Mia pushed the silly thought away. Kaylee was beautiful with her blonde hair and her big, blue eyes. Mia was mousy and plain and too plump for anyone to look twice at. None of the big, strong, handsome warriors was going to want her.
I’ll live the rest of my life single, she thought regretfully. But that’s all right, as long as I have friends and my freedom, I don’t mind.
Resolutely, she shushed the wistful little voice and went back to working on her happy song.
She had no clue how soon all her ideas about the future were about to be turned upside-down…
10
“Well, that was delicious.” Kaylee sat back in her seat with a happy sigh and pushed her dessert plate away.
Mia followed suit, giving a happy sigh of her own. The grieza worms had looked disgusting, but tasted wonderful—just like dark chocolate, as advertised. And the rest of the dinner, which was all cuisine from the Twin Kindred home world of Twin Moons, had been tasty as well. It was so nice to try something new for a change! She had gotten so tired of always having everything deep-fried, which was pretty much the only thing Hank would touch.
“I’ve got that,” Talon said, as the check came.
“Thank you so much.” Mia smiled at her friend’s husband gratefully. “I hope I’ll be able to treat the two of you in the near future.”
“You will! You’ll be able to start your new job as my accompanist as soon as you heal up some more,” Kaylee told her, smiling.
“I really do feel better now, even if my face is still kind of a mess,” Mia protested, lightly touching her puffy, bruised left cheekbone. The swelling had gone down a lot, but it was still tender to touch and her left eye was still black.
“You can come to work when you’re completely healed and not before,” Kaylee said sternly. “I want you at one hundred percent because I’m going to work you hard. We’re going to perform Handel’s Messiah for Christmas—not just the Hallelujah Chorus, either—all of it. And you know what a big undertaking that is!”
“That is a big undertaking. And it’s almost Halloween now,” Mia pointed out. Indeed, the tables at the little restaurant were decorated with miniature pumpkins to mark the season. “How are you going to get ready in time for Christmas?” she asked Kaylee.
“We’ll do it. We’re going to have a big concert in the park for anyone who wants to come,” Kaylee said, with determination. “Imagine how much fun it’s going to be!”
“I can’t wait,” Mia said, and it was true. She was looking forward to playing the challenging music and accompanying a choir again. She just wished Kaylee would let her get back to work sooner rather than later—as vast as the Mother Ship was, she was running out of places to explore.
Still, there was one area she hadn’t seen yet, she thought, looking out the window of the restaurant. Outside were the vast, rolling parklands located right in the center of the Mother Ship. They were covered with lush green and purple grass that Mia longed to feel under her feet. On the way in, they had seen families playing and couples picnicking but now the artificial green sun at the top of the ship was dimming and the area looked mostly deserted.
Talon paid the bill and the three of them walked outside. Dusk was falling, casting shadows across the many quaint little restaurants and shops that ringed the vast parklands. Most of them were closing up, though Kaylee pointed out a few that were her favorites and promised she and Mia would go shopping there later.
But soon enough, she had her arm linked through Talon’s and the two of them were staring at each other longingly. Mia knew that was her cue to leave them alone.
“Well, you two go back to the suite,” she said, smiling at her friend. “I think I’ll take a walk in the park for awhile.”
“By yourself? When it’s almost dark?” Kaylee asked, frowning protectively.
“Why shouldn’t she?” Talon asked, raising an eyebrow. “There are no wild animals anywhere around and no one will hurt her.”
“Oh, you’re right.” Kaylee laughed and shook her head. “Sorry—force of habit. Down on Earth, a woman alone always has to be so careful. But you’re right! Mia could tear off her clothes and run around naked in the moonlight—well, the fake sun-moonlight—and nobody would bother her.”
“I hardly think I’m going to run around naked,” Mia said dryly. “I just want to take off my shoes and walk on the grass for a while and enjoy the park. I think this is the last public place on the Mother Ship that I haven’t visited yet.”
“Well, have fun.” Kaylee gave her a quick, one-armed hug. “And we’ll see you later.”