Page 84 of Soros
“Very.” I blinked away tears that were forming.
Star sat not far from me and with her innocent, large blue eyes full of tears as well she asked, “Why can’t your mom come to Eidrona too?”
My first reaction was to reject the idea. “My mother isn’t the easiest to be around. Her addiction to alcohol…”
“There’s no alcohol on Eidrona,” Soros reminded me. “Star has a point, and what better place to help her stay sober?”
“Yes, but there are also her social skills. She tells everyone about her affair with an alien.” While saying it, a thought occurred and made me add, “But in Eidrona, they would actually believe her.” My hand went to my neck. “I wonder…”
Star came closer. “What?”
“I wonder who my mother would be if there were no alcohol and people actually took her seriously.”
“Have her come,” Soros encouraged.
Star took both my hands. “I can’t do anything for my mother, but I would love to do something for you and your mom. If there’s an expense involved in getting her to Eidrona, I’m happy to help. Let me use my wealth for something good.”
I reached for Star and Soros and we gave a group hug. “I don’t know if my mom would even come if I asked her to or if the Federation would allow it, but the fact that you’re both willing to accept my mom… it truly means the world to me.”
“Do you want me to call her up again?” Zobran asked.
I nodded. “Yes. Let me talk to her.”
My mother had red eyes from crying when I called her back, but she didn’t have to think about it when I asked if she wanted to come and live on Eidrona if we could get permission. With all my childhood memories of sitting and looking up at the stars while I listened to her stories about my father, I should have known that my mother wouldn’t say no to an opportunity to explore life on another planet.
“You might not hear from me for the next days or weeks, but you have to trust that I’m working on getting you to Eidrona. There are some practical details that we need to sort out first, but I’ll be back in touch as soon as we can. Mom, just promise me that you’ll stay sober.”
“I promise,” she said with a nod.
This time we smiled and blew kisses when we ended the call and although my life seemed a little chaotic, I had a feeling that I was about to start a very exciting chapter with the people I loved the most around me.
CHAPTER 32
A New Life
Soros
“He’s here again.” Nerix scowled at Limak, who was walking through the garden with Star by his side. “She trusts him way too much and I see him sleazing his way into her life. She calls him a friend now.”
We had managed to find a property with five individual homes. Star lived in one with Nerix, who guarded her every move. It would have driven anyone mad, but she felt comforted by his closeness and Nerix took his job extremely seriously.
Tania and I lived in the place closest to Star and Nerix. It was much nicer than my humble apartment and the arrangement with Tania’s mother, Angie, in the next building worked perfectly. She was caring and sociable. Star soaked up Angie’s maternal way of educating her about life.
“What are you two men whispering about?” Angie said as she came carrying cool drinks.
“I don’t trust the Noxin,” Nerix said and looked toward Limak and Star, who were still walking side by side.
“He’s her business advisor,” Angie reminded us as if we didn’t know.
Nerix groaned. “But it’s clear that he wants to be a more personal kind of partner.”
Angie had a soft laughter.
“What’s so funny?” Nerix asked. “Are you laughing at me?”
“Yes, you silly man. You can’t be angry at another man taking his chance just because you don’t take yours.”
“My job is to protect Star.”
