Volunteer (Selected Book 3)

by Robin Roseau

  I cocked my head. "Would you have done that to Violet or Posey?"

  Her tentacles waved a little more wildly. "Yes and no."

  "Explain."

  "If Violet refused to come home because she was angry at Posey, then yes, I would do what was necessary to make her come home."

  "Withdrawing your support because I broke up with your daughter was a reasonable reaction. But you didn't just withdraw your support. You got me kicked out of school."

  "If I were treating you like Violet's girlfriend, you're right. I was treating you like a daughter. And when a member of this family has a problem with someone else, she comes home and deals with it. Am I clear?"

  I considered carefully. "You pushed me into a corner and gave me an ultimatum."

  "Yes," she said. "That was a mistake. I wasn't trying to hurt you, and if you had come home, this all could have been cleared up six months ago." I stiffened, but she rushed on. "I'm not casting blame. I'm explaining why I did it."

  "If you had left me alone, I would eventually have calmed down and been approachable."

  "I made a mistake, Skye," she said. "I was treating you like I would a Catseye daughter. I'm still learning how to treat a human daughter, Skye. If I'd done the same thing to Violet, she'd have come home. She'd have been livid with me, but she'd have come home."

  "So I was supposed to meekly crawl back."

  "No. You were supposed to come home and listen to them apologize, and then forgiven them. Do you fault me for wanting that outcome?"

  "No," I said gently. I nodded. "Violet promised me I would never have reason to doubt her loyalty again. In a human household, the members of the household come ahead of everyone and everything else. Is that going to be true of this household?"

  "Yes, Skye. It is."

  I nodded again, the building tension releasing. Then I ran to her. She caught me easily, and then I was sobbing into her shoulder. "Hello, Mom. I'm home."

  "Yes, my daughter, you are."

  She held me for a long time, then Violet stepped up beside me, slipping underneath my blouse to find what skin her mother wasn't filling. "I didn't reach anyone else. Are they home?"

  "Posey," Bluebell said quiet loudly. "There's someone at the door who wishes to see you."

  "Coming, coming," she said. By the time she arrived, Bluebell and Violet had released me, and I watched Posey enter the room. "Who is- Skye!" She ran to me and yanked me from Bluebell and Violet, then proceeded to squeeze the stuffing out of me. Then she snuffled and snuffled while wrapping me tightly in her tentacles.

  "What is this shirt?" she finally said. "Why aren't you wearing proper clothes?"

  "I missed you, too," I said, my first words to her.

  "I'm so sorry," she said. "I'm so, so sorry."

  "I know. Don't do it again."

  "Never."

  "And don't do it to Audra, either."

  "Never."

  "Where's Azalea?"

  "Halfway home," Bluebell said. "You've got twenty minutes. Go clean up and dress properly for dinner. No one say a word to Azalea until she sees Skye."

  The sisters half carried me to my room. I got there, and everything was as I left it. Then they didn't want to let me go.

  "This is nice," I said. "But I really want to shower, and I have about ten minutes left. Alone, or I won't make it."

  "Not yet," Posey said. "I promised never to do anything like that again, but that promise doesn't include tickling."

  "No!" I screeched.

  It was a short tickling, at least.

  * * * *

  I stopped just outside the living room.

  "Who was showering?" I heard Azalea ask. "Did Audra come home? I thought she was visiting her mother."

  I stepped around the corner. Azalea had her back to me.

  "I think she is," I said. "But her big sister isn't."

  Azalea spun around. Her tentacles practically went spastic, but then she was off the sofa and pulling me into her arms.

  "I'm told the phrase to say," I whispered to her, "Is hello, Mom. I'm home."

  "That's right, and don't you forget it," she said, squeezing tighter. "You now have three moms. Are we clear?"

  "We're clear."

  Audra

  Fall arrived. I returned to Mount Holyoke and was on course for December graduation, but I came home every weekend.

  "I have an announcement," Audra said over dinner shortly after the term started. "I've met someone."

  "Someone?" I said.

  "Someone," she said.

  "Someone special?"

  She nodded. "Someone very, very special."

  "Well, don't make us guess," said Bluebell. "Tell us about him."

  "Is there anyone at this table who thinks it's a him? If so you're an idiot."

  We laughed.

  "Fine, fine," said Bluebell. "Tell us about her."

  "She's amazing," Audra said. "She's smart and beautiful, and really, really sexy."

  "Of course she is," Posey said. "You wouldn't settle for less."

  "She treats me very well, as well as Violet treats Skye."

  "She better," Violet said. "If she knows what's good for her."

  Then Audra looked at me. "Please be happy for me."

  "If she treats you well, Audra, then I am ecstatic."

  "She does, but I'm afraid you're going to be upset."

  "Why would I be upset?"

  "She's a little older than I am."

  I flicked my eyes at Posey. "How much older?"

  "A little more than two years."

  "Does that mean two and a half or fifteen?"

  "Two and three quarters, less than three," Audra said.

  I removed my eyes from Posey. "Then why would I be upset? Violet is more than that older than I am."

  "Well... She works at the United Nations."

  "So young, and she works at the UN," I said. "That's impressive, Audra. Did Posey introduce you?"

  "Sort of," Audra said. "Remember how I agreed to go out with anyone Posey told me to go out with? Well, she didn't tell me I had to go out with this woman, but she asked me if I would. So I did."

  "You're happy?"

  "I couldn't be happier. Skye, she's a Catseye."

  I cocked my head. "I thought I knew all the Catseye at the UN. Is there someone new?"

  "No," said Azalea.

  "Skye," said Violet. "You should know something."

  "Oh?" I said, turning to her.

  "Humans are lousy at judging Catseye ages. We mature early, but then at some point, we hold our age. You can tell the Moms are older than Posey and me, but you can't tell by how much. And I bet you can't really tell, at least from appearance, that I am three years older than Posey."

  "No. I thought it was a lot closer than that."

  "Because we mature earlier than humans, we achieve other milestones earlier than humans," Violet added. "Like, oh, finishing school."

  "All right," I said slowly.

  "And get jobs."

  "That would follow finishing school."

  "It often does." She smiled and caressed my cheek with a tentacle. "I've refused to tell you how old I am. So has Posey."

  "I recall that. I finally gave up asking."

  "I am twenty-five Earth years old," said Violet.

  "I am twenty-two," said Posey. "I was born on the space ship on our way to this planet. I've never known another planet."

  I stared at her. "Oh."

  Audra was watching me closely. "I love her, Skye."

  I looked at my sister, then I turned my gaze back to Posey. "Does she love you, Audra?"

  "With all her heart," Posey said. "She and her sister are the two most amazing women on the planet."

  Audra was watching me, but I was watching Posey. "You couldn't have told me the day I said you were too old?"

  "Back then, I was too old," she said. "But I decided she was worth the wait."

  "Tell me you didn't start dating until after she was 18."

 
; "18 and in college," Posey said.

  "Were you dating by this time last year?"

  "Yes."

  "Oh god, Audra," I said, turning back to her.

  But she held a finger up. "I was just as mad and hurt as you were," she said. She looked over at Posey, and then when she lifted her hand onto the table, I saw she was holding one of Posey's. "We worked it out sooner, that's all."

  "I presume I'm the only one who didn't know."

  "Yes. Are you mad?"

  "No, Audra. As long as you're happy." But then I pointed a finger at Posey. "Do not screw this up."

  "Never."

  Good Night

  It was a simple ceremony. Mom came alone. "It didn't work out. I think I might move to Boston." Bluebell arranged multiple opportunities for her, and she's considering them.

  We didn't invite many. Amaryllis officiated. I still felt raw about Jasmine, but we invited her, and later, we danced. But I doubt I'll ever trust her again.

  Rapid Flitter came with White Snow. Blossom and Ladyslipper sent a nice card.

  Two weeks before the date, Bluebell and Azalea took me to lunch. I knew something was up, but I waited for them to get it out. They finally opened up over dessert.

  "We want to talk to you about something," said Azalea.

  "Are you going to tell me about the birds and the bees?" That confused them, so I had to explain, which really diluted the joke.

  "Yes, actually," said Bluebell. "We want granddaughters."

  "I'm not even married yet."

  "You cannot have granddaughters the way you are," Azalea said.

  "I know. There's a process I don't understand."

  "There is. We want to know when you will accept the changes."

  "Shouldn't Violet be asking me this?"

  "Violet asked us to talk to you about it."

  "Did Violet say when she wanted me to do this?"

  "She did, but we're not telling you until you tell us your intentions."

  "Will I still be me?"

  "Yes. It is only your reproductive system that changes."

  "That seems pretty dramatic."

  "In a way, it is. Violet and your doctors are the only ones who will ever see any differences."

  "Well, my intention is to have children. So I don't know what you're asking."

  "When?"

  "When? I don't know when. Not next week."

  "Twenty years from now?"

  I sighed. "I suspect I'll have them when Violet gives one to me."

  They glanced at each other then turned back to me. "What if she wants you pregnant a week after the wedding."

  "I don't want to attend my wedding while recovering from drastic surgery," I said. "So there isn't time. Stop dancing around. Just tell me."

  "Violet wants to take you to have it done as a honeymoon."

  "Surgery is a crappy honeymoon."

  "A trip to the space station might not be. We can't do it here."

  "All right," I said.

  "All right?" asked Bluebell.

  "We'll go to the space station. And get it done."

  "You're sure."

  "If that's what Violet wants, and not what the two of you thinks she wants."

  "It is," said Azalea. "It would mean a great deal to her."

  "All right then. That was easy. But when you tell her I want to do it on our honeymoon, and then tell her it was my idea, tell her I want to get comfortable with the changes before she gets me pregnant."

  Bluebell laughed. "She didn't flat out tell us that."

  "Yeah, I didn't think so. Did she even ask you to have this conversation with me?"

  "Not in so many words."

  "Are you going to tell her all this was my idea?"

  "Probably."

  "And you really, really don't think we'll compare notes and do what we damned well please?"

  "Skye," said Bluebell. "If you couldn't get anyone to comment on a preference, so it was entirely up to you, when would you do it?"

  "I'd want to take some magic potion that started the change during the ceremony, but I rather doubt that's how it works."

  They quivered. "Then you will do this our way."

  "Fine. I want some of your chocolate."

  * * * *

  The day arrived. We wore blue that matched my eyes with purple trimming to match Violet's. The dresses were backless, of course.

  Audra and Posey were our maids of honor.

  Nearly everyone cried.

  There was a change in the ceremony. I wasn't expecting it. Bluebell and Azalea produced a crystal goblet filled with a pale golden liquid and gave it to Amaryllis. Amaryllis took it with great dignity and then turned to me.

  She spoke in English. "Some of us have come so far to live upon this blue planet. We gave up the planets of our birth, and we gave up being surrounded by our kind. And so, we turned to the people of Earth to become our companions, to become our mates, to become the mothers of our offspring. But we are all different species, and we cannot bear young together unless we change."

  She looked around. Everyone was listening intently.

  "It is a gift to us that our human mates accept this change. Skye, you have agreed to marry Violet, to be her companion, to be her mate. You have agreed to carry her young and to later help to care for them and teach them."

  "Yes," I said. "I have."

  "This requires you to accept a change to your body."

  "I know."

  She set the goblet down on a little stand.

  "If you accept this change, then drink." She gestured to the cup. "And let the process begin."

  I picked the cup up. "Is this symbolic?"

  "No, Skye," said Violet. "The process takes time, a few months. There will be times you will be ill. I will take care of you."

  "And I," said Posey.

  "And us," said Bluebell and Azalea together.

  "Don't look at me," Audra said. "I'm a horrible nurse. Drink it, Skye."

  I stared into the cup. "I don't want to be sick on my wedding night."

  "You won't be," Amaryllis said. "But if you drink, there is no going back."

  "There's no honeymoon, is there?"

  "We can wait," Violet said. "But this is what you wanted."

  "It is," I said. And I felt the tears form. "It is." And I drank. I drank every drop.

  Amaryllis took the goblet from me, and then I was wrapped in Violet's limbs. "Thank you, Skye. When you're well, I'll take you anywhere you want to go."

  I clung to her. "Will you let me enjoy the changes for a while before you make me pregnant?"

  "A year and a day is traditional."

  "I'm all about tradition."

  About the Author

  A writer by avocation, Robin has a renaissance interest in many areas. A bit of a gypsy, Robin has called a few places home and has traveled widely. A love of the outdoors, animals in general and experimenting with world cuisines, Robin and partner share their home with a menagerie of pets and guests, although sometimes it is difficult to discern who is whom.

  Robin can be reached via email as robin.roseau@gmail.com. Robin's web site is http://www.robin-roseau.com.

  Works by Robin Roseau

  The Madison Wolves Series

  Fox Run

  Fox Play

  Fox Mate

  Fox Afield

  Fox Revenge

  Fox Dish

  Fox Lost

  Wolf Watch

  Wolf Ways

  Wolf Women

  Fox Fate

  Fox Short Stories

  Hunting Pups

  Fox in the Water

  Fox Rematch (set after Fox Mate and Fox Afield)

  Fox Opponent

  A Foxy Valentine

  Other Books in the Madison Wolves Universe

  Familiar

  Poor Little Witch Girl

  Seer

  Seer: Thrall

  The Selected Series

  Collected

  Taken

  Vol
unteer

  The Games People Play Series

  Stories that ask a simple question: do you want to play a game?

  Do You Want to Play a Game?

  My Soul to Play

  Other Novels and Novellas

  Anonymous Bidder

  Blood Slave

  A Charming Brew

  Emergency Claus

  Fitting In

  Free to Love

  Galatzi Trade

  Galatzi World

  In Custody

  Lost in the Words

  Privateer

  Stark's Dell

  Submission

  Surprise

  The Interrogation

  Tresjolie

  Trust

  The Ski Bindings Shorts

  Short stories of love and lust amongst the slopes.

  Snow Fox

  Short Stories

  Cooking for Love

  Southern Night

  Captured by the Raptor (writing as Rosetta Robins)

  Volunteer

  Copyright 2016 by Robin Roseau

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in retrieval system, copied in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise transmitted without written permission from the publisher. You must not circulate this book in any format.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, places, businesses, characters and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, actual events or locales is purely coincidental.

  * * *

  License Notes

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