Chapter One Hundred Eighty-Four: The Next Generation
Grace was selected for a mission to Mars.
The call came on a sunny Tuesday in June. Lina was in the garden, planting flowers, when her phone buzzed with Grace's name on the screen.
"Grandma," Grace said, her voice high and breathless. "I'm going to Mars."
Lina sat down on the bench.
"Mars," she repeated. "You're going to Mars."
"I'm going to Mars! I was selected for the mission. It's a three-year mission. We leave next year."
Lina's eyes filled with tears.
"Congratulations, sweetheart," she said. "I'm so proud of you."
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The family celebrated.
The penthouse was filled with people—Victor and Katherine, David and his half-siblings, Lily and Jake and Samuel, Leo and Maya and Stella and Daniel and Eleanor, Clara and Michael and Melody, Emily and Hope, and all the great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, great-great-great-grandchildren, and great-great-great-great-grandchildren. Friends and neighbors and the particular chaos of a family that had something to celebrate.
Grace showed everyone her mission patch. It had her name and the date and a small red planet.
"It's beautiful," Lina said.
Grace hugged her. "Thank you, Grandma."
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The months passed.
Grace trained every day. She learned about the spacecraft. She practiced spacewalks. She prepared for every possible emergency.
Lina watched her and felt her heart swell.
She was going to Mars. Her granddaughter was going to Mars.
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The launch day arrived cold and clear.
Lina sat in the front row at the viewing area, Ethan beside her. Victor and Katherine sat behind them. The family filled the stands.
Lina's heart was pounding.
Her granddaughter was going to Mars.
She thought about the first time Grace had said she wanted to be an astronaut. She was four years old, sitting at the kitchen table, drawing pictures of stars. She thought about the first time Grace had gone to space camp. She was fourteen, nervous and excited, calling every night. She thought about the first time Grace had gone to the International Space Station. She was twenty-eight, floating in space, her smile bright.
And now this.
She was not ready.
But she had to be.
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The countdown began.
Ten. Nine. Eight. Seven. Six. Five. Four. Three. Two. One.
Liftoff.
The rocket soared into the sky, leaving a trail of fire and smoke.
Grace was on her way to Mars.
Lina watched until the rocket disappeared from sight.
She cried.
Ethan held her hand.
"She's going to be fine," he said.
Lina leaned into him.
"I know," she said. "But I'm still going to cry."
"That's your job."
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Grace called from space.
The signal took twenty minutes to reach Earth. Twenty minutes for her voice to travel across the solar system.
"Grandma," she said. "I'm on my way to Mars."
Lina's eyes filled with tears.
"I know, sweetheart," she said. "I'm watching."
"The Earth is beautiful. You can see the oceans and the clouds and the lights of the cities."
Lina smiled. "I can imagine."
Grace was quiet for a moment. "Thank you," she said. "For believing in me."
Lina's eyes filled with tears.
"I've always believed in you," she said. "From the very beginning."
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The family gathered to watch the landing.
Grace landed on Mars on a sunny Tuesday in July. She stepped out of the spacecraft and planted a flag.
Lina watched on television and cried.
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The family celebrated.
The penthouse was filled with people—Victor and Katherine, David and his half-siblings, Lily and Jake and Samuel, Leo and Maya and Stella and Daniel and Eleanor, Clara and Michael and Melody, Emily and Hope, and all the great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, great-great-great-grandchildren, and great-great-great-great-grandchildren. Friends and neighbors and the particular chaos of a family that had something to celebrate.
Grace spoke to them from Mars.
"I'm here," she said. "I made it."
Lina cried.
Everyone cried.
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That night, Lina sat on the couch with Ethan.
The penthouse was quiet. The family was gone. The grandchildren were dreaming.
"How do you feel?" Ethan asked.
"Full," Lina said. "Not from the food. From... everything. From watching her. From seeing her shine."
Ethan put his arm around her. "She gets it from you."
"Get what?"
"The courage. The determination. The ability to reach for the stars."
Lina leaned into him. "She gets it from you too."
"Maybe. Or maybe she gets it from herself. Maybe she's just who she's supposed to be."
Lina thought about that.
She thought about Grace, the astronaut. Stella, the scientist. Clara, the dancer. Samuel, the doctor. Eleanor, the dreamer. Aurora, the stargazer. Melody, the musician. Hope, the baby. All of them perfect, just as they were.
"I can't wait to see who they become," Lina said.
Ethan kissed her forehead.
"Neither can I," he said.
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End of Chapter One Hundred Eighty-Four