Page 56 of Seducing Jenny
“Great,” she muttered, sounding a bit annoyed. “Make me feel more useless.”
“By the size of your belly, I’d guess you’re growing a set of baby ears right now,” I teased her. “So don’t ever call yourself useless. They’ll hear you.”
She rolled her eyes at me. “Ha, ha.”
I decided to change the subject. “So, you haven’t asked me about our father yet.”
Her expression didn’t so much as flicker with curiosity. “You told us what happened on Volatile’s island…was there something else?”
“No, I just meant you didn’t even ask what he looks like.” I didn’t understand her indifference. “It’s like you’re not interested in him.”
“I’m not,” she said in a flat tone. “He abandoned us for what was probably a good reason, but Jen, I’m still not okay with it. He should have found a way to be in our lives.”
“Maybe. But I think most parents do what they think is right at the time,” I said, trying to make her consider the other side of the situation. “He tried to keep us safe by staying away—”
“He came back to see Mom, how many times after Elizabeth was born?” she asked, resentment infusing her voice. “At least twice, because you and I are here. That means he was willing to come back for sex. Not to try and be a father to us. Don’t tell me he stayed away for our safety. He stayed away because it was easier. And let’s not forget that Volatile is a known manwhore.”
I blinked at her. “What?”
She shrugged, a bitter smile on her lips. “According to everyone who knew Volatile as a star merchant, the man slept his way across the galaxy and had dozens of kids. We were just three of his many. We were never special or important to him. So no, I’m not curious about him. He never wanted to be a part of our lives, so screw him.”
I wanted to chalk her reaction up to pregnancy hormones, but her anger was tangible. Still, it hurt to hear Sarah speak about Volatile that way.
Her opinion certainly didn’t detract from what I’d already decided to do. “I’m going to help him get off that island, Sarah.”
She stared at me incredulously. “Why would you stick your neck out for a man who doesn’t even care that you exist?”
“Because I can,” I said, and meant it. “Isn’t that what you were so proud of me for the other day?”
Her lips pursed, but something in her gaze softened. “Stop having a good point, would you?” she muttered. “It’s like I’m talking to Elizabeth.”
I grinned. “As much as I hate to admit it, Elizabeth isn’t wrong about everything.” Then it hit me. “She should be here. For your pregnancy.”
“She should be wherever she wants to be—”
“She’s a brilliant nurse and she’s our sister,” I insisted. “She should be here with us.”
“I will not bring her into this,” Sarah said adamantly. “Jen, you saw how freaked out she was by everything here. She’d take one look at you as a Ladrian and probably pass out. And the way she looked at me when I told you two about the pregnancy…I can’t deal with her judgy face again.”
“I was with her when they took us from Earth, remember?”
“Yeah, so—”
“She handled it far better than I ever would have expected from her, Sarah,” I said softly. “Elizabeth is stronger than bothof us. She can handle anything, and having someone here who knowshumanbiology might be more helpful than alien tech.”
“No.” Sarah’s gaze flashed stubbornly. “I’m not bringing her here. She has a real, grown-up life on Earth. I love her, I do, but she’s not like me and you. She has responsibilities and friends outside of work and who knows, she might even have a boyfriend by now. I can’t take her away from all of that.”
“It’s your call.”
I betCheesecakecan make the trip to Earth in half the time of Jac’s ship. I can go get Elizabeth and be back before dark here.
Liking the idea, I said, “Why don’t you take a nap—”
She narrowed her eyes at me. “Keep your fluffy tail right where I can see it, missy. I know that look in your eyes, and I forbid you from bringing Elizabeth back here.”
How the hell did she know?“These aren’t even my eyes,” I said, making a face at her.
She snorted. “Oh yes, they are. Just because you’re in a Ladrian body now does not mean they’re not yours. It all feels like a part of you, right?”
