“Well. Well, okay then.” I stuttered over my words, having expected at least some drama and upset from them. “Thanks?”
They both laughed. “There’s nothing to thank,” said Elias. “We like the guy. We’ve got a bunch of kids, work, political things with the Junta. After the baby is born, we'll have to go back to real life, and we want to get busy chasing our own career dreams. And you want to work with the dragons. Having one more set of eyes in the family, on you, on the kids, on us—it’s a good thing!”
I launched myself into his arms, Anthony following behind. I found myself snuggled in between them, cocooned in my favorite non-sleeping position. For sleeping I made them move and let me spread out. We laid like that for a while, whispering about our hopes and dreams for the baby and our careers, before finally getting up and going down to make a real breakfast for me and Axoular, and to warm some blood for them. My heart was light, and my anger was gone. We’d figure it all out together.
CHAPTER FOUR
AXOULAR
I couldn’t believe she’d agreed. We were about to go on our first date. Elias and Anthony cornered me the next time she took a shower after they had their talk, and let me know they were okay with it, but basically, they’d kill me—slowly—if I hurt her or did anything she didn’t want me to do, including sex.
The thought of hurting her in any way pained me, and I told them such. I wanted to spend my life giving her pleasure, in any way I could. I told them that, too.
They’d broken out into big smiles and did a lot of punching me on the arm, which I didn’t really understand. Must’ve been some Earth tradition, so I punched them back. Anthony growled a little when I did. Maybe I punched too hard? I wasn’t sure.
A few days passed and I asked Riley to accompany me to a big Balinese pig roasting and she’d agreed. We’d just returned from grocery shopping, where I’d heard about the roast. I made discreet inquiries and discovered how to purchase tickets. I presented them to her after we unpacked our shopping, and she’d squealed in delight and pulled me into a big hug. The baby didn’t like it and kicked me away.
I was dressed in Anthony’s jeans and Elias’s shirt, and I looked as nice as I could. I’d shaved and tried to tame my thick black hair, but it went whatever direction it wanted to.
I tapped on her bedroom door. She insisted I collect her for our outing. She said it was a tradition on Earth. I didn’t care where we met, as long as we got to spend more time together.
She opened the door wearing a flowy dress in a dark purple. Her reddish hair was swept up one side to cascade down the other. She looked amazing.
“You ready?” I asked.
“Yes.” She sounded excited. “I’m starving!”
“Me, too. I’ve never been to a pig roast, any idea what we’re in for?”
“Well, I know in Hawaii, they usually entertain you with a show of native dancing or maybe some flame-throwing.”
“We could probably make a better showing than they could of flame-throwing.”
She laughed, and her voice sounded like bells. Her voice was deeper than a lot of other women I’d met on Earth, or at least the ones I’d observed when out in public. But when she laughed her whole face lit up and the room got brighter.
“I’d say you’re right about that.”
“Where are Elias and Anthony tonight?” I was surprised they didn’t tag along or at least weren’t there to see her off.
“They headed to the local movie theater. There’s one on the other side of the island that shows films in English.”
I led her outside to the taxi waiting to take us to the roast. I’d considered renting one of the motorcycles, which seemed to be the preferred method of transport on the island, but Anthony forbade me from putting his pregnant wife on one. It was a smart decision considering I’d never driven one in my life.
The taxi driver spoke perfect English and we were soon on our way without any communication problems. Neither one of us spoke a word of Balinese.
We were staying on the easternmost part of the island, near the Taman Soekasada Ujung Water Palace. We’d played the part of tourists the day before and taken a tour of the palace. It was breathtaking. It reminded me of Galdiart before the war destroyed it.
The roast was a little further inland. When we arrived, I paid the taxi driver and arranged to have another taxi pick us up while Riley presented our tickets to the host. He smiled, hugged us both, and showed us to our seats. We were in a sort of amphitheater, complete with grass table skirts. People milled everywhere and someone immediately came and took our drink order. They returned within minutes with neon-colored glasses with umbrellas stuck in. “Riley, why are there tiny pink umbrellas in our drinks?”
She laughed and stuck mine in her hair. It clashed with the red in her hair, but I loved it anyway. “The locals, in any beach destination all over the world, think that tourists require little umbrellas in their drinks to truly feel like they’re on vacation.” She looked down at her avocado drink with delight on her face. We’d tried one the day before and she’d loved it. It was blended with sugar, ice, and chocolate. It had made me gag.
She took one sip and grimaced. “It’s got alcohol in it.”
I knew what that meant. We had spirits on Galdiart as well, and we knew not to let a pregnant woman drink more than a few sips or it could harm the babe. “I’ll go get you another and make sure they understand.”
I rose and took her drink over to the bar, which was across the amphitheater. I had to slip through many, many dancing bodies to get to the other side. I’d thought the pig roast would be a family-friendly type event, but I was wrong. It was just an excuse to party and drink. We probably wouldn’t stay long.
It took longer than I liked to replace her drink but at least the bartender understood me and once it was my turn, made the drink quickly. I returned to the table to find Riley gone. I sat down to wait, assuming she was in the washroom, but I didn’t sit for long because I spotted a handprint, in black soot, on the tablecloth, and the cloth itself was singed. Something was wrong. Riley left, and she didn’t leave willingly.
