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“You both know Bart’s friend, Mirilla, don’t you?” Quin asked.

Zahn gave a sharp inclination of his head, but managed to refrain from making any other comment.

“We met her earlier in the day. We turned her away as per our Sirena’s desire to maintain a staff free home,” Rel said.

Quin nodded at them. “I would have done the same.” Quin stepped past them and followed a path that had been created through the plant life thriving in the sun room. “Vivi!”

“I’m over here!” she called back.

“I have Bart with me.”

“Oh! I didn’t know either of you were back. I love this room. Have you seen this room?” she asked, trying to get up out of the lounge chair she’d been reclining in.

Quin found her rolling back and forth, trying in vain to throw her weight to one side or the other to rise from the chair. He couldn’t help his smile and chuckle. “Let me help you, Ehlealah.”

“I feel like a doodle bug! I can’t even get myself up out of a chair!”

“It’s not a standard chair, Ehlealah.”

“Doesn’t matter. I’m so ready for this to be over.”

“It won’t be long, Vivi. I promise. I see the signs.”

“What signs? How do you see signs and I don’t?”

“Because I’ve been speaking with the doctors here on Cruestace. We will have an appointment for you to meet with them tomorrow.”

Vivian’s demeanor immediately changed. “I miss Doc,” she said.

“I know. But our doctors here are just as talented as Doc. You’ll see. You’ll like them.”

“Okay.”

Bart and Mirilla stepped into view.

“Ah, and here is Bart.”

“Bart!” Vivian said, turning to face him.

Bart went to Vivian and hugged her.

Vivian accepted his hug, then gave her undivided attention to the female at his side.

“This is Mirilla,” Bart said.

“Mother sent her with a message for you.”

“Oh, what’s the message?” Vivi asked.

“That she was busy with duties she couldn’t avoid today and would hopefully see you tomorrow.”

Vivian smiled and shook her head. “So, that’s the best she could come up with to get you past my guards?”

Mirilla looked panicked.

“It’s okay. I learned from Zahn that he’d turned you away earlier. I honestly expected her to bring you back herself.”

“She wishes for me to be of assistance to you because she worries about you acclimating, and your health with the impending arrival of your youngling. She also hopes that we can be great friends. But I only say that because I don’t want there to be any subterfuge between us.”

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