“Thank you,” I said, settling myself at the desk. The weight of the tasks before me weighed heavy on my mind.
“It’s beautiful.” Summer’s lightsmile filled my heart.
My mother flushed at Summer’s compliment. “I wasn’t sure what you would like. I did the best I could to decorate your rooms. I chose neutral colors so you could add items of your own choosing or your own furniture from your planet.”
Summer looked at the ground. I couldn’t tell if it was shame or not. “I didn’t bring anything like that,” she said. “My family needed it more than I did.”
“I see,” said my mother. “Would you like to see your wing?” she asked.
“Sure.” Summer smiled. She looked at me expectantly. “Are you coming too, Renick?”
“All right. Work can wait,” I said. I wanted to experience my childhood home through Summer’s eyes.
Mother let us through the house, and I never tore my gaze from Summer’s face. Her mouth opened in little ohs when she saw the statues and art on the wall. “You have a beautiful home, Mrs. um.”
“Ulawan,” I whispered into her ear.
“Ulawan.” Summer parroted. “Renick, you never told me your last name,” she whispered into my ear.
“And this is your wing.” Mother swept her arms in a grand gesture.
“It’s gorgeous,” Summer said.
I gaped. Mother had opened the wing that had never been used before for anything other than storage and transformed it into a home.
“It needs color,” she said, “but don’t worry, Summer. You and I can do that after we go shopping for your bonding ceremony outfit.”
Summer took tentative steps into the main living room. She ran her fingers over the cream colored plush couch with deep purple pillows. An intricate hand-woven rug covered the space between the couch and a large fireplace nestled between built-in shelves on the opposite wall. While most shelves remained empty, delicate glass vases with native wildflowers rested on alternating boards. My favorite clock, given to me by my father’s sire, took pride of place on the mantle of the fireplace.
Mother took Summer’s arm. “Most of this wing is open, but let me give you a tour anyway.”
“You’ve been busy,” I said. “Thank you.”
She guided us through the living room into the freshly painted kitchenette. The bright colors on the walls as well as a drop down table gave the compact space the appearance of a much larger area. Brand new appliances peppered the countertop. “The chiller has some food, mostly stocked with your favorites, Renick. I wasn’t sure what your mate preferred. Now that you’re both here, we can add some of Summer’s favorites. I figured sometimes you would want to eat privately and not come to the main dining room.” She winked. “Especially as a newly mated couple.”
My stomach fluttered and cheeks flushed. A soft groan escaped my lips. “Mother,” I said.
“I was young once. Don’t think I don’t know what you’ll get up to.”
Summer’s eyes widened and she appeared to suppress a laugh.
“You have no filter, Mother.”
“I’m not wrong,” she said. “Through here is your cleansing facility and your bedroom. I’ll leave you to explore that on your own.”
“You’ve been busy,” I said.
Chapter 11
Summer
Renick’s mother took me shopping the next day for a funeral outfit. I couldn’t believe that I was only on my first full day on Tenap, and in a few days, I would attend my first funeral. I mean things could only go up from here right? I hoped this wasn’t an indication of our marriage, bonding, whatever they called it here, would go.
Imoa, as she instructed me to call her, took me in a flyer, and I was like a kid in a candy shop the entire ride. I stared out the window, glee written all over my face. Since I was a young girl, I’d wanted to ride in one, and here I was, living my dream. The streets and buildings on Tenap were so like Earth, yet vastly different with shining windows and steel glinting in the sunlight. It was the same, yet different. She parked the flyer in an open air field, among a half a dozen other transports, and I relished the yellow grass under my feet.
I wore jeans, a light pink casual top with a light sweater, and black flats. I was grateful I left my athletic shoes at home. From what I saw people tended to dress a little more formally here, and I’d need a new wardrobe to fit in.
Imoa guided me into a shop with articles of clothing that looked more expensive than anything I’d ever purchased before.