Chapter 20
No Greater Gift
After we land, I scoopTilly and KJ into my arms so I can port them home. I don’t want her to overexert herself, even if the distance isn’t great.No sense in tempting fate again.
“I can walk, you know,” she huffs as she hangs one arm around my neck while nestling the puppy in her other arm.
“Yes you can. But why walk when you’re married to the most intelligent, strongest person in the galaxy who can whisk you away with just a thought?”
She tilts her head to the turquoise sky and laughs. Early summer sunshine lands on her face and her hair shines with an inner copper light. “God, you’re so arrogant.”
“It’s the truth.” I wiggle my eyebrows, and before she has a chance to argue, I teleport us to the cave’s mouth.
She kisses my jaw, then turns her gaze to beyond my shoulder and gasps. “Oh my God, Jareth.” Her hand goes to her mouth as she stares at the surprise I had prepared while she recuperated on Mars.
I gently deposit her to the ground.
Harper and Rhys appear, grinning widely and taking turns giving her hugs, their murmuring voices echoing against the walls of the cave. But Tilly only gives them a fleeting glance as her attention rivets to the bottom of the hill.
“Is-is that ours?” She points, then turns to me, wonder flashing across her face.
“Yes. That is...if you want it.” I gesture toward Rhys and Harper. “They made it happen.”
“I have to get closer,” she says, her voice high and excited.
All three of us tramp down the hill with KJ trotting ahead, his stumpy legs trying to catch up with the rest of his little body.
Before us sits an enormous A-frame log cabin, its walls still rough with bark. A wrap-around screened porch surrounds the front with several rocking chairs scattered throughout. Floor-to-ceiling windows sit on either side of the door. A stone chimney pokes from the roof of the second story, where several skylights are spaced evenly to allow maximum brightness during the day.
In the basement, where no one can see, is the beginnings of my personal space—a room that’ll soon be outfitted with a power station so I’ll never be without energy reserves. Once a year, or sooner if needed, Granny will send a transport vessel to restock plasma.
It’ll be the only room in the house with electricity. At least for now. I have no desire to announce our presence to any scavengers passing through, even with a Henokan security perimeter and a small army of carriers on standby.
I don’t plan on needing it, but I won’t say no to the help.
Rhys ordered a team to clear the woods nearest the house, and they even managed to create a water system running from the springs at the cave to the house for indoor plumbing.
“It’s beautiful,” Tilly says, trying to hide a sniffle.
“We put those carriers to work, made them add a couple of extra bedrooms,” says Harper as she slings an arm around Tilly’s shoulder. “I figured you’re going to need it,” she whispers, probably not realizing I can hear every word with my enhanced auditory system. “Because even though his eyes give me the fucking creeps, when he stares at you, he looks like he wants to fuck your brains out. I think you’re going to have a lot of kids in your future.”
Tilly doubles over with a loud laugh. “Girl, stop it.”
Harper hitches a shoulder. “It’s true.”
Rhys steps in front of my wife and takes her hand. “We want you to be safe, comfortable, and happy. But don’t think you’ll be living lazy after that baby is born. Harper will need your help with the orphan relocation program. She even designed an office for you on the second floor.”
“This is...I have no words. We’ll still have the cave, the gardens, all this nature, but also a real house. I want to see everything.” Before anyone can respond, Tilly drags Harper up the four wooden steps leading to the porch and dashes inside.
Three seconds later, as I step into the living room, her happy squeal careens down a long hallway. “Jareth, Jareth, come here. A nursery!”
Rhys turns to me and grins.
Shaking my head, I clasp his shoulder and swallow the hard knot in my throat.
“I know how hard it is for you to say thank you, so don’t bother.” Rhys grips my upper arm with his other hand. “And you’re welcome. Now, the only thing left to make amends is me finding her sister.”
I search his face.Is he serious?
