Alien Admirer (Alien Next Door) by Jessica E. Subject

mother said. “His bones are mending well, but after one week in bed, he’s going stir crazy.”
    Sera grinned and sighed with relief. She’d experienced the same need to leave after giving birth to her children. One night had proved long enough for her.
    Yet, she hadn’t bothered to visit him, too disturbed by what he’d told her. “What about…? Did they find out what he is? What he thinks he is?” Waiting for her neighbor to tell her Adam had made up the story, Sera gripped the chair.
    Rachel’s eyebrows rose. Her soft smile disappeared. “Did they find out that he ’s part alien? No, but that’s why I’m here. I had a hard time believing his father was, too.”
    Sera gasped, covering her mouth to hide her shock. No way. The tale can’t be true. They’re all delusional.
    “I was a young child when Luke arrived on this planet.” The woman set the paper bag down and folded her hands in her lap. “For years, I believed I’d imagined the entire thing. And my parents made me think the same thing, that the little alien boy I saw magically appear on the street in front of my house was simply a story I’d made up to get attention.”
    If Melody or Zach told her they’d met an alien, Sera would assume the same thing. Drumming her fingers on the chair, she waited for the woman to continue.
    “Then I met Luke again. When I realized he was the same little boy, that I hadn’t made it all up, I freaked, running out on him and refusing to let him explain.”
    Similar to how she’d reacted to Adam. “And yet, you married him?”
    “Yes, because regardless of where he came from, I loved him, and I knew he loved me.”
    Sera circled around to the front of the chair and sat. “You really believe he’s an alien?”
    “I know it’s such an awkward concept to accept, but yes, I do. Though, I completely understand your skepticism. If I hadn’t seen Luke arrive with my own eyes, I would not have believed his claims, either.”
    “Then why are you here?” Sera sprang to her feet again, too jittery to stay in one spot. “If you understand why I won’t talk to him, why are you trying to convince me otherwise?”
    “Because he’s my son, and I know how much he loves you and your children. He would never have risked his life, risked being found out, if he didn’t.”
    Her chest tightened. “Do the doctors know?” She didn’t want to be responsible for turning him into a lab rat, too.
    “No. Except for his dark eyes, and his emotional connection to his soul mate, he’s no different than any other male on Earth. He’s learned to transform his eyes like his father . As for the link with his soul mate, you’re the only person who can fulfill that destiny. You’re the woman he’s meant to be with. No one else. And he knows that.”
    Sera swallowed the lump in her throat. Regardless of the alien blood flowing through his veins, he’d saved her. God, why had she been so stubborn?
    “Um, maybe I could get a ride with you?”
    “Tell you what …why don’t you go up to the hospital on your own? I’ll stay home.”
    “But….”
    “You two have a lot to talk about. I’d just be in the way.”
    Sera ’s stomach rolled. By myself? “I…I don’t think I can.”
    “Tell me something.” Rachel’s stare hardened, her brow creasing. “Before my son confessed his ancestry to you, did you love him?”
    Yes, I loved him. I still do. “I….”
    “Did you ever worry about him hurting you or your children?”
    Not until he told me he was alien. She suppressed her pride. “Okay, I’ll go. But will he forgive me?”
    “I’m sure he will, but you have to talk to him first.”
    Sera grabbed her purse. If she didn’t go right away, she’d lose her nerve. “What room is he in?”
    “Three-seventeen. It’s a private room.”
    Easier for them to talk, yet did she rea lly want to be alone with him?
    Rachel held out the paper bag. “Oh, and would you take this to him?”
    “Food?”
    “No. It’s an object