Jocelyn sat in her car, heat from the vents blowing loudly against her face. The Johnson Space Center's visitor parking lot was mostly empty. She felt like crying, but what difference would it make? They'd spent the last two days in Houston, and now, she had less than thirty minutes to say goodbye. Mia was on her phone. Jocelyn wanted to smash the horrid thing to pieces.

  Yesterday had been their real goodbye- a perfect day with last-minute mission shopping and dinner at Olive Garden. The Bells had joined them for dinner, along with Ms. Lawrence and her boyfriend, Bryant. Mia had always loved Olive Garden. It had been a great night considering what waited on the other side of it. Jocelyn hadn't seen her daughter that relaxed and playful in months.

  She hadn't loved the idea of sharing her last precious hours with Mia among strangers, but found it helpful to get to know the people her daughter would spend the next twenty-four months with in space. Ms. Lawrence was alarmingly young, but she spoke about Red Rock with such enthusiasm and confidence that it put everyone at ease. Trevor's parents behaved frostily, almost too politely, making the evening somewhat uncomfortable.

  However, Trevor was nothing like them. His sweet smile and openness captivated her immediately. He and Mia were noticeably at ease with each other, almost as if they were a couple. But Jocelyn knew better than to ask. She honestly didn't care what was making Mia happy; it was just so wonderful to see her daughter smile. Brian Foster had shaken Mia, much like the divorce had shaken her. But they were both finding a new way. Love in outer space, Jocelyn considered. It wouldn't be the worst thing.

  "More breadsticks, anyone?"

  "Me," Mia said. "Keep bringing them. No need to check first."

  Trevor turned to Ms. Lawrence and smiled. Bryant shook his head grudgingly and pulled out his wallet, handing it to Peyton. She'd opened it and retrieved a five-dollar bill.

  Everyone watched the transaction with curiosity.

  "Are you guys betting on me?" Mia asked.

  "Well, yeah. Bryant bet you couldn't eat more than five breadsticks, but you just swallowed number nine." Peyton said.

  Jocelyn registered Mia's flushed face.

  "Oh, so you're making money off me, Trevor? Where's my cut? Sounds like I just made two dollars and fifty cents."

  "Nine breadsticks? My word," Tanya Bell gasped.

  But no one focused on Tanya Bell amid the laughter and commotion. Trevor pulled up his nose like a pig's snout, which prompted Mia to lean forward and grab his arm. Trevor whispered something, and Mia laughed, standing to report that she was headed to the bathroom. Trevor smiled and watched her go.

  "Those two are more than friends," Bryant said breezily.

  "There's no dating allowed on the mission," Peyton had responded quickly. Almost angrily.

  "Good luck with that," Bryant retorted, planting a soft kiss on Peyton's forehead.

  But the evening was gone, and now there were only twenty minutes left before Mia reported for quarantine. Jocelyn reached over and squeezed her daughter's hand.

  Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

  "What if we drove away, Mom? I'm not sure if I can do this. I mean, what if this is the last time I see you, like ever?"

  Mia's words shook Jocelyn, producing a wave of nausea threatening to let loose. She stared at her ballet flats resting below the brake pedal and began counting until the dizziness passed, hesitating to speak, because she wasn't sure her voice would work.

  "If anyone can do this, Mia, it's you. You know, your Dad and I used to watch you as a baby and try to guess what kind of person you'd grow up to be. Neither of us imagined anything like this, but we knew you'd do big things. You can do this."

  "Thanks. I should write this stuff down for when I'm up there, alone."

  "Well, we'll email back and forth all the time, right? And text, of course, until you take off. Please don't leave me on read. You know I hate that.

  "Mom. Don't say leave me on read. It's so cringe. And I don't leave you on read unless I'm busy. You saw the list of shit we have to do over the next two weeks.

  "Language, young lady, and yes, I did see the list."

  "Just don't make me worry by leaving me in the dark about what you're doing. My capacity to handle surprises is maxed out."

  "Same," Mia said.

  Jocelyn smiled.

  But Jocelyn had so many unvoiced thoughts. Their townhouse would be painfully quiet. And day after day, she'd eat alone, worried that Mia might never return. The whole thing was incredibly sad, but it was only temporary. Saying goodbye just meant saying hello later. She had to believe that. She had to believe Mia would come home safely.

  A loud knock at the window startled them both, and Jocelyn said a word she almost never used.

  "Language, Mom," Mia said, peering up at Trevor, a bright orange T-shirt peeking out from under his half-zip.

  "I'll be there in a minute," Mia mouthed, and Trevor waved and then turned away, giving his parents a final thumbs-up before his trek across the parking lot.

  "I love you, Mom," Mia said shakily, pulling her mother forward.

  Jocelyn wrapped her arms around Mia and kissed her forehead, relishing the smell of clean hair and the warmth of her skin. This would not be the last time she saw her daughter.

  "I love you forever," Jocelyn said, watching precious, grown-up Mia exit the car and start a new life without her.

  "Don't leave me on read!"

  Mia laughed, but didn't look back, seemingly distracted by the other kids walking in the same direction as she was. Jocelyn tracked Mia's gaze to a girl with pink hair, who'd just emerged from a well-worn car. The sound of someone crying followed her. Mia looked away as if she thought looking might make the situation worse, but then Jocelyn noticed a young boy jump out of the car and throw himself at the girl.

  "Don't leave," he wailed loudly enough for Jocelyn to hear through the car windows. "Stay here. I need you,"

  A woman stood motionless as the girl folded protectively around the little boy, grabbing his face and pulling him close. The boy nodded, still crying but listening intently. The girl reached into her jacket and pulled out something small, cupping the boy's fingers around the object. Jocelyn saw that their faces were similar, with matching noses, and her eyes began to well up with tears. This was such a hard day. She wished desperately to be a fly on the wall inside the gigantic flight hangar that now held her daughter.

  But, inside the hangar, the mission was already in motion. Trevor found Kai, and they were seated, heads almost touching, watching something loud on Kai's phone. Mary Jane was standing alone while Presley and Lilly chatted excitedly. The rest of the kids were quiet, looking at their phones, various colored luggage and backpacks piled at their feet, when, unexpectedly, a loud boom filled the hangar.

  Sloan had kicked the door in and was stomping her way over to the group. No one said a word. Lilly's mouth hung open like a fish. She tossed her battered suitcase on Alejandro's duffel bag, scowling as if she dared him to say something. Everyone stared, including Ms. Lawrence.

  "Hey, Sloan," Max said, unmoved by her entrance. "You good?"

  "As long as nobody fucks with me and we're back in two years, I'm good."

  "That's what I'm talking about!" Camden squeaked awkwardly.

  "Please don't use that word, Sloan," Peyton said.

  Sloan fixed her eyes on Peyton. It was easy to see she wasn't impressed.

  Mia looked at Trevor, his eyes wide and unbelieving, then back at Sloan, who winked at her before speaking again.

  "So, which of you knows how to get to the fucking bathroom?"