Chapter 8 Of Family and DNA
Alta was disappointed that nothing had been revealed by the blood and tissue tests. She conveyed this to Adams but also said the DNA testing was not finished. Dr. Renfro believed some of the samples were suspect and wanted to do some additional comparative testing. She took her mind off that as she dressed for dinner and focused on placing her necklaces.
Adams changed into a fresh dress uniform and met Alta at her cabin. He reminded her the taxi being sent to pick them up would arrive any minute. Alta was both excited and nervous at the prospect of meeting the mother she had never known, even if it was just through photographs and the recollections of her mother's twin brother, her recently discovered uncle.
It was about 6 PM when they descended the gangway toward the space port and the taxi stand beyond. There would be a few more hours of light followed by a strange twilight as the moon rotated and its orbit entered the reflection of the gas giant it circled. The sky was clear and every indication was for a beautiful evening on Barnard's. It was a short 15 minute drive to Martin's home on the outskirts of Barnardsville. Alta and Adams were quiet the entire time with her hand tightly and nervously squeezing his as the taxi sped down suburban roads.
…
The Martin residence was quite old fashioned, a red brick ranch style house with several large bay windows. It was modest by all measures but nicely kept and landscaped. Adams saw the lighted button at the door and pressed it. He wasn't sure what it was but it looked like it demanded it be pressed. He could hear a bell ringing from the inside. Martin greeted them and asked them to enter. The house had a very slight but pleasant aroma of cooking beef that Adams noticed and complimented right away.
Martin motioned them to follow as he walked through a nicely appointed dining room on the left and an opening to a very large kitchen beyond. Martin didn't hesitate to put them at ease. “Let's do this right. Please call me Julius, or Uncle Julius if you prefer. This is my wife Sheila, Aunt Sheila that is. We are so happy you were able to join us tonight. How about some wine?”
Adams reciprocated immediately and asked they simply call him John. Alta was only now discovering people beyond her father and the crew she had become acquainted with on the ship. Everyone was so friendly and kind she thought. Her father harbored a dislike for people from Earth and she was finding it more difficult to understand her father's attitude. This was family and they made her feel comfortable, welcomed and secure.
“Wine?” Alta asked, “What is that?” Julius smiled and poured four glasses. Sheila was putting the final touches on dinner so they could adjourn to the living room and relax before eating.
John and Alta each accepted the glass they were handed. Julius remarked the wine was a local vintage and quite good thanks to the cool and sunny climate and the sandy soil. He lifted the glass in the air and said “To my new found niece and the memory of her mother, my sister!” There was a light clinking of the glasses, something Alta had never seen but she quickly followed the example. Julius invited them to sit on the large sofa while he walked over to a book shelf, removing a large bound volume.
Alta found the room very comfortable and more inviting than the house she lived in on Altair 4. There was a brick wall with a box like opening on one side of the living room. She learned that was called a fireplace. The sofa she shared with John faced two large stuffed chairs, one of which was occupied by her Aunt Sheila. There were small wood tables everywhere to place things on. The colors were subdued earth tones, grays, tans and beiges with some black and dark brown accents. The large bay window overlooked a beautiful expanse of green grass, shrubs and some wildflowers. This room exuded tranquility.
Uncle Julius handed Alta the book he had retrieved. He said it was a family photo album, something unknown to Alta. Other than her father's journals and technical books, she had never seen a book exclusively for personal photos. Everything she had seen until now was done by way of view plates. To have this in her hands made it special. She could touch it, feel the grain of the leather cover and the stiff pages of coarse paper. Even the smell of the leather, paper and inks reached to her. The world of electronic viewing may be more convenient, but it severely degraded the experience she was now enjoying.
Julius told her “You can borrow that and if you would like a copy, I'll have one made for you. Hard copy like that one, or electronic if you prefer.”
“Like this one.”