Charlotte and the Alien Ambassador

by Jessica Coulter Smith

  “I see Cosmir arrived with you this morning.” The doctor studied her. “He isn’t the father, is he?”

  “No! Absolutely not. He’s just been really nice about making sure I eat and getting me to this appointment this morning. The father is still on your world, and I doubt he will be coming for me anytime soon. I’m prepared to raise this child on my own.”

  “I wouldn’t recommend doing that. Have you thought of taking a mate? Terran males aren’t very big on accepting another man’s child, but there are those who wouldn’t mind. You’re attractive and young. There’s no reason you couldn’t form a family unit with someone.” He grimaced. “Of course, we’d have to tell the father of your child that you were taking a mate and give him one last chance to claim you, and I’m sure you don’t want to face him right now.”

  Her stomach twisted.

  “Just think it over,” the doctor urged. “You have to do what’s right for the baby and not think about your needs. This isn’t a human child you’re carrying but a half Terran baby. It’s going to have needs you aren’t prepared to handle, especially if it’s male.”

  She knew the doctor made a good point, but it wasn’t something she was ready to hear just yet. Had she made a mistake by not telling Borgoz about the baby? Charlotte had no doubt that if he’d known she was carrying his child, he never would have pushed her aside. And it wasn’t like he was seeing another woman. He was scared that he wasn’t enough for her, and while that was sweet, it was also really annoying. How could the man she loved not be enough for her?

  Charlotte left the clinic with Cosmir by her side and was heading straight to the food court for some breakfast when he drew her to a halt near the main door. She frowned up at him, not sure what he wanted.

  “You should get something better to eat today than what we have to offer here. If you don’t wish to share a meal with me, let me find someone else to join you. It really isn’t safe for you to be alone in the city while you’re pregnant. What if you fell or someone pushed you? What if a car jumped the curb and hit you?”

  Her eyebrows climbed higher and higher with every word.

  “You really think any of that is going to happen?” she asked, knowing it wasn’t likely, but she supposed anything was possible.

  “I want you to be safe. If you won’t allow me to watch over you, then find someone whose company you’ll enjoy for the morning.”

  Charlotte nibbled on her lip a moment. “All right. I’ll have breakfast with you. But not anywhere fancy! I don’t know how much money is in my bank account right now, and I don’t want to overspend.”

  “Then we’ll stop by your bank first to ease your mind, but I hadn’t planned on having you pay for your breakfast this morning. I’m financially secure enough to purchase a meal for you. It’s not like you eat much.”

  She scowled at him and he laughed.

  “Come along, little bird.”

  “I’m not a bird,” she mumbled.

  “You eat like one. Isn’t that a saying here? Eating like a bird?”

  “Yes, it’s a saying, but I don’t think it applies. I just don’t eat as much as you because I’m less than half your size. I assure you, I eat plenty for a woman my size. Probably more than I should if my clothes are any indication.”

  “What’s wrong with your clothes?” His brow furrowed as he eyed her up and down.

  “Nothing. They’re just getting a little snug around the waist. I thought I wouldn’t start showing until I was closer to three or four months along, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. I’ll need maternity clothes before long. Or at least a bigger size.”

  “Did you mention it to the doctor?”

  She fidgeted. “Well, not exactly. But he said the baby was small considering how far along I am, and that the heartbeat was slow.”

  Cosmir’s eyebrows shot up. “We’re going to feed you, and then you should probably lie down for a while. But if you’re gaining weight and the baby isn’t, there may be something else going on. When do you see the doctor again?”

  “Tomorrow morning. I’m supposed to go in every morning so he can monitor the heartbeat.”

  “Then you should tell him tomorrow about the weight. If you aren’t eating, yet you’re gaining weight and the baby isn’t, there may something serious going on. You shouldn’t take a chance with your child’s life, or with yours.”

  She felt guilty for not bringing it up during her appointment, but she had honestly thought it was just something normal. But what if she was wrong? What if Cosmir was right and there was something seriously wrong with the baby or her? If she did anything to endanger Borgoz’s child, she wouldn’t be able to live with herself.

  “I’ll make sure I bring it up when I see the doctor tomorrow. And I’ll eat plenty today.”

  “Why haven’t you been eating?”

  They stepped outside, he ushered her into a waiting limo, gave the driver instructions, and then turned to face her once more.

  “I guess I’ve been depressed. You see, I’m in love with the baby’s father, but he made it very clear that he wanted nothing to do with me. It isn’t for the reasons you’re thinking though. He believes it would be a disservice to me if we were to get married, even though he’s everything I’ve ever wanted. He’s a very busy man, and he’s concerned that his job will always come first and I’ll come to resent him.”

  “And would you?”

  She shook her head. “I understand about being in a position of power. My father is a Senator and never had time for me. The difference is that I know the man I love would love me in return, and I’m sure he would love this child. My father has hated me from the moment he found out I was deaf.”

  “If you’re so certain he would want this baby and that he would come to love you, why haven’t you gone back to him? You know that all it would take is one word to the reservation desk that you’re expecting a Terran child and you’d be on the next shuttle.”

  “What if I’m wrong? What if I get there and he doesn’t want us or has moved on? There are plenty of women for him to choose from. For all I know, someone new has caught his attention and he’s ready to settle down with her.”

  Cosmir rolled his eyes. “Is this a human woman thing? First you say he could love the baby and you, and now you have him ready to mate with someone else. You can’t have it both ways. Do you know what I think?”

  “What?”

  “I think you’re scared. You’ve been rejected once already and you’re worried that it will happen again if you pursue him, despite your brave words. But you know what, Charlotte? You’re never going to know if you don’t go after him. If he decides he truly doesn’t want you, don’t you think it’s better to know that now so you can prepare a better life for your child and you?”

  “What if we start small? Maybe I could send him a transmission through the Vid-Comm and just let him know where I am and that I’m safe? I’m not even certain he knows I’ve returned to Earth. I left his home intending to get a place of my own, but my father tracked me down and forced me to return here. He said that he would come after me if I didn’t do as he said.”

  “How old are you?” Cosmir asked.

  “Twenty-nine.”

  “So you’re an adult and pregnant, but you’re still letting your father dictate your life? What would have been the harm in staying on our world and having him come after you? As soon as the council knew you were expecting, they never would have let him take you away.”

  Her brow furrowed. “But the council did know. At least, one of them did, and he was with me when I received the message from my father. In fact, it was Larimar who walked me to the shuttle.”

  Cosmir narrowed his eyes and his nostrils flared. “Charlotte, what haven’t you told us? There is no way a councilman would have let you off our world knowing you carried a Terran child.”

  She didn’t respond and cast her gaze down.

  “It’s a councilman’s baby, isn’t it?” he demanded. “Larimar was cove
ring for one of his fellow council members and got you off the planet because the father didn’t want anything to do with you. We have to go to Chief Councilor Borgoz and demand that something be done. There’s no way he knew about the child or your situation.”

  Charlotte felt herself pale at his words. “Please don’t call Borgoz.”

  “Why not? And it had better be a damn good reason, Charlotte. Our council members can’t be allowed to treat a potential mate so callously and then expect the rest of the planet’s males to fall in line. Your pedigree is impeccable if you’re a Senator’s daughter, so that can’t be it. Did he want a love match and he just didn’t love you? I can’t imagine anything else causing this problem. They’ve stressed the rules for mating, and now their bucking their own authority? You can obviously conceive, your father is well-connected, and from what I’ve seen, you’re quiet and shy. What more could he have wanted?”

  “He didn’t want to love me. He wanted someone he could ignore without it pricking his conscience. It wasn’t a matter of my not being an ideal mate. He felt he wasn’t an ideal mate. He said I deserved better and he tried pushing me off on other council members.”

  “You still haven’t given me a good reason not to contact Borgoz and have this sorted immediately.”

  Charlotte twisted her hands in her lap. “You can’t contact Borgoz because… he’s the father.”

  Cosmir looked shocked, his eyes wide and his eyebrows raised. He opened and shut his mouth several times, as if he had something to say but wasn’t sure what it was. Finally, he seemed to gather his composure.

  “Did you tell Borgoz that you are pregnant?” he asked. “Does the Chief Councilor have any idea he’s going to be a father?”

  “No,” she said softly.

  “This isn’t right, Charlotte. I may not know the male personally, but I can honestly say he would want his offspring. It’s not fair of you to keep the baby from him. I won’t tell your secret, but I want you to seriously think about what you’re doing. Your child could have everything it would ever want, including a doting father, and you’re cheating him or her of that by being too scared to face Borgoz.”

  She knew he had a good point, but her heart still ached when she thought of Borgoz. She wasn’t ready to face him yet, but maybe soon. It felt good to get her secret out, but she hoped Cosmir wouldn’t tell anyone. If word got out, she could only imagine what would happen.

  At the restaurant, she made sure to order a large portion, even though she didn’t feel much like eating, and then she answered more of Cosmir’s questions. He tried to convince her several times to rethink her plans, but she brushed him aside each time. This was her life and she had to do what she thought was best, not only for her but for the baby. If Borgoz was worried he would be a horrible mate, how could she believe he would be a good father?

  With a sigh, she realized she was lying to herself. She only hoped that when she did get the courage to face him, either in person or through the Vid-Comm, that he would forgive her deception. For now, she would concentrate on making sure the baby gained weight and became healthy. She couldn’t spend her time worrying about anything else.

  Chapter Eleven

  Borgoz was beyond furious. What good was it to be in a position of power if you couldn’t use that power to find the woman you loved? He’d asked the council for help in locating Charlotte. He knew if he could just get a message to her, find a way to get her to the Terran station near her home, then he could get her back to Zelthrane-3 where she belonged. He barely slept, hardly ate… he missed her.

  “What do you mean you won’t locate her?” he asked with a slight growl. “She’s my mate!”

  Larimar drummed his fingers on the table. “It’s more that we can’t help you. I called to check on Charlotte after she returned home. Her father told me she’d been thrown out after refusing to marry a male of his choosing. We have no idea where she is. Their planet isn’t exactly small, and while I’m fairly certain she’s still in the same general area, I have no way to track her.”

  “There has to be something we can do. If I can’t leave to go get her, then she has to be brought here.”

  Everything inside him was wound tight. If he had even an idea of where Charlotte was, he’d leave without any hesitation, his position be damned. If they wanted to find a new Chief Councilor, he’d let them. Nothing was more important than Charlotte. If only he’d realized that before it was too late.

  “I want a message sent to all Terran stations on Earth with a description of Charlotte and stating that she is to be returned to our world at once.” His brow furrowed. “Even if she doesn’t want to come back. I need to explain a few things, and I’m sure once I talk to her, she’ll realize this is where she belongs.”

  “Are you ready to give it all up for her?” Larimar asked.

  “Yes.”

  The councilman nodded. “I don’t think it will come down to that, but I’m sure she would like to know that she’s more important than your job. Wasn’t that the reason the two of you parted? Because of work?”

  “Yes and no,” Borgoz answered. “I thought she deserved someone younger, someone who could devote more of their time to her. But then I realized I could delegate more of my responsibilities to the rest of the council so I would have more time for her. And for some reason, our age difference never bothered her.”

  “If she can be found, we’ll take care of it,” Larimar said. “But you have to be prepared for the possibility of never seeing her again.”

  Borgoz narrowed his eyes at Larimar. He could tell by the way the councilman shifted his eyes and by his body language that he was hiding something. Did Larimar really know where Charlotte was and just didn’t want to tell him? There was only one way to find out.

  Moving around the table, he positioned himself behind Larimar and leaned over, bracing his hand on Larimar’s hand, his lips near the councilman’s ear. “If I find out you’ve hidden something from me, that you knew where Charlotte was all this time, then there will be nowhere for you to hide. Do you understand?”

  He heard Larimar swallow and the councilman gave a slight nod.

  “So, is there something you’d like to share?” Borgoz asked. “Something about Charlotte?”

  “I really don’t know where she is,” Larimar said.

  “But you know something? Something else about Charlotte?”

  The councilman paled but nodded. Borgoz waited, but when the councilman didn’t say another word, he banged his fist on the table, making Larimar jump.

  “She’s pregnant.”

  Everything in Borgoz stilled at those words. Charlotte was pregnant? With his child? His heart kicked in his chest and began to race. He straightened and tried to calm his thoughts. If she was carrying his child and she was stuck on Earth… what if she didn’t get proper care? Not just any doctor would be able to take care of her.

  “Did she know before she went back to Earth?” Borgoz asked.

  “She wanted to be wanted for herself, not because she was carrying your child. Her plan had been to wait you out in the tower and hope that you would decide to go after her. But then her father called demanding her return and there wasn’t a way for her stay, not unless you claimed her without her father’s permission. I should have told you when I realized what her father had planned, should have forced her back to your home and made her tell you everything, but she seemed scared and defeated.”

  “It’s my fault.” The thought sickened him, but he couldn’t deny it. If he’d claimed her sooner, if he hadn’t alerted her father to his intentions, then Charlotte would be safe in his arms right now. She was out there, lost to him and completely alone, and it was his own damn fault. If he hadn’t thought he knew what was best for her, if he’d only listened when she said all she wanted was to be with him, then none of this would be happening now. She’d be safe by his side, in his home, and in his bed -- where she belonged.

  “Forget blame. Figure out how you’re going to get her b
ack,” Helio said. “If she’s carrying one of our babies, then she’s going to need a Terran doctor, right?”

  Borgoz’s spine stiffened. “Contact every Terran station on Earth and tell them the situation. Explain that Charlotte is very much wanted here and that she should be returned immediately.”

  “You know how protective our males feel towards a pregnant female,” another council member said. “What if she refuses to return and they decide to keep her there?”

  His jaw clenched. “Then my position be damned. I’ll go after her.”

  “We’ll work on getting a message out to everyone as soon as this meeting adjourns.” Helio nodded toward the door. “I think we can finish without you, if you’d like to start making arrangements for Charlotte. I’m sure there is much to be done before your mate is returned to you.”

  Borgoz stormed out of the room and returned to his home where he paced the room that had once been Charlotte’s. He’d scoured the place, looking for anything that had belonged to her, but she’d left nothing behind. Except his broken heart. If she’d been smart enough to seek out a Terran doctor, then there was hope he’d have her in his arms again soon. But if she hadn’t…

  He shook his head. No, he wouldn’t think that way. He’d remain positive and determined. No matter what, his mate would be with him again soon. There had to be some benefit to ruling an entire planet. If he couldn’t use his power for himself on occasion, what good was it? It wasn’t like he’d ever asked for anything. This was the first time he’d ever contemplated abusing his position or making demands of his people that didn’t have to do with their collective future. Although, he supposed in a way they were discussing the future of their world. If Charlotte was carrying a baby boy, it was very possible his son would walk in his footsteps and lead their people one day.