Chapter Twenty-Two

 

Cramer left with a sinking and very depressed feeling. He remembered she did the same thing after her injury during the mining venture in the rings of Saturn. He didn’t expect any notification at that time, but he imagined this time should have been different. He did some checking at the space port nearby to see if any ships left Mars. Departure time for three ships didn’t allow him time to make it to the space port. Of course, passenger lists were confidential. At least he found out Earth, the asteroid Vesta, and the Saturn system were destinations.

He dropped in to see Branson, who started pressuring him to go on another mining mission right away. Cramer informed him he would be glad to but he intended, after arriving on Earth, to take at least a week off. Of course, Branson knew him and didn’t object, but informed him Floyd agreed on another mining venture too. This is what I wanted. Now if only Mona would show up.

It occurred to Cramer he didn’t even know where she called home. Dejected, he called Cindy at Ganzer’s complex. He told her he’d come up to Ganzer’s lab, meet her, and they could leave for Earth right away if she liked.

“I’m terribly sorry my field failed. Those rare glitches are something I neglected to allow for,” Ganzer said.

“Well, we made it back okay. I’m sure the people of Sirius will too, and it’s because of your technology. In a year or so we’ll hear from Keldahl when they do get back,” Cramer said.

“Lila would like to see you before you leave.”

He went down the hall to the laboratory. He found Lila there reading. “Cindy and I will be leaving shortly.”

“Thanks for dropping by. I’m beginning to experience human emotions, something you said about me before the accident.”

“That’s wonderful.”

“But I’m a machine, not a person.”

“Don’t say that. You are a person, a living, caring, sensitive person. I’m proud to know you and count you as friend.” He took her by the shoulders.

“I have a great affection for you.”

“I do for you too.” He hugged her.

“I hope Mona feels for you as I do. I perceive that is important to you.” Lila responded to his hug by encircling her arms around him.

“That recognition is one more reason why I know you are a caring friend. I hope we can work together again.” He released her.

“I shall miss you, Joe. If I had tear ducts, they would be flowing right now.”

“I have enough tears to do for both of us.”

During the trip to Earth with Cindy, Cramer looked up all he could find about Martian Canyon Fever. He studied the internet info displayed on the small monitor in front of him. Doctor Steiner in Europe, through blood tests, could predict the reoccurrence of the fever. Cramer hoped this would help Mona know in advance of a coming attack and start treatment, thus preventing a serious bout. Doctor Steiner neared a breakthrough on a cure as well. Cramer desperately wanted to pass this info on to her.

He and Cindy headed for the Ohio resort, Burr Oak. She drove a skimmer along the super highway, and Cramer relaxed during the trip from Cincinnati to Athens. The Athens exit turned into a curvy road through Glouster and other small towns to the Burr Oak turn off. The resort perched at the bottom of a steeply inclined road, a place carved out of the woods. Cramer and Cindy grabbed a bite to eat and turned in for the night.

The next morning after breakfast, they sat in the lounge area and watched the birds and squirrels for a while. The beautiful view out the large window overlooked the lake through the oak trees.

“Come on. It’s time we went down to the lake,” she said.

“I wish Mona was here. That would make everything perfect,” he said, as they left the inn.

The paved path to the lake forced them to take short steps. He saw why Cindy liked this resort. The bottom of the path spilled onto a small sandy beach. The lake spread before them, a near glassy calm which gently lapped near their feet as they sat in beach chairs. The beach lacked the usual masses of humanity, which suited Cramer just fine. On and off a boat with a fisherman would go by, disturbing the water temporarily, causing ripples to spread as far as the eye could see to the distant shore. The ripples splashed near his feet, growing in intensity then subsiding. The warm, gentle breeze blew; a hawk made circles in the sky far overhead as a fish would clear the water, causing a flapping sound.

He sighed. “This is peaceful and inspiring. Thanks for bringing me here, sweetheart.”

“Doctor Canfield sent me here as part of my therapy when I was well enough to leave Mars.”

“I feel terrible I wasn’t there for you. I should have fought harder to get back to you.”

“Quit beating yourself over the head, Dad. Everything worked out, and we’re together now.”

“This lake, these surroundings, makes me wish I didn’t have to step back into the real world. I could stay here forever.”

“It does have that effect on a person. The cares of this world are somewhere else, held back, kept from seizing a person by the throat,” Cindy said.

Cramer took a deep breath as he relished the silence and took in the scenery. An occasional vehicle moved slowly along a road on the other side of the lake near the water’s edge. The light wind disturbed his front hair lock and pushed Cindy’s long hair sideways. He reflected on Mona and realized more than ever how much he loved her yet he continued to despair at their age differences, personality differences, distractions it would cause when working together, and him always wondering how she felt about him. He fretted over the devastation it would cause if she didn’t have strong feelings for him.

Through the mind a person can feel wonderful and through the mind a person can feel wrecked beyond repair. He listened to sermons at church about how other people can’t make you happy, only the Lord can. Well, the Lord made Mona, and Cramer truly believed she held the key to his happiness or great sadness. He found it hard to believe any one person could hold the master key to his life. Granted, Cindy held that key too, and her being healed brought him untold happiness, giving him a purpose in life. Mona could make his life complete.

“Dad? You seem in deep thought.”

“Yeah, it’s getting late. Perhaps we’d better go back to our rooms and get ready for dinner.”

“You’re thinking about Mona, aren’t you?”

“Very perceptive, young lady.”

“You love her very much, don’t you?”

“Yes. I never believed it possible to feel that way about a woman after your mom died. Mona promised she would talk about her feelings toward me, but she seemed to keep putting it off and one thing I’ve learned is you don’t push her to do something before she’s ready. I found that out the first day we met.” Cramer chuckled.

“I’m sure Mona will keep her promise. Have you ever known her to break a promise?”

“Well, no.”

“Okay then. There you have it. Come on, let’s get up to the inn. It’s almost five.”

They ate dinner and talked of all that happened in the past several years. After dinner he told Cindy he would be hanging around the inn’s spacious lounge before turning in. She said good night, looked down, and seemed to stifle a giggle. He didn’t inquire. He wandered up to the lounge. A big screen TV showed some political figure issuing promises he’d never keep, offering lame excuses for what went wrong, and refusing to accept responsibility for having screwed up. He shut that out of his mind and walked to one of the large windows far away from the TV. He stared out at the trees not much visible in the outside lights and, in a flash, pondered all he’d been through.

“Joe?” The woman’s voice came from behind him, startling him. He turned to the source and drew a deep breath.

“Mona!” He almost hugged her.

She stood before him, her blonde hair arranged in shimmering waves about her shoulders, the sensitive, full lips holding a smile that touched him to the core. She wore a light blue dress of what appeared to him as a soft material. It struck her just below the knees and had a generous hemline.

“Are you all right? I worried when I couldn’t find you.” He turned away, grabbed his handkerchief and dabbed his eyes. He uttered softly, “Sorry.”

“I responded well to the stronger medicine they gave me.”

“You look so beautiful. It’s the first time I’ve seen you in a dress since Iapetus.”

“Well, as I mentioned before, a dress wasn’t too practical on a star ship, or any other vessel for that matter.”

“Quick, we must tell Cindy you’re here.”

“She already knows,” Mona answered.

“What? Oh, you two pulled a fast one on me.”

“Yes. Would you come to my room? I’ve not opened your present yet. It seemed best to open it in your presence.”

“You haven’t? I hope you like it.”

He followed her to her room just a few doors down the hall from the lounge. She placed her thumb on the finger plate, and a green light shone as the mechanism recognized her thumb print from the registration info. She opened the door, stepped aside to allow him to enter first, then left the door open. The gift rested on the small round table. She sat down, motioning for him to sit opposite her.

“You didn’t need to get me a gift. I know you were calling about me every day. That was enough.” She smiled and carefully opened the box.

She folded the box flaps aside, parted the plastic peanuts, and her expression—this time one he could finally read—held a mixture of gratitude and astonishment. She lifted out the musical jewelry box, drew a deep breath, and held her mouth open with awe as her gaze centered on it.

Made of walnut, an intricate inlay of flowers spread across the lid. The borders around the top and base sported fancy router grooves. The polished wood reflected the overhead room light. She opened it and the music of Fur Elise, by Beethoven, played. She ran her fingers around the felt lining on the inside, looking at the music movement on one side covered with a clear plastic cover.

She took another deep breath. “Joe, this looks very old. Is this something that’s been in your family a long time?”

“Must you know?”

“Yes, please.”

“Grandpa made it and gave it to Grandma just before they were married.”

“Oh, I can’t accept this. This belongs in your family.” With care, she closed the lid and swallowed hard, her lips quivering.

“Mona, I want you to have it. I’ve told you how special you are to me, but I never came out and said the final thing in my heart. I love you. Every time you see this jewelry box, I hope you will think of me and the love in my heart for you.” He rested his hand on one of hers.

He witnessed the cracking of that tough outer shell when she parted her lips again, then shut them, clearly searching for a response. She couldn’t respond, at least not yet. He continued, “You probably know that musical piece was composed especially by Beethoven for one of his students, Elise, with whom he was smitten. It is said her name was actually Therese, but Beethoven’s writing was so poor his publisher thought it was Elise, and so it has carried that name. He asked her to marry him, but she married someone else.”

He longed for a response from her, anything. She looked down, and he recognized her discomfort, so he provided a way out.

“On the way here from Mars I looked up information on the medical net about Martian Canyon Fever, specifically if anyone is knowledgeable about it. Turns out there’s a Doctor Steiner in Europe who has perfected a blood test that can predict when a person will have another attack of the fever. That way it can be treated before the fact, thus reducing the severity of the attack.”

Mona relaxed. “Oh. Well, it would be difficult to stop in the middle of a mining operation on an asteroid and take a blood test. Do you know the specifics?”

“No, but I’d be glad to call Doctor Steiner. He’s German, and I know the language.”

“That’s kind of you. Yes, I’d like to know more about it. Since I contracted it I’ve just not had time to check it out.”

“He’s also very close to finding a permanent cure. I find that exciting. Soon they can eradicate that nasty disease once and for all.”

“Let me know when it would be a good time for the call,” Mona said.

“Sure.” The two of them fell silent again. He looked at his watch. “It’s getting late. I think I’ll turn in. I hope you’ll join me and Cindy for breakfast in the morning, say 6:30.”

“I’d be glad to.”

“Goodnight.” Cramer got up and started for the door.

“Joe.”

“Yes.”

“How could you love me when I didn’t give you the comfort you needed while you were separated from Cindy?”

“But you did, just by being there. Loving you is the easiest thing I’ve ever done.”

“We’ll talk tomorrow.” She touched his arm. He placed his hand over hers, taking it finally with both of his. She drew in a deep breath.

“I look forward to it, when you’re ready.” He released her hand, then left.

The next day, the three of them consumed breakfast and as usual, Cramer required a refill on his extra large orange juice. After breakfast and a brief return to their rooms, they met in the lounge.

“Let’s go sit at the lakeside again,” he said.

“You two go ahead. I’m driving into Athens to browse the bookstores,” Cindy said, with purse already in hand.

“Need any money?”

“No, just the keys to the skimmer.” She extended her hand.

He fished in his pocket and placed them in her hand. “Have fun.”

Cramer and Mona made their way down the steep path to the lake. He appreciated her wearing the lovely dress again. Not even a whisper of wind blew this day as they took to beach chairs on the sandy shore. He purposely moved his chair closer to hers.

“It’s so peaceful here,” he said.

“I see what you mean.”

With great expectation and hope, he knew she was ready to express what was in her heart, or perish the notion, by expressing what was not in her heart.

“That was a wonderful gift you gave me. I’m still not sure I should keep it.”

“It made me happy to give it to you and would make me even happier if you will accept it and keep it always.”

“There’s never been anyone in my entire life who’s felt about me as you do. Your sincerity and honesty are overwhelming. You’ve made me feel as if I’m the most special person in the world.” She gazed straight at him.

“Along with Cindy, you are the most special and will always be, no matter what your opinions or feelings are for me.” Nothing could be more perfect than this peaceful setting with this wonderful woman.

“You know I don’t have trouble expressing myself when anger strikes me, but emotions on the flip side of that coin are, well, tough for me to talk about,” Mona said.

“From day one on Iapetus, we got off to a rocky start. I’m afraid my age is something I mentioned then as a crutch, but now I regret I’m not twenty years younger.”

“Why do you persist in talking about our age differences? What you’re saying is I need a younger man. Isn’t that the same thing I was guilty of long ago when I judged you were the kind who needed a woman?”

“Well, I hope my judgment of you needing a younger man is wrong. Call that selfish on my part.” Cramer moved to the very edge of his lawn chair. He could tell Mona had more to say.

She smirked and squinted. “You don’t have a selfish bone in your body, Joe. You’ve risked your life for others and for me. Remember when you pointed out my change in behavior? Besides my acting distant toward you at times, couldn’t you tell I had stopped arguing with you over every little thing? Couldn’t you tell I respected your judgment more? Need I keep listing these things for you?” She grasped his hands.

“Well, I wanted to read something into that.” A warm sensation swept through him.

“Have you seen the old vidicubes where someone is so dense they don’t figure something out and the other person raps on their head and says, ‘Knock, knock, is anybody there?’”

“I…eh…” Cramer fell silent, looking down at her wonderful, soft hands enclosing his.

“I love you, Joe.”

“Oh, Mona.” He clutched her hands then surged from his chair.

She stood, facing him, and threw her arms around his neck. He put his arms around her and squeezed her, closing his eyes, soaking in her warmth, enjoying her touch, and relishing her hair in his face.

He opened his eyes and looked toward the inn at the top of the hill. There stood Cindy. She jumped in the air, waving her arms like a cheerleader at a sporting event, expressing her happiness at what she saw. He released Mona.

“You’ve made me so happy. I love you so much.” He looked into her eyes, stroking her hair with the back of his fingers. She laughed and cried at the same time, then kissed him.