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“ Over there will be fine, but we need to find something to dry you off with.”

“ I’m fine, Kira . My clothes are already drying and I’ll change and get cleaned up later. What do you need me to do now?”

I can tell she’s hesitating. “ Vedece was asking for a set of hands earlier, something about tying up herbs or something. I’m sure that won’t take long. Then you can come back and help serve lunch.”

Pulling the damp jumpsuit away from my skin, I feel the button on the back pop off.

Reaching behind me, I’m grateful when I figure out that at least my ass isn’t hanging out and that only a small strip of my lower back is showing.

Maneuvering around the crates sitting everywhere, I come upon Vedece’s make-shift medical area.

She’s hung sheets from the ceiling between two beds, then taken old crates and draped them with white material, using them to set instruments and other things on.

Sticking my head around the sheets, I find her sitting on the floor surrounded by plants.

“ Hi , Kira sent me over to help.”

“ Good morning, Lacie . What mischief have you managed to get yourself into already today? You’re completely soaked.”

“ I was sent after water, and I decided it would be easier to carry back if I drenched myself in it instead of using a container.”

“ Being a smartass is never attractive, young lady.”

“ Sorry , it’s just been one thing after another.”

“ I hate that I don’t have anything for you to change into.

There’s no way you can be comfortable. Apparently , a change of clothing is something I need to add to my list of many things still needed.

Since we can’t do anything about it, you might as well come on down and join me.

Between the two of us, we should have this done in no time. ”

“ Where did you get all this?”

“ I told KyT what I was looking for, and the next thing you know, here he comes with his arms full. What took him a few hours to gather would have taken me days. His connection to the organic world around him is fascinating, and he’s like a walking plant.”

“ That doesn’t sound like the only thing you might be slightly fascinated with.”

“ I’m too old to be looking for love, my dear, but he is a pretty little thing for sure.”

“ There’s no such thing as being too old, so you’re just coming up with excuses.”

“ Maybe … probably. Either way, I’m glad that my knowledge of herbal remedies will be of some help here.”

I can tell the subject about the tree whisperer is now closed as she starts piling things in my lap. “ Ok , let me show you how to tie these together so we can get them hung up and dried.”

I spend the next few hours turning my fingers green as we tie plant bunches together, moving from pile to pile.

Even though she had to retie a few I set aside, all in all, I’m proud of how pretty the little bunches looked after we finished.

Several times, I try to get answers out of Vedece about her life before, only for her to gracefully change the subject.

Even though she hides it well behind those beautiful, amber-colored eyes of hers, she seems haunted by something and deeply sad in a way.

Once we’re done, I stand up, stretching out my sore muscles after we’ve sat on the ground for so long. “ Where are you going to hang these?”

“ Not entirely sure, so I need to go find an alien.” We both laugh at that, because the big joke on Earth was, we needed a human to help us. Especially when you were trying to call a bill collector and that annoying computer voice would come on the line.

“ Thanks for your help and the company, Lacie .”

“ Oh , no problem! It gave me time to dry out, and it was nice not to be in the way for a change. Even if it took me a little bit to get the hang of tying things together with plants.”

“ I will take your assistance anytime, honey. I’m sure Kira will need you soon if you want to head back over.”

“ Are you sure I can’t just hide in here until it’s all over?”

She gets a distant look on her face. “ Running from your problems never solves anything, Lacie . Face the world head-on, no matter the consequences. That way, you are never surprised or blindsided because you saw it coming.” She turns away from me, sorting through some of the plants we left out, and I know that’s my key to leave.

Since my jumpsuit has dried, it’s become itchy and feels tighter than it did this morning.

I’m in the process of rebraiding my hair as I walk around the last crate because I didn’t want it to be loose if I was going to help in the kitchen.

The tables are all lined up, and someone has already placed napkins and silverware in random spots among them.

They’ve done a great job trying to make the place comfortable for everyone.

As Kira says, ‘ a little bit of familiar always helps calm the mind .’

I almost bump into Kira , who swings the large bowl in her hands away from me quickly.

“ Whoops , that was a close call, and you’re back just in time, Lace .

Carla and I decided to do something different today.

We’re going to serve them buffet-style. That way, we’re not trying to handle every plate.

We have almost everything done if you want to help bring them out. ”

She buzzes past me, rearranging the few bowls they already have on the main table up front. Carla is humming to herself when I come around the counter, noticing the other bowls that need to be taken out. “ Well , hello stranger! Where have you been all day?”

“ I was here earlier and then went over to help Vedece .” When I go to grab the next bowl, she stops me.

“ Here , take this one. It needs to be next to the pasta salad we were able to mix up.”

“ We have pasta salad?”

“ Well , a version of it, and it doesn’t taste too bad if I do say so myself. Kira and I have been experimenting with some of the food that was sent down with us, trying our best to come up with anything we can that’s familiar.”

“ I think it’s great that you’re trying, especially having to feed so many.”

“ We’re not really that many, dear when you think about it. I hear footsteps headed our way, so hop to it because we have to get all this out on that table. Kira and I put a few plates back for us three to munch on afterward. There’ll be no repeats of yesterday, young lady, you will stop to eat.”

“ Yes , ma’am.”

By the time I get the last container on the table, a line is already forming.

Kira and Carla walk back and forth, filling up bowls as they’re emptied while I refill cups.

With a couple of pitchers in my hands, topping off drinks, I catch Briar sitting with Mr .

Pink and wink at her as I stroll by. When she actually blushes, I laugh.

I’m making my way through the tables when a napkin falls off the table onto the ground.

Setting the pitcher down, I kneel to pick it up, only to suddenly feel a large presence behind me.

Turning , I’m shocked to see MeK towering over me, his normal snarl present.

“ Female , your garment is malfunctioning.”

I look down, bewildered by his statement. “ Once again, my name is Lacie , and I don’t see the problem.”

He leans close to me, practically whispering, “ This amount of skin showing on your back is inappropriate for a single female. The appearance of your private places makes most males have inappropriate thoughts.”

“ What the hell?” I sit both pitchers down and rub my hand over my butt.

Then I remember the button popping off the back of this jumper, and make sure all my parts are not hanging out.

“ Whoo , you had me worried there for a minute, MeK . I thought my toosh was out for all to see. I’ll fix the button when we get back on board.

It isn’t like I carry around a sewing kit.

“ You cannot remain present in this state of undress.”

“ Damn , you are persistent. I’ve already walked in front of every human or alien on this world.

If you’d been here when they sounded the bell for dinner, you would’ve known that.

I think I’m safe as long as someone doesn’t drag me back to their lair by my hair for seeing two inches of skin on my back.

It’s not like I was flashing a boob or something, and why am I answering to you anyway? ”

Picking the pitchers back up, his eyes flash brightly when I start to step away from him and then I see everyone looking at us.

He must have noticed them as well because he takes the pitchers back out of my hands and grabs my forearm, moving me behind one of the crates.

I’m so floored by his actions I don’t respond as quickly as I should.

“ What in the hell do you think you’re doing? ”

He turns me around, “ Stand still until I fix this.”

“ What , you’re a seamstress now? Your mother must be so proud.

” The sarcasm drips from my tongue as I feel the heat of his large hands gathering the fabric of my jumper together.

And I swear, unless my mind is playing tricks on me, he runs a finger across my skin just above my butt cheeks before I hear something click.

“ There , that will hold your garment together until you can get it fixed properly.”

Before I can turn around, he’s walking away from me, the bright runes on his back dancing all over his skin with each step. Shaking my head, I step out from around the crate, only to be stopped by the Commander .

“ Are you well, Lacie ? Was MeK bothering you?”

“ No Sir . Apparently my clothes were in the need of … well.” I turn slightly to show him what looks like a clamp of some sort, holding the top and bottom of my jumpsuit together. “… This thing.”

He looks down at me and then glances at where MeK has disappeared from the tent.

“ Interesting .” That’s all he says before turning away.

At this point, I don’t know which one of us is more confused, the Commander or me.

After all, MeK acts like he can’t stand me, so why would he care if I’m showing a few inches of skin?

The man would be foaming at the mouth in a rage if he ever showed up at the beach.