Tom unconsciously reached out and gently enveloped Sally’s hand with both of his. “It’s sad to consider that this may be the reason Ty was replaced with Jackie, Claire was murdered, and possibly even my Penny. And, they kidnapped Jackie’s husband and would have killed him, as well. But, by turning the tables on them, we will prove that their lives were not just snuffed out, for no good reason. We have the gemstones and now possibly the means to pay for, not only this mission, but also many more to follow in the future.
“Sally, would you like to go on an EVA with me?” Tom queried. “I want to get a better look at the Penny Bright crater.”
“I thought you’d never ask,” she beamed, delighted at the prospect of leaving the ship to go exploring. “I’d love to.” The touch of his hands was warm and caring, a feeling that both unsettled and excited her at the same time, more than just a little. With her free hand, she clasped his hand, also.
“We can lower our gear over the edge and into the crater first, then rappel down after it. The climb back up should be pretty easy, in this low gravity,” Tom observed. “While Brandon and I were out there earlier, I noticed an area of the crater wall that has a bit more gradual slope, and it’s not too far from the near rim. I want to get a few soundings at the base of the caldera.” Tom suddenly noticed he was holding her hand, but had not even realized he had reached out. Sally’s hands were warm and soft, a very comforting feeling. Offering a warm smile to Sally, he squeezed her hand gently before releasing it from his grasp. She reluctantly let him pull away while returning the warmth of his smile with one of her own. Then, Tom turned to head up the ladder to the galley.