She hummed happily to herself as she tucked her purse in its usual drawer, got settled behind her desk, started up her computer and opened her email account. Her mood took a bit of a hit when she saw a message from Diesel informing her that the quarterly elder council meeting she’d agreed to attend had been rescheduled. To today.
Apparently, a committee member had an emergency item that had to be addressed.
Diesel’s message said, “Be there if you can. If not, I understand.”
Beryl checked her schedule. The meeting was to be held after lunch, so as long as there were no strawberry catastrophes, she should be okay.
Beryl messaged her cousin that she’d be there. No problem.
After a reasonably uneventful morning—which was a nice change, she thought—and a hurried lunch at her desk, Beryl drove to the Big Bang Truck Stop and slipped through the side door that led to the basement facility.
Beryl followed the directions Diesel had included in his email and located the conference room where the meeting was being held. She went in and found a seat as close to Diesel as she could get, because he was the only person she knew in the room.
Two minutes later, the door opened and another familiar face entered. The Alpha woman gave Beryl a friendly greeting and took the chair next to her. It was Ivy Upchurch. Beryl had met the Big Bang Truck Stop facility’s lodging coordinator during the facility’s Seven-Year Inspection.
Together, Ivy and everyone at the Alienn Mining Co. had stalled the inspectors until Diesel could meet them.
Recently, Ivy had been promoted to lodgings director, and Beryl understood it was her first time attending a quarterly elders council meeting. It made Beryl feel much better about attending the meeting knowing she wasn’t the only new person.
Once the council meeting had been gaveled in, one of the elders piped up without being called on and went on a rather long rant about human-Alpha dating, complete with a plan of action to forbid it.
“What’s the point?” he asked the group, likely not expecting or wanting a response. “It’s not like they can get married and be together here on Earth.”
“They could, too. They could just live together. Why not?” someone at the end of the table said quietly, yet loud enough to be heard by all. That voice seemed familiar to Beryl. Was that Aunt Dixie? She glanced in that direction, but didn’t see her wily aunt.
The elder’s face turned a fierce shade of crimson. “No! They should not be allowed to live together either! I say all human and Alpha relationships should be banned! I say we also formally outlaw any Alphas who are living with humans!”
“Good that you have an opinion, Mr. Gris. We’ll note it in the minutes as usual,” Diesel said, sounding like he was in diplomatic mode.
Beryl’s face heated up. She was probably a fiercer shade of crimson than the elder at the table who was trying to ruin herlife. Not too many folks knew she was dating a human—at least not yet—but it probably wouldn’t take long. There was that vibrant grapevine, after all.
Beryl glanced around the table to see if anyone was staring at her with a smirk that said they knew all about her picnic in the park with Jake or their dinner at her place. Would anyone’s head explode to discover she planned to go to his home tonight for another date?
Ivy leaned close and whispered in Beryl’s ear, “Don’t worry about Mr. Gris. He’s had that same complaint for the last twenty years. No one listens to him, especially not Diesel or the council.”
Beryl released the breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. “Thank you,” she whispered back.
Ivy winked at her. “Us new folks to the elders council have to stick together, especially us girls, right?”
Beryl gave her a grateful smile and nodded. She was delighted to know someone here besides Diesel. Ivy was good people, to her way of thinking.
After that, the meeting didn’t last long. The “emergency” item regarded something Beryl didn’t really understand involving interstellar communication between Alpha-Prime and Earth, and it seemed to be dealt with to everyone’s satisfaction. They scheduled the next meeting for three months in the future and gaveled out.
Once the meeting was officially over, Diesel was immediately surrounded by four people asking questions. Beryl didn’t wait to chat with him. She could catch up with him later.
Ivy walked her out and they made plans to meet for lunch soon. “Or my sister has set up a spa trip for us after work tomorrow. Want to join us at the Nebula Nail Salon?”
“I really do.” Ivy glanced at her nails and frowned. “I’m definitely overdue.”
Beryl told her the time and Ivy said she’d make an appointment and join them.
Back at the Supernova Supermarket, Beryl checked in with Francine to ensure no more fruit chaos had come up while she’dbeen gone. She was assured that all was well in the produce department and all the other departments were humming along smoothly.
That worry crossed off her list, Beryl ensconced herself in her office and thought about tonight’s date with Jake. Yes, she should be working. Instead, she couldn’t help but look forward to seeing him in his domain.
As if merely thinking about Jake conjured a text message from him, Beryl heard the distinctive alert sound from her phone. She smiled as she saw his name on the screen and went to her messages to read his. Jake had to meet with a client after Frederick left for the day. He wanted to know if she could come over to Dark Matter Metal & Leather after work and then they could drive to his place from there.
Beryl responded that would be no problem and she’d see him at his shop.
