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And if that was a possibility, he would wait as long as it took.
He had been convinced before that even asking her to reconsider would be harmful to her.
But his resilient mate could handle that conversation. He was sure of it now.
And he owed it to them both to try.
22
RAFE
The rest of the day passed slowly for Rafe, but each hour made him more secure in his decision to talk with Jade.
Once the murderer had been taken to the local lock-up, the doc patched Tally up once more and assured them that he would be fine after some time to rest. So, Rafe and Jade took him home to get him squared away.
The house the judge had built was small but comfortable with a little office nook that was home to a leather chair and a shelf of holo-volumes along with one or two real paper books.
Tally insisted that he didn’t want to sleep, so he curled up in the chair with one of his father’s favorite books while Rafe and Jade tidied the place up and started a pot of stew.
Rafe couldn’t help noticing that Jade was humming as she worked, and pressing kisses to the top of Gus’s little head in his sling.
Now that they were out of the danger of being imprisoned, she was unfurling back into the happy young woman he had met the day he delivered Gus into her arms.
After they had gotten a good meal into Tally and made sure he was comfortable, they waved goodbye to him with promises to get together again soon.
“If you’re lonely or you need to talk, just call,” Jade told him, pointing to her bracelet.
“I’ll be okay,” Tally said. “I have a really good idea of what I want to do next, and it means I’ll be holed up in Dad’s study for a while. I’ll surprise you with it in a couple of weeks, maybe.”
Rafe had wanted to question him, but he had a good feeling about the boy.
Besides, independence would be important for Tally, now that he was fully on his own. It was one thing to be of age, and another to actually make your own way in the world. He was glad the boy appeared to be accepting his new situation and enjoying the thought of setting off on a new journey that was all his.
Jade was quiet on the trip back to the inn, but it seemed like a peaceful, thoughtful silence, not a frightened or an angry one.
They decided to have some dinner at the inn before heading home, and wound up at a table with two older ladies who immediately began doting on Gus.
“He’s obviously very intelligent,” the Vystian lady with pretty tentacles flowing under her hat declared.
Gus was laughing his head off at the funny faces she made at him.
“Healthy, too,” her Bergalian companion noted. “Not like these scrawny Terran babies we sometimes see. You’ve obviously been feeding him based on what his species needs, not yours. That’s very good.”
“Imberians adapt,” the first lady said. “But this one takes after his daddy, I think.”
“How do you know so much about babies?” Jade asked, looking impressed.
“We were nannies,” the Vystian lady said. “We worked for the Alien Nanny Agency, until we all won the sector lotto, that is.”
The Bergalian nodded with a happy smile.
“Shassa and I always wanted to travel,” the Vystian lady went on. “And so now that’s what we do. But every once in a while, we miss our old profession. Don’t we, young man?”
Gus squeaked happily and then let out a belly laugh.
“I don’t suppose you would let us mind him while we’re all here?” the Bergalian called Shassa asked hopefully. “Ambraza and I would love to let the two of you enjoy your honeymoon. Your kind needs about a week, is that right?”
Rafe almost fell over, but he managed to nod to her.
