Page 39 of Doran

“I honestly don't know.”

Doran's thumb moved slowly across the back of my hand.

“You don't have to forgive her today.”

“I know.”

“You don't have to pretend everything is fine.”

“I know.”

“But she's still your mother, and I know you’re hoping to make peace with her.”

I looked at him. He was angry with her, too. I knew that. I'd seen it in his face as we’d listened to Emma’s frantic voice comm. He understood what she'd done wasn't some minor family disagreement. She'd taken my children and driven away with them because she'd been angry about my choices. And he knew the hurt a self absorbed set of parents caused, as his were no better. Maybe worse, in some ways, actually. Yet he was still trying to make room for peace in his hearts, for me.

“I love you,” I whispered.

“New Haven Spaceport to incoming Mylos shuttle. Please identify,” Bob's voice came over the spaceport comms

The reply came through a moment later, slightly distorted by the atmospheric interference.

“Mylos long-range shuttle to New Haven. This is Star Dancer. We have five passengers and personal cargo. Requesting landing clearance.”

“Copy that,” Bob said. “Before I can clear you to land, I am required to perform a standard security joke.”

There was a pause. Doran looked at me. I grinned up at him. This was it.

“I was warned about this,” we heard the pilot sigh.

Bob continued, undeterred. “Knock knock.”

The pilot hesitated. Then, cautiously, “Who's there?”

“Cargo.”

“Cargo who?”

“Cargo beep-beep. Cargo vroom-vroom. Cargo landing now.”

There was a beat of silence. Then the pilot laughed. A real laugh. It crackled through the speaker. “All right, New Haven. You got me,” the pilot managed to gasp.

I shook my head. The joke hadn’t been that funny, but to each their own.

“Excellent,” Bob replied. “Humor verification successful. You are cleared to land.”

“Copy that. Beginning descent.”

“Welcome to New Haven. And please remember: no parking on the blue-green grass. Use the prepared landing pad by following the beacon.”

“Landing beacon locked on,” the pilot confirmed.

The shuttle appeared moments later, and it was an awe inspiring sight. I never got tired of watching the ships come in; that was for sure. The Mylos long-range shuttle looked like a silver saucer, a much larger version than the ones they typically used to land on Earth. It descended directly onto the ground outside the hangar, its strangely silent engines sending a deep vibration I could feel all the way over here under my feet. Dust swept outward in a wide ring as the enormous vessel settled onto the landing area, stopping to hover a mere foot off the ground.

Doran's hand tightened around mine. “They're here.”

I nodded, finding I suddenly couldn't speak.

For several seconds nothing happened, and then the hatch opened. The ramp extended, and suddenly I could see people moving inside. Emma stepped onto the ramp, and I felt my heart skip a beat as she paused halfway down. I knew the minute she saw us.