Page 30 of Proslo

The man shook his head. “I don’t know who Aunt Lou is, ma’am, but this lady is from Social Services.”

“Do you think something happened to Aunt Lou after she flew home!”

“I’m certain Xeranos would have notified us directly, as she’s on the official family registry. Any hospital treating her would immediately find she is now Mylos and notify the Fleet.”

“Then what?”

I stood up. “I’d best go find out.”

“I’ll come with you,” she said, abandoning her drink.

I hoped I was right and that Aunt Lou was fine. Logically speaking, I knew I had to be. This had to be about something else. But what?

A harried looking woman in a skirt and what I recognized as a business style jacket hurried towards us as we entered the hotel lobby from the outside bar.

“Dr. Proslo! I know you’ve only just arrived here on Oahu for your honeymoon, but I’m afraid this is rather urgent and Dr. Morrissey at Queen’s asked me to reach out to the Mylos who told me you were here.”

Ah. It was a medical case then, for something the humans were unable to treat.

“Tell me what you need.”

She glazed over at Betty. “Is this your wife?”

“Yes, I’m Betty.”

“Oh, thank goodness. Perhaps you can help us even more than we’d hoped. I see you’re both scheduled to take the virtual foster parents’ introductory course.”

We glanced at each other.

“Yes, we are,” Betty replied.

“Is there somewhere we can talk privately?” she asked. ”Sorry, I’ve failed to introduce myself properly.” She lifted a lanyard to show us she was indeed a social worker working for the state of Hawaii. “My name is Keilani Ortiz and this is my official ID. Just call me Keilani please.”

“We were just at the bar having drinks, could we offer you a coffee there?” I suggested.

“That would be great, thanks. I have been on the go with this since eleven-thirty last night. I haven’t stopped to get coffee or anything.” She smiled ruefully. “I did manage to get a donut from the office when I went in to get the papers in case I could get your agreement to help us, though.”

“Coffee and lunch then,” Betty decided. “I could eat, how about you?’ she asked me.

“Most definitely.”

We ignored Keilani’s protest about not having time to eat.”

“If you faint from hunger, you’ll do no one any good,” I told her sternly, pulling out a chair for her.”

She grimaced halfheartedly. “Okay, if it’s doctor’s orders.”

“It most definitely is.”

I pulled a second chair out for my bride before seating myself, and a waiter came over immediately.

“Would you like me to refresh your drinks?”

“Yes, but make them virgins,” Betty replied and I nodded approvingly. We needed our heads as clear as possible for whatever this was about.

“And I’ll have a coffee. Just a regular old coffee.”

“One Kona Plantation Americano coming right up. Would you like cream and sugar with it?’