Laura Jo Phillips (16 page)

Merrick reached up and pressed a gentle finger against her lips.  “Do not be sorry,
valedar
,” he said.  “Not now.  Not ever.  But if you don’t mind, would you please say that again?”

“I love you,” she said.  “I love all of you.  And I’m so very happy that I’ve finally realized it.”

Three identical faces broke out in three identical grins.  “You have made us the happiest of men,” Merrick said.  “We love you too, very much, but we never dreamed you could love us so quickly.”

Jerri threw back his head and yelled with joy before lifting her into his arms and kissing her deeply.  As soon as their lips broke apart, Merrick took her from Jerri’s arms and swung her around in a circle, then bent to kiss her himself.  By the time Tor had her wrapped in his arms her head was spinning, and her skin felt hot and shivery at the same time. 

“How much time do we have?” she asked softly when Tor finished kissing her. 

“Only a few minutes,” Merrick said.

Berta wondered if she really had to meet the transport at the airfield.  Maybe it would be better if Honey was shown to a guesthouse first, and had time to settle in.

Tor growled softly at the look in her eyes and leaned down to kiss her again, but he broke the kiss much more quickly this time.  “If you don’t stop looking at us like that, your poor niece will think you’ve forgotten all about her when you don’t show up.”

Berta was sorely tempted, but she nodded and stepped back.  Reluctantly.  She reminded herself that she would have tonight, and every night for many years to come, with her men.  She liked that. 
Her men.
 

“All right, let’s go,” she said.  “But you guys better be home early tonight.  That’s all I’ve got to say.”

Merrick, Tor and Jerri all laughed as they wrapped her in a hug between them, then turned slightly to speed travel to the airfield.  Speed traveling always made Berta feel a little dizzy, but with three tall, strong men to lean on, she didn’t mind in the least.

Just after they arrived, a ground-car pulled up and three men climbed out.  They were identical, as all Clan Jasani male-sets were.  Berta was getting quite good at identifying clans.  These three, with their bushy hair, yellow eyes, narrow faces and, for Clan Jasani, light, muscular builds, were clearly Vulpirans.  Their distinguishing characteristic was the color of their hair.  One was red, one was white, and the third black. 

The Vulpirans approached them and nodded politely, indicating to her that they were of a higher rank than her men.  Probably Consuls, she guessed.

“Greetings, Lord Vikter,” Merrick said as he, Tor and Jerri all bowed.  “We are pleased to introduce you to our Arima, Berta. Falcoran.  Berta, these are the Vulpiran Consuls, Viktor, Lancer, and Hunter.”  The Vulpiran’s bowed to her as they were introduced, and Berta noted that the eldest, Vikter, was the one with the red hair, Lancer had white hair, and Hunter, the youngest of the three, had black hair.  As supervisor of Arima House, she was learning that it was important to try to remember such things.

“We are most honored to meet you, Arima Berta,” Vikter said with a smile. 

“Thank you, Lord Vikter,” Berta replied.  “It is a pleasure to meet all of you as well.”

“We hear excellent things about you and Arima House,” Vikter said.  “We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for all you have done, and are doing for Clan Jasani.”

“That’s very kind of you,” Berta replied.  “Are you here to meet someone on the incoming transport too?”

“Yes, as a matter of fact, we are,” Vikter replied.  “A young man we met recently at a conference on Epsilon Ind: III.  Brilliant scientist with a gift for xenopsychiatry.  We invited him to Jasan to work with us on the Xanti.  He was able to catch a ride with the Gryphons on the
Kontuan.
  Since there was a transport coming here from the spaceport, we asked him to meet us here and examine the new Xanti.”

“That’s interesting,” Berta said.  “I have a niece, Honey, whom I’ve never met, who also came back to Jasan with the Gryphons.  She’s coming on the same transport.”

“Which is here,” Jerri said.  They all watched as the transport flew toward them, hovered overhead for a moment, then slowly descended.  They waited patiently for the transport to shut down its engines and the doors to open, the long stairs to unfold.  Berta found that her hands were damp and her mouth dry.  She had long dreamed that she’d one day find real family, but she’d since put that dream away.  Now, against all odds, the dream was about to come true. 

The first person to step into the doorway and start down the stairs was a slender young woman who could have almost been Berta’s twin except that her hair was dark brown and straight rather than black and curly, and her eyes were light blue instead of dark blue.  She had the same nose, the same cherry red lips, the same sweet smile and expressive brow.  It had to be Honey.

Her eyes found Berta and her brows rose in surprise, an expression exactly matching the one on Berta’s face.  She started to hurry down the steps, then paused when a young man with short blonde hair stepped out of the transport behind her and called down to her.  She turned, went back up a couple of steps and accepted a small travel bag from the man before hurrying down the steps toward Berta.

“That’s our Arima,” Vikter Vulpiran said so softly that if Berta had not been a Falcoran she might have missed it even though they were standing almost right next to each other.

“Your Arima?  Really?” Berta asked in surprise.  She shook her head at herself.  “I apologize, that was a dumb question.  I’m just surprised because I’m certain that is my niece.”

“She is exquisitely beautiful,” Vikter said, his voice soft and deep.

Berta smiled.  A few months ago she would have been worried and upset to learn that her long, lost niece was
berezi
.  Now, it didn’t bother her in the least.  In fact, she was happy for Honey.  She knew what happiness the young woman had in her future.

Berta turned back to watch Honey leave the steps and cross the grass toward her.  Berta hurried forward to meet her, and the two women hugged each other tightly.

“I know we’re related just by looking at you,” Berta said.  “I’m so happy to meet you, Honey.  So happy to have real family.”

“I’m happy to meet you as well, Aunt Berta,” Honey said.  “I didn’t think I had any family left either.  I could hardly believe it when Aisling mentioned your name.  When she told me a little about you, I just knew you had to be the Berta Simms I’d learned about as a child.”

“So I am,” Berta said.  “But let’s discuss all of that later,” Berta said.  “Come and meet my Rami.”

As Berta turned to guide her niece back to the Falcorans, she saw the young man reach the bottom of the steps behind them, and was surprised to see that he was holding a little girl by the hand.  Then she turned and led Honey to where they still waited next to the Vulpirans, noticing that the man and child fell into step just behind them.  She wondered at that for a moment.

“Hello Vikter, Lance, Hunt,” the man called to the Vulpirans, and Berta relaxed, realizing that he was the man they were waiting for.  She glanced at the Vulpirans who were struggling to tear their eyes from Honey and pay attention to their own guest.

“Hello Michael,” Vikter Vulpiran said, reaching out to shake the man’s hand.  “This must be your daughter that you told us so much about.”

“Yes, this is my little angel, Monica,” Michael said.  “And this lovely lady is my wife, Honor,” he added, taking one step forward and placing his arm around Berta’s niece’s shoulders.  “Everyone calls her Honey.”

.