Haven 4 AVOW - Sandra R Neeley Page 0,65

began to tweet — its signal that an incoming com was waiting to be answered.

“Should we answer that?” Ph’eel asked.

Just then the com unit answered the call, and the females were able to hear it as it was recorded.

“Synclare! I have news! After your session this morning and our conversation during the same, I had an idea and contacted Consul Kol Ra’ Don Tol at Earth Base 28. He put me in touch with healers who work under his supervision and they provided me base lines for certain hormonal and enzyme levels as they apply to human females. We’ll be working in conjunction in the future and I’m extremely excited at the concept…. Forgive me, you care not about these things. The reason for my com is, I ran tests according to their guidelines. I know why you’ve not ovulated as expected. I know why your body has reacted so violently to all the fertility treatments. I am a fool for not considering it before. You are already with youngling, Synclare! Your body has been fighting off all the attempts we made to force you into ovulation because you’ve already conceived. It’s protecting your youngling! Come to my office the moment you get this com, Synclare. And do not take any more of the medication to ease your symptoms!”

The com ended and the unit chimed three times, indication that it had been recorded.

Ph’eel and Mee'ta sat, watching each other wide eyed.

“What do we do?” Ph’eel asked.

“Give me a bit of time. I have to think this through,” Mee'ta answered, her mind already working on a plan.

~~~

Mee'ta moved a chair into the bedroom and sat beside the bed as Synclare slept. She’d deleted the com left by the ship’s healer, sent Ph’eel back to her family to be seen out and about with Ko'San, brought the cold cloth that Synclare had asked for when she’d momentarily awakened and dutifully administered exactly the correct dosage of medication when it was supposed to be administered. And now she waited for Lo'San to return.

Sure enough, as soon as his duties were seen to, Lo'San returned home, striding into his home and directly into the bedroom without pause.

“Mother?” he asked as he approached Synclare and smoothed his hand across her brow as she slept. “Has she awakened?”

“She did. She wanted a cool cloth, which I brought, and then she slept until it was time for her medication. I woke her and gave it to her, and she’s been asleep ever since,” Mee'ta assured him.

“Has she been ill?” Lo'San asked.

“She’s been in pain, but nothing more. Once I administered her second dose, she seemed to ease a bit and has rested better.”

“Thank you, Mother. I am indebted to you for watching over her. I have hated having to leave Sink Lar alone after each treatment. I cannot explain how much I appreciate you being here with her today,” Lo'San said, taking Synclare’s hand in his as he took the seat his mother had vacated.

“Nonsense,” Mee'ta said. “I’m so happy to be of service.”

“Have you eaten?” he asked his mother, as her hovering caught his attention.

“No, I have not. But I am well. What can I do for you?” she asked.

“Nothing. I meant only to come home and hold Sink Lar while she recovers,” Lo'San answered.

“I shall rest in the living space in case I can be of assistance,” Mee'ta said.

“No, go on back to Father. I’m sure he worries about you. If I need assistance, I’ll call for you,” Lo'San said.

“Are you sure, my son?” Mee'ta asked.

“Absolutely. Go, and thank you, again, Mother.”

“Very well. I shall check with you in the morning, if I don’t hear from you this night,” Mee'ta said. She made a big show of leaning over Synclare and kissing her forehead, before standing and pulling Lo'San down so she could kiss him as well, then quietly left their home.

Lo'San felt grateful that his mother had been there for him. And began to strip out of his clothes to slip into bed beside Synclare. But, at the last moment, he felt the need to go into the galley to check the medication and how much was left. Lifting the bottle, he was relieved to find that exactly the amount he’d instructed his mother to use was gone, no more — no less. Smiling to himself that things were finally seeming to repair themselves, and how Synclare had been the catalyst for it all, he returned to the bedroom and got into bed beside