To Come Again
A.J. looked out his window at the growing mob of the press outside. He's been on Earth for a mere 45 minutes and already his life was confusing. The door behind him creaked open, bringing on a fresh round of flashes. He could hear Bear out in the hallway with on single yell of "shut up!" and there was silence again. Truman looked at him from his seat at the table and got up and left. Grace walked towards him, a look of despair on her face and tears rolling down her face.
"I just can't believe he's gone..." Her words dropped off as she sank onto the cot against the wall. She'd been living at NASA for the past two days, awaiting the return of her father, and fiancé.
"I know Gracie," A.J said as he crossed the room to sit beside her. "We've just gotta get used to the fact that he loved us so much he sacrificed himself."
The door opened a second time and Sharpe entered the room. He looked down at the floor when facing the two, then looked up with a new confidence.
"You're free to go now, just don't let the press see you go." Turning to Grace he added,"Ms. Stamper, I'm very honoured to have served this world with your father. He was THE bravest man I've ever met."
Grace stood and held out her had for him to shake a second time, but ended up in his arms in a huge hug.
"I'd be honoured if you'd attend my wedding Mr. Sharpe. I know that my daddy would've wanted me to be nice to you again. He was that way."
The three exited the room. Sharpe heading one way to draw the press away from the two. When they got to A.J's car, he turned to her.
"What are we going to do now Grace?"
Grace looked at him with concentration.
"Well, we're going to get married, get a house, and have a little boy named Harry."
Tears came to A.J's eyes and he looked at her. She was so beautiful and looking at her was the best thing he could've thought to do at the moment. He didn't know then, but she had just predicted their entire future in a nutshell. Driving back to his apartment that night, A.J was thinking so hard he could hardly talk.
"Grace, what do you think Harry would think should happen to the drilling now?"
Grace grinned and looked at him."Well silly, that's your job now, worrying about the rig."