Ninety Degrees Out

“Erik, can I ask you a question?” Alicia took the big Swede aside as they walked toward the barn.

“Shoot. I can’t promise I know the answer, but I’ll do my best to track it down for you if I don’t.”

“How do we register a marriage? And what do we do if someone wants to adopt a child officially. I know Becky is wondering, because of the boys, but I need to know too.”

She felt herself blushing as Erik’s blue eyes studied her.

“I’ll have to get hold of Sarge, or maybe Captain Whipper will know. It’s a good question. Do you want to keep this under my hat? Or is it okay to ask on your behalf?”

Alicia wondered how this preceptive man was still single. He always thought ahead before doing anything, working out the consequences for every possibility.

“Keep it to yourself. Chay and I said our vows to each other a while ago, about when we buried the asshole who raped Catherine. I want to make it official, but I need to discuss it with him first. And I think a wedding would be a great way to give us all something to look forward to.” Alicia confessed as they made the turn toward the radio shack.

Erik pulled the door open for her and waved her over to the second chair. She watched as he flipped the power switches on the radios, and they warmed up. Listening as he contacted Sarge, she recognized his skill and discretion as he posed her questions in context of what was happening.

Two minutes later he turned toward her and asked, “You heard what they’re saying?”

“Official recognition of any formal union will have to wait. Until then all will be considered common law. Janice said it was going to be a couple of years before the government is back on enough of an even keel to track that sort of thing. I guess that means any birth certificates are going to have wait too.” Alicia paraphrased what they had learned.

“Exactly. From what Sarge said, I’m to keep all records of births, marriages, and deaths. He’ll bring official paperwork once things get back to normal. BTW, that also means the IRS has suspended all collection of taxes until the UN can come to an agreement on how to deal with international debt and trade. It’s all a mess at the moment. Everyone is focused on survival. The rest doesn’t matter anymore.”

Erik opened his bottom desk drawer and pulled out a package of printer paper.

“I just hope we have enough ink and paper to keep this all organized. Paper is my request if anyone happens to find a supply. Ink, well I know Ariel Hiller has a recipe for something that will work well as a substitute. She’s got all sorts of interesting herbal knowledge.”

Erik’s words echoed her own concerns.

“Chay has a stash of paper at his place. I think we’ve got a whole case of printer paper up there. He’s also got a bunch of ink and toner. If you can make the connection to the internet, he knows Microsoft has storage for scientists and government up and running. If you can’t get that working yourself, Chay will come get it going.” Alicia felt confident volunteering him after seeing him rearrange the programing on the local cell tower to accept all cell phones.

“Star Link is up and running. Elon Musk is a gem. The old man still has it. He’s opened it up worldwide. The big question is how to get the astronauts down from the Space Station. But that’s not our problem. I’ll get hold of Chay and he can help me get connected.”

“What I want to see is the footage of the flip from the station. But that will have to wait for a while yet. I know the Musk conglomerate has gone to barter for what it needs. The UN is working on setting rules for that too. I doubt we’ll get anything solid in the way of agreement for years.” Erik shut down his radios as he spoke

“I’ll get back to you with a date for the wedding. We have to clear up the threat from Rico and his gang first.” Alicia stood to go. “I’ve got to talk to Chay. I’ll let him know you’re looking for help with the uplink to satellite connectivity.”

“Thanks, Alicia. I’ll keep quiet about your problem. Let me know when you have it solved.” Erik turned to pull his filing cabinet open. Pulling a thick file out, he started typing on the laptop he logged into as she let the door close behind her.

>>>>>>>>>>>>

Alicia curled up on one end of the couch, watching as Arimina cuddled against Chay. Both of them were reading as the sun went down. By the time they got back from the ranch with three horses, the lynx kittens, and the dogs, they were exhausted.

She barely had time to talk to Jett before he and Catherine vaulted onto their horses to head back down the canyon trail. Now she was even happier about her conversation with Erik. A half smile played across her face as she pondered having a sister in law so quickly.

She had to admit the blonde woman was a good match for Jett. Catherine had enough spunk to keep him happy. She knew her brother was good with trauma. Even when they were kids, he was the one to hug her when she skinned a knee or bruised and elbow trying to keep up with him.

Arimina’s book plopped into her lap as her head drooped.

Alicia winked at Chay and whispered, “Do you want to take her up?”

“You get her book, and I’ll carry her. She’s getting heavier. I think she grew a couple of inches too.”

Chay waited for her to find a bookmark and put Black Beauty by Anna Sewell on the side table between the couch and the wall. She followed him up the stairs and found Jazz and Blue curled up on the oversized dog bed. She knew both of them would be up with Arimina as soon as they left.

The worked together to get her daughter into her pajamas. Arimina stayed limp, deep in slumber. Pulling a light sheet over her, Alicia patted the bed and Jazz hopped up. Blue stretched out on the dog bed cushion.

“Shall we?” Chay gestured toward the door.

“Give me a second,” Alicia knelt beside the husky and stroked a hand over her abdomen. Noting her swollen nipples, she looked up at Chay. “We’re going to have puppies in a few weeks. I think she pregnant.”

“I never noticed she was in heat.”

“Me either.” Alicia took the hand Chay extended. “We’ll have to tell Arimina in the morning. She’s going to be over the moon with the lynx kittens and puppies. You know she named them.”

“She told me on the flight down from the homestead.”

“Leave the door ajar. I don’t think Blue knows how to use the lever like Jazz. If she wants out, I don’t want her waking Ari.”

As they came out of the room Chay backed her up against the wall, dipping his head to kiss her. Her hands went up to cradle is face and as their lips parted, she whispered, “I have a very important question for you.”

“In that case, let’s head back down by the fire,” Chay said.

“I don’t think so. If you give me the answer I expect, we’ll want to be in the bedroom.” She winked at him and tugged him toward their room at the end of the hall.

Chay closed the door behind them and asked, “What’s the big question?”

“Will you marry me?” Alicia turned to look up into his eyes.

“I thought we settled that already. Of course, I will.”

“I mean with a proper wedding ceremony, in a couple of months.” She reached up to put a finger against his lips, to stop his words and continued. “And will you make it an adoption ceremony at the same time. Before you ask, I’ve already talked to her father about it, and he’s drawing up the appropriate papers to ship up to us. It might take a while to register everything officially with the government though.”

Chay sat down on the edge of the bed, pulling her into his lap.

He hugged her tight against his chest dropping kisses across her forehead and down her cheek. “You’ve been busy. I don’t want to disappoint you by not giving you an answer right away.”

Alicia’s heart dropped and her face paled.

“Sweetheart, we’ll marry, but I want to ask Arimina first. I’m almost willing to wake her up to talk to her right now but she needs her sleep.”

Alicia sighed in relief. This was her man, and she should have trusted he had a good reason. “She asked your mother if it was all right to call you Daddy. I know what her answer is, but don’t tell her that. I think you’re the most incredible man. To consider her capable of making the choice at not quite six tells me how well you understand her.”

Chay’s lips claimed hers, his hand coming up to rub a thumb against her nipple where it hardened. His kiss was sweet, as if was confirming his dedication to her. He stood, picking her up, cradling her like a baby and laid her on the bed.

“You’re best thing to come into my life. I can’t imagine being without you and Ari. Yes, we’ll have that wedding, and I know who I want to do the ceremony. The same wise man who married, Hakan, Armaruq, and Kanti.”

“You’re already planning. It’s going to be a simple ceremony, and a barbecue to celebrate. If we’ve got musicians around, we’ll ask them to play. I thought I saw some instruments in the lodge.”

Chay nodded as he he began to undress her, deftly pulling clothes away and tossing them on the floor. For every piece of clothing he took from her he revealed more of his sculpted body for her and she ran her hand over his sinewy arms. His next kiss took her thoughts away, and she lost herself in the sensations rushing over her body.