Page 19 of Doran

Right on cue, the toddler began to cry.

“I’ve got a high chair she can sit in, so we can get her sorted out pretty quick too.”

Darren nodded, taking Laura out of the hated stroller before going up the steps of the porch and then disappearing inside and up the stairs where Tarek and their boys had already gone. Doran had helped Tarek with their luggage, so all that was left for me to do was prepare food for all of us.

I spotted a can of Kendamil toddler drink powder as well as cartons of Kendakids chocolate nutrition drinks, presumably for the older two. Those wouldn’t be cold, so I took them inside after putting the stroller on the porch, and placed the shakes in the fridge. I washed the sippy cup I’d found in the stroller basket as well, and quickly made Laura’s drink up. I asked the replicator to make cold versions of the Kendakid beverages, figuring if they were too tired to finish their dinners, they’d probably finish the chocolate drinks, ensuring they’d gotten enough good stuff in their bellies. I then ordered up some chicken strips and fries for everyone, making sure to ask the replicator to do low sodium versions. It was all plated and on the dining room table when they came down.

“Chicken!” Evan shouted, making a beeline for a chair.

“I made Laura up some of her milk and replicated the boys’ drinks so they could have them cold,” I told their dads.

“Perfect,” Darren sighed happily, looking as bushed as I was. He ran a hand through his hair and sank down into a chair as Tarek strapped Laura into the high chair. I handed him the plastic baby plate, and he set it on the tray. Laura immediately grabbed a piece of chicken and stuffed it into her mouth, chewing happily.

“She can have regular milk too, or the same drinks as the boys,” Darren said, popping a fry into his mouth. After swallowing, he added, “She’s only still on that as I’d bought a case of it without thinking about how she was going to be a bit old for it before we got through it all, and I thought, well, it won’t hurt her, and she can have it mixed with regular milk or on its own sometimes as she transitions off of formula.”

I nodded. “That’s not a bad idea. I’ll keep that in mind when making her drinks.”

“Thanks. Um, I hate to ask this, but they asked if we’d start work tomorrow. Nick said he’d watch them, but he’s got his own kids and the boys can be a handful -”

I smiled. “So you were wondering if I could look after Laura?"

He nodded.

“I’d be happy to, and the boys some of the time too, to give Nick a break. My kids will be here in the next few days, so that works out nicely.”

“Thank you,” Varek said, a look of relief washing across both of their faces. “There’s not a creche yet, so we were at a loss.”

“Consider me your permanent babysitter for her then, as well as the boys when you need me. Caleb and Lucy will love having kids to play with when they get here.”

And maybe, just maybe, I’d miss my own kids a little less while being busy with the sweet faced but grumpy toddler currently mashing her fries in her fist before stuffing them in her mouth.

12

SARAH

After dinner, we’d all gone to our rooms, too tired to do anything but sleep. Doran had offered to sleep on the couch, but I’d refused, telling him that he was my mate and it was stupid to have him sleep anywhere else, as it was his bed too. Luckily, the bed I’d brought from Earth was big enough. It was an Alaskan king which I’d ordered a week before discovering Harold’s unfaithfulness. It arrived after I’d kicked him out, so he’d never gotten to sleep in it. Which felt right, as now, my scientifically proven soul mate would get to be the only man to ever use it. As Doran had cautiously climbed in beside me, taking care to not touch me, I’d felt a triumphant “fuck you” at Harold had just happened and felt happy about it. Childish? Perhaps, but I didn’t give a hoot about that.

This morning, I’d woken up curled against Doran, my face on his chest, drooling.

He’d been wide awake, a content but wary look on his face. I decided to play it cool while trying to surreptitiously wipe the drool off of him and my face.

“Good morning!”

“Good morning. I was expecting Bob to wake us up, but he appears to have decided to not blast his morning routine at us today.”

“Morning routine?” I asked, sitting up.

“He does a colony wide wake up call. Only the rooms of very young children are exempt, which I’d informed Darren and Tarek about yesterday evening, so they knew to tell Bob which room they had Laura in.”

“And he didn’t give any of us a wake up call this morning, gotcha. He probably decided we could use a lie in.” I glanced up, knowing that either a wall or ceiling was imbued with smart tech. “Bob, thank you for letting us sleep in.”

“You’re most welcome! It’s currently ten-thirty-seven a.m. here in Walnut Grove, and a comfortable seventy-four degrees. The high will be seventy-six today. Work has begun on the schoolhouse, park, and playground, and is expected to be complete within six days. Your greenhouse kit is being delivered this afternoon; expect it around two. The strawberry plants you requested had their sample approved by the lunar base, so it will arrive with your greenhouse. More of that precise variety will arrive within a week as I’ve placed the appropriate order now that we know they won’t become space dust.”

“Um, thanks.”

I went into the bathroom, loving how we had a private one just for our own use attached to the bedroom. A lovely clawfoot tub that was long and wide enough for Doran to fit into took pride of place, with a separate large shower cubicle along another wall, which was big enough for us both to fit inside. Someone had unpacked the box marked toiletries and thoughtfully placed the bottles of shampoo, conditioner, and bubble bath on a corner shelf at the foot of the tub, where a hand held spray head was hooked above the faucet handles in a cradle. I peeked in the shower and found shower gel and the kids’ shampoos in there and smiled. I’d move those into their shared bathroom later. I quickly had a pee, then came out to let Doran make use of the facilities while I peered into the walk-in closet to select my clothes for today. I settled on a t-shirt and jeans, as the house was comfortably warm. I could always grab my jean jacket if I went outside and felt too cold, which I was pretty sure was not going to happen, seeing as I’d just left heavy coat weather behind. Doran came out, and we did an awkward little dance as he went to get around me to get out his own clothes.

“Mind if I shower first so I can go down and make everyone’s breakfast?”