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By the time they arrived at base camp, Trinity was exhausted but it was more because of the tension between her and Hugh than from the trip. He refused to speak with her or even look at her. Kim was focused on Jackson and Gaar and Mirra were busy covering the tracks that the group made. She’d wanted to help them, but Hugh had ordered Jackson to tell her she wasn’t allowed. She’d almost gone with Gaar and Mirra anyway, but Kim had taken her aside, saying that it was a test of her ability to follow orders. She’d explained, loud enough for even a deaf Almighty to hear, that she did follow orders that weren’t stupid. The muscle twitching in Hugh’s cheek proved he’d heard every word. The tension between them had only escalated from there. She really did need to learn to keep her big mouth shut, but Hugh irritated her beyond reason.
Base camp had changed quite a bit since the last time she’d been there. For one thing, there were now Stockers milling about. Ritco and what remained of their village had joined the AC after they’d been attacked by the Protective Services.
Also, a lot of the tents were gone. Many of those who lived here had made small homes out of the crevices in the rock. There were a lot more openings in this section of Harbor Point than the area she and Jethro had searched. Some of them could lead to the other side, leaving them open to an attack from Araldo only knows what. She needed to tell Hugh about that, if he ever spoke to her again.
Her mom and dad stepped out of one of the large cracks. Dad saw her first but mom shoved Arthur into his arms and raced across camp.
“Thank Araldo, you’re safe.” Mom grabbed her, hugging her tight.
Her arms went around her mother. The familiar scent of lemon and wild flowers enveloped her as she sobbed into her mom’s neck. She wanted to go back in time to when her mom could make everything better.
Dad wrapped them both in his arms, squeezing Arthur between them. The toddler squirmed and fussed, but Dad ignored him. “We were so worried. Hugh sent word that they’d found you but...” He kissed her head. “I had to see you for myself.”
Mom stepped back, keeping one arm around her. “Come on. Let’s get you something to eat.”
She wasn’t hungry, hadn’t been since she’d seen Hugh again, but right now, she’d go wherever her mom led.
After she’d bathed and eaten, she sat on a rock in her parent’s home. It was nice. A little cool, but the fire kept the chill at bay.
“You’ve been quiet.” Mom sent Dad a look.
“Arthur and I are going to take a walk.” He kissed her on the forehead. “I love you, Trin.” He grabbed the baby and left.
Tears welled in her eyes again. He was going to be so disappointed in her when he found out what she’d done.
Mom patted the spot on the cot next to her and Trinity moved to her mother’s side, resting her head against her mom’s shoulder. She wished she could stay like this, but she knew her mom and a lecture was coming.
“Millie.” Kim called from the doorway.
“Come in,” said Mom. “Pull up a seat.”
Kim moved a small rock over by the bed, setting her backpack on the floor next to her feet. Trinity sat up. This was starting to feel like an ambush.
“Trinity,”—Mom took her hands—“no matter what happened or happens, I love you.”
Her pulse raced. She didn’t have to tell them anything. “Does everyone know? Is that why they treated me like I was made of glass on the trip here?”
“They were giving you space.” Kim smiled softly. “No one meant anything bad by it.” She lowered her gaze to her hands. “And you’ve been different too.”
“How? How have I been different?” She’d acted the same, but the others had avoided her like she was dying of a contagious disease.
“Except for wanting to help Gaar and Mirra cover our tracks, you’ve been quiet and willing to follow orders without any arguments,” said Kim.
“That’s what you told me to do.”
“Yes, but that never stopped you before.”
Even her friend thought she was difficult and hard headed. No one understood that most of the time the orders she was supposed to follow were stupid.
Kim reached into her backpack and pulled out a bottle of liquor. “I thought this might help you talk. You know, to get things off your chest.”
Mom went to the counter and brought back three cups. She handed one to each of them before sitting down on the cot. “Fill mine up. I think I’m going to need it.”
Kim filled all three cups and put the bottle on the floor near their feet.
“Whiskey,” said Kim. “It was all Jackson could find. I usually drink wine or at least mix it with something, but here goes.” She took a sip and made a horrible face.
“I’ve never had whiskey.” Mom took a large gulp and started coughing and gasping for air.
“Jackson said it gets better the more you drink.” Kim took another swallow, wrinkling her nose again. “It isn’t worse.”
She took a small sip. “It’s vile.” It was even worse than the stuff she’d had in Jethro’s tent. She took another drink. She didn’t want to think about that.
Kim laughed. “Yes, but it’ll make you feel better.”
She wasn’t so sure about that. Sassy seemed to feel worse after drinking, but she’d give it a try.
“How’s Jackson?” asked Mom.
“He’s doing much better. The trip was long and hard on him, but he heals quickly.”
“So, you’re back together?” She was glad for them but the glow on Kim’s face made her aloneness even more apparent. She took another, larger drink.
“Yes.” Kim eyed her. “It was hard when we were apart but it was worth it to be where we are now.”
Mom nodded. “Tim and I have had our rough spots.”
“When?” she asked. “You two have been in love since the day you met. I mean a few arguments, sure, but—”
“This was way before you were born.” Mom smiled sadly. “It wasn’t easy for us either, honey.”
She took another drink. No, it couldn’t have been with him having to sneak in and out of their lives.
“There were times, early on, when we’d break up for days, weeks even but then he’d come back.”
“And you’d make up.” Kim grinned.
“Yes, we’d make up.” Mom blushed.
“That’s the best part,” said Kim, her tone dreamy.
“Don’t say any more. Trinity hasn’t bonded with anyone yet.” Mom flushed. “Oh, I forgot. I mean what you did with that...that...Sorry Kim, I know he’s your brother.”
“No apology necessary.” Kim picked up the bottle and topped off their cups.
“What you did with Jethro doesn’t count. I mean the...the process is the same, but the emotions are different.” Mom took a large gulp of her drink. “You did what you had to in order to survive. Any male worth his weight knows that’s what’s important.”
They thought she and Jethro had mated. Everyone thought that.
“Trinity, I know Jethro has been an ass lately”—Kim touched her hand—“and you don’t have to talk about what happened, but I hope he didn’t hurt you. I mean, it always hurts a bit the first time, but...he wasn’t rough was he?”
Her face was on fire. She took another gulp. “No. I mean we didn’t...”
“Have you had your cycle since then?” Mom’s hand trembled, sloshing the liquid in her glass.
“I’m not pregnant.” She hadn’t even considered that when she’d been with him. She’d gotten carried away and had forgotten about everything but him and his touch.
“It can happen even if you only do it once.” Mom flushed and took another sip. “Your father was very surprised to discover that. Producers are quite fertile.”
“I’m not pregnant.” She tried to scoot off the bed but her legs and arms were slow and heavy. She took another drink.
“It’s okay, baby.” Mom hugged her. “We’ll get you through this.”
Kim moved to the bed and hugged her too. “Hugh will understand.”
She wiggled and finally freed herself from their comfort. “No. I can’t be pregnant because we didn’t...I mean,”—her face flushed again—“we didn’t do it. We didn’t mate.”
Kim’s brow wrinkled in confusion. “The Guards saw the two of you. You were naked and on his lap and then in his bed. He was on top—”
“Enough.” Her ears were burning. “I know what happened.” This time she managed to stagger away from the bed. Her legs were unsteady and she stumbled, dropping onto the rock that Kim had vacated. She glanced at her mother but there was no censure in her eyes. “That’s all true but I...Meesus had given me a potion to use if I were ever being forced. I wasn’t. I mean, Jethro wasn’t forcing me. He didn’t.” She shook her head. “Never mind about that. What’s important is that we didn’t quite get to the mating part. I scratched him and he passed out.”
Kim and her mom stared at her. Then they both burst out laughing.
“No wonder Jethro is so mad,” said Kim.
“To pass out at that moment. Right before...” Mom rested her head on Kim’s shoulder, laughing until tears streamed down her face.
“Stop it. It’s not funny.” Hugh hated her and Jethro wanted to kill her because of that night.
They ignored her. She took another drink.
“Stop laughing,” she said again, louder this time. “It’s not funny.”
“Oh, but it is,” said Kim. “You’ll understand once you understand males more.”
“And Hugh is so jealous and angry,” laughed Mom.
“He hates me,” she whispered. “He hates me and he’ll never forgive me.”
Mom and Kim stopped laughing.
Kim leaned forward and took her hand. “He’s hurt Trinity and worse than that he feels like it’s his fault.”
“Why would he think that?”
“That’s just the way males think.” Mom sighed. “They believe it’s their job to protect us and if something bad happens they blame themselves even when there was nothing they could’ve done.”
“That’s stupid.”
“That’s males for you.” Kim tapped her glass against Mom’s.
“No, this is different. Hugh thinks I betrayed him.” And she had. She’d kissed Jethro on the other side of Harbor Point and even though that night she’d set out to escape, she hadn’t clawed him on purpose.
“It’s not different. He’s hurt and angry, some at you, but mostly at himself and Jethro.” Kim glanced at Mom and then back to Trinity. “You need to tell him exactly what happened.”
“Well, not exactly,” said Mom.
“Yeah, right,” said Kim. “Actually, don’t tell him what happened tell him what didn’t happen.”
“Gaar said I should leave him alone unless I’m sure I want to...take him as my mate.”
“What does Gaar know?” Kim rolled her eyes. “He doesn’t understand anything about relationships between a man and woman.”
Kim had a point. Until recently, Gaar’s only relationship had been with Mirra.
“Trust me,” said Kim. “Tell Hugh.”
“Even if I don’t know if I love him?”
“Yes. He needs to know. You can figure the rest out later.” Kim studied her a moment. “Do you still have feelings for my brother? Not Hugh, but Jethro.”
“What do you mean by that?” Mom grabbed Kim’s arm.
“Hugh’s my half-brother. I’ll explain later.” Kim faced Trinity. “So, do you have feelings for Jethro?”
“He was going to use me to capture Gaar, Mirra and Hugh. There is nothing left between us.” Nothing but hatred. She didn’t add that last part because no matter what, Kim loved her brother.
“Then talk to Hugh.” Kim refilled their glasses again.
“What if he doesn’t forgive me?” She took another sip of her drink. This stuff wasn’t too bad.
“There is nothing for him to forgive.” Mom grabbed her by her shoulders. “You did what you had to. If he doesn’t understand that then he isn’t good enough for you.”
Her stomach knotted and she looked away from her mother’s eyes. “But I enjoyed it.”
“Oh, honey.” Mom pulled her into a hug, spilling all her whiskey. “That’s okay. Good really.”
“But...”
Mom leaned back, forcing Trinity to meet her gaze. “Did you decide to be with Jethro because you wanted him or because you wanted your and Travis’ freedom?”
“To escape.” That was the truth.
“Then the rest doesn’t matter,” said Mom. “It’s a physical reaction. A normal, healthy, physical reaction.”
“But don’t tell Hugh you enjoyed it.” Kim finished her drink.
Mom shook her head. “No, definitely not.”