Page 18 of Manny for the Alien
I bit my tongue though and let him serve me the basic dinner I had made. I even took the offered wine and filled a nice big glass all the way up.
“So, what do you think of this arrangement so far?” he asked.
I nearly choked at the sudden question. Luckily, I hadn’t taken a bite yet.
I cleared my throat and took a big gulp of the wine trying to buy myself a few minutes to think of what to say.
“Honestly, it’s a lot harder than I thought it would be, but I really like your kids, and I want to keep trying for now.”
He considered for a moment, looking somber.
“You know, I don’t usually work so many hours. One of my coworkers is on maternity leave though and they need the extra help. If you can make it for two months, I’ll be here a lot more to do my part.”
That was actuallyveryrelieving. It gave me a little glimmer of hope. I would be a child expert by the end of two months.
“And you’ll have time for more of a private life,” he went on, his gaze suddenly boring into me. “I know you wanted to meet someone, and now you are probably annoyed that you don’t have the time.”
My cheeks heated and I shook my head, but it was pointless. He remembered how we met. We both did.
“What about you?” I asked. “I mean, you were looking for someone too.”
He nodded, not looking nearly as embarrassed as I felt.
“Yes, I do want someone in my life. A partner, a lover and of course, someone to be a parent to my children.”
I took a sip of wine, trying to school my features. Hope was such a ridiculous emotion, especially when the man had given me no indication that he was interested in more.
“What about their mother?” I asked gently. “Is she not around?”
Hyacinth shook his head at once.
“We papilionoidean are different than humans. Females produce eggs yearly and leave them amongst the leaves of the tallest trees to be fertilized. Any male papilionoidean who desires to have children fertilizes the egg and then guards and raises the children. We seek mates when we choose, but it is unrelated to child-rearing.”
I stared with wide eyes, trying to imagine it.
“Wow.”
He chuckled.
“I know. It is very different. Truthfully, I have no idea who their mothers were, but could probably identify them by scent if we met.”
“I see.”
I turned to my food, knowing I should use this Segway for my other questions.
“So,” I said after a couple bites. “Did you do something to me back there when you touched me? You made me calm down or something, right? Is that what you do at the hospital?”
I could barely force myself to look up at Hyacinth, and when I did, he was frowning deeply.
“I do calm people down at the hospital,” he began slowly. “When they are very anxious and panicking, I douse them in my calming pheromone. I do the same to put people to sleep for procedures.”
I looked down, disappointed. So, I was right.
“But today, I did no such thing. I only touched you because you seemed so tense.”
My gaze shot up to him in disbelief.
“But at the door...”
