“I’ll make sure to remember that.”
“Do you mind if we stop here for a few minutes? Graham loves playing in the water.” Maeve grins down at the top of her son’s head. “Plus, he gets a bit heavy to carry after a while and I could use a short break.”
“Of course we can stop.” I’ve never spent time around kids, and definitely not infants.
“Thanks.” She sits on the bank and unwraps the leather cloth from around her and Graham until he’s free of it.
On surprisingly steady feet, he walks the last few steps to the water’s edge and squats down to pound his fists on its surface, splashing liquid everywhere. Adorable laughter spills from him and it’s impossible not to smile at his antics. I lower myself next to Maeve to watch her son amuse himself.
“Katem says you have a list of things you want to accomplish,” she says after a few minutes of quiet. “I’m happy to help you cross anything off that I can.”
“Thank you. I’ve only checked off a couple of things, because they’ve been surprisingly easy. Much to my surprise.”
“Are you comfortable with sharing what’s on it?”
Not everything, but I don’t mind sharing a few things. “Katem took me to see the…well it was sort of an ocean.”
“Ah, yes, the ujera. I haven’t seen it, but Remi has gone several times with Zydon and says it’s stunning.”
“It is. I’ve never seen diamonds in real life, but it looked how I imagined they would look scattered over a large surface and sparkling from the sunlight. The kaleidoscope of colors was nearly blinding for the short time they were present.” There are nights when I bring back the memory and marvel at it.
“Sounds amazing. Maybe I’ll convince Benham to take me there one day just so I can say I’ve seen it.”
“Everyone should experience it at least once, I think.”
Maeve nods. “What else?”
“Well, you know I’m learning pottery from Alesha. The weird thing is I don’t even know why I wanted to learn.” I pause and reconsider. “Actually, I think it was on the ship here. In the recreation room were some data pads, something I’d never used before in my life. I somehow, randomly, came across an old video of a tutorial and it looked so calming. I did a search and found a bunch more.”
I glance over at Maeve with heated cheeks. “If I tell you something will you promise not to laugh?”
Her eyes widen. “Of course.”
“Another reason I wanted to learn was because when I was searching the data pad for more videos, I found a really, really old movie. The pretty woman in it was a potter. There was this scene where she can’t sleep and she’s working when her boyfriend or husband comes in. He sits behind her and in thebackground a romantic song is playing and with his hands over hers, they work on the piece of pottery. It was sensual the way their fingers twined and glided together and how she was caged within his arms. He kisses the side of her neck and it became this sexually charged thing between them.” I wave my hands, feeling a little embarrassed, and can’t look at Maeve. “Anyway, it was just really sexy and that night I had a dream that I was awake, working on some pottery and a faceless man slid in behind me and we played out the scene. It’s a stupid reason for wanting to learn how to make pottery, I know.”
“Are you kidding? That sounds incredibly hot.”
I glance over at her to see if she’s making fun of me, but her eyes are wide and her cheeks are stained pink. Still, I smack my hand over my face. “God, I can’t believe I told you that.”
“Do what makes you happy or what feels good. You won’t get any judgment from me. ” Maeve’s attention quickly shifts to Graham. She jumps up and sweeps him into her arms just as he’s about to tip head first into the river. “No swimming this morning, please.”
My heart stops beating for a second before starting up again. That was close. I’m sure she can swim, but I can’t. What would have happened if he’d fallen in? I’d have been helpless. This makes me more determined to have Katem teach me how. Maeve expertly wraps the leather cloth around Graham and herself like she’s done it a thousand times before. Once he’s completely secure, she stands up.
“You ready to continue the tour?”
“Ready.”
I’m really enjoying my time with Maeve. She has this quiet presence, but she’s also been warm and kind. Like someone I could really become friends with. I’m not sure we’ll ever get close enough for her to consider me a sister like she does the other women, but I’m happy to have a friend. They were few and far between for me back on Earth. Of course, our friendship will be short-lived so maybe it’s best if I keep my distance and not grow too attached.
Chapter 15
Katem
My focus has drifted throughout the entire training session back to Piper and the fact that she has most likely placed all her belongings in the chest I left empty. When we leave the evening meal, it will be to retire inourtent. Not only mine, but hers as well. A great pain lands in my side as Benham’s hit connects, and I groan at its sharpness.
“You are not paying attention,” he scolds.
“My mind is on my mate.”
