Page 10 of My Monster, My Choice

“So, Christina,” Sydney drawls, looking at me. “You single?”

ChapterThree

CHRISTINA

“Um, yes.” I avoid looking at Elex when I answer because I don’t want to make it obvious. It’s more than clear why I didn’t want to send Tera off to marry an alien.

I’m interested in this alien.

He makes my heart flutter, my breath quicken, and my palms dampen. I ache to touch him, to hold his hand, to sit on his lap. And from the way he constantly strokes me, even going so far as to wrap a tentacle around my ankle like he justneedsmy touch, he feels the same.

I’m not sure what I did to get so lucky that the feeling is mutual between us.

“How do you know the president?” Anya asks.

This house is filled with beautiful women, from the fresh-faced teen popping her gum to Anya, who sits across from me, serene and graceful. It appears President Montgomery was collecting dolls for a dollhouse.

“He was friends with my ex-husband. When Lyle died, President Montgomery helped me to enter Tera in the dance program here.”

One of the younger girls snorts and now that I see the program, I realize we were duped.

“We were led to believe it was a prime opportunity. She was paid well,” I say.

I leave out the fact that all of her money went to Kenny’s care, especially with my son here. He may not be paying attention, but you never know what his little ears will pick up.

“You married Tera’s father when she was just a little girl?”

My mouth curls up with the memory. “Yes. A scrawny thing, full of fire. Five years old, about to be six, was clever as a whip, and hadn’t had any schooling. That was my job.”

“I’ll bet she was a fast learner,” Anya says.

“Oh yes,” I agree. “She excelled.”

“And what of your own family?” Anya asks.

“I have two brothers, both married, they’ve broken all the rules. Each only has one wife.” And that’s how I was supposed to live my life, with Carlton. “So did my father, however, his was because of necessity. In the beginning he didn’t have the funds for a second wife, and as our wealth grew over time, he hadn’t bothered to look for another. I imagine it was coming or perhaps it’s already come to pass.”

“You don’t know? Don’t keep in touch with them?” Anya asks.

“No.” I keep my answers short because what can I say? That I have a shameful secret? That I was given to Tera’s father to get rid of the problem that I was?

Besides, the marriage wasn’t so bad. It was short term, just a few years, and then I was left a widow with two beautiful babies. All mine to raise how I saw fit. I could never have done that if Kenny’s mother hadn’t died in childbirth, followed by the death of Lyle and Sheila shortly thereafter. Thankfully I couldn’t be pushed into another marriage. Not with two children in my keep.

“Well, I think you’ll like your house,” Anya says. “Elex had a lot of detail put into it. It’s one of the finest. And we’ve reserved two of the houses next to it for Kenny’s immediate friends.”

“I thought Dori could pick first,” Elex says.

“She’ll love that.”

“Elex, you staying at Christina’s house tonight? Someone needs to bring her and Kenny back for the conference call in the morning,” Sydney says, and they all take it in stride that we’re already a couple.

“Oh, yay. A sleepover!” Kenny yells, making a fist as his arm shoots straight up in the air.

“If it’s all right with you,” Elex says softly, turning his head toward mine so his words are for my ears only. “There’s a guest bedroom.”

I appreciate that he’s keeping it between us, so I’m not embarrassed or don’t feel obligated. It’s sweet and not at all like what I’m used to. As a woman in a male dominated society, there is no awareness of needing to watch a woman’s feelings. If a man wants a woman, he pursues in any way he wants because it’s rare for a woman to turn anyone down. No matter how many of us end up in marriages with more than one wife, we all strive to be the one who can make a man decide he only wants her.

Sad, really.

---