Page 16 of Warrior's Captive
“I told Vivian you’d give us a tour.” He tilted his head. “Viv?”
His shortening of her name to something like a casual endearment took her aback . . .but didn’t bother her. She didn’t think he was trying to be emotionally manipulative. No, perhaps he was just comfortable since he was on his home turf, so to speak.
“That’s fine,” Vivian said. “I don’t think I should delay making some kind of decision.” No matter how tempting delay was.
Abeyya nodded. “Where have you been receiving care? Have you begun looking at options?”
Vivian took a deep breath, placing her hand on top of her rounded stomach. Tai’ri nudged his sister’s shoulder. “I think just a tour for now, Bey.”
The facility was impressive, designed to be a cross between a well-appointed home and a spa. Abeyya spoke in low soothing tones about the different birth experiences they offered, including options for pain relief if desired.
Eventually they were led to an office that was more like a living room with low couches and side tables. Abeyya arranged for refreshments as she invited them to seat themselves.
“So,” she said when she returned with a tray of small finger foods and what looked like tea. “Tell me what you think, Vivian. I know you said you haven’t had time to think much about what kind of birth you’d like, but if you’d like to begin thinking about that now, I’m happy to answer any questions.”
Vivian sighed, glancing down at the warm colored floors. Of course Abeyya would have questions, but Vivian doubted the woman was stupid. She would realize there was something not quite right about the dynamics between Vivian and Tai’ri and the fact that her brother had just . . . turned up after a several months long absence with a pregnant alien woman in tow.
But she didn’t know how much Tai’ri had told his sister, or what he was allowed to. She gave him a sidelong glance. “You can . . . tell her whatever you’re allowed to.”
Vivian hadn't realized how tense his shoulders were until she said those words. She rubbed a hand over her eyes, sighing. She reminded herself that this situation wasn’t all about her. There were other people, and other feelings, involved. And Tai’ri didn’t seem like he would try to talk her into anything she didn’t want to do.
But Tai’ri looked down at his discreet comm unit, a sleeker model than hers. He glanced at Vivian.
“I have to take this comm. Vivian, will you be comfortable here for a few moments?”
She realized he hadn’t taken a comm the entire time they had been together so far and appreciated his courtesy. She nodded. “Go ahead.”
There was a long moment of silence, and then Abeyya said, “Tai’ri didn’t tell us much about what happened. You were there with him?”
He hadn’t actually told Abeyya anything, and she wasn’t sure what she was allowed to say. Ibukay had asked her not to discuss her experience with anyone but Tai’ri for now, for her safety and the safety of operatives currently in the field.
“Yes. I didn’t know he was there, I never saw anyone. I was taken . . .a year ago, I suppose.”
“I see. And there were genetic tests done on your baby?”
She nodded. “That’s how they found Tai’ri.”
Abeyya leaned forward, reaching for Vivian’s hand, squeezing gently. “My compassion, Vivian. May I ask if you want to raise this child?”
The question was delivered with such a lack of judgement that Vivian didn’t bristle, and felt she could be honest. “I don’t know. I didn’t choose to become pregnant.”
“No, you didn’t. If you wanted to turn over custody of the child to Tai’ri and walk away, no one would blame you.”
Yadeshi culture must be vastly different from human culture then. Of course, on Earth accidental pregnancy was all but unheard of with state mandated contraceptives for every adult after puberty. No one was having a child without a legal filing of parental and financial responsibility.
“I think I would blame me.” She stared at her hands. Her parents had treasured her, been conscientious in her upbringing even if they lacked imagination and affection. “I realized that Tai’ri is innocent, too. He’s as much a victim as I am. And if he is, this baby certainly is.”
“Motherhood is an irrevocable commitment.”
She looked up. “And I’ll still be a mother whether I walk away or not. I don’t think I’ve bonded with the baby.”
“That’s not unexpected, Vivian. You’ve been in a highly stressful situation. Be gentle on yourself. Give yourself time to begin your healing process. Do you want to return home?”
Vivian felt the urge to stand up and pace the floor—but it would have taken too much energy to get to her feet. She processed a sharp pang of guilt.
“No, I don’t. If I took the baby, I would have to live on a YETI base, and I don’t want that. I want to be free. It’s bad enough that if I stay here—”
She cut herself off. She was talking to the man’s sister, after all. But Abeyya simply tilted her head in silent encouragement.
