17. Sarah
SARAH
The bikes thing had merely been about Nick suggesting we all have the general store obtain some for all of our kids, so they could enjoy the safe, open roads and ride back and forth to school and friends’ houses.
I had to admit, I was liking the idea, and so he promised he’d speak to Kelran about it before returning home.
“Maybe he’ll be able to replicate some, even. He has a larger replicator for bigger stuff.”
Darren nodded. “If he can, Tarek and I should look at getting some too. We can go on family rides, and use them to get around while working. We’ve got access to a flitter, but bikes will keep us in better shape and beat walking everywhere.”
“Can we afford bikes?” I asked Doran, and he nodded. “We both got our settlement stipend, and you got extra because of the bonus scheme.”
I nodded. He was right. I had gotten extra, some of which was payable to me, and the larger amount, which I’d sent to Grammie.
“Which reminds me, I need to call my mom and dad so they know they can book an earlier flight.”
Bob let me know that the time wasn’t an unsociable hour to be calling when I asked, so I had him open a comm call, video on.
“Hello? Oh! You look tired, dear!”
I laughed. “I’m still getting used to the time difference and only woke up from a nap a little while ago.” It had been just over an hour now, but potato, potahto.
“I see. That’s understandable.” She peered as if trying to see behind me to get a glimpse at my surroundings. “Where are you? Is that Grammie’s table I see?”
“It is! She had the Mylos come collect it and bring it to me. Wasn’t that sweet of her? And we’re in our house. They got it finished just in time for us to get here and move in!”
Her eyes darted off to the side. “I see.”
“Anyway, everything is all set. We just need for you and Dad to bring the kids and his folks to get here, and we can get married.”
“Now?”
“Well, whenever the Mylos can get you a flight out, yeah. Bob said you could probably go tomorrow and be here in three days.”
“No, no, no. I’m afraid we can’t do that.”
“Why the hell not?” I asked her, leaning back.
“Language! And it’s because we decided to take the kids on a trip to Disneyland. So, you see, while I’m on my laptop, I’m in our hotel room, and we just got checked in. “
I deflated.
“Oh. Okay, and how long will you be there?”
“A week.”
“I’ll find out if the Mylos can pick you up from down there and get a refund for your tickets home.”
“As long as it doesn’t cut off their fun time. No sooner than the morning of the eighth day, and today is the first day.”
I sighed. “Okay.“ I was disappointed. That would put them here only a couple of days earlier than initially planned. It was a disappointment, but I couldn’t be that person who took freaking Disneyland away from them. “I’ll let Doran know so he can coordinate with his parents and Bob can make the final arrangements.” I really hoped they could fly straight out on the eighth day.
If not, I might not get to see them until the original date.
Which was okay, but my heart had been set on seeing them in only three, maybe four, days tops.
“Where is your dragonii husband anyway?” She asked.
“He’s on the porch talking about bicycles with the sheriff and schoolteacher and their mates.”
“Bicycles?”
“Yes. All the kids are getting bicycles. Don’t tell the kids. Let them be a surprise.”
“I won’t. Are you sure your father and I can’t simply take them to pick out bikes and have them shipped along with us?”
“Please don’t. I think there is going to be some grand reveal to all the kids on New Haven where they’re presented with their bikes.”
She grunted. “I see. Well, I best let you go. Text me the flight information when you have it.”
Then she hung up. I blinked. She’d not even put my kids on. For that matter, where had my kids and father been? I hadn’t seen nor heard hide nor hair of them, nor gotten a good look at their motel room.
“I’m being ridiculous. They probably nagged Dad into taking them straight to the hotel pool.”
I stood up and stretched.
“Hey, Bob?”
“Yes, Sarah?”
Can you please see if the Mylos can pick up my parents and kids from the Disneyland area instead of our hometown? And get their return flights refunded by the airline?’
“I’ll get Xero right on it,” he promised.
“Thanks.” I wandered out from our quarters to find the boys where they’d been left while the super secret bicycle talk happened on our porch, Doran now with them. They were watching an episode of The Flintstones, and I settled down to join them.
“Laura’s asleep in her crib,” Doran told me softly, pulling me into his side. ”How’d the comm go?”
“I’ll tell you later.” Right now I just wanted to soak in the warm comfort his touch brought me and indulge in the nostalgia of the old cartoon.
“Everything alright?” he pressed.
I sighed. “Yeah. Just it will take a little longer than I’d hoped before they get here.”
“Mmm,” he murmured against my hair before pressing a gentle kiss there.
It was sloppy, maybe, but his kiss and side arm hug as we snuggled? It really did make it better. Not completely, but mostly.
“I love you,” I said, and we both froze.
I swallowed, realizing I really did mean it, too.
”You don’t have to say it back!” I rushed out.
“It’s just… I think I fell for you as soon as I saw your picture.
Or at least crushed on you so hard, and it felt like I’ve known you always after meeting and spending time with you, but - oh, god, it’s way too soon for the “L” word’, isn’t it? ”
I wanted to hide, but he wasn’t having any of it. He tugged me onto his lap, facing him, instead. “I don’t think feelings get an asterisk timeline. When your kits were born, did it take a long time for you to love them?”
I shook my head. “Of course not! I already had tender feelings towards them, and the mommy hormones finished sealing the deal as soon as I laid eyes on their perfect little bodies.”
He arched an eyebrow. “And you think hormones released upon finding and meeting one’s star given mate are any different?”
“Well, when you put it that way.”
“I do. Put it that way, and I love you too.”
“Gross,” one of the boys said.
“Not gross,” Doran declared. “Wondrous.” And then, he kissed me gently,
I smiled goofily. I loved him, and he loved me back!
I thanked my lucky stars I’d taken Grammie’s advice. I couldn’t imagine not being here now. This already felt so much like home and Doran’s being here was a huge part of that.
I went to move off of his lap so the boys would stop making gagging noises. Doran shifted, and I smirked, feeling his chubby beneath me as I slid off. I was still too sore for that, but I had other ideas for some fun things we could do with that later. Much, much later.
I settled against him once more just as Fred did his wiggly tip toe thing while preparing to bowl.
“Surely that is not possible?” Doran asked and I laughed.
“Not really, but then none of this has any bearing on the reality of prehistoric life on Earth.”
“This makes a lot more sense now.”
I pecked his jaw, his beard rough against my lips, and his tail moved to twine around my waist from where it stretched along the couch behind me. He was so sexy and hunky, but also endearingly cute. And he was all mine.