The Challenge (39 page)

Tessa grinned. “Wait until you see the cleaning machine I bought.”

“What does it do?”

“Wash dishes. Mops. Dusts. Whatever we ask it to do.”

“Oh, my. That sounds wonderful.” Miri patted her stomach and confided. “This pregnancy makes me sleep a lot, and Shaloma is the sweetest child, but she isn’t too thorough with her chores. She prefers to daydream.”

Tessa carried the food processor into the kitchen where Dora and Shaloma were chatting away about fashion on Zenon. A bit relieved that for once Dora hadn’t turned the conversation to sex, Tessa interrupted, “Dora, what kind of power supply does this machine require?”

“It comes with a hundred-year battery. All you need to do is connect the hose out the back into the raw ingredient container.”

While Tessa connected the hose, Shaloma set the table, and Miri opened the oven to check the food. Mouthwatering smells of roasting meat and baking bread, plus some kind of fruit tart wafted into the room.

Tessa sniffed appreciatively. “Smells great.”

Inside the oven, meat roasted on a turning spit. Miri collected juices and basted the meat. “How soon can we have the
Jarballa
?”

“Coming right up.” Tessa dusted off her hands and gestured to the food materializer. Although she dearly wanted a cup of coffee, she thought it would be rude to help herself to a drink after Miri had gone to such trouble to prepare a meal. “Why don’t you break it in?”

Miri closed the oven, placed the baster in a sink and peered at the machine. “What do I do?”

“Imagine the taste of the spice. Then push the taste at the machine with your psi.”

Miri closed her eyes, twitched her lips. “Done.”

“How’s this?” Tessa opened the door and handed a pungent concoction to Miri who smiled in delight.

“Perfect.”

Enthusiasm lit up Shaloma’s face. “I want to try.”

“Shaloma, you know better than to waste food. We already have a feast. We haven’t eaten this well in almost three years, but for Kahn and Tessa’s welcome, we had to splurge.”

Tessa stepped back and let Shaloma stand in front of the machine. “We needn’t scrimp. I bought enough raw ingredients on Zenon Prime to feed ten people for a thousand years. You and Shaloma must increase your caloric intakes.”

Miri pursed her lips, carefully spreading the spice over the meat. “We cannot do so while others are hungry.”

“No one will go hungry in Rian.” Tessa thought of Rob One and Rob Two who were busy digging out a cavern large enough to house the hydroponics equipment. “We also brought—”

“Do I smell
octar
meat and
Jarballa
sauce?” Kahn poked his head into the kitchen.

“Celebrating your safe homecoming and your wedding to Tessa demands a special feast.” Miri tried to shoo him out with a rueful grin.

Kahn didn’t budge. “You told me you used the last
Jarballa
on my birthday.”

“Did I?” Miri basted the meat, flustered that Kahn was questioning her. She was trying to honor Tessa’s request not to mention the food purchases. Obviously, she wasn’t good at dispensing misinformation, and Kahn angled his head, questions in his eyes.

As if sensing Tessa was behind the problem, he arched a brow in her direction. “Something you want to tell me?”

“No.”

The other women gasped at her direct reply. Dora chuckled.

“But you will tell me.”

“Oh, Kahn. Miri has spent days hoarding food and working hard to prepare this meal, please don’t spoil the celebration.” Tessa tried to soften her clear warning to him to behave.

In the best of moods since his arrival at home, Kahn crossed his arms over his chest, attempting to look stern, but his mouth twitched. “Fine, I promise not to spoil the celebration, so it’s safe for you to tell me what you’ve done now.”

Miri’s jaw dropped in shock. Shaloma’s eyes went from Kahn to Tessa back to Kahn in wide astonishment.

Kahn didn’t take his gaze from Tessa but spoke to the other women. “I’ve given Tessa extra leeway because Earth customs are different. Miri, I trust you to teach her our ways. And, Shaloma, don’t even think about imitating her, or we’ll never find you a husband.”

“She’s a little young for a husband,” Tessa protested, forgetting once again that she wasn’t supposed to argue with her husband, especially in front of others.

“Could you find
me
a husband?” Dora asked, cutting the tension and causing everyone to laugh.

Tessa knew Kahn still waited for his answer and rolled her eyes at the ceiling. “If you must know, I brought back from Zenon Prime a food materializer and supplies to run the machine.”

“And it took you how long to tell me?”

“You didn’t ask. And the subject never came up.” Tessa figured since he’d already promised not to fuss, now might be a good time to confess the rest. “I also bought a cleaning robot.”

“Machines that will cook and clean. Did you also buy one that will hunt? Then no one on Rystan will have to work,” he teased, and she liked the easy grin on his face, the dancing glint in his eyes.

She’d been about to tell him about the hydroponics equipment, but reconsidered. Perhaps he’d had enough surprises for one day.

“Kahn, I could use the mechanical help.” Miri rubbed the small of her back and Tessa wondered exactly how far along she was in her pregnancy.

She also found the family interaction more than interesting. Miri was backing Tessa in a way that made it difficult for Kahn to turn her down without seeming unsympathetic to her pregnancy.

As if accustomed to attempts to softly manipulate him, Kahn didn’t give in easily. “Shaloma and Tessa will help you.”

“Yes, but Shaloma has her studies, and Etru told me over the talkie that Tessa must practice daily for the Challenge.” Miri opened the oven again and savory smells drifted to Kahn’s nose, and his nostrils flared in appreciation.

Kahn grinned, seemingly none too upset that the women had out maneuvered him. “You do know how to bribe a man.”

“And after Tessa tastes your favorite dishes, she’ll be able to produce them herself with the food materializer.”

Kahn sighed. “I should know better than to come in here.” He ducked back out of the kitchen, and they could hear him say to the men, “We’ll be eating soon.”

Tessa sagged in relief. She hadn’t realized that she’d been holding her breath, anxious over Kahn’s reaction. And she appreciated Miri backing her more than she could say. A sincere thank you seemed inadequate.

“Miri, I . . . thanks.”

Miri took a hot pan of bread out of the oven with her fingers, exhibiting total temperature control of her suit. “You didn’t think we would help you?”

“I didn’t know what to expect. I’m a stranger here. Your ways are very different from mine.” Tessa drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly as the other two women exchanged a long glance and frowns. “Look, I want to make this work. So if I say or do something wrong, rude, inappropriate, I want you both to tell me. In exchange, I promise not to ever do anything that would deliberately hurt either one of you. Deal?”

Tessa held out her hand to Miri to shake. Miri clasped her hand and embraced her, then gestured for Shaloma to join the three-way hug. “Deal.”

Miri stepped back, removed a large round fruit pie from the lower oven, and handed it to Tessa. “Can you take—”

“Shaloma,” Tessa couldn’t touch that burning hot pie plate without getting badly burned.

Shaloma rushed over to help Miri then both women looked at Tessa oddly. Miri angled her head. “I know you don’t know how to cook, but you can help serve.”

“I can’t.”

“Is this kind of work beneath you?” Shaloma asked.

Tessa shook her head. “I don’t have that kind of temperature control over my suit yet. If I’d touched that hot—”

“I’m sorry,” Miri calmly handed the pie cutter to Shaloma and gave Tessa another task. “Why don’t you pour the drinks, then.”

Tessa found glasses and filled them, then brought them to the table in the dining area off the kitchen. “I haven’t learned how to operate the null-grav controls, either.”

“It will come, dear.” Miri said encouragingly. “Etru told me that Kahn said you’re doing marvelously well. He’s proud of you.”

He was? This third-hand gossip could be quite useful. She wondered how else she could help. But Miri assigned her tasks, and she carried plates and utensils to the table, feeling like a small part of the team. She hadn’t felt like part of anything for a long time, not since Earth.

She hadn’t expected to like being in a kitchen or being around a woman like Miri who spent her days cooking and cleaning. However, Miri hadn’t just welcomed Tessa, she’d made her feel like part of a family.

So when Miri began to carve the meat and asked about her life on Earth, Tessa didn’t brush her off with a curt answer. She told the women about losing her parents, her foster homes, and how she’d found a second home in the Secret Service.

Shaloma was fascinated, especially about Tessa’s work guarding a business tycoon and a president. She wanted to hear all about the business details. About the wheeling and dealing. And finally when dinner was on the table and Miri called in the men, Tessa wondered if she’d be able to eat past the giant lump in her throat.

She might not recognize the food on the table. She might have to stand since she couldn’t operate the null-grav in her suit. She might have just met Shaloma, Miri, and Etru, but instead of being the outsider, they’d accepted her. She belonged.

Kahn raised his drinking vessel in a toast. “To the newest member of our family, my wife, Tessa.”

“Cheers.”

Everyone sipped. Tessa’s drink tasted like beer, but more mellow. Miri sputtered and Shaloma gasped.

Kahn’s brows narrowed. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” Miri replied.

Oh, God.
She’d poured and served the drinks. Given everyone alcohol. Miri was attempting to cover for her mistake but a pregnant woman shouldn’t be drinking.

“I’m sorry.” Tessa walked past Miri and Shaloma and picked up their glasses, adding them to her own. “I’ve made a mistake.”

Etru dropped his head into his hands. “You gave Miri and Shaloma spirits?”

“Not on purpose.”

“Women aren’t supposed to ever drink alcohol. Didn’t you know that?”

“I did. I just didn’t know this beverage was alcoholic.”

“Any child—”

“Etru, she wasn’t born here,” Miri defended her. “It was only one sip and caused no harm.”

Etru raised his head and looked at Tessa. “This time, she caused no harm. But what will she do next?”

“That’s what I wanted to talk to all of you about.” Tessa came in with fresh drinks for the women, something fruity and non-alcoholic. “I have a plan to suggest. Is dinner the appropriate time to talk business?”