Charlotte and the Alien Ambassador

by Jessica Coulter Smith

  “Charlotte’s father contacted her as soon as she entered her new quarters. She didn’t even get a chance to unpack before he demanded she be escorted to the shuttle. I don’t know what you said to him, but he was infuriated and told her that she had better be on the shuttle or he was going to come after her himself.”

  Borgoz’s heart kicked in his chest. “When does it leave?”

  “It left. Before this meeting started.”

  His Charlotte was gone? The world spun for a moment and he gripped the edge of the table, needing to anchor himself. He never should have contacted the Senator. It was his fault Charlotte had been sent home, and now he’d lost her. Because of his position, a trip to Earth was out of the question. And he doubted he could convince the Senator to send Charlotte back to him.

  “She’s gone?”

  “I’m sorry,” Larimar said. “If I had known you’d changed your mind, I would have done something to keep her here. Did her father know you wished to mate with her? Perhaps if you contact him and let him know, then he’ll return her immediately.”

  “He knows. That’s why she’s gone. He wanted me to claim the younger daughter, Charity, and send Charlotte home or find her another mate. He was adamant that I not claim Charlotte.”

  “And you can’t go after her,” Helio said. “Your position requires you to remain on Zelthrane-3. If you can’t convince her father to return her, then…”

  “She’s lost to me,” Borgoz said, a feeling of despair filling him.

  The council members looked concerned, and he wondered if he looked as sick as he suddenly felt. How was he going to live day to day without Charlotte in his life? Just knowing she was in his home had been enough to get him through the miserable days without her by his side. Now he didn’t even have that.

  “This meeting is adjourned,” he said, moving toward the door, but a hand on his shoulder drew him to a halt.

  “Let’s get something to eat, and we can discuss the matter further,” Larimar said. “I don’t want to see you give up. There has to be a way to get her back. We just have to figure out what it is.”

  “Unless you know a king or ambassador of another world who would claim the snotty Charity, I think we’re out of options,” Borgoz said. “The Senator is determined to see his youngest soar to dizzying heights while his other daughter falls so far she ends up in the gutter. Or married to a man old enough to be her grandfather. I can’t bear to think of what she’ll go through when she gets home. They’re horrible to her.”

  “Then we’ll work the Charity angle. Start negotiations with the Senator again, and then we’ll find a male desperate enough for a mate that he’ll claim one sight unseen. If this Charity is as ill-tempered as you say, it would be best if her future mate doesn’t see her before the claiming ceremony.”

  Borgoz snorted. “Even that might be too soon. Maybe they should mate her by proxy.”

  Larimar laughed and led Borgoz to his favorite restaurant. He didn’t have much of an appetite but he listened to Larimar’s ideas, and hope began to blossom ever so slightly. Maybe all wasn’t lost like he’d thought. It would take some time and a bit of coercion on his part with the Senator, but maybe Charlotte would be returned to him in the end, and they could start their life together.

  Chapter Nine

  Charlotte stared at her father across the expanse of his desk. He’d sent a driver to pick her up from the Terran station, but when she’d entered the mansion, her bags had been left by the front door. Her stomach clenched as she contemplated why he would do that. Why weren’t they being returned to her room? Was he going to make good on his threat of disowning her?

  “When I sent you to Terran, I never imagined you would capture the attention of the planet’s leader. Had I thought a coup such as that was even possible, I’d have sent Charity. If anyone is going to help rule a planet, it’s going to be your sister. So you have a choice, Charlotte. Charles Brower is still interested in taking you as his wife.”

  “He’s over sixty.”

  “You can’t afford to be picky. If you decide not to marry the congressman, then I will have no choice but to turn you out. I’ll give you a small amount to get you started, but what you do after that will be entirely up to you. One thing is for certain, you won’t be able to afford the shuttle fare to go back to Terran. If anyone in this family is going to mate with the Chief Councilor, it’s going to be Charity.”

  Of course it would be Charity, because Charity got everything she ever wanted. Who cared if Charlotte was happy or if she had what she needed or wanted? What did it matter if they stomped all over her heart by sending her younger sister to mate with the man Charlotte had fallen in love with? And she knew telling her father that she loved Borgoz would only infuriate him more.

  “I’ll take the money,” she said.

  “Then I’ll transfer some money into your account, but your credit cards have already been cancelled. Once the money is gone, that’s it. Don’t come back for more. I’ll make sure you have enough for modest accommodations. You’ll need to find a job near your home because I will no longer provide you with a driver, and of course you can’t drive yourself because of your hearing. Do you understand, Charlotte?”

  Yes, she understood. He hated her, had always hated her, and finally he was going to be rid of her. She didn’t dare tell him about the baby. If he thought for one moment she had a permanent tie to Borgoz, it would end badly for her. She had no doubt that he would force her to terminate the child, and she would rather die than let that happen.

  She’d have to find a place to live near the Terran station where she could have access to their doctor. Charlotte knew there was no way a regular doctor would be able to deliver the child. And there was always a possibility that the doctor would tell Borgoz about the child, but she wasn’t so certain that would be a bad thing anymore. If he wanted her just because of the baby, it was far better than never seeing him again.

  Larimar had told her that Borgoz wouldn’t come after her, couldn’t come after her. Because of his exalted position on Terran, he had to remain on his world. They would never risk his safety on a trip to Earth and she understood, she really did. That didn’t make it any easier though. She wanted to cry just thinking about never seeing him again.

  “Will your driver take me somewhere tonight? Anywhere I wish to go?” she asked.

  “I suppose I can allow that. Now get out of my office and out of my house. I never want to see you again.”

  Charlotte fought tears as she left her father’s office for the last time. It didn’t hurt nearly as much as leaving Borgoz had, but then she’d learned long ago that her father had never loved her. She’d once overheard him confess that he’d wanted her put up for adoption when her hearing loss had become known. He hadn’t wanted a defective daughter, but her mother had refused to give her up. And then her mother had died and left her alone in a silent world with a man who hated her.

  In the car, she told the driver to take her to the Terran station. He frowned in the mirror, probably knowing that her father wanted her far from that place, but he took her anyway. When they reached the station, she got out with her bags and approached the front desk.

  “May I help you?” the Terran male asked. “Weren’t you just here a few hours ago?”

  “It seems I’m without a place to stay. Could you recommend a place that rents rooms by the week until I can find something better? I want to stay near the station.”

  He frowned a moment and she wondered if her voice was off-putting to him. He wouldn’t be the first person who didn’t care for it.

  “If you aren’t returning to Terran, why do wish to stay nearby? If you didn’t find a match on our world, do you really think you’ll find one with the males who have chosen to remain here?” His look clearly said anyone who sounded like her would never find a match with his people.

  Charlotte blushed. “I don’t want to stay here to find a mate. I need to remain close to your clinic.”

  H
e seemed puzzled and her blush deepened.

  “I’m carrying a Terran baby. I can’t see an Earth doctor.”

  His eyebrows rose into his hairline. “If you’re expecting, why are you not mated? I find it hard to believe that the male you were with doesn’t want the child or you. Or does he not know? We take our responsibilities very seriously.”

  “I don’t want to be a responsibility. He told me to find another mate, that he didn’t want me. I can raise this child on my own. I just need to remain near the station so the baby will be around his or her own kind. Please. You have to help me.”

  He seemed to weigh the pros and cons for a moment before coming to a decision. “There are a few suites here at the station, usually reserved for high ranking warriors or council members, but I think this is a special situation. I’ll make the arrangements for you to have a suite for the duration of your pregnancy, and then we’ll figure something out after that.”

  He took her bags from her and then called for security. After handing her off to another Terran male, he reluctantly let her go. He seemed intrigued by her, and Charlotte knew that was a bad thing. There hadn’t been many females on the shuttle home so it wouldn’t take much digging for them to figure out who she was and whose baby she carried. Eventually, her secrets would have to come out, but for now she would hold them close and pray that things would work out for her child and her.

  The suite the Terran took her to was larger than she’d expected, but not as big as an apartment. There was a bed and dresser, along with a sofa and television, a small table with two chairs, and a bathroom. It was more than adequate. She thanked him for helping her, then closed the door and leaned against it.

  What am I going to do now?

  The first thing she was going to do was find something to eat. She remembered seeing a food court of sorts when she’d come here the first time. Charlotte just hoped she could locate it and then make her way back to her room. It took her several wrong turns and stopping to ask for directions twice -- both times earning her strange looks thanks to her voice -- but she eventually found the small area with various food choices. Two were Terran cuisine, but the rest were things like Chinese food, pizza, and two popular fast food restaurants.

  She was craving lo mein so she went to the Chinese place and placed an order that would normally be large enough to feed two people, but she found she was starving. She’d missed lunch and it was now nearing dinner. As she ate, she wondered if there was a branch of her bank nearby so she could find out exactly how much money was in her account and possibly get some cash out. Then she’d have to figure out the job situation. She’d never worked a day in her life, but if Charlotte wanted to survive and provide for her baby, that was going to have to change.

  The last bite was shoved into her mouth as a Terran male took the seat across from her. He was huge and wore the customary leather vest and pants. He gave her an easy smile and flipped his hair over his shoulder, a move that made her want to laugh because it looked ridiculous on a man so large.

  “You’re new here,” he said. “Looking for a mate?”

  She smiled but shook her head.

  “Too bad. I’d like to get to know you better, perhaps change your mind?”

  “I found a mate,” she confessed. “He didn’t want me.”

  He looked momentarily startled. Another Terran came over and whispered something in his ear. His eyes went wide as he stared at her and she wondered what was going on. She hadn’t been at the station long enough for there to be gossip about her already.

  “You should eat more,” the second Terran said. “What about dessert? We have an ice cream machine in the staff lounge.”

  Her brow furrowed, still not sure what was going on.

  “What about pizza?” the first one asked. “I’ve heard it’s popular here on Earth. Perhaps you should have some.”

  “Um. I’m fine. Really.”

  “Then you should take something to your room for later.”

  She looked back and forth between the two of them. “What’s going on? Why are you trying to feed me?”

  “Terran babies require a lot of food. Word is spreading that one of our males got you with child then abandoned you. If he won’t take care of you, then we all will.”

  Charlotte wasn’t sure if she should be embarrassed that everyone knew she was pregnant and had been dismissed from her mate’s life, or if she should feel warm and fuzzy that they wanted to take care of her. Other than Borgoz and Larimar, no one had ever watched over her before. It was a feeling she could get used to, but she didn’t want them to get the wrong idea. She wouldn’t be mating with any of them. If she was going to have a mate, it was going to be Borgoz or no one.

  “I’m fine,” she assured them. “I think I should return to my room for the night.”

  The Terran across from her rose to a rather impressive height. “My name is Cosmir, and I will be happy to escort you to your quarters. And if you should need anything, anything at all, please don’t hesitate to ask for me.”

  “I don’t want a mate,” she said softly. “If I can’t have the father of my baby, then I don’t want anyone at all.”

  “We understand,” the second Terran said. “My name is Vordro. I will also be happy to be of assistance. We aren’t trying to claim you as a mate, but as the mother of one of our children, you are considered Terran by everyone here. When a Terran female loses her mate, our society comes together to give her support and anything she needs. Please allow us to do this for you.”

  “If you really want to help me, you can show me back to my room. And in the morning, you can help me find a job.”

  They shared a look before Cosmir spoke. “You’re going to need to reserve your strength the farther along you are in your pregnancy. You should rest and let us take care of you. And you should definitely make an appointment at the clinic in the morning. The doctor will need to know there is a pregnant female staying at the station.”

  “I’ll stop there after breakfast. I promise.”

  Vordro held out his hand and helped her from her chair. “We’ll escort you to your quarters. There’s a phone in your room. If you press 0, it will put you through to the front desk. You may ask for Cosmir or me and we will get anything you need. Even if it’s the middle of the night.”

  “Thank you. Both of you.”

  With a Terran on either side of her, they walked back to her room where she bid them goodnight and closed the door. Tears sprang to her eyes at how kind they were being, and she wondered once more what would have happened if she’d stayed on Terran. Would Borgoz eventually have come for her? Had he even noticed she was gone? Did he care?

  She missed Borgoz so much her heart ached. It felt as if a piece of her had been left behind. Her heart would always belong to him, and she couldn’t imagine ever loving another man the way she loved him. Charlotte contemplated confessing to Cosmir and Vordro who the father of her baby was, but she wasn’t certain what they would do with the knowledge. It wasn’t like Borgoz could come here and claim her.

  But what if she went back to claim him?

  You’re an idiot. He doesn’t want you.

  Knowing he had rejected her should have put an end to her longing for him but it didn’t. Even knowing he would prefer to not take a mate at all rather than claim her, she still wanted him. Still loved him.

  Chapter Ten

  The doctor frowned as he examined her. The look on his face frightened her, but she was too scared to ask what was wrong. When the exam was over, he stepped out and she quickly changed back into her clothes before opening the door so he would know she was finished.

  “Is there something wrong with the baby?” she asked, unable to withstand not knowing.

  “The heartbeat is a little slower than I’d like and the scan shows it to be a small fetus, but I think some rest and food can cure that. I’d like to monitor the heartbeat though. Could you come in every morning so I can keep a record of it?”

  “What�
�� what does a slow heartbeat indicate? Is the baby sick?” She dreaded asking, but she needed to know. If she lost her baby, she wasn’t sure she’d be able to get up and carry on. It would kill her to lose her last tie to Borgoz.

  “Without running more tests, it’s hard to say. So far, none of the Terran-Human pairings have had children with birth defects, but it’s possible we could be looking at something like that. I think it would be rare because Terrans never run into that sort of problem.”

  “So it would be my genetics causing it.”

  He nodded.

  “And if it isn’t a defect?” she asked.

  “I don’t like speculating, but it’s possible you could lose the baby if we can’t raise the heart rate and get its weight to normal size. Right now, it’s less than half the size it should be, based off when you estimated conception.”

  “We were only together once before a clinic on your world confirmed I was pregnant. It isn’t an estimate but a certainty.”

  “Then the baby is definitely too small. It looks no bigger than a week or two old. From what you’ve said, it should be closer to six weeks. It should have developed a lot more than it has and that concerns me. Are you certain the father doesn’t want anything to do with you? He really should be made aware of the situation.”

  Nausea welled up. “He doesn’t want me,” she said softly. “He was very clear about that when he said he would avoid me at all costs.”

  The doctor frowned. “The stress of being dismissed by the father, the trip back here, and by your own admission, the stress of being thrown out of your family home, has taken its toll on you. You’re underweight, your skin is pale, there are shadows under your eyes… I didn’t see you before the pregnancy, but I’m guessing all of these changes are recent. If you don’t start taking better care of yourself -- eating regular meals, getting plenty of rest, and ceasing to worry about the things you can’t change -- there’s a good chance you could lose this baby.”

  Charlotte placed a shaky hand on her stomach. The last thing she wanted to do was lose her baby. It was hard to eat when you were depressed and stressed, but she’d have to do better. She owed it to her baby. It was her responsibility to make sure the child received the nourishment he or she needed. Obviously, Charlotte was being a bad mother already, but she swore she would do better.