***
“Frek says he got me the best suite at the Nursery. He says I’ll get a nanny and a cook and a maid.” Erica Blaine bragged loudly, flipping her long auburn hair over her shoulder, her muddy-brown eyes flashing with arrogance. “He also says I’ll get a whole new fancy wardrobe after the baby is born.”
“Frek says, Frek says. I’m tired of your bragging!” Angie scoffed. “You strut around here like you shit gold or something.”
Erica clasped her thin arms around her bulging belly in a childish pout. “That’s not true.”
“Of course not, honey.” Katie’s sweet voice dripped with sarcasm. “I’m sure he takes very good care of you.”
Hovering over the snack table, Alyssa kept her back to the women while she listened to them argue about what they thought the Nursery would be like. Glancing around the room, she noticed it looked similar to a daycare, with cribs lining one wall and changing tables lining another. There were a couple of fridges and a small kitchenette near the snack table, and a small carpeted section near the cribs, with rocking chairs, a loveseat, and some baskets filled with toys. In the center of the room, chairs were set out in a circle.
Shar strode in with another female Szu’Kara and a human nurse, the three of them carrying covered bins to the circle of chairs. Opening the bins, Shar called the women over. Erica swaggered on spindly legs to her chair, nose in the air while Angie and Katie grumbled as they chose seats together, opposite the smug, glowering woman. Kora shuffled over from a rocking chair she’d been cowering in, and Alyssa sat next to her, giving the tiny woman a little wave.
The human nurse clapped her hands. “All right, ladies, quiet down.” She gestured at the alien that Alyssa didn’t know.
“Alyssa, my name is Elank’Sha. You may call me Ela. I am the chief of obstetrics. I will be monitoring your gestation and delivering your child. Shar will perform many of your routine checkups, and Nurse Kelly will be assisting us both with your care.”
Tall, thin, and proper as any other Szu’Kara, Ela appeared serious. As stuffy as they usually were, most aliens tried to fit in to some degree by mimicking basic human mannerisms, such as standard greetings and polite smiles, shaking hands—blinking. Ela’s face was like a statue. Nurse Kelly, on the other hand, smiled non-stop with her blonde hair in a tight bun at the base of her neck, and her hands clasped behind her like a soldier at rest.
“Nice to meet you.” Alyssa smiled politely.
“And I, you.” Ela bowed her head. “I am honored to provide care for the offspring of the commander.”
Katie and Erica both gasped, eyes bulging, while Angie squinted at Alyssa, quirking her upper lip. A small, knowing smile played along Kora’s mouth. Alyssa squeezed her eyes shut, taking a deep, sighing breath before turning to face the women with a bright smile, hoping for the best.
“Ladies, please don’t make a big deal out of this. Yes, I am seeing the commander, and yes, I am carrying his child, but I’m just another pregnant woman trying to learn to be the best mother I can be… like all of you.”
“I don’t know why it even matters, everyone gets a nanny.” Erica flipped her hair back, smacking her bright red lips. “Wait… Aren’t you the commander’s assistant?”
Sigh. “Yes, I am.” Alyssa barely resisted the urge to roll her eyes at the spiteful woman.
“Interesting...” Erica looked her up and down with a calculating expression.
Wow, I can almost hear the wheels spinning overtime.
“Anyway, we have several demonstrations for you today,” Nurse Kelly said, drawing their attention back to her, “but first let’s get our checkups done. Alyssa, would you please go with Ela for your ultrasound?”
Following Ela to a separate room, Alyssa tried to hide her excitement about seeing her baby for the first time.
Ela gestured at the exam table. “Please, lie down.”
Alyssa observed as Ela positioned a clear scanner plate over her belly, a small glass device with white lines etched into it that glowed a faint neon blue when she touched the control switches.
“I didn’t realize we’d be doing this today.” Alyssa’s hands gripped the table edges. “Maybe we should wait for the commander to be here.”
“I have spoken to Commander Kayn. He is aware of the scan. I will send a copy to him when we are finished.”
“Oh... okay.”
Looking over at the screen, Alyssa saw a 3D image of a tiny, partially formed face. A soft thumping sound filled the room, gradually getting louder, and with a gasp, as the sound leveled out, Alyssa realized she was hearing the double beat of her baby’s hearts. “Amazing!”
“Yes, it is quite beautiful.” Ela agreed, her face passive.
“Will you please forward a copy of the scan to my quarters. I’d like to show my family, when the commander clears it.”
“Commander Kayn has already approved for you to receive a copy.” Ela touched different buttons on the control panel before moving the scanner plate away from Alyssa.
Annoyed that she needed Kayn’s permission to have a scan of her own child, Alyssa gave Ela a polite smile and a quiet thanks as she straightened her blouse. Returning to the class, she tried to focus on the demonstrations, but the constant glances from the other women distracted her. Kora was the only one not looking at her as if she had two heads.
After class, they all stood around the snack table grumbling about the two hours of snooze-worthy lectures and demonstrations of how to care for a mixed child. Alyssa didn’t think there seemed to be anything special about raising a half-alien, half-human child. But, what do I know? Maybe they’ll teach that later.
Erica continued to drone on about her amazing life and how much better it would be at the Nursery while Katie and Angie stood together in solidarity, glaring at her with obvious disgust. After they left, Erica sauntered over to Alyssa, with a smug grin, her tight, pink T-shirt and blue jeans accentuating her small, bony figure and bulging belly. Surprisingly, Kora stepped up, staring at Erica over Alyssa’s shoulder with a look of defiance.
“So, how long did it take you to get into his pants?” Erica flipped her hand in Alyssa’s direction, one eyebrow arched up, lips pursed.
Outraged, Alyssa fisted her hands against her thighs, swallowing an angry retort. It would look really bad if she got into a fight with another pregnant woman. Not to mention, Kayn would look down on his personal assistant doing something so unseemly.
Just as Alyssa opened her mouth to politely tell Erica to shove it up her self-righteous ass, Kora spoke up.
“Erica, why don’t you tell us, again, how you met Frek. Weren’t you a city prostitute, working a corner near his compound? Do you have to hide away in the closet when his Szu’Kara mate comes to visit? I heard she only puts up with you because she’s going to raise your baby as her own.”
Erica fumed, face beet red, her mouth opening and closing several times, like a fish out of water. “This is my baby!” She squawked with rage.
“I heard they were going to send you back to the city—” Kora cocked her head, sneering at Erica “—and they’ll be going to the Nursery, as a sweet little family, without you.”
“You’re wrong! Frek loves me! He’s going to be with me!” Spinning around, Erica stormed out of the classroom, leaving Alyssa gaping in utter shock.
“Wow, Kora, I didn’t see that coming!”
“She shouldn’t be so horrible,” Kora said, matter-of-fact. “She doesn’t know how much she actually needs us.”
“You are so right. We should stick together. How about you come to my place for dinner tomorrow evening?”
Kora glanced away, returning to her shy self. “Um, I’ll need to check if it’s okay with Sen.”
“Okay, no pressure.” Alyssa scribbled her phone number on a napkin. “Here’s my number. Call me when you find out. I’m going to town to see my granny after this, so maybe I’ll pick us up a little treat from the Malt Shop.”
“I’d like that.” She smil
ed shyly with a tiny sparkle in her eye.
Hugging Kora goodbye, Alyssa left, excited to see Kayn’s reaction to the scan.
Chapter 4
The bell above the door chimed a cheerful tune, bringing a much-needed smile to Alyssa’s face. General Ras had prattled on all afternoon about security details for the various North American compounds, which did nothing for Alyssa’s mood, and when she’d left for the day, she suspected there’d be no end to his blathering. She never got a chance to approach Kayn alone, in fact, he barely noticed her the entire time, not even a glancing up when she dropped a stack of file folders on his desk.
The trip into town had helped to lower her blood pressure and calm her roiling mind. Taking her time in each shop, Alyssa gathered the ingredients for the dinner she planned to prepare for Kora, with her last stop at her favorite place in town, Marly’s Malt Shop.
The delicious smell of chocolate and cookies made Alyssa’s mouth water. People happily chatted at several tables, munching on delectable desserts, and sucking down thick, malted milkshakes while Marly’s boisterous laugh boomed around the spacious shop as he talked animatedly with some customers. His big, brown eyes lit up as she approached the candy-filled display case he stood behind.
“Alyssa! How are you on this glorious day?”
“Better now, Marly.” She beamed at the exuberant man.
Marly Johnson, a large, rounded man with a deep brown skin to match his dark chocolate candies, lived with his wife above the shop they had been running for as long as Alyssa could remember. Her parents first brought her to the Malt Shop for a milkshake when she was little and frightened of living on the compound with all the scary aliens, and it had become a tradition for the three of them, and occasionally Granny, to visit Marly’s once a month, and for every birthday.
“Doing a bit of shopping today, I see.” Marly grinned, wiping a damp cloth across the top of his pristine display case.
“Yep. Made a new girlfriend. Thought I might try scaring her off with my cooking.”
“Don’t joke! How many times you been back in my kitchen, taking lessons from my Shari?”
“More than a couple of times, I suppose.” Alyssa tilted her head and snickered.
“That’s right. You’ll do fine.” He clucked, pointing at her with his finger out and thumb up like a gun. “You’ll be lucky if you can get your friend to leave after she tastes your cooking, especially if you have some of my delicious treats. What can I get you?”
“How about you put together one of your mixed candy boxes for me?” Alyssa paused, scanning the display case. “Oh, and let me have a box of cordial cherries. Those are Jess’ favorite. I think I’ll invite her to dinner as well.”
“Coming right up, Alyssa!”
“I should probably get a couple of vanilla shakes. I’m going to Granny’s next.”
“Oh, I haven’t seen her in a while. How’s she doing?”
“She’s good, but I think her arthritis has been bothering her. She can’t quite get around like she used to.”
“Well then, I’ll just pack her a little box of her favorite ladyfingers. On the house!”
“Thanks, Marly. You’re a doll.”
***
Strolling down the main road that ran through town, Alyssa hummed to herself, enjoying the early evening breeze, savoring the faint scent of onions that wafted in from the nearby fields. The short distance from the center of the sleepy town to Granny’s house made for a quick and easy stroll.
Granny’s little cottage sat on the edge of town, opposite the compound. The old woman enjoyed a peaceful retirement, watching birds from a rocking chair on her front porch, and chatting with neighbors with Alyssa and her parents taking turns checking on her, regularly bringing groceries and medicine.
Before Alyssa opened the front door, goosebumps prickled on the back of her neck as she suddenly felt watched. Scanning the nearby houses and yards, she couldn’t find the source of her unease and shook her head as she opened the door, blaming her paranoia on pregnancy hormones.
“Granny, it’s Alyssa!”
“There’s my girl!”
Willow Summers was the closest thing to a grandparent Alyssa had ever had. After the war, her parents had attempted to find family members who might’ve survived, but gave up after several fruitless years. Granny had helped raise Alyssa and taught her anything she felt the small-town school couldn’t be bothered with. She’d learned all her organizational skills and perseverance from Granny, who’d worked as a secretary for a large corporation that no longer existed.
The war had stolen Granny’s children. So, when Alyssa and her parents needed a safe shelter, Granny tucked them under her sturdy wing, the four of them growing so close that, when her parents were offered jobs at the Command Compound, they insisted Granny join them. Unwilling to live in the housing pods, she agreed to live in town.
Hugging Granny, Alyssa breathed in the familiar scent of the lavender from the little sachets tucked in her dresser drawers. Although she appeared old and fragile, and had terrible arthritis, she was the toughest woman Alyssa had ever known. Her parents were loving, supportive, and wonderful role models who she adored immensely, but she felt the closest bond with Granny, confiding in her about everything.
“How you doing, Granny? Marly asked about you. Sent you some of your favorite treats.”
“Oh, that man is a saint.” Granny snatched the candy-striped goody bag with a withered hand and a gleam in her small, brown eyes. Spinning her tiny hunched body around, her long silver braid flipped out like a whip, narrowly missing Alyssa’s arm, as she marched into the kitchen, prize in hand. “I’m doing just fine, Aly girl. What brings you around this end of town?”
“I had to get some dinner supplies for a new friend who’s coming by tomorrow night.” Alyssa helped Granny set out the ladyfingers and milkshakes on the kitchen table.
“New friend? Does your friend live in town or on that compound?”
“She lives on the compound.”
“Really? I figured you already knew everyone in that place.”
Pulling a chair out for Granny, Alyssa patted the old woman’s bony shoulder and dropped a kiss on her wrinkled cheek. She grabbed a few napkins from the cupboard, handing a couple to Granny before she sat down, and with a knowing grin, Alyssa watched as Granny habitually tucked one napkin into the sleeve of her thick, knit sweater, the buttoned cuffs of a blouse sticking out at her wrists. The weather may have warmed up with spring, but Granny never did, and even during the coldest parts of winter, she’d rather pile on layers of clothing than turn up the heat.
“Well, I do know a lot of the residents, but I don’t know everybody. Although, I just met some interesting women the other day. We’re all taking a class together.”
“Mm hmm.” Granny listened intently, mouth full of crumbly cookies, her liver-spotted hand swiping a napkin across her thin lips after each bite.
“This one girl, Kora, is pretty shy and keeps to herself, but I really like her. I was thinking I’d cook her dinner.”
“That sounds nice, dear,” Granny said, in between delicate slurps of milkshake. “What kind of class are you taking? Something fun, I hope.”
“Not so much, no.” Alyssa paused a moment, debating how much she should say. Kayn will never know. “Actually, I’m not supposed to tell anyone, but I know you aren’t going to go blabbing my news. I haven’t even told Mom and Dad yet.”
“What is it, dear?” Granny placed her half-eaten cookie back on the plate, giving Alyssa an open and curious look.
“Well, you know how I felt about Asen’Sha when I was younger...” Alyssa straightened a little, rubbing her palms back and forth over her knees.
“Oh yes, I remember. You had some bad luck with the boys back then.”
“Uh, yeah.” She brushed a stray strand of hair from her face. “Well, Kayn and I have been getting… close. About a month and a half ago, we got real close. As in, I had my first full Asen’Sha.”
“Oh my...” Granny’s eyelids fluttered. “I didn’t know you two were that friendly. Are you dating now?”
“Well, we’re not like night-on-the-town kind of dating, but we did have a real nice dinner at his place after the Arrival Day celebration.” Alyssa’s heart skipped a beat at the memory. “Honestly, we’re both too busy for normal dating. Plus, you know how the Szu’Kara are—” she scrunched up her face “—they don’t do affection all that well.”
Granny scrutinized a squirming Alyssa as she carefully wiped the corners of her mouth with a napkin. “What’s going on with you?”
Alyssa laughed nervously. “Granny, you’re too smart for your own good...” Taking a deep, steadying breath, she soldiered on. “Okay... the thing is... apparently, humans and aliens aren’t as incompatible as we thought. Or, at least, as I thought.”
“I don’t understand what you’re saying, Alyssa.”
Just spit it out. “Granny, I’m pregnant, and it’s Kayn’s baby.”
Granny dropped her napkin and grabbed Alyssa’s hand. Happiness, confusion, and fear flickered across her face. “My baby girl is having a baby?”
“Yes—” Alyssa smiled tentatively “—but you can’t tell my parents. Kayn wants to wait until we’re sure the baby is growing strong.”
“Is this good? Are you okay? I didn’t know this was possible—”
“Slow down, Granny.” Alyssa laughed, her anxiety melting away. “Yes, it’s good. I’m good. And… it’s rare. That’s what I’m taking a class for.” She took a large swig of milkshake, swirling the straw around the cup. “It’s a prenatal class for women like me, and there are only four other women in the class. Shar says the five of us are the only lucky ones in the United States.”
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