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He took a closer look at her and met a pair of very lively green eyes. Deep wrinkles creased her face, and stark white hair framed her features. He could still tell she’d once been attractive.
“Hi.”
She clung to him instead of just giving his hand an obligatory pump. “You’re so warm, and my, you have big hands.” She leaned in a little closer, squinting at him. “My vision isn’t so good anymore. I swear, in the last two years, I’ve gone as blind as a bat. Wow. You’re a handsome fella. I bet your mother has to beat the girls away from you.”
“Thank you.” He was grateful that she assumed he had parents.
Anna released his hand. “I hope you don’t mind me sitting here. You were alone, and it’s hard to find someone who will talk to an old lady like me. Are you up for some company? I’m harmless.” She flashed a sweet smile.
He grinned over the invitation. “I’d like that.”
“You’d be in serious trouble, though, if I were fifty years younger.” She lifted her hand to wave at the bartender. He approached, and she ordered a drink. Anna dug into her purse to pay for it. “I’ve learned since I arrived here that they rob you at this station. Everything is so darn expensive.”
“You don’t live here?”
“Not really. I just arrived a few days ago. This is my last destination, though.”
That news disappointed him a little. He wouldn’t be able to ask her if she’d heard anything about a clone being discovered or arrested over the past year. She was too new to the station.
She accepted the drink and took a sip. “They have good beer.” She turned to face him and encroached into his personal space to squint at him again.
He leaned closer, hoping it would help her see better. That earned him another smile from her. “You are settling here?”
“Settling? No. I’m just about out of money. I sold my house and cashed in my retirement stock to see space. I only have a few weeks left to live. I found a nice little rental room that is paid for until next month. I’ll be toes up by then.”
She surprised Fig again. “You’re dying?”
“It’s my heart. I’m not going into details because it’s boring, and you shouldn’t have to hear what age does to a body when you’re young. I had no chance of buying a new heart to have mine replaced since you have to be mega-rich to afford that. I opted to take pills to keep my ticker going. I stopped taking them days ago when I ran out. The doc assured me I wouldn’t make it more than two weeks afterward.”
“I’m sorry.”
She reached out and patted his chest. “Don’t be. This has been the most adventurous thing I’ve ever done in my life.” She smiled. “Leaving Earth was the one and only item on my bucket list.”
“A what?”
“Bucket list. It means making a list of what you want to do before you die. I knew it was coming, so I got off my ass and sold everything. It was enough to follow my one and only dream. I did it. It was worth it, too. I’ve seen three planets and spent two months on a huge pleasure cruiser, and this is my fourth station. I like this one. The last one was boring. They didn’t have a bar. What’s the point of dying if you can’t do the things that are bad for you, like drinking?”
He grinned, charmed by the older female. “That’s true.”
“I know it. You should have heard my friends.” She shook her head. “They said I must have lost my mind to want to see outer space. I sure wasn’t going to allow the government to steal everything I worked so hard for if I’d stayed there to die. That’s what they do to people without any family left. I was going to spend every dime and see all the things I’ve always dreamed about. I’ve done that.”
Fig’s humor had faded while listening to her. “No one is traveling with you?”
“Don’t you worry. What’s the worst that could happen?” She chuckled. “I’m already dying. Nothing beats that.”
“You could be targeted by thieves.”
She shrugged. “I don’t have much to steal. My rent is paid, and three meals a day come with it.” She leaned in closer. “Besides, if they are willing to put their hands on my bod, I might get a thrill.” She winked.
He knew his mouth parted as he gaped at her.
She laughed. “Don’t be so serious. You’re too handsome for that. That was a joke. Nobody wants to touch me. Trust me. It’s been twenty years since my Ralph died, and no man beat down my door to climb into my bed after he was gone. My husband of forty-two years didn’t even want to touch me near the end. I married a man much older than me. His lower half stopped working long before his heart went.”
Fig had no words, stunned. He was sure she’d just said her husband wasn’t physically able to have sex with her. Is that a thing with humans? I learn something new every day.
Music came on, and Anna swayed a little in her seat. “That’s nice. I like to dance. Do as much of it as you can while you’re young. I didn’t catch your name. Mind sharing it, or should I just call you handsome?”
She did amuse him. “You can call me Fig.”
