“Lockheed International is a trailblazing force of innovation. We are leading medicine and technology into the future, one cure at a time. And that is why I’m proud to break ground on our new biomedical lab, here in Lennox.” With those words, Leah planted her shoe on the step of the shovel blade and dug into the dirt below. Ellie stood a little to her left while Kaelen and Einstein were farther off to her right side. As the highest-ranking scientists in the trial, they had the honor of being present for the groundbreaking event and press conference after.
Applause and a multitude of clicking shutters drowned out any other words. The tumultuous events at CES, as well as Leah’s revelation to the world about Lockheed’s advancement, sent a shockwave through the scientific community. The company’s stock increased significantly, and investors lined up in droves to get in on the new technology. As a result, it only took six months to fund and staff a manufacturing site dedicated to nanotechnology and the serum needed to reverse the effects of spinal injury on the human body. Leah had plans to investigate cancer treatment possibilities, but she wanted to get the Nerenase production up and running first.
What they didn’t tell the world was how badly Leah had been injured at the convention, especially not the fact that her treatment essentially brought her back from the dead. Panic and tragedy alter people’s perceptions, so everyone assumed Ellie had overreacted on the stage the day of the attack. No one believed that the genius CEO of Lockheed International had actually died.
It was something that Leah thought about a lot. None of the other test subjects showed the same type of cellular healing as Leah, and she suspected it had to do with that last nanobot and queen injection, the one that Kaelen programmed herself. After discussing the issue with Kaelen and Ellie, they decided that the world wasn’t ready for that kind of science. Human mortality tempered many of their rash actions and overreach.
Once the applause slowed, Leah moved to the assembled stage for the actual press conference. “Now that the dirty work is finished, literally, I’m ready and willing to answer your questions relating to the Nerenase project.” The crowd chuckled at the pun as hands went up. Leah saw one familiar smile and pointed toward the woman. “Yes, Meta News Network?”
“Miss Lockheed, is it true that rather than sell to medical facilities or state corporations and charge insurance companies exorbitant fees for Nerenase treatment, Lockheed International medical centers around the world will handle both the sales and administration of it?”
“Yes, that is true. There were many reasons behind the decision, but a major one is because the formula and technologies are proprietary, with multiple copyrights filed on behalf of Lockheed International.” Leah raised her hand to call on someone else, but Nalla was tenacious.
“Sorry, to finish that question, is it also true that the cost of the treatment will be income based for the afflicted person?”
Leah smiled and met Nalla’s gaze. “Yes. It’s yet another reason for our facilities to administer the treatment. As someone who once experienced a spinal cord injury, I know firsthand the impact paralysis has on all parts of your life. But unlike most other people, I was also born into privilege and never had to worry about the significant cost of treatment, therapy, mobility, and assistive devices. Not everyone is so lucky, and I don’t believe they should be penalized for their wealth or lack thereof.”
Leah answered another twenty minutes worth of questions about the project before someone moved the press conference in a slightly different direction. “Miss Lockheed, Joe Minot from the Scientific American. Now that Lockheed International has achieved something never thought possible, what’s next? Will the company focus on producing and refining Nerenase, or is there another big project in the works?”
“I’m happy you asked, Joe. As everyone knows, we always have a lot of innovations in the pipeline of discovery, even some that are built upon the platform of Nerenase. However, I’ve tasked the Special Projects Lab team to work on a cost effective, solar-powered desalinization system.” She waved toward Kaelen and Einstein. “Mister Trog and Miss Ra-Evon have made significant advancements in compact battery technology and are currently working to improve the efficiency of Lockheed’s proprietary photovoltaic cells.”
Ellie glanced at her watch and cleared her throat to signal Leah that she should bring the press conference to an end.
Leah smiled and moved her gaze around the crowd. “Okay, it looks like my time here is nearly finished. I can take one last question.” Hands waved in the air, and she picked an unfamiliar person near the back. “You there, go ahead.”
“Miss Lockheed, David Bennett of the New York Post. What exactly is your relationship with Scion? There have been rumors that the two of you are involved given the number of times she has saved you, up to and including the attack in Las Vegas.”
Leah sucked in a breath at the question, not expecting it in the middle of her groundbreaking revelations about their new cure. She wasn’t prepared for anything along those lines, but she thought it would be a good time to make another announcement. “I consider Scion a friend.” She laughed. “As you pointed out, she’s saved me too many times to be an enemy.”
The reporter pressed, “And you assert that there is no romance between the two of you?”
Leah was careful to answer without actually lying. She smiled widely at the man. “I’m afraid my heart is quite taken.” She gestured for Kaelen to move to her side. “I’d like to introduce my fiancé, and one of the brilliant scientists behind the nanobot side of the Nerenase project. Kaelen Ra-Evon.” Then she reached out to clasp Kaelen’s hand and mouthed, “I love you,” to her before meeting the gaze of the reporter. “Brains and beauty, why would I look anywhere else?”
He sputtered, “But Scion is literally a hero!”
“Scion may have saved me, Mr. Bennett, but Kaelen is my real hero.” Laughter and more than a few “aww’s” went through the crowd. “I’m afraid that’s all the time I have today, but I want to thank you for coming. And please, stay and enjoy the refreshments. I’ve been told by a good friend that reporting is hungry work.” More chuckles followed her remark as the crowd began to disperse.
Kaelen hugged her. “You were amazing and brilliant.”
“She’s right, honey, you handled everything, including the question at the end, with style and grace.”
Hans gestured to Leah, and she recognized his request to exit the stage. Just because Mimic was locked away didn’t mean others with an axe to grind weren’t out there. It was better to be safe than sorry. “My security team is getting antsy. What do you say we all crash Lotus Garden for an early dinner?”
“That sounds great.”
Leah looked up when she heard the familiar voice. “Maddy! I thought you and Tasha had to work today?”
Maddy shrugged. “I called in a favor and switched shifts with Patel, and Tasha didn’t have any appointments this afternoon, so she blocked her schedule.” She held her hands out to the side. “And here we are.”
Leah pulled them both into a group hug. “You two are the best. Thanks, sis.”
“Yes, we are.” Maddy paused when Leah pulled away. “I know I’ve told you this before…but I really thought you’d be taller.”
“You’ve only got two inches on me.”
“That’s a lot.”
Leah sighed. “No, it isn’t.”
“I’m literally looking down at you, it’s plenty.”
Suddenly Kaelen stepped closer and brushed against Maddy’s shoulder and looked down at her. “Yes, two inches is a good height difference, isn’t it? I’d estimate it to be the thickness of a cinnamon roll. You remember that one breakfast at The Bean Bag, right, Maddy?” She shook her head and said, “Their butter knives are so flimsy.”
Maddy swallowed. “Yup.” Then she turned to Leah and gave her a pained smile. “I’ll stop. You can call off your girlfriend now.”
Leah laughed and wrapped her arm around Kaelen’s waist. “Please, she wouldn’t hurt a fly.” She looked up at Kaelen in time to see her frown, before her features smoothed into a pleasant smile.
Nalla joined the group then, interrupting whatever else Leah was going to say. “I’m pretty sure you broke every news outlet with that last declaration about Kaelen.”
“You can’t be serious. We literally created a treatment to repair spinal cord injury and you think the press is going to focus on the fact that I’m engaged?”
“Oh, for sure. The world has known about Nerenase for months, since CES. But this…this is big news. I’ll bet you fifty dollars that your engagement garners more front-page headlines tomorrow than Lockheed’s new miracle cure.”
Leah held out her hand. “Make it one hundred dollars and you’re on.”
Einstein spoke up. “I’d have to agree with Leah, Nerenase is a major scientific breakthrough. There is no way it will be less important than what amounts to relationship gossip about the company CEO.”
Ellie, Maddy, and Tasha all spoke at once, taking sides in the argument. As they quieted down, Leah turned to Kaelen. “What about you? Do you have an opinion about the headlines tomorrow?”
Kaelen shook her head and smiled. “I’m not making a determination, but I have kept track of all the bets.” She tapped her temple.
Maddy snorted. “Of course, she did. Come on people, my stomach isn’t going to feed itself, and I’m pretty sure my sister promised to buy everyone an early dinner.”
“That’s not at all what I—fine. You call ahead though to make sure they’ve got seats available.”
Ellie startled everyone with her laughter as they walked away from the stage. “Honey, I’m the oldest one here and even I don’t eat this early. Maddy should still call ahead but I think we’ll be fine because it will take at least forty minutes to make our way to Xiuying’s restaurant in Koreatown.”
Leah met Hans’s gaze where he stood close to the group. He nodded and pressed a finger to his ear so he could communicate the plans with the rest of her security team. She trusted Kaelen, but if they wanted to keep up appearances, she couldn’t go around without security every time she was with her fiancé. That would be too obvious.
Once they’d announced Leah’s recovery to the world, she wasted no time donating her electric vans to a service that helped people with disabilities. The vans could be converted for use with a standard driver’s seat, or left as is. She replaced it with an electric SUV and spent many hours over the past few months re-learning to drive using foot pedals in conjunction with the steering wheel, instead of only hand controls.
Ellie rode with Maddy and Tasha, leaving Leah alone with Kaelen during the drive to the restaurant. Kaelen was unusually silent. “Are you okay?”
“Why wouldn’t I be? Everyone I love is healthy and happy, plus I’m here with you.”
Leah maneuvered onto the highway, sparing a glance for Kaelen. “You seem quieter than normal, like you’re lost in thought.”
“I—” Kaelen sighed, an unusual sound from her. “I have been thinking about something you said to Maddy earlier.”
“Something I said?”
“You told Maddy that I would never hurt a fly but you were wrong. I have hurt someone. I would have killed her if I hadn’t heard your heartbeat. Wishing death upon another is a moral failing in Argonian society. I have failed a test of citizenship with my actions.”
“Oh—” Leah made a quick decision to exit the highway so they could talk someplace more secure, sensing that Kaelen’s guilt was weighing heavily on her.
“Leah, where are you going? We told everyone we’d meet them at the restaurant.”
“This is more important. You’re more important.” She pulled into a parking lot not far from the off-ramp and brought the vehicle to a stop. Leah saw her security team pull into the lot after them. She turned in her seat so she could face Kaelen, noting the white knuckles where Kaelen gripped her own hands. “You are one of the most noble and honorable people I’ve ever met. Why would you think you’re a failure?”
“I researched Argonian law.”
“Darling,” Kaelen met Leah’s intense gaze. “You’re not on Argon.”
“Yes, but—” Leah covered her soft lips to stifle the words.
“Tell me, would you expect a human on Argon to only abide by their home planet’s laws unconditionally?”
“No.”
Leah pressed on. “And if a visitor to Argon acted in a way that were noble, true, and worthy of the highest house, would you call them a failure if they didn’t meet their own planet’s moral and intellectual standards?”
Kaelen shook her head.
“Planets and their people are all distinct. Earth has a mix of humans, aliens, and Chromodecs. Much like science involves a mix of different materials with their unique properties. Some elements are volatile and require different procedures, fail-safes, and levels of interaction, while others are harmless and inert. You won’t always be able to act and react like an Argonian when dealing with more volatile races.”
“But I would have killed her.” Kaelen pounded her fist against her own thigh. “I held her life in my hands and wished for nothing more than to snuff it out!”
“You didn’t kill her though.”
“What’s the difference either way between intent and action? The dark thoughts were poison in my heart.”
Leah gave Kaelen a tender smile. “The difference is choice. You chose to spare a life that day.”
Kaelen looked fearful, tears shimmering in her eyes. “What happens next time, or the time after? How can I be sure I’ll always make the right choice?”
“You can’t. Darling, we all have lines that we’d cross when pushed to our limit. If you think I wouldn’t feel the same way if something were to happen to you, Maddy, or Ellie, you’re sadly mistaken. I don’t believe it makes me a monster. On the contrary, it makes me human.”
“But I’m not human, Leah. With my power, I can’t afford to be.”
Leah covered Kaelen’s hands with her own. “I can’t tell you what to do or how to act. But I believe in you, Kaelen. Follow your heart and stop trying to live up to a people who did nothing but let you down.”
Kaelen was silent for a minute before drawing in a slow breath and releasing it. “You’re right. I’ve said this before but it clearly encompasses so much more of my life than I originally anticipated.” She looked at Leah. “I need to forge my own path here on Earth. Yes, I am the Ra. I’m the last of my house and people. But as the last, how much does my birthright mean here? I’m doing good work, I’ve received my match, and I have friends and found family I never expected to experience again after the loss of my planet.”
“Perhaps…” Leah trailed off, unsure how to make her suggestion.
“What is it?”
“Maybe Tasha can recommend someone for you to speak with about your losses and experiences. I think you could benefit from actual therapy and not the Wex kind. Grief is an odd emotion and can affect our thoughts and actions in strange and unexpected ways.”
Kaelen frowned at the suggestion but nodded. “I’ll ask Tasha later after dinner. Thank you.”
“You never have to thank me for caring about you, for loving you and wishing you all the happiness in the world. That is what best friends and true partners strive for. I consider you both.”
Kaelen smiled. “You match what’s in my head perfectly.” Suddenly her stomach gave a loud growl and she clutched at it. “Perhaps we should head to dinner now.”
“Are you okay?”
“Yes, much better.”
Leah put the vehicle in drive and made her way out of the lot and onto the highway. Hans and his team followed behind them. “Good, because I hate to think that you’ll be too upset during dinner to enjoy dessert after.”
“Dessert? Is there a new offering at Lotus Garden? I didn’t know they had a dessert selection.”
“I’m talking about later, once we’re home alone.”
Kaelen’s head tilted when Leah looked her way. “I don’t understand.”
“Darling, dessert is a euphemism.”
“Oh.” Leah glanced at Kaelen and smirked at her wide eyes. “Oh! Yes, dessert sounds like a great idea. Uh, then maybe we can have real, non-euphemism dessert too?”
Leah laughed, delighted that she knew her love so well. “Of course. I’m sure I can find something to satisfy your sweet tooth.”
* * * *
“I’m nervous.” Kaelen’s jiggling leg stilled at the touch of Leah’s hand.
“Darling, don’t be nervous. Michael is going to be beyond happy.”
With no hoverchair to worry about, they’d actually rented an SUV at the airport to drive themselves from Grand Rapids to Zeeland. Leah wanted electric but there wasn’t one available so they had to settle for a hybrid. Unlike their earlier trips to see Paul, Shelly, Michael, and occasionally Tate when he was home from university, Leah had the bare minimum of two security guards with her. They’d visited often enough by that point that there was still a risk someone would guess her destination and cause trouble.
Kaelen was the one who suggested they tell Hans about her powers and secret identity to save the man from heartburn every time Leah dismissed her team. He understood her reasoning better but still insisted she have at least two with her when traveling out of the city. Hans handpicked Ron Patchett, or “Patch,” and Jules Yang. Both were skilled, dedicated, friendly, and would never disclose Kaelen’s alternate identity.
Leah glanced down at the navigation screen, then returned her gaze to the dusty road ahead of them. “You’ve got about fifteen minutes to tell me why you’re so worried.”
Kaelen turned slightly to look at the guards in the back seat. Patch and Jules studiously looked away, pretending to be part of the vehicle decor. Even so, she lowered her voice slightly. “He’s been studying Argonian culture for a year now. What if he doesn’t approve of our match? What if he thinks—”
Leah’s laughter brought her spiraling words to a halt. “Sweetheart,” Kaelen smiled when Leah used Ellie’s familiar term of endearment. “For one, I know it bothers you, but Michael will always be more human than Argonian. He’s too…too, Midwestern. Trust me when I say he won’t hold, what to him is an alien culture, higher than the one he was raised with.”
Her words made sense and Kaelen frowned. She didn’t like that Michael wouldn’t understand what it meant to be Argonian the way she did. But she also knew that it meant his life would be a lot easier. He’d never have to walk with a foot in each world, trying his hardest to do right by both. Perhaps that was where some of her fear stemmed from. Kaelen paused as the rest of Leah’s statement caught up with her thoughts. “You said for one, what is the other reason?”
Leah turned her head so Kaelen could receive the full power of what Nalla called Leah’s look. The combination of head tilt, lip curl, dimple, eyebrow lift, flirtatious smile, and what Nalla said is “killer eye contact,” had Kaelen sucking in a breath. “Michael adores me. I may not wear a cape, but he’s told me often enough how I’m his hero.”
“You think so?”
“Trust me, darling. Michael will be over the moon that he can say he’s related to me in some way. Shelly already admitted that he tells everyone at school we’re friends and that I’ve visited multiple times. It’s pretty cute, actually.”
Kaelen sighed, feeling significantly calmer. Then she turned to Leah with a bright smile. “You’re pretty cute, and smart too. He couldn’t have a better role model to look up to.” Leah’s cheeks pinked and Kaelen was satisfied that she’d said the right thing.
They turned up the driveway not long after that, and Leah parked between Paul’s new pickup truck and Shelly’s car. A blur raced from the house to their SUV as soon as they rolled to a stop. Whatever dust was kicked up by their arrival was blown away by one excited boy. Michael hopped impatiently from foot to foot while he waited for everyone to exit the vehicle, then he threw himself at Kaelen and gave her a hug not many others on Earth could replicate.
When he pulled away, she ruffled his dark hair and grinned down at him. “You’re getting stronger, bhejek. And taller.”
He beamed back at her. “I am! I even helped Dad when he changed the tires on the old truck last month, before he gave it to Tate.”
Kaelen looked around and didn’t see the old vehicle or hear Tate’s heartbeat so assumed he was still in Chicago. “You’re doing the exercises like I showed you? Control is important, both emotional and physical because one affects the other.”
“Yup. Tuk says I’m doing well in my studies too.”
“I would expect nothing less from such a bright young man.”
At the sound of Leah’s voice, Michael’s eyes lit up and he rushed to her side. “Leah!”
“Careful, son.” Paul and Shelly had come outside, albeit at a much slower pace than Michael.
“I’m always careful, Mom. But this is Leah and I haven’t seen her in ages!”
“They were here a month and a half ago.”
Leah laughed and hugged him. “It’s fine, Shelly. I can’t help it that I’m his favorite scientist.”
He pulled away and looked from Leah to his parents. “I want to be like Leah when I grow up.”
Paul laughed. “Weren’t you saying the other day that you wanted to be a famous writer, changing lives with every word?”
Michael blushed and rubbed the back of his neck. “Geez, can’t a person do both?”
All the adults laughed and Leah patted his shoulder. “If anyone can do it, I bet it’s you.”
“Come along everyone, I’ve got fresh pies made.” Shelly looked beyond Kaelen and Leah toward Leah’s bodyguards. “Hi Jules. It’s good to have you and Patch back. I even remembered your favorite tea and soda, and ordered some special for when you visit.”
Jules was the more serious of the two and simply smiled and gave a quick nod. “You didn’t have to do that, Mrs. Miller.” Kaelen could tell by the tone of her voice and elevated heart rate that Jules was secretly pleased.
Patch was a lot less restrained. “That’s pretty sweet of you, Mrs. Miller. Thanks a lot.”
“Nonsense! Call me Shelly and it wasn’t nothin’ big. I know you all have an important job and you’ve been here enough times that you’re practically family.”
Michael chimed in, “Like found family?”
Kaelen laughed. “Very close to it. What do you say we go have some pie?” She looked around at the group and rubbed her stomach. “I don’t know about you all, but I’m starving.”
Leah answered her at the same time she winked at Shelly. “Aren’t you always?”
A few minutes later they’d claimed seats around the table in the Millers’ dining room. Leah helped Shelly serve up slices of pie while Paul made sure everyone had drinks.
“Tate’s not home for the summer?”
Shelly winked at Leah. “Tate and his imzadi, Sam, were here for a bit. But they were heading back early so they could spend time with Sam’s aunts.”
“Imzadi?”
Michael grinned at Kaelen. “That’s what you call your datemate when they’re gender neutral.”
“Oh, like boyfriend, girlfriend, and imzadi?” Michael nodded. “I don’t recognize the word.”
“Darling, it’s from a television show, Star Trek. It means beloved.” Kaelen nodded, though she was unfamiliar with the show referenced.
Paul grunted. “I like that Sam. They’ve got a good head on their shoulders.”
Michael had already moved on from the discussion about his brother and was focused on his dessert. He scooped up a large bite of blackberry filling but paused when the fork was nearly to his mouth.
* * * *
He looked back and forth between his two visitors. “Kaelen said you had something important to tell us. Is it bad news?”
Kaelen was caught with a full mouth of pie, her cheeks bulging comically like a chipmunk. Everyone looked at her and Patch hid a chuckle behind his hand. Not wanting to worry her young cousin, Kaelen swallowed the large bite with some effort and took a drink of her iced milk to wash it down. “Actually,” she reached toward Leah’s hand and was comforted by her soft skin as their fingers intertwined, “Leah and I wanted to tell you that we got engaged during the holiday break.”
A look of hurt washed across Michael’s face. “But— but that was last year, months and months ago! Were you afraid to tell me?”
Leah answered him. “Not at all, my darling boy. We’ve been keeping it secret from a lot of people because neither one of us wanted to face the scrutiny involved with what could be viewed as a fast engagement for such a high-profile relationship as ours.”
Paul’s deep voice questioned, “What changed?”
“Well, I had a press conference the day before yesterday where I was forced to announce my relationship with Kaelen, as well as our engagement.”
“Forced?”
Leah blushed and Kaelen laughed. “Someone from the press questioned what her relationship with Scion was, speculating that they were involved romantically because of how many times Scion has saved her. So, she told them that her heart was already taken by me and that we were engaged.”
“Hmm, good call.”
Kaelen gave Leah’s hand a light squeeze before picking up her fork again. “Now that we’re official, we’ve decided to set a date for our wedding. It’s going to be something small, very intimate, with no press allowed.”
Michael’s mouth dropped open. “Wow. Will you need a best man? Do you have rings and stuff? Uh, will you get married or whatever like people on Argon?”
Shelly chuckled. “Michael, slow down and let them answer.”
Leah smiled. “It’s fine.” She glanced at Kaelen, who had another mouthful of food, and explained what details they had. “The place will be kind of remote, but we’re working on a way for Kaelen to transport everyone there at once, undetected.”
Paul paused his fork halfway to his mouth and his eyebrow lifted. “How remote?”
“Antarctica.”
“What?” The word was loud in the kitchen because multiple people yelled it at once.
Kaelen paused while demolishing her first large slice of pie but Leah explained. “As Lockheed International moves farther into green energy technology, and researches ways to combat global warming, we thought it would be prudent to have a place specifically geared to study bell weather effects. Kaelen suggested a remote arctic location for a research station.”
“When did you start it?”
“Right after the first of the year.”
“Oh, my lord.” Shelly took a sip of her cooling coffee.
Paul gaped at her in surprise. “I’ve seen a lot of construction in my day. How on Earth did you get it built so fast in such a harsh location?”
Leah laughed. “It helps to have a lot of ready money for materials and an extremely capable, fully-powered Argonian available. Kaelen has been invaluable.”
Kaelen shrugged. “What she’s not saying is that I’ve consulted with Einstein and Wex and they agreed it would be beneficial to incorporate a lot of Argonian technology into the facility, provided access was very limited.”
Michael looked at her in awe. “Wow. Who is going to be allowed in?”
“For starters, only those with access to the SPL. Well, and those we invite to the wedding. Eventually, more scientists will be trained, given security clearance, and rotate to the station.”
Shelly shook her head. “I didn’t even know such a thing was possible. I guess I never thought about how other research stations ended up down there.”
Leah answered like it was no big deal but Kaelen knew how much work it took to get the correct approvals for such an endeavor. “I did need to get special permission from the British government first, then from my own government. Then I had to give a detailed plan for the place, and a list of materials used in the facility’s construction.”
Paul’s mouth dropped open. “How in the world did all that come about?”
Kaelen grinned. “Director Danes of the CORP called in a favor to help us out. Leah let me name it Adyta because it reminds me of the Thinker school in Kypl City on Argon.”
“Golly! And we get to go there?”
“Yes. We altered a company shuttle so it can be carried at extreme speed.”
Shelly put a hand over her stomach. “What kind of speed?”
Kaelen translated the speed into miles per hour even though they’d done all the calculations in meters per second to come up with an appropriate acceleration G-force that was safe for humans. “Roughly nine thousand miles per hour. We will arrive at the Adyta Research Center in a little over two hours once I take into consideration the deceleration speed.”
“Jeez, that’s a lot.” Michael looked at his parents with a furrowed brow. “Is it safe for everyone? We studied G-Force in science class, and they said that too fast acceleration could make someone real sick, even die.”
“Don’t worry, Michael. Kaelen and I went over all the calculations thoroughly. Ten G can cause unconsciousness and death. As long as Kaelen takes ten minutes to accelerate to cruising speed, the most we’ll hit is slightly more than a commercial jetliner at point five three G.”
Shelly let out a sigh of relief and Paul nodded. He took a sip of his coffee and asked, “So when is the big day? You need us to wear anything fancy?”
Kaelen smiled. “Wear whatever you’re comfortable in as long as it’s warm.”
“How cold is Adyta?”
Leah shrugged. “Chilly, more like a cave right now. The last reading Wex took said the ambient air temperature inside was roughly fifty-five degrees but Kaelen is still bringing environmental systems online.”
“Have you seen it?”
“Blueprints and pictures only, I’m afraid.” She pointed a thumb at Kaelen. “This one wants to surprise me with it.”
Once Paul and Shelly’s questions ran out, Michael continued with his own. “When is the ceremony and will you pick us up or will we have to fly out to Los Angeles first? Is Tate invited?”
“We’ll pick you up at noon on the twenty-second of September and have you back the same night. Is that okay?” Kaelen paused, unsure. “I know that it’s a lot to ask but at least it’s a Saturday. I don’t even know if Tate would want to attend, but we chose that date specifically because we celebrate it as my Re-birthday.”
“Re-birthday?”
She smiled at Shelly. “It’s the day I landed on Earth. We celebrate it like an ordinary birthday.”
Paul and Shelly shared one of their looks, then moved their gaze to Michael. “That’s actually what we did for Michael too. He was born into our lives so we decided that would be as good a day as any to celebrate.”
“Cool! That means I’m just like you.” He beamed at Kaelen and her heart squeezed with affection. He was such a happy and outgoing boy. She could never thank the Millers enough for what they did for her people, for her.
Shelly reached over to affectionately run her fingers through Michael’s hair. “Michael has his Argonian lessons every Saturday but missing one day is fine, especially for something as important as a wedding. And we’ll have to check with Tate about his schedule.”
Michael threw himself sideways to hug her. “Thanks, Mom. I promise I’ll ask Tuk ahead of time so I don’t get behind on any assignments.”
Patch muttered from his end of the table. “I wish I’d been so studious in school.”
Jules laughed quietly. “Same. There is a reason that important CEOs and scientists exist in the world yet we are the ones protecting them.”
Leah looked up from her plate at their words. “Never sell yourselves short. You two are good at what you do and every one of us here appreciates your work and dedication.”
Patch grinned and Jules gave her a solemn nod. “We know, truly. And speaking for both of us, you’re probably our favorite assignment to date. You understand how to be safe in a public setting, not to mention you’re literally engaged to Sc—uh, a super special woman who knows how to take care of business.”
Kaelen looked back and forth between Leah and Jules. She whispered to Leah, “Is that a euphemism?”
Leah snickered. “Yes, but not the way you’re thinking.”
“Erm…” Kaelen blushed and shoved a forkful from her third piece of pie into her mouth. All the adults laughed but Michael blithely carried on eating as fast as Kaelen. Not much came between a hungry Argonian and homemade pie.