Psy (Alien Castaways #3) - Cara Bristol Page 0,38

to discuss—for me and her. Besides, I’d rather wait to hear what your friend Shadow discovers.

For me, independence has been a long time coming, but to her, it must seem very sudden—although thus far, she’s dealt with it far better than I would have predicted. However, going forward, I don’t want her to put this on you. You provided a little extra impetus, but I would have flown the nest on my own.

If you decide you need backup—I can be here in five minutes.

She grinned. Okay. She rose on tiptoe and sought his lips. He’d expected a peck, but she turned the kiss into a long, intimate exploration. He poured his emotion into the kiss while conscious they were being observed.

You’re off tomorrow, right? he verified. I’ll pick you up in the morning.

Yes. Verna had scheduled me to work Saturday—but that was before I contracted the mumps, and she ordered me to stay home. I’ll text her, let her know I’m cured, and offer to take her Sunday shift. Tomorrow we can work on my breathing issues?

Absolutely!

She kissed him again, and then he waited until she disappeared inside the house before hopping on the hover scooter and heading home.

* * * *

Chaos enveloped the living room—pictures were stacked against bare walls, shelves had been dismantled, cardboard boxes and bubble wrap were strewn everywhere. On the floor, taping a carton together, sat a cross-legged Rosalie. She leaped to her feet and dusted her hands on her pants. “I’m glad you’re home!”

What the heck is going on? Cassie scribbled.

Her mother regarded her steadily. “You’re looking way better than you did this morning! Whatever you had must have passed, huh?”

I had the mumps.

“Honey, you wouldn’t recover from that in a day.” She chuckled.

The dismissive laugh ignited a flash of irritation. Cassie added an exclamation point and shoved the notebook under her mother’s nose. I had the mumps! Then she wrote, I was with Psy today. His medical treatment unit gave me an injection and cured me.

“You climbed into an alien machine? Are you crazy? Date an alien, fine, but you can’t trust their technology! Who knows how alien tech will affect you! It could have killed you! Or altered you in some way.”

I thought you didn’t believe he was an alien. She couldn’t prevent a sarcastic taunt even as she acknowledged it was counterproductive to the conversation she needed to have.

“Well—well—” Her mother had no good answer. “You assume mumps…”

Cassie studied her mother as she debated with herself whether to bring up the insidious idea that had taken root. She didn’t think her mother would have done such a thing, but the idea refused to go away. Her doctor’s office had insisted they had texted her, but she’d never gotten any messages. The other day when I spent the night with Psy, I forgot my phone. You didn’t use my phone or delete any texts…did you?

“Of course not! What are you accusing me of?” Her mother’s lips flattened. Her contact lens-covered eyes sparked with outrage.

Nothing. I’m sorry, she wrote quickly. I was expecting a text. They swore they sent one, but I didn’t get it. Listen, I have something more important to discuss. Who were the doctors who diagnosed my speech disorder?

“What do you mean?” she said sharply, unmollified.

Names, medical specialties.

Rosalie pursed her lips. “I don’t recall. It’s been almost twenty years. Why?”

Because there’s nothing wrong with my vocal cords. They’re normal.

Her mother shook her head. “Honey, I’m sorry, but—”

The medical unit revealed no traces of a congenital defect.

“Your extraterrestrial friend is running a scam. Any med pod”—she used air quotes—“is as bogus as a counterfeit watch. And if it were real—and it’s not—alien medicine would never work on a human.”

A very human ear, nose, and throat specialist verified it.

“W-what are you talking about?”

I went to the doctor today. She confirmed my vocal cords are normal.

“You’re saying…you can speak?”

Not yet—but I’m capable of it. There’s no physical reason I can’t. I just have to learn how. Tomorrow Psy would help her overcome the breathing issues.

“Oh my god!” Rosalie clapped a hand over her mouth. “That’s wonderful. Honey…oh my god!” She squeezed Cassie in a crushing embrace. “I’m so happy for you! I can’t believe it.” Her face wreathed in a smile, she leaned back. “This is the best news ever!”

Her mother’s excitement had her grinning with happiness and relief. They’d almost gotten off track, but everything had turned out fine! She hugged her mother and then grabbed her notebook. I still want to