Page 86 of Pets in Space 10

Three months later…

“It’s okay if you want to cry,” Mike said.

Dahlia gazed at the enclosure in front of her and the happy group of scaled and furred animals romping together. “No, it’s all good today. Petal is where she belongs and she’ll have a good life here with her new family. The pups were cute though.”

“And noisy.” Mike grimaced but with good humor. “I’m glad the zoo here on Diego Eight was so excited to have her and her babies. Nice they already had a small colony of these creatures established.”

Petal left the gathering of her fellows and came to the edge of the enclosure, sitting up on her haunches to stare across the invisible barrier at Dahlia.

“Thank you for everything, little friend,” she said, blowing her former pet a kiss. “You probably saved my life and the ship by insisting on giving me the final scale. Be happy here, okay?”

The new and proud mother of eight pups was surrounded by her brood, a multicolor flood of small bodies bowling her over as they sought to nurse and cuddle.

Dahlia laughed at their antics and clutched Mike’s hand. “I think we can go now and give them some privacy.”

Together they strolled out of the zoo’s private area, thanking the curator who’d accompanied them on this visit and made their way to the parking lot where their borrowed CLC Lines groundcar was parked.

“I’ll miss her,” Dahlia said as she took her seat in the vehicle. “A lot. She was more than a mere pet — she was my furbaby.”

“We can get a puppy or a kitten or a more exotic pet if you’d like,” Mike offered as he sat at the controls and initiated the drive. “We’ve got room since Maeve expanded our quarters to make it the regulation size for a married couple.”

“It’s too soon for me,” Dahlia said. “Although I appreciate the offer. When it’s time I’ll know.” She dug in her large purse. “I brought something for you — I thought maybe we could get it framed while we’re here on the planet.”

Activating the autopilot, Mike accepted the small rectangular package and unwrapped it, revealing a painting of a dawn beach scene.

Two people strolled hand in hand along the edge of the waves.

“It’s perfect and it’s going in my office where I can lose myself in it and find my calm when things get crazy.

Thank you.” He leaned over to kiss her. “Best thing I ever did was marrying my own artist. How’s the exhibit on the ship doing? ”

“Sold five more of the small paintings,” she said with satisfaction, settling into her seat.

“I’ve gotten two commissions as well. If this keeps up I won’t have time to work at the store anymore and I have mixed feelings about it.

I love being there but you were right, many of the guests are over the top demanding and unreasonable. ”

“Captain Fleming assured me you can stay on the ship as Artist in Residence,” Mike said. “You don’t have to be working in a specific job and besides you’re my wife. There’s only one casino manager and I’m it. The ship can’t do without me and I won’t stay without you.”

“Truth. I’m glad the main office let you hire another assistant manager for the team though,” she said. “And a new day manager. You were carrying too much of the load.”

He reached over and squeezed her hand. “I didn’t have a life until you walked into the casino to carry an hors d’oeuvres tray and become a luck puller. You certainly brought me all the luck in the world.”

“I might be bringing you more luck,” she said.

“Oh? How’s that?”

“Petal’s not the only one who can have babies. I don’t plan on having eight or even two though, not right now.”

Eyes wide, he stared at her. “Are you — are we — “

“Going to have a baby? Yes,. Dr. Shane confirmed it for me yesterday. I wouldn’t let her tell me the sex yet because I wanted to talk to you and see whether you wanted to know.”

“Healthy baby and mother is the only outcome I care about.” He ran his hands through his hair. “Are you okay with this?”

“I know we weren’t planning on a family so soon but evidently my contraceptive inject wore off sooner than it was supposed to, which Dr. Shane says happens maybe three times in a million, and here I am. Well, here we are.” She placed her hand on her stomach and patted it.

“Sweetheart, this is the absolutely best news of all time,” Mike said. “If we weren’t in a moving groundcar I’d express my appreciation and excitement with more than words and a kiss.”

“Plenty of time once we get back to the ship.” Dahlia smiled.

“I’m taking the night off,” Mike declared. “The damn casino can run itself tonight. We have to celebrate.”

“No argument from me.” She leaned against the seat cushions and closed her eyes.

Early pregnancy was making her unusually tired and the local weather was hot.

They’d spent a while at the zoo, watching Petal and her pups cavort with their new family, and Dahlia was pleasantly exhausted.

Making a whole new person was work. Her life was coming together nicely though.

Mike made more than enough to support them but her career as an artist was promising and her paintings in the Level A art gallery were bringing good prices.

Carrying her share of the family’s finances was important to her.

The captain’s wife had bought two and commissioned a third and the type of passengers the Nebula Zephyr carried definitely appreciated one of a kind high art.

She’d never dreamt she could make a living from her hobby.

She’d dreamed about a loving husband and babies eventually but now here were all her fondest wishes and hopes coming true in short order.

She’d definitely come a long way from the bedraggled young girl in the refugee camp, due to her own efforts and a lot of help from others like the Benfields’ foundation.

Dahlia felt she’d earned her happiness and was content with what she had.

She looked forward to many years of voyaging on the Nebula Zephyr with Mike and their children and if the life ever became problematic, her husband could manage a casino on any planet in the Sectors he chose and she could paint the scenes crowding her imagination anywhere.

Petal had given her lucky charms like in the old fairy tales and granted her fondest wishes, and Dahlia was content.