One

 

 

 

She stood looking out at the stars, her arms resting on the rail in front of her, bent slightly. She sighed softly then focused not on the stars but on her reflection in the glass in front of her.

 

Angela Cole was a slight woman in her early twenty's with shoulder-length brown hair and hazel eyes. She stood five feet five- and one-half inches tall. A half-inch less and she would have never gotten into the space academy. They wanted taller people, but they had gotten her. She wasn't that smart either, at least she didn't think so, not like some of the other cadets, but she did okay. She had been so excited when she found out she had been accepted to the academy. She had had to do some college courses to be considered.

 

Angela had aced most of her classes, so she had been very hopeful about being accepted. She had always been an ordinary girl in school. And she hadn't been very popular either.  She had studied hard to pass her courses and not been into partying all night like some, so she had been left alone for the most part, by everyone except her best friend Carlos. A real nerd if you went back a bit for the vernacular.  The worst part was it had fit him to a T. He was barely two inches taller than herself and skinny with black hair that tended to stick out at odd angles at the best of times. He had always worn black rim glasses – no one ever did that anymore if they could help it, and he was always pushing them up onto the bridge of his nose. The glasses were so thick she wasn't even sure what color his eyes were behind them. Carlos was the exception to most people. The way he walked, talked, and acted was as if he was out of an old-time movie. Even the way they had met had been out of a movie.  She had run into him, literally, on the first day of college. They had collided, her books had gone flying as had his, and in the process of picking them up she had ended up with one of his books and he had had one of hers. Outside the class of the missing book (hers that is) Carlos had been standing waiting on her and handed her the book taking his in return. His smile had been sweet, and he had apologized, again, for having walked into her.  Inside her book had been a short note from him saying, yet again, how sorry he was for bumping into her and then had asked if she wanted to study together. Apparently, they had one class in common. She had met him at the library, and they had become friends from that moment on.

 

At any rate, she had been sitting on the front step on the day when her acceptance letter had arrived telling her she was accepted to the academy. It had been exactly one year before that Angela had applied to the USEA, the Universal Space Explorers Academy, right after graduating her two-year mandatory college classes. Carlos was there that day as he was most days; sitting on her front step beside her. waiting for the mail to arrive. He hadn't applied to USEA, at least she didn't think he had. But he came over each day to sit and wait with her, keeping her company and talking about all sorts of things. She was grateful for his friendship and that was how she had seen him, as a friend. She’d a feeling that he might want more but he never pushed the issue and so there they would sit and talk, until that day at least.

 

The mail person had arrived on the small hover device most mail carriers used and started to put the mail into the box. But then she looked at the top envelope in her hand and up at Angela.

 

“Been waiting on something have you, Angie?” And she smiled holding out the top letter. Angela had flown off the steps and run to snatch the letter.

 

“Thank you! Thank you! Have a good day!” The last having been said sort of over her shoulder in the mail person's general direction as Angela was already heading back to the steps, the letter in hand. The return address was indeed the one for the academy and she kept staring at it even as she retook her seat on the steps. Her mother and older sister came out on the porch a moment later. Carlos just sat watching her.

 

“Well? Aren't you going to open it?” Her sister Vanessa said from behind her. Vanessa had never even considered going to the academy or any academy so far as Angela knew but Vanessa was head over heels in love with a certain guy and had been for four long years. They had only recently decided to get married.

 

Angela sighed and turned the envelope over in her hands. Her fingers shook as she slowly tore the envelope open and then she stopped. She just couldn't do it. She shoved the envelope into Carlos' hands.

 

“Here, you open it, I can't. If they reject me I ... I'll just die!”  She hid her face in her hands as he peeked into the envelope and drew out a rather formal looking letter. He scanned it over quickly then looked sideways at Angela. She still had her face covered. Clearing his throat, he started to read.

 

“Dear Miss … um I guess I can skip that part. Let’s see ... ah here it is. 'We are happy to inform you that your application to USEA has been received and as your test scores are at the levels needed you are hereby accepted to the academy and should report to the academy's launch pad by April 20 of this year. We hope you are well, and we look forward to teaching you all that you will need to know. Sincerely … blah blah blah.  Wow, guess you got accepted Angie.” He held the letter and envelope out towards her as she slowly uncovered her face. Accepted. She was accepted. She took the letter and read it herself to make sure he wasn't joking, and her eyes got big. Behind her, her mother and sister were both congratulating her. She glanced at the date she was to report again and squealed.

 

“Oh my God!  I must hurry! That's only two weeks away! I must get some things together! Have to hurry!” She jumped up and turned to run into the house and came face to face with Vanessa. “Oh Vanessa, I'm so sorry. I'm going to miss your wedding.” Vanessa smiled and put a hand on Angela's shoulder.

 

“That's okay. This is important to you. You will do well I'm sure of it.” Then Vanessa did something she hadn't done in a long time. She pulled Angela into a tight hug before releasing her and stepping out of her way. Angela glanced at her sister then at her mother, smiled, and then remembered and turned to look at Carlos only to find him walking away down the sidewalk.

 

“Carlos? I will see you again before I leave, right?” He turned, grinned, and waved but never said a word, just kept walking. Angela started wondering how all this was going to affect their friendship.

 

 

 

Chapter 2

 

 

 

Their friendship. Angela looked at the stars again and signed. That had been a year ago and even though she had written to Carlos a time or two he had never written back. She hadn't seen him again before leaving either. She wondered how he was, what he was doing, and realized that of everyone she had left behind, she missed him the most. She turned to walk away from the railing and noticed someone standing a short distance away. He was slight but well built. He was staring out at the stars so she only saw him from the side but what caught her attention the most was the bluish tinge to his skin. The features she could see of his face were smooth and he looked regal in the way he stood there. His hair, a bluish-black color, was smooth and well-groomed. She hesitated a moment and he turned to look at her. His eyes were the deepest violet color she had ever seen. His voice when he spoke seemed to caress lightly.

 

“The stars are quite beautiful are they not.”  It wasn't a question so much as a statement of fact. Angela walked towards him slowly.

 

“Yes, yes they are. Quite beautiful.  Umm… forgive me for being forward, but you are Kardovian are you not?” He nodded as he turned to look at the stars again. Thinking he didn’t want to be disturbed Angela sighed. “I'm sorry if I disturbed you, sir.” She turned to walk away.

 

“Ruvator Kalach.”  He looked at her again and smiled. “My name is Ruvator Kalach. I know it's quite horrible but it's what I was stuck with.”  The amusement in his eyes was so obvious it had her smiling in return and instead of walking away, she joined him at the rail leaving an inch or two between them.

 

“Oh, it's not so bad.” She looked sideways at him, he grinned and they both laughed. His voice and laugh were both earthy and deep, but it didn't rumble. Instead, it seemed to glide over her, and she felt relaxed and calm. Maybe all those classes she was taking in diplomacy were taking hold. She leaned on the rail at his side in silence for a bit then she found herself telling him all about herself, what she had done, where she had been, why she was at the academy and the entire time he looked at the stars and nodded every so often.

 

Then she told him about Carlos. Oh, she didn't name him or even describe him just told how he had always been there for her and how much she missed him and how she felt that maybe she hadn't given him enough credit for being her friend. Finally, she quieted and Ruvator merely stood there, but he was no longer looking at the stars. He was leaning one elbow on the rail and watching her quietly, a gentle smile on his lips. Just then another Kardovian male walked up behind him. This one was tall and broad-shouldered and looked every bit the warrior type.

 

“Sire, we should proceed to your class. You will be late. Again.”  Ruvator nodded absently then reached out to take Angela's hand in his. He bent over and brushed his lips over the back of it gently. As he released her hand he stepped back, started to turn but stopped.

 

“You should not give up on a good friend Angela. I'm sure he still cares for you. Until we meet again.” Then he smiled and walked off with what had to have been his bodyguard. Angela heard a small sound and yelped suddenly. Class? She was going to be late! She ran off to take even more diplomacy classes.  The academy was grooming her as a diplomat to one of the outer planets. She briefly wondered if she might get sent to Kardova and grinned at herself as she continued her day.

 

After classes were done for the day, she went to dinner with the three friends she had made while there. Two were human females, Terri and Sissy. (Sissy said her name was horrendous and refused to answer to anything but Sissy) and one alien girl named Khair. No last name. They didn't seem to have them on her planet. She was a green lizard-like girl from Galaxytor. Her world was hot most of the time and had little water or so she said. And all the descriptions Angela had been able to find seemed to agree with that. Angela proceeded to tell them all about her encounter with Ruvator Kalach. The human girls seemed impressed but had no idea who he was. But Khair stared at Angela until Angela finally asked what was wrong.

 

“Ruvator Kalach is the Kardovian prince. You didn't know that? Oh my. Be glad you didn't say anything wrong. It's said he can be a real bear with people he doesn't like.” Angela stared at her and started shaking her head.

 

“No, it can't be the same person I spoke to. The man I met was kind and gentle and sensitive.” Angela said quietly.

 

“And blue. You did say he was blue didn't you Angela?” Sissy had a hand on Angela's arm as she stared past her. Angela glanced at her.

 

“Yes, his skin had a bluish tint to it. Why?” Angela watched her friend quietly.

 

“Because there is a big blue guy heading this way.” Sissy nodded in the direction behind Angela and all the girls turned to watch. The one walking towards them was the one Angela thought was Ruvator's bodyguard. He stopped at their table and looked at each of them then at Angela only.

 

“Prince Kalach would like you to join him at his table if you would be so kind.”  Angela looked at her friends for a moment then, at their urging, nodded.

 

“I ... uh ... would be delighted.” She stood up and followed the bodyguard to a rather spacious semi-circle booth off to one side. Ruvator smiled as she approached and stood.

 

“Thank you for joining me. At times eating alone is enjoyable but at others … well ... you wish for good companionship. Please.” He motioned for her to take a seat and she did. He slid back to his spot near the very back part of the semicircle and smiled again.

 

“So how have your classes been Angela?  Are you doing well?” He settled back and watched her. Angela looked back for a moment but felt suddenly uncomfortable.

 

“My classes are going well. I’ve been told that I seem to be a natural diplomat. Though I find myself wondering how that could be possible. I was never a people person as I grew up.” Ruvator nodded quietly.

 

“Sometimes the one thing you don't do much of is the one thing you are the best at. You just don't know it until the time comes.” He looked around the room quietly. “At other times you are more or less forced into something whether you like it or not.” Angela tilted her head as she watched him.

 

“Sounds like something is bothering you. If you would like to talk about it …?” She waited. As he turned to look at her the waitress arrived with a few dishes that she placed in the center of the table for them to choose from. Angela took note of a few of her favorites in the mix as well as some decidedly off-world items. One dish looked like dark blue pasta yet gave off an odor almost of cinnamon. She looked at Ruvator as he chose a few bits here and there and put them on his plate. Even some of the human dishes got chosen. Angela sighed and decided to try the blue pasta but did take some of her favorites as well. As she was about to take a bite, Ruvator spoke softly.

 

“I did something that I am not proud of and I keep wondering if I can ever make it right. Do you think that's possible? To be able to right a wrong you did when no one even knows of it?” He looked across the table at her, waiting. She set her fork down and folded her hands in her lap.

 

“If it's something that bothers you a great deal, I would think you would want to correct it even if it caused you very little pain. What would concern me, if it was myself that it is if I say something to correct it would it cause pain? Or in keeping quiet would it hurt someone. Sometimes it's best to simply weigh the good and bad aspects of a decision before you make it. Like if you do it what good could come of it versus what bad might come. Do you see what I mean?” He nodded and took a bite of food. She thought perhaps that was his way of delaying. She picked up her fork again and took a small bite of the blue pasta and found to her delight that it was extremely good.

 

They ate in silence for a short time. When it started to get late, she looked towards the table she had shared with her friends only to see the table empty. They had already left so she would have to walk back to her dorm alone. Ruvator noticed her look and smiled.

 

“I will escort you to your dorm Angela. Walking alone is no more enjoyable at times than is eating alone.”   Angela glanced at him and smiled.

 

“Thank you. Some of the gallerias between here and there do get a bit spooky at night.” She grinned despite herself and he grinned back. Something in his grin seemed almost familiar but she chalked it up to having been with him at the observation deck.

 

With dinner over with, they headed to her dorm. She and Ruvator walked side by side and talked about some of the instructors and so on. His bodyguard stayed a good ten paces behind them, thus giving them their privacy while being close enough to come to their aid. They kept the conversation light and laughed over a story or two about some of their fellow students. He never mentioned what he had asked her over dinner, and she didn't bring it up. At her dorm, they parted ways with his light kiss to the back of her hand, as was his way.

 

 

 

Chapter 3

 

 

 

Over the next few months, it became almost routine for them to enjoy dinner together and on occasion meet at the observation deck to watch the stars and just be together. It became easier to stand with him and not have to talk or share anything. Then came a day when he had told her he would be busy with family matters, that she decided to go to the hollow-deck to relax. Her friends couldn’t join her, so she set it for a beach she remembered, with an early morning soft breeze, and very few people. She had it reserved for two hours, went in, and relaxed on the sand. About 20 minutes into her time she heard the door opening and closing and she sat up to tell whoever it was that this was her reserved time. When she turned, she almost thought she would faint. The guy standing there could only be one person.

 

“Carlos?! What are you doing here? How did you even get here?!! Did you sneak onto the station?” By that time, he had reached her side and flopped onto the sand.

 

“Sorry, Angie but I just had to see you. I found out that the letters you had sent were being kept from me. I'm not sure why but they were. I … I wasn't sure if you would believe a letter if I sent one, so I came in person.” He seemed to be avoiding looking at her and she just sat and stared at him.

 

“How did you manage to come in person? We aren't allowed visitors from earth until the second year is over with. How did you manage this? Do I have to worry about being kicked out now?” Carlos was waving his hands at her by this time.

 

“No, no, no you don't have to worry. Trust me okay? Your position here is safe believe me. I just ... I wanted ... oh heck.” He suddenly leaned forward and kissed her full on the mouth. Surprised and shocked, Angela just sat there for the duration. After a few seconds, he leaned back again and looked at his feet.  “Sorry I ... I just always wanted to do that. I'm so sorry.”  He ran one hand through his hair then suddenly jumped up and headed for the door. Over his shoulder he said. “You really don't have to worry. I'll go back now. Bye.” Angela blinked then jumped up and ran to the door. Outside she looked up and down the corridor but didn't see any sign of him. She tried to enjoy the rest of her time but finally gave up and returned to her dorm.

 

Days went by and then weeks with no one mentioning seeing a nerdy boy running around wearing big thick black-rimmed glasses. Angela looked at everyone everywhere but never caught a glimpse of him. She finally got on the vid-phone and called her mom. She was told that Carlos had vanished the day she – Angela – had left for the Academy. She found herself wondering about that as she went through her days of classes and evenings with Ruvator as usual. She was comfortable with him even if he was from another planet. Considering that the academy was a space station that was in orbit around Mars she wondered again for the thousandth time how Carlos had managed to get onboard let alone find her on a holodeck.

 

One evening she was studying with Ruvator after dinner, as they often did. They were comfortable together, at least that was how Angela saw it. Then at one point, without looking up Ruvator spoke softly.

 

“Have you heard from your friend? Carlos, did you say his name was?” Angela literally jumped and looked at Ruvator, but he had his head bent over one of the books he was studying. This was three weeks after Carlos' mysterious appearance.

 

“Er, why do you ask?” She watched as he lifted his head and looked at her.

 

“You never mention him anymore. I begin to wonder if you are forgetting him altogether.” Ruvator was watching her now and she felt herself go a bit cold then she sighed.

 

“If I tell you something do you promise not to tell anyone? Please?” Ruvator nodded, set his book down, and folded his hands over it. Then he simply waited for her to go on.

 

Angela sighed. “Carlos was here, three weeks ago. Somehow, he got on the station and found me on the holodeck. I have no idea how and I don't know where he vanished too, but he did. And I kept quiet even though he shouldn't have been here.” She looked at Ruvator to see him smiling softly.

 

“Ah, so the old boyfriend comes to see you and what? Did he profess his undying love to you? Ask you to leave here and live with him forever?” The teasing light in his eyes had Angela grinning.

 

“No, he didn’t, and he wasn't my ... wait, why did you say old boyfriend? I don't seem to have a new one.” Ruvator reached over to her, his fingers caressing her cheek lightly.

 

“Do you not?” Angela could only look at him, unsure how to respond. Then he leaned closer and kissed her softly, gently. Angela blinked and it was over almost as quickly as it started. Ruvator went back to his studying and she attempted to do the same. Talk about confusing. But that also became a part of their evenings together though he never pushed for anything more.

 

Then came the day she was called to the counselor's office. She wondered if this was about Carlos. Having told Ruvator she wondered if he had told on her. Plus, there were cameras all over the place but why wait this long? Had he hidden out somewhere and just recently been found? When she entered the office the first thing she noticed was that Ruvator and his bodyguard were there along with an older blue-skinned couple. The counselor waved Angela to a seat. The blue-skinned couple was seated next to each other; Ruvator and his bodyguard stood behind them. Ruvator nodded and smiled as she entered and sat down.

 

“Miss Cole,” the counselor began, “it has come to our attention that your classwork is exceptionally good. That your attention to detail is above what most are and that, to be honest, you are first in most of your classes.”  The counselor closed the file she was looking at and looked straight at Angela.  “Now for the question at hand. Prince Kalach and his parents,” here the counselor nodded to the couple and to Ruvator, “have expressed the wish that you be assigned to be our diplomat/ambassador to the planet Kardova. It is my understanding that you might wish this post and so I'm putting it forward now. I realize you still have several months of classes to complete but if you agree then at the end of that time the post will automatically be yours. So, what do you say Miss Cole?” Angela stared at the counselor then at the King and Queen of Kardova and finally at Ruvator. He was watching her quietly and waiting. Angela swallowed hard then turned back to the counselor.

 

“It would be an honor to serve in such a post and on such a planet as Kardova. I do accept the offer.” She sat there waiting to be told it was a joke or trick but instead the counselor wrote something on a sheet of paper and slid it across the desk to Angela.

 

“In that case, all I need is your signature on this line and it will be final.” Angela signed it noting that all three of the Royals had already signed the document. She handed it back to the counselor. “Copies of this will be given to each of you in a few days. I sincerely hope it all turns out to your mutual satisfaction.” With that, Angela felt the session was ending, stood up, and left the room. Behind her she could hear Ruvator speaking softly with his parents then he followed Angela out. He fell into step beside her as she headed down the hall.

 

“I hope you aren't angry with me. You see I suggested you for the post when I talked with my parents last month. They have been considering it ever since and only this morning told me that they agree that you would be perfect for the position.”  He glanced at her and she looked over at him.

 

“I thank you for considering me. And I meant what I said. It is indeed an honor to take the position. But to ask for me before I even finish my training. I have to wonder about that one.”  Ruvator grinned.

 

“Well, I might have embellished a bit just to get them to see things my way.” Angela raised one eyebrow at him. “Nothing bad or extreme I assure you. I just told them that I would not accept anyone else.”  Angela gasped and then almost choked in the process.

 

“Oh no. Tell me you didn't.”  But he was grinning again, so she knew he had told the truth. She sighed. “Ruvator one of these days ...” and he outright laughed. People passing in the hall looked over at them. His laughter was infectious though and Angela found herself grinning with delight.

 

Chapter 4

 

 

 

They say time flies when you are having fun and Angela felt that way for sure. In no time at all, it seemed the last day of classes had arrived and her post on Kardova was due to begin. She carefully packed up all that she had with her including the extra uniforms she had been given for classes so that they could be shipped on ahead of her. She had only recently discovered that she and Ruvator would be traveling in the family spaceship, not on a commercial one. Since space warping had been discovered a few years earlier, traveling to distant planets or even galaxies wasn’t a problem. A trip that would normally take several light-years could be done in a considerably shorter time. She had read about a time when you had to be frozen to travel to other planets. Frozen. She shivered at the mere thought. She went and said her goodbyes to her friends promising to keep in touch then went to the launch pad where the royal ship waited. Ruvator was there speaking with his bodyguard and turning a device over and over in his hands. As she approached, she could see the bodyguard shaking his head negatively but Ruvator seemed adamant in whatever he was saying. The bodyguard looked up as she got closer and stopped talking. Ruvator turned and smiled at her.

 

“So, ready for your next adventure?” She smiled back and nodded.

 

“As ready as I guess I will ever be I suppose. But then how does one prepare for the unexpected.” Ruvator grinned back at her.

 

“You prepare by not expecting anything and hoping for the best there can ever be. My great grandmother told me that when I was very little. It has stayed with me all these long years. Shall we get on board?” he motioned towards the ship and she went in ahead of him.

 

The ship's interior looked less like a spaceship and more like a manor to her eyes. The seats were plush, the tables ornamented. There seemed to be a bar at one of the spaces that were allotted to them on the trip. She couldn't quite conceal her pleasure in it all.

 

This is beautiful.” She walked to one of the seats and eased into it and that was how it felt like she was sinking into something wonderful. Ruvator watched her with a gentle smile on his face. The device still in his hands.

 

“Well, I suppose we should get strapped in. There won't really be any G force or anything but when we first leave the security of the station, we won't have gravity for a few minutes. Then the artificial gravity will kick in and we don't want to be floating around when that happens.” He grinned as he set the device down and strapped in next to her. Then he picked it up again and held onto it. She looked at the ball like shape curiously

 

“What is that anyway? You seem quite fascinated by it.” He looked over at her and for once seemed worried rather than amused.

 

“I will show it to you in a bit. After we have some lunch, okay?” Then he smiled and she smiled back.

 

Launch procedures went smoothly and she felt the release of gravity and the reinstatement of it all from the comfort of her chair. As the artificial gravity took hold Ruvator released his belt and sat back staring at the globe in his hands.

 

“So, you aren't going to tell me what it is?” he shook his head.

 

“No, after we eat, I will show you. I just hope … never mind.” He looked up as a blue-skinned girl came in with two trays balanced in her hands. She put one in front of Ruvator and one in front of Angela. Both trays had auto telescoping legs that auto balanced themselves no matter what.

 

“Okay, so tell me about your world then. You have said so little until now. I did read up on it somewhat. Your people are big on technology. Both large and small.” He had just taken a bite of food so had to swallow before answering her.

 

“It's a beautiful planet. Almost like your own. A lot of water but enough land as well. We Kardovians can breathe underwater for short periods of time. But we must surface once an hour or have a breathing apparatus else we drown.”

 

“Once an hour, that's impressive. Most humans can only hold their breath a minute maybe two. We created scuba gear to go underwater. Of course, that was some time ago. Now with the new handheld breathing devices, we can stay down even longer than scuba gear could allow. The devices draw oxygen from the water. You might want to consider those for your planet as well.” She glanced at him to find him studying her carefully. “Okay, something is definitely wrong. What are you not telling me?” She watched him as he sighed, picked up the globe again, and turned it in his hand.

 

“You know, black-rimmed glasses take a lot of getting used to.”  The silence that greeted that remark could have been cut with a knife. Angela stared at him; her mouth open.

 

“W... what?  What did you say?”  He sighed again and still didn't look at her.

 

“I was told to blend as much as possible, and I did. Perhaps too well?” His eye flickered towards her and away again. He stood up and walked a short distance. “I hope you can forgive me. I never … it was not my intention to do harm. The funniest part is I think I did more harm to myself than to you. At least then.”  She watched as he turned to face her, thumbing a small button on the side of the device. By the time he was fully facing her he was Carlos, her friend, her confidant, glasses and all. She continued to stare at him without saying a word.  He sighed, hand going through that messed up unkempt hair. “The only thing the mystifier cannot do is change the eyes so ….” he took off the glasses, those thick ridiculous black-rimmed glasses to reveal his still vibrant violet-colored eyes. He looked at her as he flipped the device off once more and became himself again. “Say something, please. Yell, scream, whatever you wish but just say something. I can't stand this silence.” But that was all he got as she sat there taking it all in, thinking about it all. Wondering … The kiss, on the beach in the holodeck. Slowly she stood up and walked towards him. For some reason, she took an instant liking for the haunted look in his eyes, as if afraid she might do him harm.

 

“Why?”  He blinked as she spoke.  Angela waited and he licked dry lips to respond.

 

“I ... we study those we will be working with, before inviting them to our planet, our homes. We have done this for a very long time.” She shook her head. They were not thinking along the same lines.

 

“No, I meant. The kiss. In the holodeck. Why?” He blinked again then tilted his head.

 

“You haven't figured it out?” She shook her head no. “It was ... I kissed you because I love you. I was afraid that this alien form might not appeal to you so I … what? Why are you laughing?” And she was laughing. So much so tears rolled down her cheeks.

 

“Men. You are all the same no matter what world you come from. The form you took as a human. Not so appealing. Not as much as you are.” She said the last standing a few inches from him looking up into his eyes and he looked back quietly. As the words sunk in, he smiled, his hands came up to her shoulders.

 

“I tried to make things easier for you. To let you adapt slowly to me, to my people, my family, my world. I am starting to understand that I may not have had to do that. You are a remarkable woman Angela Cole. A very remarkable woman.” She laughed again and put her hands to either side of his face.

 

“Oh, shut up and kiss me.” And he did.

 

The End