Part Four
The long slog to obtain a visa was over, and Lucy had a job to go to in Houston. It was only for four months, but it didn't stop Lucy's mother fussing over her.
"It's a terribly long time," she said.
"No, it's not," Lucy said.
"It is when you're in a strange country and you have no friends or family."
"I can make new friends. And, I'll have Jeff," Lucy replied.
"What if you fall out?" her mother asked. Lucy paused.
"Well, this will be the test to see if things really can work out between us," she said. "I can always come home early if it turns into a disaster." Her mother had let it go. Her father had been cautious about the idea, but he thought that overall, it would be a good thing for her. Lucy knew that she'd miss everyone at home, but at the same time, she had a big adventure to look forward to, and the excitement of that helped ease any homesickness she may have felt. Her mind turned to other things as the plane touched down at Houston airport. She felt a little anxious as she went through customs, and her passport and visa were scrutinised, but everything checked out, and she could pass through into the arrivals lounge. Lucy looked at the sea of faces for Jeff, and soon spotted him. He was looking quite tanned, and Lucy remembered that he had been spending some time back at his parent's farm. She went up to him as fast as she could whilst dragging her luggage behind her, and threw her arms round him.
"Good journey?" Jeff asked, hugging her back.
"Not bad. Food left a lot to be desired though," Lucy replied. Jeff took charge of her large suitcase, leaving Lucy with her hand luggage. He led the way to where he was parked, and soon they were out of the airport, and driving back to where Jeff lived. They chatted to each other about various things. It was almost as if they had never been apart. Jeff took a slightly convoluted route through Houston so he could point out various landmarks and places of interest to Lucy. It was late afternoon, and the sun was reflecting off the buildings, bathing downtown in an orange light.
"That's where you'll be working," Jeff said, pointing out an imposing looking building.
"It looks huge for a small local network," Lucy said.
"I think that there's more than one company there," Jeff replied. "That's usually the case, anyway."
"Yes, I suppose that there would be," Lucy said. "Where's the space centre?"
"It's the other side of town, on the outskirts towards the coast," Jeff told her. "I'll take you over there one day. They do tours, but I'll be able to arrange to take you to look at stuff the public doesn't normally get to see."
"That'll be nice," Lucy replied, and stifled a yawn. Jeff noticed.
"You can't be that tired?" he asked, teasingly. "It's four o'clock in the afternoon."
"Maybe to you it is," Lucy replied. Eventually they arrived at Jeff's apartment. Jeff showed her in.
"It's nothing special," Jeff said, in a semi-apologetic tone. Lucy disagreed.
"I think it's lovely. Cosy," she said, looking round the apartment before seating herself on the sofa. She looked slyly over her shoulder at Jeff, who was in the kitchen making them both a drink.
"Are you always this tidy?" she asked him. Jeff gave her an embarrassed grin.
"I am pretty tidy, but…yeah, I spent most of yesterday cleaning," he replied, coming to sit down on the sofa and handing her a cup of coffee. "Tell me again when you have to start your job?"
"Next week," Lucy said.
"Good. I thought that perhaps after you've settled in, we could go and visit my parents in Kansas for a few days?" Jeff suggested.
"I'd like to meet your parents," Lucy smiled at him. "It'll be nice to see some more of the country, too."
"Well, we'll pass through Dallas and Oklahoma City," replied Jeff. "But there'll be a lot of prairie. Not sure how interesting that will be."
"Oh, well, I'll just have to look at you then," Lucy replied. "What a shame." Jeff put down his coffee and tickled her.
"Not while I've got a hot drink in my hands!" Lucy shrieked.
"Shh!" Jeff hissed, good-naturedly. "I've got neighbours on four sides!" Lucy put her drink down.
"I don't care," she said, nonchalantly, and tried to tickle him back.
"Too bad I'm not ticklish," Jeff told her, smugly.
"Everyone is ticklish somewhere," Lucy insisted, prodding him in the ribs and trying to find a weak spot. Jeff laughed.
"I told you, you'll be searching forever."
Later in the evening, the initial excitement of being together had worn off, dinner had been eaten, and the couple were lying lazily on the sofa watching something mindless on television. At least, one of them was. Jeff glanced down at Lucy, whose head was resting on his chest.
"Luce?" he asked, gently. There was no response. He shook her gently, making her stir. "Maybe you'd be better off in bed," he suggested.
"In a bit," Lucy murmured, and lay her head back down. Jeff kissed the top of her head. He still couldn't quite believe that Lucy was here with him. All the months apart and now she was here to stay. Jeff never had believed in love at first sight, and still didn't, but he supposed that meeting Lucy came close to it. He yawned. It was getting late, and whilst he was loathe to spoil the moment, he needed to go to sleep himself. For now at least, Lucy could have the bed to herself, whilst he was happy to camp out on the sofa. He moved to sit up, disturbing Lucy again. She sat up too and looked at him, bleary eyed.
"Bedtime, I think," Jeff said. Lucy stretched.
"Yes, I suppose so," she replied, sleepily. She rubbed her eyes. Jeff kissed her.
"Goodnight," he said.
"Night," she replied, returning the kiss before practically sleepwalking into the bedroom.
The next morning, Lucy felt much refreshed. She had awoken with a start, and for a second wondered where she was, but then she got out of bed and wandered through to the kitchen to get some breakfast, where she found that Jeff was already up. After breakfast, they went for a walk around the local area and then went into Houston itself for a look around. They met one of Jeff's friends, a cheery man called Rob who was delighted to meet Lucy, and probably would have chatted to the pair of them all day, until Jeff managed to make an excuse, with the promise that they'd have to meet up soon. Lucy couldn't help but notice the occasional sideways glance in Jeff's direction, as if the person looking thought they knew Jeff but couldn't place him. She realised that as the new moon landings got closer, the publicity would build up again, and Jeff would become a mini celebrity. Well, she'd tackle that when it came. It was still a few years away yet. Perhaps by then she'd have an established career of her own. And after Jeff had been to the moon, perhaps he would look to pursue his love of aeronautics in a ground-based career. After all, he wouldn't be an astronaut forever…
"Daydreaming?" Jeff asked, interrupting her thoughts. She smiled at him.
"I was just thinking about some things," she said. They returned home in the afternoon, a little tired, but happy.
"I feel like we've been together for months," Lucy said.
"We have, in a sense," Jeff replied.
"Yes, I know, but we've only actually been in each other's company three times before now," Lucy told him. "Twice in New York and then when you came to London." Jeff's eyebrows rose in unison.
"Is that all?" he asked. Lucy nodded. He put his arms round her and gave her a cheeky squeeze.
"Well, I'm sure we'll make up for it," he said. "Starting with the long drive tomorrow."
The following day saw Jeff and Lucy head off to Kansas early in the morning. After some hours on the road, Lucy watched the scenery go by as they continued their way north through Oklahoma.
"I've always imagined myself travelling across America in a convertible or on a big motorcycle," she said. "Even though I don't like motorcycles."
"It's a shame that you're here to work, and I'm busy with training and things, else we could have gone travelling together," Jeff said.
"One day we'll do it," Lucy said. "I'd like to go and see the Grand Canyon."
"You know, that's somewhere I've never been," Jeff said.
"That's our first destination, then," Lucy smiled. Jeff smiled back. By the late afternoon they pulled up at the farmhouse belonging to Jeff's parents, having worked out a list of destinations around the world that they would like to go to together.
"Well, this is it," Jeff said, gesturing to the pretty cream coloured house, built many years ago. Lucy looked round and noticed that despite it being a wheat farm, there were a few animals around. Jeff escorted her to the front door and knocked a greeting before letting himself in, Lucy close behind. She began to feel a little nervous for the first time, wondering if Jeff's parents would accept her. A pleasant looking woman with sky blue eyes and red hair that was fading to a dull sandy colour appeared in the hallway.
"Jeff!"
"Mother, this is Lucy," Jeff said, introducing them. Lucy smiled at Jeff's mother, her nerves settling a bit.
"Lucy! It's so lovely to meet you at last. Come in my dear, you must be hungry after such a long journey. Jeff, you can go and put your bags upstairs so that they are out of the way. Lucy can have the guest room, and you can have your old room," Jeff's mother said.
"Yes, Mother," Jeff replied dutifully, and disappeared upstairs. Lucy found herself hustled along into the dining room where food was already on the table. A lot of food.
"Sit down and help yourself," Jeff's mother said, sweetly.
"Thank you," Lucy said.
"Would you like a drink? I have some homemade lemonade."
"That would be lovely," Lucy replied. Jeff's mother returned her smile and disappeared off to fetch it. Lucy looked at the sandwiches, not really wanting to touch them until Jeff came back.
"I said we wouldn't need lunch," Jeff said quietly, from behind her. Lucy chuckled as he sat down at the table and began to help himself. Lucy did the same. Jeff's mother came back with a jug of lemonade and some glasses and set it down in front of them. She sat down opposite Lucy.
"Your father should be along in a minute," she said to Jeff, then turned to Lucy. "Grant's always late for meals. He gets so caught up in his work he forgets the time."
"My dad's a bit like that," Lucy replied.
"Your father is an author, isn't he?"
"Yes. He mostly writes detective stories."
"Really? Well, you must give me one or two of his books to read. I like detective stories. I have almost every Agatha Christie book." At that moment, Jeff's father, Grant, entered the room and sat down at the table. He looked at Jeff, then at Lucy.
"And who's this?" he asked his son.
"Lucy. Lucy, this is my father," Jeff replied.
"Hello," Lucy said, politely. Grant nodded in acknowledgement. Lucy felt rather scared of him. He had piercing blue eyes that seemed to scrutinise her, and Lucy had the feeling that he wasn't to be angered. She felt a bit happier when Grant struck up a conversation with Jeff, and Jeff's mother continued to talk to her. Josie, as Lucy learned she was called, was obviously very proud of her son, and despite her sweet country housewife appearance, she was a determined woman. Lucy liked her, anyway. Josie fussed around a lot, as did Lucy's own mother, but it was in a different kind of way. After somehow managing to work through all the food on offer, Jeff took Lucy for a look around the farm before the light faded.
"Wasn't it lonely being an only child miles from anywhere?" Lucy asked him, curious.
"I stayed with an aunt during term time at school, so it was only something I had to deal with in the holidays. But I can't really say it bothered me too much. Dad usually kept me busy working on the farm," Jeff replied.
"Lots of people would love to live in the middle of nowhere," Lucy said, dodging a cluster of chickens that seemed to think she had some food to give them.
"It's got its advantages, but it's no fun if your snowed in or it's tornado season," Jeff said.
"I forgot that you get tornados," Lucy said. "Have you ever seen one?"
"Plenty. We've been lucky that none of them has hit our home," said Jeff. They came to some stables.
"Can you ride?" Jeff asked.
"I had lessons as a child, but they were on ponies. I've never sat on a horse that big," Lucy said, looking at them. She reached up and stroked one on its nose.
"Oh, you'll be fine. There's a trail that leads down to a river. We could take a picnic and go for a ride along there?"
"If you're sure I could manage it…" Lucy began.
"Of course you can. You can ride Bridie. She's a really calm horse," Jeff said, indicating the next stable where a bay horse had its head over the door, looking inquisitively at the young couple. Jeff went and patted her, as did Lucy. They left the horses and passed by lots of scary but interesting looking machinery. Jeff explained to Lucy what each piece did. By the time they had finished their walk, it was time to go in for a light supper, which was another delicious meal cooked up by Josie. Soon it was time for bed. Jeff showed Lucy to her room, which was simply decorated but snug. It had a view over the fields, although they couldn't see them at the moment, as it was dark.
"If you're awake at dawn, you'll get a really good view of the sunrise," Jeff told her.
"I think I'll be fast asleep," Lucy replied, feeling the hangover of the long journey they'd undertaken that day. Jeff nuzzled her neck.
"What if I wake you up?"
"You do that, and you'll be in trouble," Lucy warned, teasingly.
"How much trouble?"
"Lots."
"Really?"
"Yes, really."
"I don't believe you."
"You just try it, Jefferson, you just try."
