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I felt a nervous tingling in my toes with each step to get to the bathroom sink. The test was right where I left it, waiting for me to read the results. I eased up to it like a parent peeking into the bedroom of a child to check on them without disturbing their sleep.
Even my analogies were changing to reflect what was on my mind.
My shadow covered the little test, but the results it displayed were clear.
Two pink lines. One was lighter than the other yet there was no mistake I was looking at two of them.
I put a hand on my stomach. This little alien pregnancy test did its job in giving me an answer for all the nausea and weird sense of smell.
I was carrying Rone’s baby. A child, conceived from our passion and love, was growing inside me. I had to sit down. The nearest seat was the toilet.
My chest managed to feel both light with joy and tight with nerves. Thoughts came to me in waves: surprise, affection, joy. If the test was confirmed, Rone and I were going to have a baby.
Then came the uncertainty. What would this mean for us? I was a human woman carrying a Zol male’s child. What would my experience be like? Being an intergalactic diplomat never prepared me for anything like this.
The ship’s bell rang three times, a signal to disembark. I stashed the test in a crumpled paper bag I found at the bottom of my travel bag. Then I washed my face so I could look pulled together once I stepped foot on the island. The past hour did a number on both my tummy and my mind.
A light tap on the door sounded. At this point, I recognized Maya’s knock. “You can come in.”
She dashed in, closing the door behind her in one quick, smooth movement. “So?” She dragged the word out.
“I took the test.”
“And?” She got excited. Then she relaxed her stance. “Wait. I really want to know if the test worked, but it’s still your business. You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to.”
“The sea air didn’t get to it. The test isn’t invalid.” I heard myself stalling again and nipped it in the bud. “You’re right. I’m not ready to share the results.”
“Understood.” Maya wore a little smile. “Ooh, I want to guess so bad, but I will respect your privacy.”
We heard a flurry of footsteps on the top deck. People were leaving the ship. I was sure Rone would come looking for me if I didn’t leave the cabin in the next few minutes.
“Guess it’s time for us to scoot.” She opened the door. “Hey, Cammie.”
I stopped, mid-walk, holding the travel bag with the concealed positive preggo test inside. “Yes?”
She offered me a look of compassion. “I know it’s scary being up here and addressing the same stuff we women go through on Earth. No matter what, it’s going to be okay. Everyone can see how much you and Rone love each other.”
Her words gave me comfort. “Thanks. It’s good to know another woman gets it.”
“I’m always a com link call away.”
We went up to the top deck. My stomach reminded me that we were still on the water, making me queasy as I watched the front of the ship bob from an incoming wave. Smells from the marketplace on shore threatened to activate my gag reflex. I took tiny breaths, making myself acclimated to the smell. Gradually, the nausea weakened.
“I was about to go below deck and look for you,” Rone met me by the rails where the crew waited for us to disembark first. He touched my arm, sending an electric fissure through me. Even aboard a ship and dealing with queasiness, my body still responded to him.
“Are you feeling better?” he asked as we walked down the platform to the solid, blessed ground that was Elyse Island.
Rone could tell I was still feeling under the weather. Why wouldn’t he? Our bond let us sense so much from each other. Would our bond let him know the secret I was carrying? I needed to find a way to tell him about the baby.
“Cammie.” Rone playfully waved his hand before my eyes. “Did you take a trip back to Earth without me?”
I noticed we were standing apart from the other military personnel andWavebreakercrew. “I spaced out for a minute. The boat trip seemed longer coming back to the island.”
“I agree. The water was choppy. For a minute I thought I was going to have to ask Siru to borrow a pair of sea legs.”
“You made it without a case of overboard overlord.”
He wrapped his arm around me, nearly concealing me from view of the others. I pressed my cheek against his chest, enjoying the warmth and feeling of being cocooned in his embrace. “Are you ready to go home? Because I am.”
