“Okay, um, order a Paddington Bear to go on the shelf next to the books.” It would look cute and Neal could play with it if he wanted.”I think that should do it for now. We can add more later. Oh wait!” I remembered some books my first grade teacher read out loud to us. “Get the Beezus and Ramona books too.”
I was shocked to find nearly two hours had gone by and immediately became alarmed as I’d not heard a peep from Neal. In fact, I couldn’t hear him at all. I quickly peeked into his room, smiling as I saw him hard at work building. He glanced up at me and waved his current project at me.
“Look, Papa! I’m building a whole Fleet! Like ours, only kitties!”
“That’s fantastic!” I told him. “We’ll have to show Daddy when he gets home.”
“Yeah!”
A chime alerted me someone was at the door. “Okay, well, I best go get that. Come out when you’re ready for a snack.”
‘Okay, Papa.” He returned to his task.
To my surprise, there was a crew of Mylos and human males at my door, along with a couple of grav pallets stacked high.
“You ordered some furniture,” one of the Mylos said.
“Yes! I wasn’t expecting it so quickly, though.”
He shrugged. “They never do, but if it’s in stock, we just gotta load it up from ship’s stores. Show us where you want it and we’ll get it put together and set up for you.”
“Um, Xero? Could you please put up the picture you showed me?”
Xero obliged, putting up the one without any of us in it.
“Hmm, plants will probably arrive tomorrow,” he said and they began unloading boxes.
“Would you guys like something cold to drink?” I asked, feeling bad that they were doing all the work.
Hearing a chorus of yeses, I went to grab the pitcher of lemonade from the fridge and some glasses.
“A guy could definitely get used to all of this,” I murmured to myself, pouring. It was definitely a far cry from my old life and certainly all for the better.
CHAPTER29
JOLAR
“I could sure use some coffee,”Reynolds said, rubbing the back of his neck.
“You should have grabbed some on the way to the shuttle,” Peterson chided him.
“Some coffee does sound good,” Klora agreed.
Sachuu grunted. “Tea would be good before tackling that woman,” he admitted.
I sighed, knowing this meant one of us had to go fetch it. The brig did not have a replicator. “I’ll go get it. What sort of coffee and tea?”
“Regular black coffee with two sugars,” Peterson replied, “since you’re offering.” He grinned at me. “Reynolds here will help you carry them all back since he brought it up.”
“I see. I’m the new guy so I get to be the go-fer,” he complained, though his eyes twinkled and a corner of his mouth was quirked up as if he was fighting a smile.
“I’d like some jasmine tea, no sugar,” Sachuu said.
“Ohh, now that you mentioned tea, I think I’d rather have that. Um, a brown sugar bubble tea for me, thanks.” Klora looked at the agents. “I’ve been wanting to try some since last night after seeing a bubble tea stand in a scene. I was watchingDr. Chau Mysteriesand it’s set in Hong Kong.”
“If you like that show, you might likeMonkandDeath in Paradise,”Reyolds told him. “They are quirky in the same sort of way and are also cozies.”
“Oh! I’ll have to check them out,” Klora replied. “I feel the need for something light after all of the heavier stuff I’ve watched and finding the body and all.”
