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As Mary joined her at the table, she handed her a mug, then brought out a plate of the cookies Ida had included in the basket. Raja had been curled in a sunny spot by the window but he immediately rushed over to the table and climbed up her skirt.
“You have a kedji? He’s adorable.”
“And a shameless beggar,” she said sternly as he gave her his most pitiful look, but she still handed him part of a cookie. “How did you know he was a kedji?”
“I lived in Port Cantor for several years and one of the women in my second, no, my third rooming house had one. He seemed very sweet, although I didn’t really get to know him.”
“He is very sweet.” She stroked the soft fur between the two big ears and he gave a little chirruping purr, even though he didn’t look up from his cookie. “So you’re from the city?”
“Not at all. I was raised on the same farm I’m living on now. My parents had to sell and we moved to the city.”
“More of the evil Matthew Johnson’s work, I assume?”
“I’m afraid so.” Mary cupped her hands around her mug. “Then after we moved, my parents were killed in an accident and everything just kept getting worse and worse. I don’t know what I would have done if Rosie hadn’t written and offered me the farm.”
“I understand,” she said quietly. “My life wasn’t exactly great, although I was trying to pull it together. It didn’t help that Celenk got me fired.”
“He did what?”
She laughed.
“I’m teasing. He actually saved me from some of those spaceport guards.”
Mary shivered and nodded understandingly as she continued.
“I mean I did get fired, but it wasn’t his fault. My boss was afraid the guards would cause trouble and fired me.”
“What a bastard!”
“That he was. But at least Celenk was there.”
“Was it a quick romance?”
“Definitely. But sometimes you just know.”
“And sometimes you fight it. That’s what I did - what we both did - but these warriors capture your heart, don’t they?”
Tears suddenly sprang to her eyes. That was exactly what Celenk had done - captured her heart.
“Oh, please don’t cry,” Mary said swiftly. “Is something wrong? Can I help?”
“Nothing’s wrong. I think I’m just tired from the journey and feeling a little emotional today.”
Mary gave her a thoughtful look. “Emotional? I don’t mean to pry but is there any chance that you’re pregnant?”
“I couldn’t possibly be -”
Could she? It hadn’t even occurred to her last night, but if quantity counted, he certainly seemed to have an endless supply. The image of a son with Celenk’s golden skin and her dark hair flitted through her mind, but she immediately pushed it aside.
“Wouldn’t it be kind of difficult? Since we’re not the same species.”
“You’d think so, but I’m pretty sure Borgaz succeeded the first time we tried,” Mary said dryly, then gave her a curious look. “The two of you haven’t discussed it?”
“No. I told you it was a whirlwind romance and then we were getting ready to come here and I suppose we weren’t thinking of anything beyond that.”
“Since he hasn’t mentioned it, he’s probably on a fertility restrictor. Most of the warriors are. But you should definitely talk to him.”
“I will,” she promised
