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T he dining hall was busy but in a low-key way that spoke to it being fairly early on a Sunday morning.

The noise level was soft, nothing like at dinnertime, and the background music was an easy jazz that added to the vibe.

People moved with a kind of languidness that made it clear no one was in a rush.

We got in line for food. I got scrambled eggs, two strips of bacon, a cup of mixed fruit, and a single chocolate chip pancake with whipped cream. Frank stood in the omelet line for a ham, gruyere, and spring onion concoction, to which he added two sausage links and two slices of wheat toast.

We found a table off to one side and set our trays down, then Frank went back for coffee for both of us.

When he returned and took his seat, he lifted his cup to me. “Here’s to a great day.”

“To a great day,” I repeated, touching my cup to his. I took a long drink, proud of myself for staying civil for so long without coffee. Even so, the first taste of it put me in a better mood immediately. Not that I was in a bad mood, but it elevated the good feeling I already had.

I added a few dashes of hot sauce to my eggs before taking a bite.

Frank cut a sausage link in half. “Can you come to my place before we head to the gardens, or do you want me to meet you there?”

“No, I can come to you. Why? Something going on?”

He swallowed the bite he’d just taken. “I want to do a little research on something before we go.”

I nodded. “Sure. That’s no problem.”

“Thanks.”

“Is this about the ship in distress?”

He took a breath, a smirk bending his mouth. “Maybe.”

I laughed. “What are you going to do?”

“See if I can find out more about the craft.”

“Even though you already think that’s being done by an Athos crew member?” I was just giving him grief for the fun of it now.

“Yes.” He sighed. “You think I’m being ridiculous, don’t you?”

I’d been trying to suppress a smile, but in that moment, I failed. “No, I think you’re being Frank Kitson, and I’m all about it. Will you tell me everything you find out when I get there?”

He grinned. “See, this is why I love you.”

My lips parted, but for a few seconds, I could only look at him. My voice returned. “You love me?”

He didn’t seem fazed by his revelation. “I thought that was obvious.”

I blew out a breath, my insides all tingly. Or maybe that was a hot flash coming on. In that case, please, no. “I guess … I guess it was. I love you, too, you know. Hard not to love a man like you.”

He looked pleased with himself as he forked up a bite of his omelet. “I do my best to be irresistible, so you really had no choice.”

I laughed, unable to do anything else with the euphoria bubbling up inside me. “You’re something else. Just don’t go getting too many ideas. I like what we have going on. No need to buy me jewelry and make a big declaration, if you catch my drift.”

“I do, and I appreciate that we’re on the same page. Having said that, if anything changes, you’ll let me know?”

“You’ll be the first.”

We finished our breakfast, then went our separate ways to our quarters. Harry was asleep when I went in, the fish channel still showing an underwater view of what looked like a major aquarium. Schools of silvery fish swam past the screen, and the gentle sound of bubbling water filled the air.

It was very relaxing. I could see why he liked it.

He woke up as I came in. “Hiya, Mum.”

“Hi, baby. Did you have a nice nap?”

He yawned. “The fish put me out every time.”

“Maybe I should try that. I’m going to shower and change, then we’re headed to Frank’s.”

Harry sat up, instantly awake. “And the gardens?”

“Yes, and the gardens.”

“Can I climb a tree?”

He wasn’t really supposed to, but considering all Frank and I had done for the Athos in the past few months, I nodded. “Yes, you can climb a tree. Just do your best not to scratch it up too much.”

“Promise, Mum.”

“Good boy.” I went into the bathroom, cranked on the vapor shower, and shed my walking clothes.

I’d already decided on a soft blue set of loose knit pants and matching jacket with a white tank top and sneakers.

We’d be doing more walking, but it would be at a much more leisurely pace.

If I got hot, I could tie the jacket around my waist.

I stepped into the shower, exhaling in pleasure as the heat relaxed me. I soaped and shampooed, all in a state of bliss as I thought about Frank’s words.

He loved me.

I thought I had known that. We certainly hadn’t been shy about spending time together. But it was really something to hear a man say that to me after so many years of widowhood.

I had no intention of marrying again. Once was enough for me. Ned, may he rest in peace, had been a lovely man, a great father, and a wonderful provider, but I hadn’t lied to Frank when I told him I liked things as they were.

Marrying Frank would no doubt come with great perks, but it would also change my life. We’d be expected to share quarters. As much as I loved Frank’s place, it was definitely his. And I liked my space and my privacy.

I thought having separate quarters did a lot to keep things interesting between us. We hadn’t taken the step of sleepovers yet, but we were consenting adults. If things came to that, so be it.

But I still wanted my own place and to be able to live by my own whims.

Frank often stayed up late working on his various projects, so I had a feeling he felt the same way.

I saw no point in discussing it, either. Things were good. Why change that?

I got out, dried my body and my hair, did a little makeup, then got dressed in the outfit I’d chosen. Harry had fallen back to sleep or was at least resting his eyes when I walked out to the living area.

Quietly, I called out his full name in a singsong voice. “Hieronymus…”

His eyes opened. “I’m ready.” He jumped off the couch, ducked under the coffee table, and went to the middle of the living area. “Are you ready?”

“I am.” He was so funny. “Let’s go.”

We arrived at Frank’s a few minutes later. The corridors were a bit more crowded with people out and about, and the chatter in the elevator had been all about the detour. Seemed that was on nearly everyone’s mind.

No one seemed concerned about it, though. Not like Frank had been. The snippets of conversation I picked up had been about how nice it was that the Athos was in the right place at the right time to help.

I had to agree. Helping out a vessel in distress was not only being a good citizen of the universe, it was space law. Didn’t mean everyone obeyed it, but the Athos certainly would.

I pressed the door chime at Frank’s, and he opened the door, dressed in navy jogging pants and a long-sleeved Space Marines T-shirt, the sleeves pushed back on his forearms. “Hi.” He glanced down at Harry. “How are you, buddy?”

Harry meowed, as we were still in a public space, and he didn’t talk unless we were alone and there was no danger of anyone overhearing him.

Having a talking compdroid wasn’t against any sort of interstellar rule or anything, but it wasn’t common, and only the early model droids had the ability. For that reason and a few others, we kept it hush-hush.

We went in, and the door closed behind us. Gracie, Frank’s galah or rose-breasted cockatoo compdroid, was on her perch. She tilted her head. “Good morning, Ellis and Harry.”

“Morning, Gracie,” Harry said back, running over to jump on Frank’s couch near her perch.

“Morning, Gracie,” I said. Then I turned to Frank. “Anything interesting?”

“Nothing yet. We’re still a few hours away from them, but I’ve started a little program that will run a scan of the ship once we’re in range. Again, nothing that isn’t probably already being done or about to be done, but you never know.”

“Nope, you don’t. Anything else you need to do before we go?”

“Nah. I think we’re good. Let’s go see what’s new in the gardens, shall we?”