Total pages in book: 22
Estimated words: 19577 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 98(@200wpm)___ 78(@250wpm)___ 65(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 19577 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 98(@200wpm)___ 78(@250wpm)___ 65(@300wpm)
"Dinner is almost ready," the praxiian in my kitchen calls out and then runs over to my side, a spatula in one hand. He holds the other out to me.
I take it this time, letting him help heave me to my feet. The babies in my stomach kick a protest but I ignore them and focus on the guy in front of me. He seems so very happy. Maybe that's why I fell for him. He looks as if nothing would ever bother him. "Bodhrri, right?"
His smile lights up the room. "And you are Payton. I haven't forgotten."
Smiling back, I head to the bathroom to freshen up. When I emerge, he's setting the table with two plates of steaming noodles, mixed with a bit of veg and meat. He pulls out a chair for me and pours me another cup of hot tea after I sit, and then my stomach growls so loud that we both hear it.
"Is that one of the babies?" he asks.
I snort. "No, it's just me being ravenous. Dinner looks amazing, by the way."
"I used what you had on hand. I can go into Port tomorrow and see what's new or fresh at the store."
Nodding, I take a huge bite of noodles. I normally love going to Port to wander about and see what the baker has, along with anything new at the store. But ever since my stomach grew exponentially, it's felt like a lot more work. As we eat, Bodhrri talks about the state of my farm. The crops haven't been weeded for a while because the weeding bot needs an update. The watering bot has a leak, and only the seeding bot is working properly. The meat-stock are all young and healthy but need scheduled inoculations, along with a rotation of the pasture. Their water tank needs cleaning, and the more he tells me, the guiltier I feel that I've let so many things slide.
"I am not telling you this to shame you," he says, reading my expression. "I am telling you to sell my worth to you. To show that you need me around."
I've decided that already. I decided it the moment he put this huge platter of food down in front of me. The dinner is delicious, and before I know it, I've cleaned my plate. I set my fork down, resisting the urge to ask for more food, and sip my tea instead. "I want you to stay. Not just to do the work, which I appreciate and will happily pay for, but because you and I need to figure out how we go forward."
Bodhrri nods, his gaze sliding to my rounded belly, which even now juts out an obscene amount. "May I ask...how many you are having?"
It's a fair question, and one that he should absolutely be asking. "I was told that there are three babies, but because of how tightly they're in there, there might even be a fourth one." I shift in my seat, my back aching. "Is that a normal thing with your people? Praxiians?"
He shakes his head, his eyes wide. "I know multiple births happen occasionally but I do not think they're that common."
Figures. I'd heard stories from other women about how they'd been genetically tampered with when captured as slaves, with the aliens making them extremely fertile to increase their value. When I heard I was having multiples, I wondered if that was the case. I guess I know now. "Seems like we are just lucky."
"It's the stars," he says in a soft, reverent voice. "They are granting my wishes."
"The stars?" I stare at him, flummoxed. "What are you talking about?"
"You don't remember our conversation? From that night?" At my expression, he guesses my answer and continues. "I see. Well, you had told me that your people wish upon stars. That if you see one falling from the sky, you are to make a wish and it will be granted. I have been watching the stars every night since that night, hoping for more of them to fall while I observe."
I talked about that? I've always mentioned wishing on a star in the past, but I didn't realize I said anything to him. I've been obsessed with how bright the stars are here on Risda, too. Before my belly got huge, I'd pull a chair out into the front yard and just sit and watch the gorgeous nighttime skies for hours. "Oh. Have you seen a lot of falling stars?"
"Just the night we were together." Bodhrri looks thrilled. "But that was enough."
"And what did you wish for?"
For a moment, he seems bashful. "An opportunity to stay. This planet is...wondrous. I hardly ever cough anymore."
"Cough?" I ask, a prickle of alarm rising inside me. Please, dear god, do not let it be something genetic and I have several of his children growing inside me. "Are you ill?"