I did not press the subject. The group home had been his last placement before I’d adopted him.
“Well,” I said, turning the bacon after placing the soaked bread in another pan to brown, “the Commander’s wife told me this was her mother’s recipe and her mother used to make it every Sunday morning.” I lowered my voice conspiratorially. “Though I’m not sure why it was always on a Sunday, same as yours, as she told me it was okay to eat any morning.”
Neal laughed. “Because Sunday is the special food day, Daddy, if you gots a family! You haves the really good breakfast and then a big dinner with a big chicken or a pot roast and smashed tatoes and stuff! Or else you go has a picnic in the park for lunch and order pizza for dinner.”
A special food day, huh? I’d have to remember that. As for having a family, he definitely had that now. And as for picnics, I’d have to think about that. I seemed to recall there was something about sandwiches, cakes, a basket to pack the food in, a blanket to sit on, and ants who come steal all the food. We didn’t have any ants, which I was pretty sure was okay because the movies all showed everyone trying to chase the ants away. Everything else I could do; we had a park with the requisite greenery and even some play equipment for Neal to enjoy. I just needed to find out what should go in the sandwiches and if it was okay to pack some Mylosian food. I was trying to get Neal to eat more of it and learn more about his new culture.
I flipped the toast over and began dipping another piece of bread ready to place it in the pan next. My kunnarskyn beeped, letting me know I had a message. I frowned, wondering what it was. Today was my day off and the tone it had emitted had marked it as urgent. I removed the piece of cooked toast and turned off the bacon as it was ready, and plated up Neal's serving.
“Here you go, the syrup is on the table. Be careful with it.”
I was sure he’d be okay, it had a pop top that only let out a little bit at a time when I’d tested it. Once I had my piece of toast in the hot pan, I checked my message.
Congratulations, you have been matched.
I stared at it in disbelief. I’d been matched already? I’d been here less than an Earth year and there were hundreds of Mylos onboard this ship alone who had been waiting far longer.
“Daddy, is something wrong?’
I turned to face my son.
“Not at all,” I reassured him, beaming at him as the smell of my toast scorching reached my nose. I hurriedly spun around and added some more butter to the pan before flipping it over. Just a bit of the edges had gotten overcooked, thank goodness. The butter and toast sizzled and I turned the heat on the pan down.
“You looked funny, like something was the matter.”
“Nope, I just got a bit of a surprise is all.”
“A good surprise or a bad one?”
“Oh, it’s a very good one, and it’s for both me and you.”
I placed my food on my plate, turned the cooker off, and took my usual seat next to him. Before eating, however, I tapped out my reply, letting the center know I’d be there in an hour. I was not going to cheat my young out of his breakfast treat and I needed to explain to him what was about to happen. I looked up to find him staring at me, chewing his food with a thoughtful look.
I gave him a warm smile. “Remember how we talked about the Fleet?”
He nodded, swallowing his food. “Yeah,” he said, sounding noncommittal. He picked up his cup and took a large swig of his milk.
“Well,” I continued brightly, “then you’ll recall this is called the Bride Fleet, as we came looking for mates. Only of course, not all of us want brides, some of us hoped for grooms. And many of us wanted families, so even if we never found our mate, we’d have young to love.”
“Are you getting another kid?” he asked me, his tone sounding flat.
“No, no. But we are getting a new family member. I’ve just been informed that my perfect match has been found.” I speared my bacon with my fork and began slicing it in two. “As soon as we finish, we’ve got to go down and bring him back with us.”
My stomach dropped as Neal looked panicked. “We have to go right now?” he asked, his eyes darting around.
“No, no. We have time to finish eating our delicious breakfast.” I took a bite of my bacon to prove this was true.
“Is that why you made this?” he asked, making it sound as if I’d prepared a grand final feast.
I shook my head, then after I finished chewing and swallowing my bite, replied, “If I’d known, I would have arranged for us all to have breakfast together. But I did not know,” I gentled my tone, “because we are not notified until the very instant our match is verified.”
“And that happened just now? While you was doing the cookings?” he pressed.
“Yes. It was as big a surprise to me as it is to you. It says his name is Mitchell and right now, he’s also surprised. He went in to see about money for school and found out he’s my mate and that he has a young now.”
“But what if he hates me?” he whispered, tears threatening to spill.
“Then he could not possibly be my perfect match. You know I love you to the ends of the universe and beyond, right? So, to be my perfect match, he will have to as well.”
