Chapter One Hundred Seventy-Four: The Astronaut
Grace was selected for a mission to the International Space Station.
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 space."
Lina sat down on the bench.
"Space," she repeated. "You're going to space."
"I'm going to space! I was selected for the mission. I leave in six months."
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—Victoria and 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, 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 star.
"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 space station. She practiced spacewalks. She prepared for every possible emergency.
Lina watched her and felt her heart swell.
She was going to space. Her granddaughter was going to space.
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The launch day arrived cold and clear.
Lina sat in the front row at the viewing area, Ethan beside her. Victoria and Victor and Katherine sat behind them. Lily and Jake sat with Samuel. Leo and Maya sat with Stella and Daniel and Eleanor. Clara and Michael sat with Melody.
Lina's heart was pounding.
Her granddaughter was going to space.
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 been accepted into the astronaut program. She was twenty-two, screaming with joy, running around the penthouse.
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 space.
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.
She floated in the space station, her hair floating around her face, her smile bright.
"Grandma," she said. "I'm in space."
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 spacewalks.
Grace floated outside the space station, repairing equipment, conducting experiments.
Lina watched her granddaughter and felt her heart swell.
She was walking in space. Her granddaughter was walking in space.
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Grace returned to Earth six months later.
The capsule landed in the ocean. The recovery team pulled her out. She was smiling. She was crying. She was home.
Lina watched on television and cried.
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The family celebrated.
The penthouse was filled with people—Victoria and 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, friends and neighbors and the particular chaos of a family that had something to celebrate.
Grace stood in the middle of the living room, wearing her flight suit, her smile bright.
"I'm home," she said.
Lina hugged her.
"Welcome home, sweetheart," she said.
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That night, Lina sat on the couch with Ethan.
The penthouse was quiet. The twins were grown. The grandchildren were grown. The great-grandchildren were growing. The great-great-grandchildren were growing. The great-great-great-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 shining. The courage. 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. 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 Seventy-Four