Page 18 of Kranow (Brides of the Mylos #4)

“ This place has gotten so busy, ” Marley said, taking note of the crowd filling Rosa ’ s. In the few weeks since it had opened, the place had been getting steadily busier.

“ Well, the food is good and we can ’ t say anything. We ’ ve started coming here once a week ourselves, ” Darla replied, referring to their one off lunch date having become a weekly ritual.

“ And it ’ s Saturday, ” Melissa chimed in. “ With the fleet following Earth conventions time wise, it shouldn ’ t be a shock that places get busy on the weekends. ”

“ Just a shame Steven couldn ’ t join us today, ” Marley said.

“ Are you kidding me? I ’ m totally jealous! A whole week end in Paris, including two days at Disney, is much more awesome than lunch with us, even if you count the cannoli, ” Melissa declared.

“ The line looks kinda long. You gonna be all right standing on your feet waiting? ” Darla asked, glancing at their pregnant friend ’ s ankles doubtfully. Melissa was saved from answering when Rosa herself approached them.

“ It ’ s nice to see you ladies here again this week! No need to stand here in the line, you ’ ve got a standing reservation, ” Rosa said, herding them into the outdoor seating area. The women quickly took their places.

“ Why, thank you, Rosa. It ’ s very kind of you to remember our standing lunch date, ” Darla said.

“ Every week for six weeks, of course we notice! ” Rosa smiled as she spoke. “ It ’ s always an honor to have the Fleet Commander ’ s wife here at Rosa ’ s! I hope everything is all right. Your group seems short one today. ”

“ He ’ s off to Paris for the week with his mate and son, ” Marley said.

“ Oh, nice, ” Rosa said. “ I won ’ t hold it against him then, ” she said with a soft laugh. Rosa beckoned a waitress who came and delivered a set of menus and took their drink orders as Rosa bustled away.

“ Marley, I got to tell you, the kids are loving going to school. All we hear about is Miss Marley and Miss Charlotte this and that, ” Melissa said. “ They seem to be learning so much! ”

Marley flushed. “ I think Charlotte and I are having as much fun as the kids, to be honest, ” she confided. “ And all the kids are so smart! ”

“ Gundar mentioned that he ’ s heard nothing but good things about the program y ’ all are running there. He ’ s had a few parents from other ships ask about transferring their kids over. One of them has gone so far as to put in for reassignment as crew, ” Darla confided.

“ Really? ” Marley was astounded. It was no secret amongst the fleet as to who she was. She ’ d been floored by all the friendliness she ’ d encountered, though not surprised at the few covert stares she ’ d had from time to time. To find out that she was accepted to the point where people wanted to place their children in her care specifically, well, that blew her away. Her eyes teared up and she sniffled. “ Well, I don ’ t know quite what to say about that, what with before and all. ”

Melissa gave her a reassuring pat on the arm. “ Just be happy and keep right on doing what you ’ ve been. It ’ s obviously working. ” Marley gave her friend a watery smile of acknowledgement.

“ So, ” Darla said, changing the subject as their drinks order arrived at the table along with their appetizers. “ I hear Kranow has been asked to go take an instructor ’ s course. Is he going to do it? ”

Marley took a sip of her orange Fanta. “ He wants to but he ’ s not sure if leaving me so soon after our mating is a good idea. It ’ s a six week course at Aldorra Three and I can ’ t go with him. I ’ m worried that the real reason is because he thinks he needs to be here to help keep an eye on me, because of, you know, ” she said, fiddling with the side of her glass.

“ Why? Has he acted like he can ’ t trust you or something? ” Melissa asked, concern coloring her tone.

“ No. Just why else would he? I ’ d miss him, sure, but it means a promotion to junior flight instructor so he could run drills and stuff. ”

“ You should talk to him, ” Melissa said. “ He probably has no idea what you ’ re thinking. ”

“ Mmhmm, ” Darla said. “ He needs to hear this from you. I ’ m sure he doesn ’ t want you to feel this way. He can go, and y ’ all talk over long range comms can ’ t you? ”

“ I would think so, ” Marley replied. “ Okay, yeah, I ’ ll talk to him tonight. ”

“ Let him know you ’ ve got friends who won ’ t let you stay too damned lonely. You can come eat at our house sometimes. ” Darla looked at Melissa as she spoke.

“ And ours. We could get together and potluck and play cards even, ” Melissa said, taking the hint and warming up to the idea.

“ I imagine Charlotte wouldn ’ t mind hanging out with me here or at the mess hall or something sometimes, too. We can do some class planning, ” Marley mused.

“ See? Those six weeks would fly by! ” Darla said.

Marley thought about their fledgling mating. After the first time they ’ d had sex, they ’ d gone on to have more in the days that followed. It wasn ’ t all about sex though, admittedly. They were trying to get to know each other as people, too. Was it possible that he was worried about missing her too much? “ I guess, ” she said aloud. She was relieved to see the waitress arriving with their food.