“Mother!”  Edward stood in the kitchen door and gaped at her.

 Penelope reached up and kissed his cheek while politely pushing him back into the warm kitchen.  Taking a quick look around, she spied the same shocked look on Julie and Toby’s faces.  And what was the name of that friend of Toby’s . . . Mei Ling.

 “Goodness, you’d think you’d never seen me before.  Merry Christmas everyone.  Edward, shut the door.  You’re letting all the warm air out.”  She said tartly and swept on into the room, pausing only to air a kiss over Julie’s cheek and hug Toby.

 “Grandma, you didn’t tell us you were coming.”  Toby stood and hugged her back.

 “Well, the only way I could have told you is if you’d answer the phone.  Your message left a few things unsaid.”  She raised an eyebrow and split her gaze between her son and his wife.

 “We just got back ourselves from New Mexico last night.”  Edward looked harried to her searching gaze.  “Once we got here, we pretty much just collapsed in a heap and slept.  It’s been . . . a little hectic.”

 She snorted and pulled out a chair.  “You always were a master of understatement, Edward.  Now, everyone sit down and tell me why Peter is on the moon and all of you have been in New Mexico.  And why I got a call from the FBI asking about my family.”

 They all blushed and looked so guilty that any judge would have sentenced them on the spot, but once they got started, the story poured out of them.  She listened with shock while they told her of Ruth and Sam.  Hearing of Toby and Mei Ling’s involvement sent a chill down her spine and she reached out to hold the big warm hand of her youngest grandson.

 The story lasted quite a while, during which they consumed breakfast, each one taking a turn at story telling.  She was fascinated and shocked in turn.  She’d had no idea that the entire family had been involved.  The only thing she’d seen was Peter next to an alien and his admonition to his parents to leave.  At that moment, she’d tried to book a flight north only to be thwarted by approximately half the population of Florida with the same idea.

 “Well, I can see that I missed the adventure of a lifetime by heading south for the winter.  What is going to happen now?”  She finished the last sip of her tea and looked around the table.

 “We pick up where we left off and get on with our lives.”  Edward said firmly.  “Sam asked me to look into the applications of the doctors applying to Moon Base and I’ve done so.  I sent them up last night.  Anything else I can do I will but my place is here.  I’m a doctor not an astronaut.”

 Julie nodded slowly but her eyes were worried when she looked at Toby.  Penelope turned her gaze to the troubled youth and caught a glimpse of the pain he was trying to hide.  Something here wasn’t right but now wasn’t the time to go into it.

 “Goodness, such somber faces.  Have you opened presents yet?”  She stood up and cast an eagle glance around the table.  “Edward, if you will get my suitcases from the back step, I’ll just freshen up and we’ll have some Christmas.”

 They all looked like they’d just awakened, moving in slow motion to tidy and clean before heading to the living room.  Penelope moved into the rooms that spelled home to her.  Everything looked the same except for the envelope propped on her dressing table.  Her name was written in a flowing script that she didn’t recognize.  Opening it, she realized that it was from the mysterious Ruth.

 Dear Penelope,
 I would like to thank you for my refuge from the storm.  The Hamiltons are
 without a doubt the most caring and hospitable family I have ever met.  I tried
 not to disturb anything but please know that I appreciate my temporary shelter.
 What ever happens next, I will always carry the memory of your safe haven.

 With gratitude,
 Ruth

 Penelope shook her head and tried to merge the picture of the small woman with the black eye patch and white buzz cut she’d seen on the TV screen with the sick woman here in her rooms, sleeping in her bed and bathing in her big tub.  For a moment, she saw her curled on the window seat, looking longingly at the back yard then the vision was gone.  Leaving the letter on her dressing table, she used the bathroom before coming back to find Julie sitting gingerly on the side of the bed.

 Her suitcases were also on the end of the bed and Penelope opened the first one to remove the presents she’d brought back.  “And what did you think about Ruth, Julie?”

 She sprang up and began to pace.  “I liked her at first.  She was so very sick when she came but then it all changed.  Sam got caught up with her then Toby came home and she caught him as well.  At some point, I think I hated her.”  Her hands clenched and unclenched at her side.  “Right now, I honestly don’t know what I feel.  I got Toby back but only because of . . . Her.”

 Penelope was a little shocked at the raw emotion in her daughter-in-law’s voice.  More than ever, she realized that coming home was the right thing to do.  “I see.  Have you been able to talk with Sam or Peter since they left?”

 Julie shook her head.  “Not since yesterday.  Edward downloaded his findings to the Internet address they set up for family members.  It’s a very odd bunch they took with them in the initial load.  I think Sam and Seth are the most normal ones to go.”

 “And just who is this Seth that you all spoke of?”  Penelope paused when Julie blushed.  “More than just a golfing partner for Edward?”

 “Well . . . yes.”  Julie stopped pacing and faced her with a determined look on her face.  “He’s Sam’s lover.  They met in Kosovo a couple of months ago.”

 Penelope was stunned.  Sam’s lover?  “Good heavens, when did this happen?  I take it he’s older than Sam?  And also military?”

 “Yes to both but they love each other very much and we’ve given them our blessing.  I hope you’ll be able to do that in time.”  For the first time since she’d come home, Penelope felt the Julie she’d left was back.

 “I see.  Well, if I ever get to meet him, I’ll make up my own mind.  Now, what is this about Toby?”  Penelope sat down in the window seat and gestured for Julie to join her.  Listening to the decision to stay behind that he’d made, she made a mental note to talk to him alone as soon as she could.  Certain that she’d wrung everything out of Julie that she could, she handed her half the presents and they joined the others in the living room.

 It was a rather subdued Christmas with the packages for Sam and Peter sitting forlornly under the tree after all the others were opened.  Penelope watched Toby and Mei Ling lean on each other and she smiled at their rather touching support of each other.  They turned on the television and pretended to watch the football game in what had long been a Hamilton tradition.

 But the two who weren’t there seemed to leave a very large hole in the room and she found herself standing in the doorway to Sam’s empty room with Julie at her side.  “Well, it looks like you can have your sewing room after all.”

 Julie burst into tears and fled to their bedroom.  Edward took two steps after her then stopped and ran a hand through his graying hair.  Penelope suddenly realized that at fifty-five, her son was beginning to show his age.  “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to upset her.”

 “She’s always talked about it.  Having a sewing room and a place to store her cloth and supplies but when we found Sam’s and Peter’s rooms emptied last night, it just hit us like an atom bomb.  They’re really gone.  Hopefully, not for good but really and truly gone.”  He leaned against the door jamb and Penelope gave into the impulse to give him a hug.  His arms came up around her and they stood like that for a long moment.

 “You had them longer than most, Edward.  And they may be on the moon but people are still going back and forth.  It’s not like they’ve flown out of the solar system and can’t talk to us.”  She wondered which of them she was trying to convince.

 “I know, Mother.  I just feel old all of a sudden.”  He laid his cheek on her hair and sighed.  “Julie told you about Sam?”

 “Yes, are you really all right with . . . this . . .” she found herself at a loss for words.

 “The part of me that’s a father is fine with it.  If you could see how tenderly they treat each other, you’d know what I mean.  But there’s another part that sees Seth as a seducer of my innocent son.  I’m going to have to come to terms with that part because I think Sam has made his choice and he can be just as stubborn as any of the other Hamilton males.”

 She snorted and leaned back against his arms.  “Don’t tell me about stubborn Hamiltons, I’ve been surrounded by them all my life.  Go to Julie and hold her.  I need to talk to Toby.”

 A look of resignation settled on his expressive face.  “Yes, Mother.  Go easy on him.  The choice was difficult for him.”

 Penelope nodded and went back downstairs.  Toby was sitting on the floor by the sofa, Mei Ling’s head in his lap while they pretended to watch the football game.  She turned off the set before coming over to sit on the sofa within arm’s reach of her grandson.

 “Would it be better if I left?”  Mei Ling’s soft voice asked, her eyes troubled.

 “No, I expect you were part of this decision.  Now, Toby, I want the whole story and not just the bits that you think your elderly granny can take.”

 She listened intently while he told her of the bribe that Ruth had offered him to stay and finish school.  For the first time, she heard about the dreams that he and Sam believed were past lives.  Penelope found herself caught up in worlds from ancient times that stretched both forward to the future and back to the far past.  When silence fell, she dropped a kiss on his hair and sat back to contemplate the future.

 The phone rang and Toby got up to answer it.  “Hamilton residence.  Hey, Wolf, what’s up . . . Un-uh . . . sure . . . their Christmas presents to start with . . . when do we need to have them ready . . . okay, we’ll see you about five.  Bye.”

 “Wolf wants to know if we’ve got anything to go with him when he gets picked up tonight.  We can pack up their presents.  I think we’ve got some boxes in the basement.  Can you think of anything else they might want?”

 “Maybe some of the books from your library.  And what about CD’s?”  Mei Ling gestured toward the bookcases that held the music collection.

 “Good thinking, Mei Ling.  You go through them while I look for boxes.”  They shared a glance that Penelope couldn’t decipher.

 But her own mind was suddenly filled with the germ of a notion that was quickly blossoming into a full blown idea.  She went to the kitchen to put the kettle on while she weighed the pros and cons of her brainstorm.  The moon was a complete unknown to her but the thought of staying here and going back to Florida to make the same old rounds with the same old fogies was depressing.

 There’d be an argument of epic proportions if she let the discussion get started so she wouldn't.  She was an adult and quite capable of making her own decisions.  A little shiver went up her spine while she contemplated her next move.  Making a pot of tea, she carried her cup into her bedroom.  There was the empty suitcase in which she’d brought the Christmas presents.

 With judicious packing, she should be able to empty the contents of her dresser into it.  The summer items wouldn’t be needed so just her warm socks and silk under things could go in.  Her casual outfits were already packed in the other suitcase.  She found herself pulling sweaters from the under-the-bed box and the old chinos that she wore while gardening.  Practical, sturdy clothing that would suit any environment.

 There was still room for some shoes and here was where the hard choices had to be made.  She dearly loved footwear of all kinds and there was room for only three pairs.  Sighing, she picked out her most practical ones in navy, black and tan.  So uninspired but definitely something she could wear everyday.

 Penelope closed the suitcase and activated the locks.  A cough from the doorway brought her head around to find Mei Ling leaning against the door.  “Planning on running away from home?”

 “Until I see them for myself, I won’t be able to heal this breach in the family.  So, if going up there will help then that’s what I’ll do.”  She moved to the bookcase and began to pick out her favorite books.  “Mei Ling, will you see if Toby can find a red suitcase in the basement?  I’m not going without my books.”

 “Yes, ma’am.  I see where Toby gets his . . . determination.”  The young girl sighed and turned.

 “It’s stubbornness and it’s a Hamilton family trait.  If you’re going to stick to my grandson, you’ll need to get used to it.”

 “Oh, I’m sticking.”  Her dark eyes met Penelope’s unflinchingly.  “The Chang family never gives up.”

 Penelope smiled and had a sudden vision of very stubborn twins with vaguely oriental features sitting obstinately in their high chairs, refusing to eat their strained peas.  She went back to her books with a lighter heart than she had started with.  Toby would be well taken care of.

 By the time Mei Ling returned with the red suitcase, she had enough to fill it up with books.  A few last minute items from the bathroom and she was ready.  Toby took the suitcases out to the living room and set them near the front door.  He hadn’t even tried to argue with her.  One down and three to go.

****************

 Penelope settled into her seat by the tall bearded man who had tried to argue with her.  She’d bested him with a regal stare that quickly convinced him that she would not back down.  He’d carried out her suitcases and waited while she said goodbye to the family.  Edward was worried but Julie seemed to find her decision curiously satisfying.

 They had driven to the air base where the alien ship was waiting.  Security was tight but the SP’s had simply passed them through while keeping the press out of their way.  The media circus was in full swing and she shuddered to think what the news would be tonight.  There was more security at the hangar where the ship gleamed on the tarmac.  Her first sight of an Ikiiri brought her up short.

 Wolf introduced her to the tall purple dragon who bowed to her before helping her into the ship.  The skin of his hand felt like supple leather and she watched in fascination as his scales glistened in the afternoon sunshine.  The faint scent of musk teased her nostrils and she smiled at the memory that brought back.  Her husband’s flying jacket had smelled just like that and for a moment she wondered what he would make of this alien meeting.

 Her memories were good ones and she sat quietly through the take-off reliving the far past in her mind.  Wolf had informed her that the flight would be about an hour and a half right before he fell asleep.  Looking at his slumbering figure, she noticed the blue smudges beneath his eyes.  It looked like he hadn't slept in a week.  Considering the amount of cargo they’d finished loading, she was afraid he hadn’t.

 She was too excited to sleep and she began to plan how she would get her grandsons aside and talk some sense into them.  Realistically, they were probably entrenched in their roles on the moon.  But perhaps, she could soften their stance and get them to consider only staying for a few months before making way for others to take their places.

 Unless Peter had gotten to fly these strange ships.  Then she very much feared he wouldn’t listen.  He had his grandfather’s zeal and need to fly.  Yes, Eli was happiest when he was in the air and beating an old record or creating a new one.  And Peter was so like him, single minded and focused completely on being a pilot.

 She sat and watched through the porthole as the atmosphere disappeared and the black night of space replaced it.  Such a soft velvet darkness through which they seemed to move effortlessly.  There was no feeling of motion or that weightless state she’d been looking forward to.  Oh well, she couldn’t have everything and the very fact that she was in outer space would have to do for now.

 The humming from the pilot’s seat was soothing and before she knew it, they had landed and Wolf was calling her name softly.  She nodded and unbuckled her seat belt pushing herself out of the chair only to find herself heading for the ceiling.  Her stomach bounced first then Wolf’s hands were bringing her down gently.  She held onto him and listened to his explanation with a nod of comprehension.

 When the door opened, Penelope allowed the other humans to exit first then motioned to Wolf to go ahead.  She wanted a moment to gather her courage before she had to face the others.  Taking a deep breath, she slowly let it out and moved down the ramp and into the airlock.  Some of the others appeared nervous but Wolf was practically dancing with impatience.  For the first time since they met, she wondered about his story and whether he’d given in so easily because he had family here as well.

 The doors cycled shut behind them, trapping them between walls of green and black rock.  But before her claustrophobia could take hold, the inner door was opening and a Marine was welcoming them to Moon Base.  Wolf was one of the first through and Penelope watched with a smile while he picked up a beautiful red head and spun her around.  Rich laughter flew through the air until Wolf silenced her with a kiss.

 “Grandmother?”  Sam’s stunned voice brought her back to her surroundings.

 “Hello, dear, Merry Christmas.  I came for a visit.”  She reached up to kiss his cheek and felt his arms come around her in a hug.

 “Do the folks know you’re here?”  He seemed to be coming out of his surprise.

 “Of course, Sam.  Your father doesn’t approve but I think your mother was glad to get rid of me.”  She patted his arm and drew him further down the corridor.

 “Nonsense, Grandmother, she just wants to make sure that Peter and I don’t get into any trouble.”  Sam shook his head and finally smiled.  “We weren’t expecting you so we’re going to have to find you some quarters.”

 “I’m not choosy, dear, any old room will do.”

 “Right.”  Sam chuckled.  “How many suitcases did you bring?”

 “Just three and the box with your Christmas presents.  It didn’t seem the same without all of you there ripping open your packages.”  Her eyes were busy taking in the large hall and the odd looking wall hung with . . . something.

 “Ruth, I’d like to introduce you to my Grandmother Penelope.  Grandmother, this is Ruth.”

 “Ah, the surprising Hamiltons.  I hope you got my note?”  The small woman was a head shorter than her and Penelope felt as if she towered.

 “Yes, thank you.  The Hamiltons have never like to stay behind.  Remind me to tell you about my husband’s great-great-grandfather.  But for now, I would like to ask you for a room and something to keep me busy.”

 The lips quirked up in what must pass for a smile in the ruined face.  Penelope hadn’t realized the scarring was quite so extensive.  She hoped that it wasn’t as painful as it looked.

 “Oh, I think we can find something for you to do.  You’ll have your choice between Marag’s second room or Mary Two Feather’s third room.  However, I should point out that since Wolf just arrived, Marag’s quarters might be . . . noisy.”

 “The beautiful redhead that Wolf was kissing in the hall?”  Penelope asked and made her decision at their nods.  “Mary Two Feather, please.  I love meeting new people.”

 “Sam, if you’ll take her down and get her settled in, I’ll find Peter and send him down as well.”  Ruth dismissed them pleasantly and turned to greet another of the arrivals.

 “A very powerful presence, Sam.”  Penelope said tentatively, not sure how he viewed her.

 “She is that, Grandmother.  But I’ll let you get to know her for yourself.”  He tucked her arm in his and led her down a quiet corridor.  “It is good to have you here.  The next few weeks should prove interesting, now that the Ikiiri have left.”

 Before she could ask him what he meant, they turned aside to an open doorway.  “Mary, Dakota, may we enter?”

 “Come, Doctor Sam, be welcome to our home.”  The gray haired woman bowed to them and a little girl came running to throw herself against Sam’s legs.  “Dakota!”

 But Sam just laughed and picked the little girl up.  “Dakota, I’d like you to meet my grandmother.  Mary, this is Penelope Hamilton, my father’s mother.”

 “Welcome, Mrs. Hamilton.”  Mary smiled and motioned to the rug covered bench that served as a sofa.

 “Please, call me Penelope.  Since we will be roommates very shortly, Mary, I’d hate to be so formal.”  She shook hands with her flustered hostess before turning to the little girl with the shy smile.  “Dakota, it’s a pleasure to meet you.  Is that teddy bear yours?”

 She nodded and held it tighter.  “She’s called Sari-bear and Doctor Sam gave her to me.”

 “Ah, she looks a little like the one I gave to Sam when he was a very little boy even smaller than you.”  Penelope smiled at the wide-eyed look Dakota gave her while she tried to picture Sam as a little boy.

 “That was a long time ago, right Dr. Sam?”  She looked up at him and he began to tickle her into giggles.

 “Grandmother.  What a surprise.”  Peter’s voice came from behind her and she turned to see him bringing in two of her suitcases.  A Marine Colonel held her third case and it didn’t take an Einstein to figure out that this must be Seth when she saw Sam’s face melt into a welcoming smile.

 “Hello, Peter, you’re looking well.”

 “So do you, Grandmother.”  He kissed her cheek then spoke past her.  “Mary, what room will she be sleeping in?”

 “This one, Major.  Dakota and I have the two on this side.”  The Indian woman motioned to an open doorway.

 “Come along, Grandmother.  We’ll get you settled in and then I know you’ll be ready for dinner.”  He gestured towards the doorway and she walked ahead of him into a room about the same size as the one on Earth but with only a single bed, dresser and table with chairs.

 “Lights.”  Peter said quietly and the room bloomed into colors.  A quilt covered the bed and the runner on the dresser was a beautiful weave of reds and blues.

 “How beautiful.  Mary, is this your work?”  She ran her hands over the red, white and blue material that brightened up the narrow bed.

 “Yes.  It is one of those that I made last fall.  I hope it is all right.”  Mary’s voice came from the doorway.

 “It’s lovely.  I will sleep all the better for its beauty.  Just put the suitcases anywhere, my dears.”  Taking a deep breath, she turned to the dark haired Colonel and held out her hand.  “I’m Penelope Hamilton, Colonel Griffin.  It’s a pleasure to meet ou.”

 He straightened from setting the heavy red suitcase down.  “The pleasure is mine, Mrs. Hamilton.  Welcome to Moon Base.”  His eyes traveled to Sam’s and what he saw there gave him his signal.  “I’ll see you later at dinner.”

 “Sam, why don’t you go ahead and settle in Dr. Freeman?  He’s probably champing at the bit to see the science labs.”  Peter suggested and placed himself between Penelope and his brother.  “I’ll stay and make sure that Grandmother gets everything unpacked.  We’ll see you in the dining hall for dinner.”

 “Good idea.  I didn’t even see him.  Grandmother surprised me so.”  Sam set Dakota down and came to kiss her cheek.  “Welcome, Grandmother.  I’ll see you later.”

 She nodded and watched the two of them leave.  It seemed that Peter was aware and approved of their affair.  Well, she’d let it go for now and see how her oldest grandson was doing.  Narrowing her eyes, she watched him promise the little girl to ask one of the Ikiiri for a piggyback ride later.  Then they were alone and he was turning to her with that look that reminded her so much of his grandfather.

 The one that said he intended to get to the bottom of why she was here.  Well, she had her own agenda and she’d see which of them got there first.

*********************
End of chapter 25