Haven and the Alien Mechanic

by Jessica Coulter Smith

  Tilia gave her a cup of something steaming that smelled faintly of mint.

  “It will sooth your nerves,” Tilia said. “It’s similar to your Earth tea.”

  Haven took a sip and smiled her thanks. The liquid was hot, but whatever was in it made her calm almost instantly. Maybe she should ask how to make it. Something told her she’d be needing a lot of it in the upcoming months. As if having a baby wasn’t a big enough deal, she had to have a special baby. Her hand smoothed over her belly. She already loved the child, more than she’d ever thought possible. And now that she’d seen her precious little girl, she loved her even more.

  “Everything will be fine,” Tilia told her. “Worrying isn’t going to do you or the baby any good.”

  “I know. I just hate not knowing what lies in store for us. Now that I know my baby is unique, and so is her father, what if he demands custody? What if they force me to mate with him?”

  Tilia took her hand. “Whatever happens, know that we’ll be here beside you every step of the way. I know your home is on Earth, but have you considered staying here? At least until everything is resolved.”

  “Dryden said he had to return to Earth in a few days.”

  “You’re more than welcome to stay with Harvol and me. And I’m sure Dryden could make arrangements to extend his stay if you want him here too.”

  “You’re really sweet to offer, but I’d feel like I was imposing.”

  “Nonsense. In fact, I insist that you stay here for the rest of your time on our world. Dryden can bring your things and his over here. No point in the two of you staying in that cramped apartment if you don’t have to.”

  Haven finished her drink and handed the cup back to Tilia. It was a very tempting offer. She genuinely liked the Zelthranite woman. But Dryden had obviously moved out of his parents’ home for a reason, and she wasn’t so certain he would want to move back. He’d talked about living with them if his mate wanted a large family, but would he be happy with such an arrangement?

  As if her thoughts conjured the alien himself, Dryden strode into the room. He looked anxious, which didn’t help her nerves in the slightest. Claiming the seat next to her, he reached for her hand.

  “Whatever it is, just tell me,” she said.

  “When I shared with the council about your baby’s heritage they immediately contacted the Traxians. They knew right away who the father is and they’re sending him on a shuttle tonight. Depending on his departure time, he’ll arrive late tomorrow, so you probably won’t see him until the day after.”

  “What do you know about him?” Haven asked.

  “His name is Tryval. He’s half Traxian and half Kuliki, just as Zaylon predicted.”

  “Do you know anything else about him?” she asked.

  Dryden shook his head. “The Traxians thought it best if Tryval met with you for a private conversation. They did assure us that he’s well-mannered with females and you would have nothing to fear from him.”

  Great. She hadn’t even thought to fear for her life, but now that he’d planted the idea in her head… A noise filtered through the room the Vid-Comm on the wall lit up. Tilia moved in front of the screen to accept the call.

  When Haven saw the Traxian on the screen, she couldn’t stifle her gasp. Though her memories from the party were fuzzy, she did remember the male. He’d been kind to her and made her laugh. And now she knew what her baby’s father looked like, but why was he calling? Had he decided not to come after all?

  “My name is Tryval, and I was hoping to speak with the human called Haven.”

  Tilia glanced at Haven over her shoulder, as if asking if Haven wanted to speak with the alien. Even if she refused to talk to him now, she’d still have to see him when he arrived. If he arrived. She still held out hope he’d changed his mind and was calling to say he wasn’t coming. Standing, she moved across the room to stand next to Tilia.

  “I’m Haven,” she said, smoothing a hand over her baby bump.

  Tryval smiled, a genuinely warm smile that reached his eyes. “Of course you are. It’s good to see you again. I hear we have much to discuss.”

  Haven nodded, not trusting herself to say much.

  “My flight has been delayed due to mechanical issues. I won’t be able to leave until the morning and it’s a day’s journey if there’s no trouble along the way. I’m anxious to see you again. I had hoped after our night together that I would hear from you, but my elders informed me that you don’t remember much of that night.”

  Her cheeks warmed. “I’d had too much to drink. Until the doctor did a scan of the baby, I didn’t know who the father was. I’m sorry.”

  “All that matters is that I know now.” He glanced from her to the others in the room and back again. “Are you on Zeltrane-3 as part of the bride program? Are you seeking a mate there?”

  “I’m not part of the program, but I have been considering one of them as a mate. I came to meet his family.”

  “I see.” He looked displeased with her news. “We’ll discuss it more when I get there. I look forward to seeing you again, Haven.”

  He winked at her before signing off.

  “What’s that Earth phrase?” Dryden asked. “Cheeky bastard.”

  Haven gave a bark of laughter hearing the alien use that phrase. “Yes, he is. I only hope he’s a reasonable one.”

  “I guess it would be rude of me to suggest that we have the council bless a mating between us before he arrives.”

  “I somehow don’t think they would agree to that,” Tilia said. “As much as we may not like it, Haven will have to hear out Tryval. He seems nice and even charming. There was no cruelty in his eyes.”

  Haven almost wished he’d been an evil bastard, then her decision would have been even easier. She was now torn between her growing feelings for Dryden and wanting to give the charming alien Tryval a chance. He’d seemed nice, and from what little she remembered, he’d been kind to her. If he asked her to be his mate, it might be hard to say no to him. Her baby deserved to know her father, but did that mean she had to marry him? She looked at Dryden, conflicted.

  “If you pick him, I’ll understand, Haven.”

  “I’d thought earlier I was ready for a mating with you. And now I feel lost and don’t know what to do. If I choose you, then Tryval loses the chance to be a part of his daughter’s day-to-day life. And if I choose him, then I lose someone who’s become my best friend.”

  Dryden moved closer to her, cupping her cheek. “Haven, you’re not going to lose me. Even if you don’t become my mate, I’ll always be a part of your life in any way that you’ll allow. I care about you a great deal.”

  “Harvol will be home soon,” Tilia said. “I’m going to make dinner. Are the two of you staying or would you prefer to be alone tonight?”

  “I’d like to stay,” Haven said.

  “Then I’ll go get our things from my apartment. Keep my mother company and I’ll return shortly.” Dryden pressed a kiss to her forehead and it made her eyes mist with tears. Just a few short hours ago, that kiss would have landed on her lips. Why couldn’t anything in her life go right? Ever since the scandal with her parents, it had been one bad thing after another.

  When Dryden left, Tilia tugged her toward the kitchen. “You don’t have to help, but you can keep me company. I think you could use a little… what’s that Earth term? Girl talk?”

  Haven smiled. “I could use some of that about now.”

  “May I make a suggestion?” Tilia asked.

  “Elope with Dryden before Tryval gets here?”

  Tilia laughed. “No, but I would be quite happy if that were possible. I was going to suggest that you meet with Tryval with an open mind. I want you for my daughter-in-law, more than you can imagine, but I also want you to be happy. Tryval seems like he would be a good mate to the right woman. I’d like to believe that woman isn’t you, but maybe it is.”

  “So, you want me to give him a chance even though you want me to marry Dryden?
You’ve been quite adamant about the fact you believe your son loves me. Wouldn’t that doom him to a miserable life if we’re supposed to be together?”

  “I want you to do what’s best for you and for your baby, whatever you think that might be. Do I want you do be with Dryden? Yes. It would make me, and him, extremely happy. But I want you to follow your heart. The way you watch Dryden leads me to believe you love him, or at least care for him deeply. But maybe I’m wrong.”

  “You’re very confusing, Tilia.”

  “I’m a mother and a female. It’s allowed.”

  “What if I can’t choose?” Haven asked. “What if I like them both?”

  “I’m afraid Dryden isn’t into sharing.”

  Haven sighed. Not that she’d really thought about taking on both of them as mates. Even she wasn’t that crazy. One man was more than enough for her. She was almost certain that Dryden was meant to be hers, and she would have gladly mated with him if it weren’t for Tryval. So maybe the real question was why she was even considering Tryval. Just because he was charming and the father of her child didn’t seem like a good enough reason to spend the rest of her life with him. Plenty of mothers had babies without marrying the father. Earth was full of mixed families.

  “You look like something important just occurred to you,” Tilia said.

  “Tryval is the father of my child, and I would never deny him if he wanted to see her. But having a baby together isn’t reason enough to get married. We may have spent one night together, a night I don’t even remember, but we’re still complete strangers. A nice smile and a baby do not a happy marriage make.”

  Tilia stopped what she doing to sit beside Haven. “So, what are you going to do?”

  “I’m going to meet with him, hear him out, and then I’m going to ask how to best make it work so that he can see his daughter without us being married. I’m going to make sure he understands there’s no chance of a mating between us. I want Dryden.”

  There was a sigh behind her. “You have no idea how happy I am to hear that.”

  She looked over her shoulder and saw Dryden standing in the doorway, a smile on his handsome face. Haven stood and ran to him, throwing her arms around his waist. She felt free now that she’d made her decision, as if a weight had been lifted from her. In that moment, she realized that it had never been a matter of choosing between Dryden and Tryval, it had been her upbringing of always doing what society deemed as the right thing demanding that she make a choice. Once she focused on her feelings and not what she should do, the answer was easy enough. Dryden was who she wanted to be with.

  “You’re my best friend,” she said. “And I want to spend the rest of my life by your side. I’m sorry it took me so long to realize that we belong together. I was close to telling you before we found out about Tryval.”

  “My council won’t approve our mating until you meet with him. But knowing you want to be with me is good enough for now.”

  Haven bit her lip. “Even if we aren’t officially mated, do you think we could share a room like we’d planned to do at your apartment?”

  “Nothing will keep me from your side.”

  “Except work,” Tilia said. “One of the captains is heading up our walkway.”

  Dryden groaned and looked toward the door. “They have the worst timing.”

  “I’ll answer it and stall for a moment while you tell Haven goodbye,” Tilia said. “I have a feeling you’re going to be gone until after dinner. Maybe longer. If they’re coming for you and not just any mechanic will do, then it must be a big issue.”

  Haven brushed a kiss against Dryden’s lips. “Go take care of your job. I’ll be here waiting when you’re done.”

  Dryden held her tighter and kissed her again, his tongue flicking against her lower lip until she opened to him. He took his time exploring her mouth and making her toes curl before he pulled away. Giving her that sexy smile that made her knees weak, he caressed her cheek, and left to meet with the captain at the door.

  When Tilia returned a moment later, Haven didn’t even hide the smile. She was grinning from ear to ear and didn’t care who knew how happy she was. Now that she’d chosen Dryden, she couldn’t wait to make things official. She didn’t care what Tryval had to say. He might be her baby daddy, and perhaps over time he could be her friend, but that was all that would ever be between them.

  “Dinner is almost finished. Want to help me set everything out?” Tilia asked.

  “Put me to work,” Haven said. “And maybe next time you can teach me how a Zelthranite kitchen works. I have a feeling it might be something I need to know.”

  Tilia snorted. “Don’t even attempt to make anything in Dryden’s kitchen. His apartment is definitely meant for an unmated male. You should probably talk to him about looking at houses. The baby is going to need a room soon.”

  “I think he’s worried he won’t be able to afford one large enough. We want more children, and so do I, but he said he could only afford a small place.”

  Tilia stopped what she was doing and faced Haven. “I don’t even have to ask Harvol before offering. The two of you, and any children you may have, are more than welcome to live here. Even with Dryden and you taking a room, there would still be four bedrooms.”

  “I’ll talk to him about it, but I don’t want to intrude on your privacy. I’m sure Harvol likes the peace and quiet when he’s home from work, and a houseful of children would be anything but.”

  Tilia smiled. “We would welcome the noise from any grandchildren you give us. I was unable to have more children after Dryden and we’ve always wanted a house full. Believe me when I say all of you would be welcome here.”

  Haven nodded. “Thank you, Tilia. I’ll talk to Dryden about it and we’ll let you know.”

  Tilia smiled and handed her a dish full of food. By the time they had set the table, Harvol was home. Haven glanced toward the door but knew it could be hours before Dryden returned. She’d looked forward to a family dinner in his childhood home, but it seemed she’d have to wait one more day.

  Still, even with Dryden off working, the night was just about perfect. She was surrounded by warmth and love, something that had been missing from her life for as long as she could remember. Finally, she felt like she belonged. And now that she’d found happiness, she was going to grab it with both hands and hold on tight. Nothing was going to take her away from this loving family or the man she’d decided to call hers.

  Chapter Eight

  The suns had set long ago, but the heat of the day lingered. Lights at the shuttle station allowed him to work long into the night, whether he wanted to or not. Dryden was more than a little frustrated. He’d replaced rods, hoses, had done a tune-up on the engine, even removed a few parts that looked worn. Still the damn shuttle wouldn’t start. The captain tried to turn it on again, the engine clanking and grinding but not turning over, and Dryden studied every part looking for some clue as to what was wrong. Three hours after he’d started he was no closer to figuring out the problem.

  The captain exited the shuttle, sealing the door behind him. “Dryden, you’ve been working nonstop since I came to get you, and I know I called you away at dinnertime. Whatever is wrong with the shuttle can wait until tomorrow. Go home and get some rest.”

  “Maybe a good night’s sleep will refresh me enough I can figure it out tomorrow,” Dryden said. “I’m sorry I didn’t get it running tonight, Keylon. I know you have a trip planned for the morning.”

  “I’ll either take another shuttle or the trip will be delayed. I was taking two brides home who didn’t find mates. Giving them one more day on our world won’t hurt anything. Maybe they’ll pair off with someone after all.”

  Dryden nodded. He started to turn away, but paused. There was one thing he hadn’t yet checked. Pulling out one of his gauges, he hooked it up to the shuttle and asked Keylon to try starting the engine again. There was a slim chance that the spark that propelled the fuel to the engine wasn’t happening.
It was a small part to replace, if a bit difficult to reach.

  The gauge mocked him, showing that it was working fine. He drummed his fingers on the shuttle as he stared at the engine some more. Pulling the panel off the fuse box, he tested each one. None appeared to be fried and all were working properly. If the shuttle was getting fuel, all of the fuses were fine, and the engine was in excellent condition, he didn’t know what the hell was wrong with the thing.

  Or was it getting fuel? Just because the spark was there didn’t mean anything was actually happening. What if the fuel wasn’t getting to the engine because the pump had gone out? The part was at the back of the shuttle, underneath, and behind two steel plates and a ton of wiring. It definitely wasn’t a job he could handle tonight.

  “I’ll come back in the morning. There’s one more thing I want to check before I call in someone for a second opinion,” Dryden said.

  “She’ll be here whenever you’re ready,” Keylon said. “Enjoy the rest of your evening.”

  Dryden cleaned up and went home, feeling exhausted. Despite scrubbing his hands, there was still grease under his nails, but then there usually was. His hands ached from holding his tools the last few hours while he tried to solve the puzzle of why the shuttle wouldn’t start. He tipped his head from side to side, getting his neck to crack and relieve some of the pressure building there. It had been a long-ass day and he was more than ready to get home.

  The hunger pains he’d felt off and on were back full force and he couldn’t wait to see what his mother had made for dinner. He missed her cooking now that he no longer lived at home. The house was dark when he approached the walkway, and he wondered if Haven was already in bed. He quietly let himself into the house and went straight to the kitchen. There was a covered plate on the counter, exactly where his mother had left his meals all the times he’d been called out before moving into his own place.