How sad they were. I guess I never thought about it.”
Beckett nodded solemnly. “I’m an orphan.”
Luna looked at him in surprise. “You are? Oh.” She looked down at her fingers. “I never asked. I’m sorry.”
“That’s okay, on land, most people you meet are. The Deep Flu, the one about eighteen years ago, took millions of people. So I guess I’m used to everyone being an orphan. It is what it is.”
Luna’s looked toward the group, singing a loud drunken song. Her eyes misted as she watched. “Oh.”
Beckett asked, “Luna, are you an orphan?”
She closed her eyes and nodded.
Beckett watched the side of her face. “I’m sorry that you are.”
Luna bit down on her lips, holding a cry inside. “I guess in the scheme of things it’s not that big a deal.”
“It is a big deal. It’s a very big deal. Thank you for telling me.”
The singing group finished their song. Dan slurred, “I gotsta head to bunks, coming baby?”
Sarah laughed, “Someone has to help you so you don’t get lost.” She threw her arms around Dan and they stumbled giggling to the bunk room.
Rebecca said, “G’night everyone.” She hiccuped again. “Dang blast it, that’s the third time tonight.”
Luna said, “My friend Xylo used to say you have to get hiccups three times before you’re done.”
Rebecca held up three fingers, lost focus, and slurred, “Magic number — going to bed.” She followed Dan and Sarah down to the bunks.
Jeffrey ducked his head. “I have to get to those dishes. It’ll probably only take me about two hours. Mind if I take the music down to keep me company?”
Beckett said, “Go for it.” Jeffrey grabbed the music and left for the galley.
Luna and Beckett drew their attention up to the starry sky. Luna said, “These people are really great.”
“I agree. without them I would have never found you — twice.”
Luna reached for his hand, raised it to her lips, and kissed him on the knuckle.
Beckett rolled on his side in his deck chair facing her. “I need to say something, and um, can you hear me out?”
Luna said, “That seems serious.”
“It is. I love you. It might not be logical because we just met, but I do. I know our future isn’t going to be easy, but whose is these days? But I’m willing to do the work. Maybe that’s the logical side of it, we have much to learn about each other, but I’m here, I’m not going anywhere.”
Luna watched him silently, her dark eyes reflecting the starry sky.
“My offer, that we live in my mountain house, that is always there. But I don’t want you to come unless you want to. You don’t owe me anything. If you said to me, Beckett, I can’t — we would figure that out. And if you can’t — with me, that’s okay. I will get you back to Sky. You don’t need to do this out of gratitude or indebtedness or anything.”
Luna let go of his hand and turned to her side facing him and smiled, curling her hands up under her face. “How would you get me back to Sky?”
