Page 182 of Alien Haven

“I told him it wasn’t just himself he was taking down. He has daughters who have to live with the loss if he’s sent to prison.”

“How did he respond?”

“He believes he’s setting us free. He says taking all the blame and publicly absolving his children of any responsibility or knowledge of Copeland’s imprisonment might allow Hope and me to live normal lives.” Charity scowled at the cornstalks shivering and rustling in the light breeze. “As if we have the slightest clue how be normal. Hope sure as hell doesn’t, what with her running all over the galaxy fighting evildoers.”

“Any word from her yet?”

Charity shook her head. “As far as I know, she has no clue what’s going on with Dad. Dolgra checked, and no one’s heard a word from her and her clan in weeks. I’m scared for her. And my father. For all of us.”

Her lower lip trembled. Detodev slid his arm around her and pulled her close. He kissed the top of her head. She looked up at him, and he kissed her fully, pouring all the love in his heart that had awoken for her.

He offered her the comfort he had to give. He held nothing back.

* * * *

Next day

Charity ignored the curious glances cast her way as she nestled in the curl of Detodev’s arm. She concentrated on the people standing before them a few feet away, lined up behind a satiny blue ribbon strung between a couple of poles. Her Nobek companion cast his ‘don’t-fuck-with-us’ gaze at the large crowd gathered on the sidewalk in the middle of Sunrise. Groteg, standing on her other side, wore the same expression.

Charity was amused at how big a deal the townspeople of Sunrise made of a bakery opening. As promised, Mitag had turned it into an event. He’d seen to it his clients for upcoming celebrations had tried samples at sumptuous private tastings. He’d already secured quite a few catering jobs for Ilid’s Bakery. He’d strung banners everywhere he could get permission to fly them in the week leading to the grand opening. He’d even landed a newscast interview for the owners and their manager son about the new business on a vidcast. Another local vid station had sent a reporter to cover the bakery’s opening.

Charity’s revealed identity and her connection to Ilid had probably played a part in drawing a crowd as well. She was gawked at whenever she was in Sunrise, the woman who’d been a supposed traitor’s daughter and the Holy Leader’s last child bride. Because Haven consisted of humans who happily lived among Kalquorians, there’d been no overt hostility. In fact, quite a few residents had told her to let them know if she ran into any trouble. They were ready to help her however they could. It was a nice counterpoint to the rampant curiosity shining an unwanted spotlight on her when she ventured to be seen in public.

She thought perhaps Ilid’s Bakery would have excited plenty of interest even if Mitag hadn’t promoted it and its connection to her hadn’t been so notorious. This was Sunrise, after all. The occasional hilarious stage show aside, the residents had little to do except get drunk, have sex, dodge ronka and cow patties, and watch the grass grow.

Despite Charity silently poking fun at her surroundings, she did so warmed by affection for Haven. She’d never dreamed when she’d arrived she’d care for the planet itself…but she did.

Matara Diju cut the ribbon, and the bakery was officially open. Clan Codab, Ilid, and Mitag led Charity, Detodev, and the rest of Sunrise’s citizenry into the shop for samples and shopping. It boasted a coffee station in the corner, courtesyof the shop across the street, with which Ilid had successfully negotiated a trade agreement.

For the next three hours, far longer than Mitag had anticipated, patrons crowded the bakery. Samples were wolfed down amid delighted praise. Having tasted Diju’s magnificent recipes and a few of Sara’s and Charity’s, a line formed at purchase station. There, Diju cheerfully rang up sales. The pastry cases, full at the start of the grand opening celebration, were emptied, refilled, emptied, refilled, and emptied again as customers bought boxes full of goods. Ilid, Codab, Gruthep, and Jadel worked nonstop to bring fresh offerings. One by one, they announced what had sold out for the day. Charity couldn’t help beaming to see how fast the pies and cookies she’d contributed were sold. She and Sara were earning a percentage of the proceeds from their Earther recipes, another deal Ilid had negotiated like the freshly minted businessman he was. Charity smiled wider when he caught her eye from wherever he was working. His grin at the initial unqualified success of his family’s newest venture never faltered.

Smiles were all around, Detodev included. Charity didn’t miss how he gazed at Ilid and Mitag. His eyes shone with pride at their profitable grand opening when he wasn’t scrutinizing those who ventured near Charity. He insisted on keeping her at his side.

“I think our friends have found their true calling,” she told him at one point.

“Mitag’s talking up the place as fast as his lips can move, little as he needs to. Ilid’s directing the flow of sales and supply, and he’s answering questions as if he’s done this all his life,” the Nobek agreed. “Mark my words; he’ll own this bakery before five years have passed.”

“You’ll hear no argument from me.”

She beamed at her sweethearts. Mitag hadn’t given up on clan and love, and she was certain he’d soon win both. Ilid and Detodev had been forced to rethink their definitions of leader and protector. They’d managed to reshape their breed designations to fit themselves.

Despite her father’s continued absence, Charity knew she’d be all right too. She’d found no replacements for Borey, her mother Faith, or her sister Hope, but she’d forged an additional family. She gazed at Clan Amgar and their children with the love of a niece and sister. The members of Clan Codab, despite their returning soon to Kalquor, were also precious.

As for Ilid, Detodev, and Mitag…she couldn’t help but dream they’d continue to give her a reason to remain among the cow patties in Haven’s unexpected paradise.

* * * *

One month later

“It’s big.”

Ilid nodded at Mitag’s comment as he conducted the Imdiko, Detodev, and Charity on a tour of the rambling farmhouse he’d decided to buy…or rather, the house he and his parents had decided they would buy for him. He’d pay them back in the future. The near future, he believed. The bakery’s first weeks of business had blown the roof off their expectations.

If he happened to have clanmates who were successful in their own work to help him cover expenses…the situation would be even better. He wasn’t thinking along those lines purely for the financial bottom line. In fact, money had no bearing on his dreams at all.

I’m happy.It was sobering to realize he hadn’t expected to be so in the not-so-distant past.

Many of his problems were behind him. At least, it felt that way. The Darks remained an issue elsewhere, and there were no guarantees they wouldn’t somehow find a way to impact Haven in the end. The nightmares hadn’t bothered him for weeks, however. Having the companions he did gave him the strength to face an uncertain future.

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