“Put that down, Izzy,” the mother said. “If you break it, I have to buy it—and that one is a little more than I want to pay for a play set.” She eyed the bouquet. “What beautiful flowers! They smell wonderful, too.”
Cassie smiled a thank you, rested the roses on the table edge, and tried to move the heavy multi-arm silver candelabra.
“Let me help.” The woman picked up the candleholder.
Cassie centered the vase on the table and grabbed her notebook. Thank you. I’m unable to speak. I have to write notes.
“Oh. I understand,” she said. “You work here, I take it?”
Yes. Can I help you find something?
“We’re interested in a tea set. My daughter Izzy had one, but it got broken.”
We have many nice ones. There are more on the shelves over there. She pointed.
“We saw those.” Her mouth twisted ruefully. “They were a little pricey, I’m afraid. I’m hoping to find an inexpensive set she can play with.”
How about some mismatched cups and saucers? There’s a bargain table in the rear of the store.
“That sounds good.”
“What’s this?” Izzy pointed to the Royal on the table/desk. The vintage office display had captured a lot of attention. Several items from the tableau had sold and had to be replaced.
“A typewriter,” the woman explained.
“What does it do?”
“You use it to write with. Like on a computer but the words are printed on paper instead of a screen,” she explained.
I can get paper. She can try it.
“Do you want to type, Izzy?”
“Yeah!”
Cassie rolled a sheet into the machine and typed:
Hello, Izzy,
My name is Cassie. I can’t speak, but I can type. Do you want to try?
The little girl squinted at what Cassie had written and pecked out, How come you can’t speak?
Never learned how, she replied.
“Can I have a typewriter?” Izzy peered up at her mom.
“We came for a tea set, not a typewriter.”
Something white flashed outside the window, and then a huge man landed on the sidewalk, folded his wings, and waved through the window.
Izzy and her mother waved. “That’s Angel,” the little girl said.
“Izzy calls him Angel, but he’s an alien. He goes by Wynn or Wingman. He’s my husband. We’re genmates.”
Now she recognized him. She’d seen him on the bridge of the Castaway. She scrawled, He’s a friend of Psy.
“You met Psy?” The woman raised her eyebrows.
We’re dating.
“Ohh…” The woman grinned. “Congratulations! I’m Delia, by the way. I should have introduced myself. Would you like to meet Wingman?”
Yes, I would. Everything about Psy’s life fascinated her, especially his alien friends. She’d never imagined meeting one extraterrestrial, let alone two!
“Hey, Verna! Cassie’s stepping outside for a sec!” Delia yelled.
“Okay!”
You know Verna?
“Everyone knows everybody in Argent. I work a couple of doors down at the Whitetail Tavern.”
Cassie had never ventured inside the bar—or any bar. She realized how cloistered she was, missing out on normal adult activities. More than ever, she was determined to assume control of her life and break out of the protective bubble.
Delia beckoned.
He can come inside!
Shaking her head, Delia chuckled. “You’ve heard of a bull in a china shop? Imagine an alien with a twelve-foot wingspan. He can fold his wings pretty tight, but it’s uncomfortable and accidents happen.”
Up close, Wingman made an imposing impression. Other than the wings, nothing about him seemed angelic. He had stern, unforgiving features and a brawny physique suggesting he could bench press a small bus. Maybe a double-decker. But when his gaze alighted on Izzy and Delia, his hard face softened to putty.
Delia introduced her, explaining the speech limitation.
“You’re Psy’s Cassie? I’ve heard so much about you.” Wingman smiled.
You have?
“Inferno, who lives with Psy, mentioned you had a date last night.”
Delia chuckled. “Word travels fast among the ’Topians.”
What else did he tell you about me? She knew it was wrong, but she shamelessly pumped Wingman for information.
“Just that you’re genmates. His mating glands have activated.”
Cassie’s eyes widened with surprise, but a warm happy feeling lit in her chest. Psy had mentioned genmates, but she hadn’t known he’d thought she was his!
Delia sighed. “Wingman! Obviously Psy hasn’t told her yet.” She looked at Cassie. “Listen, I don’t want to steal Psy’s thunder. ’Topians have glands here.” Delia touched her jaw. “When they meet the women they’re genetically predisposed to bond with, the mating glands swell. Ask Psy about it when you see him.”
You could bet she would. Genmates sounded so…permanent. Perhaps the idea should have scared her, but she felt excited, hopeful. Normally people met somebody, dated for a while, fell in love, and decided to get married. Usually they had to date many someones before finding the right someone.
Nothing about her life had been normal, so why worry about it now? And there was something incredibly romantic about it…an alien travels across the galaxy and falls in love with the first human woman he encounters. She couldn’t believe how close she’d come to ruining everything. Thank goodness he hadn’t given up on her.
How did you two meet? she asked.
“Izzy was almost kidnapped. Wingman rescued her.”
Cassie’s jaw dropped. How awful. Child abduction was one of the worst crimes she could imagine. What kind of demented person would do such a thing?
“Izzy believed he was an angel and invited him to her birthday party.”
“Then I showed up.” Wingman laughed.
Delia must have read confusion on her face because she added, “When Izzy told me an angel would be coming, I dismissed him as an imaginary playmate. Then I discovered a winged alien in my living room.”
Cassie laughed. Is everyone in Argent aware of aliens? Verna had known, but she’d bet Rosalie had no idea. However, they were new in town and had kept to themselves because her mother disliked crowds.
“By now, most people know me and Chameleon—we’ve been the most open,” Wingman said.
They turned as the customer who’d been with Verna exited the antique shop.
Delia rose on tiptoe to give Wingman a quick kiss. “We’d better let Cassie do her job. I’m going to dash inside to look at the bargain teacups. How about I meet you at Millie’s? Why don’t you order me a house salad with grilled chicken? Unsweet iced tea.” She looked at Izzy.
“Do you want to come with me or go with Wingman to Millie’s?”
“Millie’s!” Izzy slipped her hand into Wingman’s.
“It was nice meeting you,” he said.
She smiled and nodded to show she felt the same.
The two of them strolled toward the diner. She and her mother had eaten there once. Cassie had enjoyed it, but her mother hadn’t liked the food, so they hadn’t gone there again.