Spooner reclined in her seat at a back table. Unsure if she should go back upstairs, she had about three to four more drinks in her after she finished her meal. Her attention was diverted by the clock on the wall. A few hours have passed, and the space next to her remained empty. The other patrons gradually exited until she is the only person left. The dining attendant noticed and approached her. His stance exuded rigid professionalism. Looking down at her, he stiffly declared, "In case you are wondering, miss, we are closed."
"Can I at least take something to go for a friend of mine? She—"
He interrupted, "The innkeeper doesn't allow food in the guest rooms out of risk for rodent infestation. If your friend wishes to eat, she'll have to wait until tomorrow for breakfast." She relented after he curtly shooed her. The cook had witnessed the interaction through the kitchen door. When his sharp-nosed supervisor was out of sight, he hissed at her several times. She turned around and saw him. The blond, husky man motioned to her into the kitchen. She watched him creating an unusual casserole, which he baked in the oven. He then cautiously removed it from the hot oven and scooped a substantial amount into a takeout box. He extended it to her in a plastic bag. "For your friend." Spooner, impressed by his defiant action, reached inside her pocket to pay him. He rejected the offered money. "Don't worry about that. It's on the house."
"I'd appreciate it, but aren't you going to get fired for this?"
He shrugged before replying, "I don't regret it." She accepted the bag, gave him a receptive nod, and walked out. The cook knew that his boss would confront him eventually. In the meantime, he cleaned the kitchen and stored the leftover dish to go before leaving for the night.
Spooner retreated to their guest room and knocked the door. Astra unlocked the door and let her friend in. She noticed the bag in her hand as she closed it behind them. "What's in there," the tall, curly-haired girl inquired, pointing at it.
"Since you were a no-show, here's your dinner." The dark-haired girl gives the bag to her friend. The tantalizing aroma of the mysterious meal drew the latter's attention to her growling stomach. She unfolded the table tray she attained from the closet and placed it at the foot of her twin bed. Astra opened the withdrawn takeout box that she steadily positioned on top. The emitting steam rose from the uncovered serving of shepherd's pie. She retrieved the enclosed fork and gouged the first bite. She blew on the chunky bundle of seasoned lamb and diced vegetables with a layer of flaky dough. Carefully tucking the sampled assortment in her mouth, she chewed and swallowed it. Satisfied by the savory taste, she took another mouthful and another. "Mmm, did you order this?"
"Nah, it's the cook's special." Spooner observed her literally eating away. "So, what is the next move?"
"Zari's doing a facial recognition scan. Behrad coaxed me to agree."
"How long would it take?"
"I'm not sure. He said he'll let me know when it's complete."
"So, we stay in Northumberland until then?"
"If anything, going back to the ship means getting badgered with zillion questions." She moaned, "Gideon is still wondering about what's going on."
"That's usually the case when you leave someone in the dark." Spooner fetched a glass of water for her friend to drink. "I get that you're tired of hearing this, but why exactly don't you want her in on this?"
"You're right. I am tired of hearing that."
"Come on, it can't be that bad." Astra brushed the thought aside and continued eating until she popped the last morsel into her mouth. She gulped the water down to the last drop.
"I'm going to get myself ready for bed," she sighed. She deserted the table tray and obtained her sleepwear out of her overnighter. Then, she entered the bathroom, shutting the door. Spooner figured that she won't get her long-delayed response and resolved to do the same.
Astra was unable to sleep later that night. She was tossing and turning, and it wasn't because her bestie was loudly snoring in the bed next to hers. In truth, she couldn't let her daughter figure know about her "grandfather" yet. Regardless of whether he's alive or not, how can she face him after nearly a decade of estrangement? She didn't know whether the thought of receiving his rejection make her bristled, overwrought, or both.
Behrad called them two mornings later. He explained that the sketch of her father must be digitally animated to pinpoint an exact match. Astra can hear her heart racing. She sensed, by the indicative tone in his voice, that the result was looming and made up her mind to take in the pending letdown. Instead, he declared, "We may have found a match."
She caught off-guard by this. "What? Where?"
"Ashbourne, Derbyshire County."
Spooner already got a head start on packing at that point. "Do you mind sending the coordinates?"
"You will find them logged into the jump ship before you go."
Spooner turned to see Astra still astonished. "Come on, why don't you get yourself ready to go? I'll handle us checking out."
"Sure."
"I guess that means the search is almost over, huh?" The grinning tomboy collected her bag and headed downstairs. While Astra began cramming her belongings into her suitcase, the recent news finally settled in. She detected a smile cracking on her face. As much as she didn't want to jinx it, she started to feel hopeful about the entire situation.
The smaller timeship landed outside the market town within the following hour. The girls strolled right into the square. Their eyes gazed at their surroundings. The large buildings walled them up with the locals, who were embarking on their trade for the day or purchasing their desired goods. Trucks and station wagons drove past them on the road. The newcomers had no clue how to navigate through the bustling scene. Several windows displayed offers for a deal as they walked on by in the exhausting heat.
"Let's take a pit stop," Astra suggested.
"Good idea," Spooner agreed. Without noticing the sign above, they entered the first building they saw at the time. The bell hanging over the door rang as they stepped. Drilling and hammering noises were heard from the back room. A low-pitched voice bellowed, "I'll be out there in a moment." While the girls relaxed for a bit, they took heed of the small yet charming shop. The light-colored walls were racked with countless pairs of shoes and boots. Each had their own individualized sizes and designs. The large window next to the front entrance display new and handmade footwear.
Incoming footsteps alerted the girls to the back door. A middle-aged man emerged, wearing an apron over his short-sleeved, buttoned up shirt and trousers. He advanced to his visitors and stretched a callused hand welcomingly. "Hello, I'm sorry to keep you waiting. How can I help you?"
Astra uncharacteristically rebounded with wide eyes. Even after all those lost years, he still was recognizable. His skin is almost the same shade as hers. His scruffy beard coated the bottom half of his face. He sported a wrinkle or two around his dark brown eyes, and his hair was short with tight curls. "Dad?"