Haven 4 AVOW - Sandra R Neeley Page 0,100

she wanted you to be proud of her, too,” Synclare explained.

“I was very proud of her,” Ba Re’ said. “She was training to be a liaison here on our ship,” he insisted.

“She can’t very well be a liaison if every time she leaves your quarters you hound her with where she is, what she’s doing, who she’s speaking to. You never let her out of your quarters except for that one night she went out with us, unless you were with her,” Synclare said, trying to make him see it from another point of view.

“We were not bonded! I couldn’t have her walking the ship at will — there are too many unmated males about!” Ba Re’ said.

“Did you tell her why you didn’t want her outside your quarters?” Synclare asked.

“I’m sure she understood,” Ba Re’ said.

“Maybe. But maybe she just thought you wanted her kept at home all day and that would be her life if she were to accept you.”

“It does not sound like she expected a very happy life, Ba Re’. Perhaps you should reevaluate your expectations and communicate with her,” Lo'San suggested.

“Exactly. Reevaluate your approach, your needs, and contact her. Communication is key. You have to learn to compromise. You give a little, and she gives a little, and you keep doing that until you meet somewhere in the middle. Each of you give up a little of what you personally want, but you both get so much more when you compromise,” Synclare said.

Ba Re’ sat there, still pushing the food around his plate. “She did not even say goodbye,” he complained.

“And neither did you,” Synclare reminded him.

“I do not think she will speak to me,” he finally admitted.

“She may not. But, she might. I could reach out to her and see what she says if you like,” Synclare offered.

Ba Re’ looked up at Synclare. “I would very much like that.”

~~~

Elisha paused outside the conference room where she’d act as interpreter for one of the visiting dignitaries. She saw her reflection in the highly polished metallic surface of the corridor wall. Even on this imperfect surface she could see the dark circles under her eyes from lack of rest.

She just couldn’t sleep. Every time she closed her eyes she saw Ba Re’s face. She’d relived all their moments over and over again, and it always ended the same. It was all about what he wanted, and she was expected to just sit home and be the little wife waiting for his attention. She’d worked too long and too hard to just let go of her dreams. She’d realized he didn’t want her for herself, or even love her for herself, he wanted and loved who he wanted her to be, and she could never be happy or satisfied being who he wanted and letting go of who she really was. When he gave her the ultimatum, mate him or walk away. She walked. She took advantage of the opportunity that Commander Zha Quin had told her about, and left Command Warship 1.

She closed her eyes and leaned against the corridor wall, her heart breaking a little more at the thought of Ba Re’. Despite their inability to agree on most things, she loved him. And she missed him terribly. She startled when a voice spoke very near her face. “Are you well, female?”

Elisha opened her eyes, and reached toward the male. “Ba Re’?” she said, stopping just short of touching him, when she realized he wasn’t the male she wished for.

“I am not Ba Re’,” the male answered. Then he looked at her more curiously. “Who are you?”

The pain in her eyes as she looked at him more closely was easily seen. “I’m sorry. I thought you were someone else. I’m a Liaison here, I’ll be helping with translation today. I’ve only just started last week,” she explained. “I apologize for my forwardness. As I said, I thought you were someone else.”

“What is your name?” the male asked.

“Elisha,” she answered.

The male smiled slowly. “Hello Elisha. I know of you.”

“You do?” she asked.

“I am Jhan Re’ Don Tol — brother to Ba Re’.”

Elisha’s eyes rounded, she knew Ba Re’ had a brother but had never met him, and hadn’t been told how much they favored each other.

“Tell me, Elisha, why are you here and your male is on Command Warship 1?”

“He didn’t want me anymore, so I took a job here. I think I disappointed him one too many times.”

Jhan’s face showed a momentary expression of surprise,