Page 87 of Master
"This is the story Emmy said would be best."
"What story?" My gaze flickered over the paper. "Tarook, what's going on?"
"Mama? Mama, is that you?"
The voice buckled my knees. I would have fallen if not for Tarook's arm around my waist, holding tight.
My daughter's voice came from a small speaker on the desk. There was static, and she sounded muffled... but glorious.My mouth opened and closed a few times before I found my voice.
"T—Tori?" Tears flowed down my cheeks. My whole body trembled to the point I couldn't stand on my own. Tarook held me tight, his warm breath on the back of my neck calming.
"Oh my God, Mama. Are you okay? Where are you?" She sounded frantic with worry.
Gently, Tarook lifted my hand upward, and I became conscious of the paper I held in a death grip.
"I—I'm okay, sweetie." My voice came out as a mixture of laughter and sobs. "I'm so sorry I worried you."
"Where are you, mama? You… your friends… the disappearance was international news. I've been sick with worry."
My eyes flickered over the paper, Emmy's loopy script laying out the story.
"We're okay. All of us." I swallowed, trying not to sound like I read. "We were hiking on the Appalachian trail and came across… we saw something very dangerous." Not a lie, exactly. "The military rescued us, and we're all in protective custody." Again, not a lie, just an omission that the military in question was an alien species.
"When are you coming home, Mama? Mavis misses you. I miss you."
And just like that, all the arguments, misunderstandings and heartache of the past few years evaporated. Remaining in its place was only love. Pure, simple love.
"I miss you too, sweetie, but I may be gone a while," I said, following the script. "We must stay in protective custody to keep ourselves and the people we love safe."
"You're okay, though," My daughter insisted.
"Better than okay," I promised, glancing at Tarook. "All of us."
Bartholomeus cleared his throat and pointed to a timepiece mounted on the wall.
"I have to go, sweetie." The words burned in my throat, hard to say. "It's not safe to talk long."
"I understand, Mama." My daughter's voice broke. "I love you. I miss you. Stay safe."
"I love you too, sweetie. Give Mavis a hug for me."
"I will. I love you, Mama."
As voice faded to static, I dissolved into a blob of heavy sobs in Tarook's arms.
"This did not make you happy, darlin’?" He murmured, a large hand stroking through my hair.
"So happy," I cried, burying my face in his chest, drenching the section of his skin not covered by the vest. I never expected to speak to my daughter again. Joy burst in my veins like fireworks.
"I only want your happiness, my mate." His lips brushed across the top of my head. “Mei told me of your wish to speak to your child once more.”
I raised my face to gaze at him, then looked at Bartholomeus, who sat at the keyboard, grinning broadly.
"I thought the Alliance forbid contacting with Earth. How—how did you do this?"
My favorite broad shoulders shrugged, accompanied by a sheepish grin curling my favorite lips.
"My mate developed the antidote for mumje. That’s worth a few chits with the Alliance."
