But standing there at Mission Control, looking at the same computers they had used to put astronauts on the moon, Joan knew that even if she had erred here and there on her journey through life, she was on the right path now. Because she was now contributing, in such a thrillingly direct way, to the larger goal.

To learn what lies out there and, in so doing, perhaps how we got here.

As everyone took their seats, Griff sat down next to her.

“Morning,” he said.

“Morning.”

“I overslept. Can you tell?”

The back of his tie hung lower than the front, he’d missed a belt loop, and the roots of his hair were damp with sweat.

“The truth?” Joan asked.

“That bad, huh?” Griff said.

Joan waved him off. “You’re handsome enough,” she said. “They forgive handsome men anything.”

Griff laughed. “I had no idea you were such a charmer,” he said.

Joan laughed, too. “Honestly, neither did I.”

Donna came into the room. Joan waved, but Donna didn’t see her. Joan watched as Donna began to take a seat next to Hank. As Donna sat down, Hank smiled at her. Donna smiled back and then looked around. Then, suddenly, Donna stood up and took a seat three seats away, by herself. Vanessa ended up taking the seat next to Hank.

Joan turned toward the front and bit her lip. She’d known Donna for only a few weeks but knew her well enough. Joan shook her head. Already!

Being completely immune to romantic rituals herself, Joan could spot them better than almost anyone. It was true, she had never had a real boyfriend. Had been on only a few dates. She had been kissed, a few times, by Adam Hawkins. And she had not cared for it. She was not offended or grossed out. But it felt, to her, like people were making a very big deal out of what was, essentially, no different from eating a cracker.

Of course, she did not discuss this with anyone anymore. Because every time she’d come close, it became clear no one would understand.

Not her mother, not her father, not Barbara (certainly not Barbara). Her girlfriends from undergrad kept assuming the issue was that she was shy or afraid. When the reality was much simpler: she was not like them. Why was it so hard for them to imagine that she had more interesting ways to spend her time? They mystified her just as she mystified them.

But there was one giant silver lining of being on the outside of it all. From afar, Joan could spot what everyone else could not see up close. Like how botanists know more about leaves than trees do.

Case in point: it was clear to her that Donna and Hank were sleeping together.

Joan tried to hold back a sly smile. Not being interested in romance herself didn’t make it any less intriguing. Donna and Hank. Huh. She wouldn’t have predicted that one.