“What about my future niece or nephew? Will I ever get tosee them? Hug them?” Pixie asked in a sad voice.
Valerie crossed to stand behind Pixie and put a comfortinghand on her shoulder.
“Pixie, they have a system similar to Skype so you’ll beable to talk to your sister by video whenever she’s available. Also, we’retrying to work out the kinks regarding family visiting. I’m sure you can tellthat security is a major issue but maybe we can work out some sort of pass foryou to visit if the match works out and you want to visit Poppy and her family.I’m actually unsure if Poppy will be on the ship once the trial passes if shedecides to enter the spousal contract. From what I gather, they may go back totheir home world to live if he isn’t needed for diplomatic missions on thesquadron. I can find that info out for you as soon as possible though.”
Pixie and Poppy stared at each other, the papers forgotten.Pixie reached for her sister’s hand and held it in a tight grip.
“I love you, sis. I’ll support you no matter what you decidebut I’m going to miss you like hell.”
Tears were now falling down Pixie’s cheeks and Poppy couldfeel hers start to fall as well.
“I love you too, Pix. I’m so excited about this but I knowthis isn’t easy for you. I’ll make sure that I try to call you as much aspossible and I’ll talk to Wheaton about you being involved with our family, ifthat actually happens.” Poppy smiled. “I have a really good feeling about thisthough. It’s as if my entire body lit up when he touched me.”
“I could see that from the cookie bar, Poppy. I’m prettysure everyone in the room could see that,” Pixie said with a wry grin. “Well,let’s not waste any more time… It’s time for your future to start, sis.”
Chapter Ten
On the shuttle ride up to what she assumed was Squadron One,Poppy had tears running down her face. She was probably a runny-nosed mess consideringhow much she was sniffling. Even she had to admit she wasn’t a pretty crier.Their departure had been anticlimactic. Her car had been brought around byValerie and unloaded in a guarded lot where a shuttle was waiting disguisedwith a cloaking device. Wheaton had not touched her again except for a guidinghand on her back when she’d hesitated while walking.
Dathrow, who had been following the couple, strapped himselfinto a chair behind them while Wheaton worked on something similar to a tabletcomputer. He hadn’t spoken to her since their close encounter in the boardroom.She assumed he might have been embarrassed by his strong physical reactionsince Pixie had used their goodbyes to tease him about some growling she hadheard. She’d also whispered something when walking by him to leave the roomafter ten minutes of hugging and clinging tightly to Poppy.
Poppy hadn’t been able to hear the exchange since Valeriehad distracted her with questions about her luggage. She would have to ask himabout that when they had a moment. The last thing she needed was Pixiethreatening to cut off a body part or something along those lines. Her sister’soverprotective instincts were something Poppy was familiar with. Pixie had oncebeen suspended from school for cold cocking one of Poppy’s tormentors in theirschool cafeteria. Following the knockout punch, she had then dumped thecontents of his food tray onto his prone body before walking away like a boss.The scene had been both terrifying and amusing at the same time. Poor Simon hadnever been able to recover his manly reputation after being felled by a girlalmost a foot shorter than he was. Glancing at Wheaton, Poppy grimaced. Shedefinitely needed to talk to him and find out what her sister had said.
As the shuttle moved toward Squadron One, Poppy peered outthe window in the front of the ship. Watching clouds move past in what seemedlike puffs of smoke, she felt her stomach drop when they reached high enoughthat darkness eclipsed her view. Pretty soon the sky was lit with stars andEarth was behind them. A pang of uncertainty hit her. Had she made the rightchoice? Glancing around the shuttle at the men beside her, she realized it wastoo late to change her mind now.
As the ship docked on Squadron One, Poppy reached forWheaton’s hand but he turned away and started speaking to the pilot. She wasn’tsure why she had reached for him, except everything seemed so foreign she feltshe wanted to cling to something, or someone, even a little bit familiar. Aftera couple moments, Wheaton walked out through a door, leaving Poppy to pick upthe duffel she carried with her. Deciding that she wasn’t going to stand therewatching his retreating back, she turned to the other man standing with her.Dathrow stood with his hands crossed behind his back, quietly studying her.
“Poppy, please follow me. I will take you to your quartersto settle in,” Dathrow stated.
“Ummm…where’s he going?” Poppy finally asked as Dathrowstarted walking quickly out an automatic door.
“He is going to a meeting. He will be back to your quarterswhen his business is finished.” Dathrow was now moving very quickly down a lithallway. Everything seemed extremely bright, as if it was lit by bright-bluebulbs. The gleaming walls were reflecting light to the point of making her eyeshurt slightly. Poppy struggled to keep up with her fast-moving companion whileher eyes adjusted. The hallways were like something right out of a movie.Everything was so shiny and the smooth metal corridor had to be a bitch to keepclean. Remembering her disastrous experience with stainless steel applianceswas enough to make her cringe when she caught her reflection on the walls.
Their
