Star Wars_ I, Jedi - Michael A. Stackpole [9]
I winked at the woman with the child as I got off at my stop. I threaded my way through the buildings and over the catwalks that led to my home. I almost stopped at a store to buy a decent wine to celebrate the resolution of our problem, but decided instead to whisk Mirax off somewhere for a quiet, romantic meal. I didn’t know where we’d go exactly, but with the construction droids roaming over the planet, I knew there were dozens of restaurants that had been created in the week I’d been gone. Finding a place to eat wouldn’t be much of a problem.
I hit the door and punched the code into the lockplate. The door slid open and a wave of warm air cascaded down over me. I stepped into the apartment’s darkened interior, letting the door close behind me. The warm air surrounded me like a thick blanket and for a moment I almost gave in to panic because it seemed suffocating and dense.
My high spirits began to die down. The air had become warm because Mirax had shut off the apartment’s environmental comfort unit. We both did that when we were going to be gone for an extended period of time. It was possible she was only going to be gone during the day, but a quick glance at the food prep station told me that wasn’t the case. All the dishes had been washed and put away; and the small basket of fruit she kept around wasn’t in sight. That meant she’d tossed it in the conservator so it wouldn’t spoil while she was gone.
I continued my way on into the apartment. I ducked my head into the darkened bedroom on the left, but saw no signs of life there. The dining area, which abutted the food prep station on the right, was likewise devoid of life. The main table had a couple days’ worth of dust on it and the datacard that had been set near my place likely held all the messages that had come in for me up to the time Mirax left.
In the living room area off to the left I saw a light blinking on the holotable. I smiled. Good girl, you didn’t leave without giving me a message. I shucked my jacket and tossed it on a nerf-hide chair, then crouched down and hit the button below the light.
Standing forty-five centimeters tall and as beautiful as ever, Mirax smiled at me. Even in miniature, her black hair shined lustrously and fire filled her brown eyes. She wore the black boots and dark blue jumpsuit in which I’d first seen her, and had a blue nerf-hide jacket slung over her shoulder. A small canvas satchel rested at her feet.
“Corran, I’d hoped to be here when you got back, but I’ve got a run I can’t turn down. I’ll tell you all about it when I get back. You should only be lonely for about a day. If my plans change, I’ll let you know.” She bent to pick up her satchel, then smiled at me again as she straightened up. “I love you. Don’t forget it and don’t doubt it. Ever. I’ll be back soon, love.”
Her image dissolved into static, then the holopad shut itself off. I reached out to run the message again, but hesitated. I’d come home to dozens of such messages during our time together, as had she, and never before had I wanted to play one again. Why do I want to now?
It struck me that I might be feeling a bit cheated and a bit vulnerable. I’d spent the better part of my time away from her thinking about children and had finally come around to her point of view, and she was gone! I’d made one of the most important and momentous decisions of my life and she was just off flitting about the galaxy as if my decision was no big thing. To have it treated so casually stung a bit and I wanted to hear her say again that she loved me.
As much as I knew my analysis of my emotions was true, I also knew my emotions were not at the core of my problem. I hit the button and listened to her message again, then nodded. She said I’d be lonely for only a day or so, and that if she had a change of plans, she would let me know. The fact was, however, that I had been a full day late because of our escorting