“You love him, and he clearly adores you. Make a life with him, Dad. You’re allowed to be happy.”
Death turned away, hiding his face. He closed his eyes and breathed out, fingers dancing on his abdomen again. I’m allowed to be happy.
3
Val waved at Morgan as he passed him at the entrance of the medical center. Wyatt’s mate had a bag of food, and Val hoped it was going to Verion. He would have been happy to bring him something, but Val had noticed his mate got distinctly prickly when he thought Val was coddling him.
The medical center was bustling with activity. The station was still processing the massive number of refugees it had taken in, many of whom were in need of medical attention, and it had kept all Charybdis Station’s medical staff busy for the past year.
Even Verion did shifts in the temporary clinics set up in the medical sector, and Val’s mate was not a people person. There was a reason Verion hadn’t become a medical doctor.
Val hopped on the tram. His own lunch break would be over in about fifteen minutes, so he pulled his lunch bag from his toolbox and worked his way through a peanut butter and piwiberry sandwich as the tram sped toward the edges of the station.
With so many new citizens, space was becoming an issue. Fortunately, the station didn’t have a finite amount of space. It could be added onto if needed, even though that meant a lot of work, money, and time.
Val pulled his second sandwich from his box, then paused. Across the tram was a big-eyed little Wello girl. She was too small for her age and stared at his sandwich hungrily.
Her mother’s head drooped as she tried to stay awake. Val recognized the look of physical and emotional exhaustion. Refugee.
He winked at the little girl and tossed her the sandwich.
She grinned and caught it with both hands, quickly opening the wrapping. After setting aside half, she dug into the rest with gusto. Val dug around in his lunch bag and handed over the Fallon orange and tiny box of cherry tomatoes too. I’m not hungry anyway.
He watched her carefully devour half the food and wrap the rest.
The tram pulled to a stop, and the girl’s mother jerked, coming awake. Her eyes instantly went to her daughter, checking that she was there.
The girl handed her the rest of the food and leaned against her side, eyes sleepy now that her belly was full.
“Missy, where did this food come from?”
Val stood and left the tram before the girl could answer, cheeks flushing.
The newest sector of Charybdis Station was focused on housing. The sheer number of engineers needed to help with construction meant Val spent his afternoons helping there instead of doing his usual maintenance work.
Movement behind one of the many dumpsters around the jobsite caught his eye. A small face with a pointed chin and big brown eyes peeked from behind it.
He dug out the extra bag of food he packed every day and set it on the ground. “Hey, brought you some ham sandwiches, little bit. If you feel like talking, come on inside. We’re on the third floor today.”
He backed away slowly and went inside. It had only been a week, but the little runaway was still pretty skittish. Val was afraid she’d run if he tried to approach her, and enforcement had not been successful in catching her when they came by.
Val only felt a little guilty for letting them think she’d moved on to a new spot on the station. They were doing their best to get her so she could be placed in a foster home. At least I can keep her fed if I know where she’s at.
He sighed and took the stairs to the third floor. Their current project was a new apartment building.
His friend, Poppy, was already back from the break. She worked on welding the frames of the second floor together, goggles obscuring her purple eyes. The Siren’s horns spiraled up from her messy bun of dark purple hair.
Clyde, another of Val’s friends, worked on the other end of the unit. His friend was an older Grell with soft, light blue fur. His left leg was twisted from an injury. Clyde had been offered a new one, but the man was a stubborn ass. He wanted to keep his body parts, even if they didn’t work quite right.
Val grabbed his goggles and got to work with his welding torch. With any