Once ANDI confirmed what my heart already knew, I’ve warred with myself constantly about keeping that knowledge from you. Because I was so indecisive, I didn’t say a word, even to DaR. The memories, the loss, it was all just too much, and in your mind I was long gone. There was no reason for me to dredge up all those hurts, so I just helped from the sidelines. Some days, I hoped you would recognize me, but I’d been gone from your world for such a long time that I was nothing more than a name mentioned in passing, not someone you actually knew. I had no idea about the home videos. Honestly, I’d forgotten about them.
So, I did what I could. I made sure you were well fed and clothed. Had DaR purchase the best weapons and an armor-piercing vest, so that you would be safe while on guard duty. Many times, I wanted to hug you because I understood more than you realized the pain you were suffering through, but I always told myself it was for the best that I kept my distance.”
“Is that why I got this pod?”
DaR stands, his massive arms crossed. “No son, that was all on me. Even though Kira thought she had kept that little piece of information from me, what my mate forgets is that I can feel everything she does. I knew the moment her eyes landed on you … who you were.
I will admit I am guilty of watching you more than the other males here. I wanted to see what kind of man you really were, but you never disappointed me. Even with your world lost and your heart destroyed, you still continued to do the right thing. Because of that, you earned my respect, and I made sure youwere well cared for because of it. The fact that Kira is your relation had nothing to do with what you have earned on your own, but I will say I am glad it is now all out in the open.”
Kira is shaking slightly, and for a moment, I wonder if Ricky is going to walk away from her, but when he reaches over and pulls her into his arms, I can’t stop the sob that leaves my throat as Kira clings to him, crying so hard that he’s practically having to hold her up.
DaR hands me an old-fashioned handkerchief. “Here little one, I have made it a habit to keep several of these on me at all times. My females are emotional, and it helps to be prepared.”
I smile at him through the tears as Ricky holds Kira until she can pull herself together. Finally, she steps back slightly from his arms. Immediately, DaR steps behind her, and I see her regain her strength simply by his presence.
I know the next question out of Ricky’s mouth as if I’m saying it myself. “How did you get here? And how do you look like you’re the same age as me when you should be nothing more than ashes by now?”
“We should probably sit down.”
All of us return to our spots, and I see her smile sadly down at DaR before looking over at us once again. “I had no idea they never found the plane or the story they told you when I was taken. They tore the plane apart mid-air. There was nothing anyone could do against them, but many tried. Rick, the man you are named after, gave his life trying to save me from a race that was stealing human females called the Korgons.
I was one of dozens they took that day, and to say when we all woke up … well … I wished many times that I’d died along withRick. DaR found me, only minutes from death. He took me to his home and in a panic, put me in a medical chamber that reset my body to its prime. I have remained like this ever since, and I’ve been here a long time.
I loved your great-grandfather to the point that I mourned him for years. And it took me a long time to realize that by allowing myself to love another, I wasn’t replacing him, but that my heart was large enough to love another. And I do love DaR in a complete … but no less consuming way.
The past is painful for me, and there are days I feel like I’m looking at a stranger in the mirror, but I’ve come to love this world and many within it. I’ve asked myself many times: if I could change things, would I? And I can now say no, I wouldn’t. I was placed in this world for a reason, and I’d like to believe you are one of those reasons. One thing I’ve learned is that everything happens just as it is meant to. Ricky, I hope that you can forgive me for not telling you before.”
“Would you have ever told me?”
“I’d like to say I would and I’ve come close so many times already. You have to know, I want nothing but the best for both of you. You are all the blood family I have left, and I pray you allow me to be a part of the world you two are going to build here together.” Kira’s eyes turn toward me. “Ginger, how did you figure it out so quickly? Ricky has been around me for months now, but it only took you a few minutes.”
“It’s when you flipped your hair. I swear I saw you do that exact same thing on that old tape. You were almost the same age as you are now, and it just clicked. Honestly, you both have the same eyebrows so it’s not hard to see you’re related if you look hard enough.”
Ricky still seems slightly stunned, but smiles at me when I take his hand in my own before scooting closer to him on the couch. “I don’t know about you guys, but damn … is there ever a calm moment in life?”
DaR’s answering laughter echoes throughout the room.
CHAPTER 10
RICKY
After a few minutes, Ginger must have realized we all needed a change of subject because she grabs Kira’s hand and they head toward the bedroom with the small cargo bot pulling the crates full of clothes that Kira brought with her. As much as I want and need to be with Ginger, just hearing her laughter in the other room is enough to make me smile and settle my heart. Because my mind is all over the place, and I didn’t know it was possible to do, I’d forgotten that DaR is sitting across from me with a smirk on his face.
“Our humans are complicated, but easy to love.”
“Some are, but not all. I do consider myself quite lucky, especially now that I have Ginger back. The thought of moving on … I’m not sure I could have.”
“You come by that honestly and your family loves hard and true. My Kira struggled for several Orbital rotations to open her heart. I, on the other hand, surrendered mine almost immediately, even though I fought and denied it. Kira felt guilty that she survived. There were many moments when I wondered if she would ever heal, but over time, she began to enjoy this world.”
“That had to be hard on both of you.”
“My Kira is not a female who can be bought, so it took me way too long to realize she simply needed me to be present. Who I am and what I was willing to do for her meant nothing. She needed hugs and the reassurance that I was there to stay. I was fighting ghosts and memories that haunted her constantly, but it was all worth it to get to where we are now. She is the light that always guides me home in the darkest times. I apologize for not encouraging her to tell you sooner. I too, would have wanted to know, but female minds do not work the same as ours, and I knew she needed to work this out on her own.”
“It blind-sided me, but now that it’s out in the open, I don’t know why I didn’t connect the dots myself. I am glad she ... or that you found her. I can’t imagine how much worse this horror story would have been if not.”
“My Kira was moments from death. The tic my eyes locked upon her, I was drawn to her, but I still initially turned away. The Lord of Light intervened, and I reached up, took her into my arms, and have been holding her ever since. Her hell became my salvation. I do have a request Ricky now that you are aware of the circumstances.”
“You know I will help in any way I can. Because of you and your son’s, I was given a chance of having a tomorrow, so I feel like I owe you everything.”
