Beyond the Stars (46 page)

I sighed and looked down on his weary face. It looked as though he had been up all night. “Don’t forget about me,” I said.

“No,” he pushed my hair gently behind my ear, “I would never, ever forget you!” He pulled my body into his, enclosing me securely in his arms.

“I’m going to miss you
so
much.”

“I will always be with you, wherever you are.” He leaned back, looked up at me, and lightly touched my heart.

“Yes,” I agreed. I closed my eyes, trying to find the will to uphold my decision to leave.

“Now, please try to behave yourself. Keep out of trouble on the way home. Nothing can happen to you. Stay away from the Dreons and anyone else you may encounter. Actually, don’t leave the ship. I’m sure the Dreons aren’t the only ones who would show an interest in you. They aren’t the most dangerous things out there.” He brushed his fingers across my lips softly. Whether he intended to or not, his warning scared the wits out of me. Perhaps he said it in attempt to help keep me safe. I could only imagine what he was referring to. I think we both felt incredibly vulnerable without him by my side to protect me.

“Yes, no trouble. I promise,” I said in a silly voice.

“
Oh
, you are an ornery thing, aren’t you?” He tickled my stomach while he kept me from getting away.

“Stop it!” I yelled between laughs. His serious demeanor returned. We looked at each other without saying a word. He pulled me onto his lap. I stroked his neck and back with my hands. I never wanted to forget the feeling of his strong shoulders and muscular body. How difficult it was to leave him. He had become who I yearned to see each day.

“Come here.” He reached up and pulled me to his lips. He kissed me with such passion. I knew it was good-bye.

CHAPTER 28

PARTING

We arrived at the courthouse. The place was buzzing with the same bustling activity it had when we originally arrived. It was time to board the ship. My heart was still questioning my decision to leave. Truthfully, my agony meant little. Why did I even bother inducing such selftorture on myself? I had always known what my decision would be. It was to return to my kids. Their happiness overshadowed every personal choice I had ever made. I worried about never seeing Gaelan again. I couldn’t bear losing someone I loved so dearly. Gaelan’s family came to the launch pad to see the ship off. I said good-bye to each of them. They all expressed their desire for me to return to Kataria in the future. Everyone was present except Liam. Gallina told me he was running late but was on his way as we spoke. Azil and Zaric were elated that their son, Maric, was joining us for the trip.

“Don’t worry, Gaelan. We will get her home safely,” Zaric promised. He gave Gaelan a one-armed hug goodbye.

Azil smiled at Gaelan and me. “It will be okay, brother. I always take good care of my family. We won’t let anything happen to her,” she said convincingly.

“Thank you.” Gaelan hugged her lovingly before she walked away with her family. Just then, Urit came rushing up to us. His face was stoic and uncharacteristic for him. Maybe he felt uncomfortable interrupting our good-bye.

“Gaelan, I need you to look after something for me while I’m away,” he said in a serious tone. He shifted his body anxiously from side to side and handed Gaelan an envelope. Maybe he shot himself up with another dose of bottled hyperactivity.

“Sure, what do you want me to do?” Gaelan said reluctantly. He lifted the flap of the envelope and looked inside. There was a letter and a thin card. “What’s
this
… a key to your house?” Gaelan asked in a confused voice.

“Yes,” Urit replied.

“What about Nia, can’t she handle this?”

“Actually, I was hoping that you could help her with that thing we were working on,” he said under his breath. “The letter will explain everything,” he said without elaboration.

“Okay, whatever. I have nothing better to do,” Gaelan said in a defeated tone.

Urit’s eyes met Gaelan’s. “Good. Thank you,” he said firmly. He looked at me and opened his lips as if he were going to say something, but, instead, he turned away and quickly darted off.

“Great, I guess you know what I’ll be doing while we’re apart. I’m sure he has all sorts of experiments for me to tend to.”

“Without a doubt,” I agreed.

Gaelan walked me up to the ship’s landing. It was as far as his escort allowed him. I looked him in the eyes and tried to fake a smile to hide my sadness. I didn’t want to destroy his last memory of me. He reached for both of my hands and held them tightly in his.

“I love you,” I said adamantly.

“I will be with you again soon,” he promised. We were all prepared to say our final farewell when Liam came sprinting up the landing ramp out of nowhere.

Liam leaned over breathlessly. “
Gaelan
, here … I am sorry it took me so long.” He propped one hand on his thigh and extended his other hand to hold out a small metal card.

“What is
this,
Liam?” Gaelan’s face lit up with a wide smile.

“Your boarding pass. You are reinstated!” Liam shouted joyfully. He tossed the card in the air to Gaelan. Gaelan caught it with one hand.

“Really?
Amazing!
Liam—you’re incredible! How did you do it?” Gaelan asked excitedly. Then he embraced his brother in a big hug, lifting him off the ground.

“Wait, I’ll tell you in a minute.” Liam snatched the card out of Gaelan’s hand and walked over to show the guard standing nearby. With a rebellious look in his eyes, he held the pass in front of the man’s face, waving it back and forth. “You may go now. He’s been authorized to board,” he said triumphantly, dismissing the man from his post. The guard just shook his head and left.

“Liam! How is this possible?” Gaelan asked.

“I spent the morning in the courthouse. I had to quell a vicious rumor about a ridiculously major price increase for our produce. I can’t imagine who would have suggested such an atrocity. I explained to the council that some of the public may have been lashing out at our family in protest to your love affair. You know how people can get carried away.”

“It sort of sounds like someone I know.” Gaelan grinned.

“Yeah, I was a little disappointed when it did not travel as quickly as I had anticipated. Nonetheless, it finally got back to the right people. There was a public outrage at the courthouse this morning. How did you miss all that excitement when you got here? I told the council it was all due to your return, Gaelan. I said that the people just needed some time to accept your relationship. The council then agreed it was best for everyone if you left Kataria until things calmed down. I was able to obtain a unanimous vote for the return of your flight privileges,” he said proudly.

“Wow, Liam, remind me never to mess with you. Clever, though! I owe you, brother,” Gaelan said sincerely. He laid his hand on Liam’s shoulder.

“Oh, and Azil packed your bags. I just handed them to the courier.” He smiled.

“You’re kidding? You mean she was in on your plan?” Gaelan shrugged.

“Yeah, but we decided not to tell you just in case it fell through.”

“Great, she probably packed everything I own, knowing her,” Gaelan joked.

“Thank you, Liam. You are the best.” I reached for his hand.

“Come here, Sami.” He grabbed me and hugged me tightly. “I do not know when I will see you again. Take care of him.” He leaned away and kindly looked me in the eyes.

“I will,” I promised.

“Oh, I almost forgot. I came to deliver you a present. It is nothing much, but it may help the trip go faster.” He handed me a little box.

“Thank you, but you have already given me the greatest gift,” I said, linking my arm in Gaelan’s.

“Trust me, I am not completely selfless. I did not do what I did just for you. He would have been intolerable. Do you know how annoying his sulking around the house would have been?
Ahh
, talk about torture,” he complained, as if Gaelan was invisible.

“Good-bye, Liam. May I find you and the family well when I return.” Gaelan nodded at Liam.

“Well, off with you both. I am going to get out of here before this thing takes me with it. Take care, brother.” Liam nodded in return. He turned and practically ran off the ship as though it was going to suck him up and hold him captive.

Gaelan and I stood on the landing, with our future together shining down on us brighter than ever.

“I can’t believe it!” I cheered.

“I know.” He smiled widely before he took me in his arms, lifted me off the floor, and spun me around.

“I didn’t want to leave here without you.”

“Well, now you’re stuck with me.” He gave me one of his sexy looks that rendered me speechless. I was struck with a wave of relief. I loved him so much. I was lucky to have found him.

“Gaelan, what did they give us?” I stared at the little box Liam had handed me before he sprinted off the ship.

“I don’t know. Just open it.” He smiled.

I opened the box to discover a tiny metal cube. “What is it?”

“Books,” he replied.

“You mean there are books on here?” I asked, confused.

“Yes, I have a player in the room. It will show you the words and read you the stories. You can learn how to read Katarian.”

“That’s fantastic! How did he know? It has been driving me crazy not being able to read anything. Did I ever tell you how much I love your brother?”

“Hey …” Gaelan pulled me closer to him.

“Not like I love you, though.” I beamed. I couldn’t control my excitement. I threw my arms around him and kissed him passionately.

“Sami, you are my world. I will
never
let you go.” Gaelan embraced me in his arms.

“
Never.
” I smiled while looking up into his eyes.

Although we had yet to survive the trip home, every day would be easier with Gaelan at my side. Gaelan took my hand and led me to the command deck to join him. He told me it was time for me to learn more about starship navigation. I watched as the crew prepared the ship for take off. It didn’t matter that I was far away from home. I was so euphoric I could float on air. I looked forward to learning all I could about the Katarian technology. It was something I would be linked to forever.

I realized that the old adage proved true: if you want something bad enough and ask for it, it’s as though the whole universe conspires to help you. I was on my way home, and Gaelan was with me. Soon, I would arrive back at the Space resort and be reunited with Leah and Jackson. I couldn’t wait to tell them all about my trip. I felt ecstatic. I never could have pictured being in this position in my entire life. Despite being this far from Earth, our different worlds seemed closer than ever. The entire universe connected for me in that one moment. There were so many things that had led me to this point. I had to stop relying on the external forces around me for strength and pull from the power within myself. I realized that I already possessed everything I ever needed in order to survive this adventure. My life had prepared me for this journey. I understood the previous mistakes I had made as well as the wise decisions of my past. I was caught living in a stagnant pattern and had reduced life to a mere existence. Being fully alive meant going outside of my comfort zone and taking risks. Overcoming my fears had empowered me in ways I never dreamt possible. My newfound courage had given me the confidence that I could survive any challenge that arose. I’d been graced with a blessed life. I had never felt more grateful. This was absolute bliss!

We took our seats, and the crew initiated the ship’s departure.

“What’s this?” Gaelan said while he shifted uncomfortably in his chair. He reached in his hind pocket and pulled out Urit’s crinkled letter.

“What’s it say?” I asked. He unfolded the paper.

Gaelan’s eyes widened. “
Tyden!
Get Urit—we’ve got trouble!” he shouted.

“What is it?” Tyden asked nervously.

“A change in course …”

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS