"You got her number?" Nalea gawked at me. "Girl."
"No…actually. Nae! Quit being all intense. We're about to have a baby!" I flailed my arms and one of the magazines flew off the table when a gust of air hit it. "Shit."
"Control yourself before we both lose it to some sort of indoor tornado." She held both of my hands in hers, and her smile softened a bit. "Good to know we're both losing our cool, though."
"Yeah. I only lose my cool over the two of you."
"Mrs. Spooner?" called the nurse as she entered, her eyes on the chart in her hand before she glanced between us.
"Me." Nalea flew out of her seat. "Is she okay?"
"Your wife is just fine." The nurse smiled and waved her forward. "We're ready for you. Who do you have with you?"
"My best—sister." She grinned when the nurse cocked a brow at her. "My very white, very redheaded adopted sister."
I laughed and shook my head at her.
"Uh huh. I see," she said, tangled with a chortle. "I'll let the team know the ginger is part of the family. Only one in the room at a time though, I'm afraid."
"Okay." Nalea looked back at me. "Are you okay here?"
"Of course. Go be with your wife. Bring me back a baby. Go on." I flicked my fingers at her and she nearly bounced with glee as she headed off after her.
While alone in the room, my thoughts swirled around me. Nalea's joy radiated from her, filtering into me. I closed my eyes, focused on drowning out the sounds of bustling humanity around me, and attempted to locate Audra or Nalea. Nothing turned up at first, save for the sounds of ringing that manifested when I pressed too hard.
The only thing I could do was wait and ruminate.
Chapter Four
"Don't fuss, don't fuss." Audra squeaked when the newborn writhed in her arms. "I got you. Hang on, little butt. There ya go." She let out a heavy sigh when she finally latched on to her nipple. "This kid is always hungry."
"But she's so cute about it. I love her name." I sat beside Audra, stroking the baby's foot with my finger while she nursed. "Elara."
"We figured she deserved a name ending in an A just like the rest of us." Audra smiled while resting her head on the pillow propped behind it.
"She's perfect. Can I get you anything while Nalea naps? We're doing pretty good with our rotations so far."
"I'm good, actually. Though I really feel like I'm going to want Peruvian food for dinner." She wagged her brows at me. "Can you make that happen?"
"You know it." I chuckled and watched as she brushed her fingers over the bits of thick, dark hair sprouting out from under Elara's little cap. "She's so sweet."
"You've been such a help, Veyda. We knew with just the two of us it would be difficult, but three of us just makes it simply challenging instead of horrific." She snickered then bumped my head with hers when I shared her pillow.
"I'm enjoying it. I like helping. Truly. Her heart sounds so different outside of your belly. Like normal but a little faster."
"Can you hear her gas, too? Because baby girl knows how to tear it up in the pants."
"Yes." I snickered and poked her shoulder. "I love hearing the content sounds she makes when she eats."
"A happy, well-loved little girl in just her first week. She adores you already. I spent the morning prying red hair from her fist, by the way. Warned you."
"Yeah." I grinned and watched as she swapped the baby to her other breast. "I don't mind. It's a good price to pay for snuggles."
"She doesn't overwhelm you when you hold her?"
I shook my head. "It's different. Like…" I thought about how to phrase it. "Like my survival instincts turn off for something else. Like all the crazy sensations and the energy at the center of me allows her entry, then wraps around her, too, as if she was a part of me."
"Maybe it's part of your survival instincts, but maybe not the human ones," she posed, and I considered it.
"Yeah. Maybe…"
"Do you ever wish your mother was here to clarify?"
"Sometimes." I shrugged while continuing to run my knuckle over Elara's tiny feet. "I'm sure I could find other Hybridians or refugees from my galaxy or home planet, but I don't really want to get too far into it. My mother left there for a reason, and rarely spoke about it. Maybe she was protecting me from something I shouldn't know about."
"It's possible." Audra lifted the baby to her shoulder for burping, and we both waited, anticipating the cute noise to follow. We shared a chuckle when it happened. "Want to hold her while I pee? Take the burp cloth though."
"Absolutely." I held my arms up for the little one, and she shifted her to me with ease.
When she first came home, I feared holding her too tight or too loose, but it only took a few tries before I found my groove. I slouched in my seat, and let Elara rest on my chest, curled up under my chin. She grunted and groaned while finding her spot, her ear falling to the soft space at the base of my neck. I kissed the top of her head, and my entire body relaxed into the cuddle session with the baby. Loving people didn't come easy for me, mainly because I prevented myself from doing so, but I knew the minute I heard her first heartbeat, that I loved this little girl. I loved her now more than ever, because she loved me as I was. She didn't care about my eyes or my hair or the fact I could turn the living room into a mini tornado. Her love unfolded from something primal, something at the core of our beings and most sentient beings aligned with good and hope. I couldn't quite wrap my mind around the expanse of it, but it didn't matter. I felt it, my love for her, her mothers, and theirs for me.
I looked up to see Audra snapping a photo on her return from the bathroom. Her smile lifted her cheeks, and my response matched hers.
"You look so beautiful like that. Both of you." She blinked away a tear that leapt from her lashes. "Like your love just…radiates from you. I can feel it. Like I just walked into a bubble of your warmth."
"I think you just love me and you're imagining it." I snickered while rubbing Elara's back. She scooted her knees in the cutest way and I kissed her tiny shoulder.
"It's one of your powers. I'm convinced. Sometimes…" She sat down beside me and snapped a few more photos. "Nalea says it, too. But you've only ever allowed the two of us inside the swell of whatever energy you give off. With Elara, it's so strong I can almost see it. Like little sparks of magenta around you. But not if I look directly at you. Out of the corner of my eye."
My brow furrowed as I recalled what the little girl in the museum said to me. "Maybe. Probably not though."
"You just don't want to be called a bouncing ball of cuddles unless it's for your niece." Audra poked the hand that I used to support the baby's bottom. "But I'll accept it for now."
I winked at her, and she smiled. "When is Nalea's mom due to arrive?"
"Around seven tonight," she said, lounging back in the cushions. The fatigue pressed in on her quickly these days, but I expected it.
"Good. She can take my bed. It's more comfortable than the sofa bed and you know I can sleep wherever…"
"You shouldn't have to do that, Vey. Really."
"I mean it. Besides, it's easier for me to come and go without disturbing her."
"You? Disturb someone?" She scoffed. "With your shadow walking whatever mad skills."
I chuckled, and Elara cooed when my stomach lifted with it. "I've got skills, I tell ya."
"Speaking of…Nae told me about the museum curator situation. Are you really going to tell her?"
"I mean, I don't live in full secret. A lot of people know I'm Hybridian. So many of the Shadow Protectors are just open about who they are. I choose not to be, but it doesn't have to be that way. I scared her, like really scared her, Audra. I could…taste her fear." I brushed my lips over Elara's cozy blanket while caressing her back in soft circles. "Literally taste it. Knowing who she is makes it worse. She's not a stranger and I think…we might've had a coffee date?"
"Probably." She nodded and wagged her brows at me. "Is she cute?"
> "Very." I felt my face heat up and attempted to hide it by nuzzling the baby.
"What's she look like?"
"Long, dark brown hair, gray eyes. Slender, and she wears some killer outfits. Once she wore suspenders and heels which about killed me. When I bumped into her, she appeared ready to go on an artifact dig." I shook my head and shrugged.
"So…what you're saying is she's cute no matter what she wears, yeah?" Audra poked me with her toe, and I scrunched my nose at her.
"Maybe."
"Uh huh. Been a long time since you've been into someone."
"I wouldn't say I'm into her…"
"I would."
"She drove me to the hospital the day you were in labor which is why I wasn't there immediately. I couldn't just…fly away."
"But if you tell her, you could…"
"Yeah. But it's not about that. It's about how I made her feel. That wasn't okay."
"What happened though?" she asked, though we both looked up when Nalea joined us. She yawned while stretching, and her fatigue played as heavily on her as Audra's. "Hi, baby."
"Hi." Nalea leaned down and gave her wife an upside-down kiss. "Couldn't sleep anymore. I need to tidy up before mom gets here."
"I already did," I said, patting the spot on the sofa between us.
"What?" Nalea's eyes widened when she glanced around. "Well damn." She urged Audra's feet into her lap and stroked her legs while leaning over to kiss the baby. "What a good auntie you have. Thanks, Vey."
"I have a lot of energy that needs to go places when I'm not taking down bad guys with my favorite sidekick." I grinned when I said it and Audra laughed.
"If you weren't holding my child, I'd punch you." Nalea scowled and I tried not to crack up and disturb the baby.
"She's my baby shield of love."
Audra grinned then poked Nalea's stomach with her toe. "We were talking about this curator she has a crush on and what happened between them."
"What happened?" Nae's eyes widened. "What've I missed during my temporary coma?"
"Nothing new. Just caught her up about how I scared her and stuff."
"Ah…" Nalea dropped her hand on top of my head carefully in an almost maternal gesture. "We're still feeling guilty about that."
"Haunted, actually."
"Listen here, boo—"
"Hey, you can't have two boos." Audra pushed her sock-covered foot into Nae's face. "I'm boo."
I laughed at them, again bouncing the baby who didn't seem to mind anymore.
"Fine," muttered Nae, then nipped at her big toe. "You're Boo, and she's Little Boo."
"Fine." Audra huffed. "She can be Little Boo."
"And Elara is Baby Boo." I snickered when I said it and both of them let out twin aww's.
"Baby Boo." Nalea grinned. "Done. Let me try again." She cleared her throat. "Listen here, Little Boo. I'm not gonna tell you what to do, but I'm going to tell you to be careful with yourself. We might be decades into alien-human relations at this point, but there are still some very large, very boastful anti-alien movements out there. It's gone on for time immemorial."
"I know. I don't think she's like that…"
"Honey…" Nalea brushed her finger down my cheek. "She pulled a gun on you knowing you were a Protector. You've been on the news, in the streets. She knows who you are and what you do and yet…"
I held my breath for a moment and glanced to Audra.
"I hate to say it…but she does make a minor point." She held her fingers an inch apart. "Be careful."
"I love you both. I'll be careful."
"You like her. Get to know her as yourself if that's what you want," added Nalea. "And if, and when you're ready or understand her motivations, then you can do what you need to."
"I don't want to…like her if she's going to dislike who I am." I turned my attention back to Elara and allowed myself to focus on the thumps of her heart. Every beat of her reverberated through me as if her lifeforce tapped against mine. I reveled in it and closed my eyes.
Talking about Harlow, or any relationships beyond the family I loved right there with me, overwhelmed me at times. It wasn't ever something I was good at. How could I be?
Neither of them said anything to that, but the way Nalea smooched my cheek spoke more than anything else could.
"We better get ready for grandparent palooza to begin this week," I said, breaking the tension. "Naomi tonight, Gretta and Kai tomorrow."
"It's going to be a time." Nalea groaned and covered her face.
"I'm looking forward to the food." I laughed and Audra grinned, tossing me a thumbs up. "I can get down with Naomi's cooking any day."
"She likes the soul food." Nalea grinned and nibbled Audra's bent knee. "Just like you, honey."
"Yum. Definitely like me except I like the meaty dishes." Audra wagged her brows at her. "My parents rarely cooked and definitely didn't throwback cook to old times."
"My dad kept things simple after my mom passed. But he was awesome. He used to fry plant-based hotdogs and smother them in cheese then toss them over fries or chips. Literally my favorite meal growing up. For some reason, it didn't overwhelm my tastebuds." I caressed Elara's cheek with my finger. "I'll make it for her when she can chew, but maybe with a little bit healthier options." I looked up and caught the two of them sharing a smile. "What?"
"We love how you are with her. That's all," said Nalea. "And now we have to talk about a bigger place to live…"
All three of us laughed at that and embarked on an afternoon spent talking about our futures.
***
With the apartment amok with all the happy family members fading in and out to help the new mothers, I took my chance to step away knowing they were in good hands. The afternoon rolled to a close by the time I headed back to the museum, this time, not particularly in search of art. As before, I purchased a general admission ticket and played my luck at hopefully running into Harlow.
Not many tours took place on a Friday afternoon, so instead, I meandered through the exhibits as my anxiety continued to mount. After almost an hour, I broke down and asked the young man who accompanied the infamous curator on the day she toured them through the electronics room.
"Oh, sure." He smiled, his customer service face spot on. "Miss Misner is working in the back today. Is she expecting you?"
"Um…" I bit my lip and nodded. "Yes. Kind of."
"Okay." He pointed down the corridor ahead of us. "Down there, take a right at the end, and follow it toward the double doors in back. It says staff only, but she's been going in and out all afternoon setting up a new display. What's your name again?"
"Veyda."
"Oh." His brows flicked upward with a broader smile. "Gotcha. Yeah. You'll find her back there. I'm Alistair or Al. Al's easier."
"Okay, Al." I chuckled and stepped away from him to head down the hall. "Thanks."
"Welcome." He saluted me, then watched me for a moment before returning to his tasks.
In the long, empty hall, I closed my eyes and focused on the sounds around me. From behind, the voices of the visitors joined together with the tones of music that accompanied some exhibits. I concentrated my attention ahead of me, and eventually, I picked up on Harlow's smooth tones.
"This installation is similar to the exhibit from twenty-twenty-one. It was one of our most successful. I want it to be accurate," she told someone.
"Why the revival?" a male voice asked.
"Because it's what I want to do." Her firm response brought a smirk to my face and carried me to the edge of the storage room entryway.
Shock met me when I looked in to see the massive metal containers moved around the room by a digital crane system. Harlow stood in front of a bright control panel, poking at the display screen as the containers moved in and out of the floor around her. For a fleeting moment, she appeared like she piloted some sort of spacecraft. The man she spoke to stood twenty feet above her, looking down into the pit of containers below.
"Watch
it, Harlow. You need to go slower," he spat, starting when two heavy metal containers clanged. "Shit. That's loud." He raised his voice with the shock.
"S-sorry." Harlow stuttered, startling and looking up at him as she yanked her hands away from the controls for a second.
He calmed down, his expression softening when he looked at her. "You're fine. Just go slow."
"Didn't mean to freak you out." She appeared to recover, though her diligence with the containers increased.
It took me a moment to realize I leaned into the shadows while watching them and stepped back out into the hall to make an appropriate entrance. I knocked on the door when the containers stopped moving, and both of them looked up immediately. The man's brow furrowed, but Harlow's expression brightened immediately.
"Veyda." She breathed out my name, then turned her attention back to the man above us. "I need a minute. You good?"
"Yes, ma'am." He adjusted his hat, the began his descent down the stairs.
Harlow jogged over to me, today wearing similar dig site gear to when we collided at the university. She held her arms out to me, catching me in a casual hug that I should've anticipated. Every bit of me tensed as I expected the past to repeat itself. Surprise hugs often brought me great discomfort. At least when I saw it coming, I could prepare. I returned her embrace, a little stiffly, but she didn't seem to notice right away.
She rubbed my arms when we leaned back and said, "I never got your number and the university said you were out all week."
"I was. You looked for me?" My face heated immediately at the disclosure, and she nodded.
"Of course. I knew you'd eventually find me when things calmed down. How's the baby and parents?" she asked, releasing me and gesturing down the hall. "My office is over here."
"They're all doing great." I followed her around the corner to the closed door with a plaque bearing her name and title, Harlow Misner, Curator.
She opened the door for me, ushering me inside. I expected a typical office, instead, I found a vast space broken into three parts. A narrow desk with a huge virtual display and a wooden bookshelf filled with old books of all shapes took up only a third of the room. The rest belonged to what appeared to be a workshop. Equipment, tools, and artifacts perched on different mounts filled a long table. Reddish dirt covered the area in places, and a wall of fossils overlooked all of it.
Jawbreaker (Four Point Universe Book 14) Page 5