Season of Bliss by Craig Allen

Author:Craig Allen
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: love story, science fiction, sci fi, science fiction romance, science fiction romance short story, romance science fiction, science fiction and romance, science fiction romantic situation

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Jester carried the basket while she held on to the blanket. He was relieved they’d managed to convince the security detail to remain by the car. The incident from two weeks ago had never repeated itself. Most people kept a respective distance. His people had nearly mobbed the visitor to his world. The people here were much more respectful.

They had walked for about half an hour along trails. Behind him, he could see the megastructure of the city. She’d called this place Blessed Park—the same park where he’d landed his ship, though several kilometers away.

He saw a few oak trees, as Sasha called them. There was other vegetation, some of which existed on his world and some which didn’t. They all had similar characteristics—green leaves, similar branches, similar bark, though sometimes differing in color. He suspected the vegetation here and on his home world all descended from Earth species.

Several people followed the path, always in couples. They nodded and smiled, some of them calling he and Sasha by name. Jester smiled and greeted them back. Not one couple stopped to speak with him, perhaps sensing they wanted privacy or preferring privacy for themselves. At one point, three couples passed them by over the space of a minute. He sensed her growing tense, probably a flashback to the park.

He took her hand and squeezed it, and she relaxed. Jester found he didn’t want to let her go, and she didn’t complain. “It’s beautiful.”

She glanced at him. “What’s that?”

“The park. I like this better than the other one.”

He was afraid it would bring back some nasty memories, but she only smiled. “They keep this area cordoned off so wildlife can’t enter. I haven’t been here in years.”

“Why not?”

Her shoulders drooped for a moment and she stared at the ground. She looked up at him with a forced smile. “Just busy.”

He let the comment pass without question. Something happened to her, something terrible. He wanted to comfort her.

“I’m sorry it’s taking so long,” she said after a moment. “Trust me, it’s a good spot.”

“Don’t be sorry. I’m enjoying the walk.”

“You like walking?”

He shrugged. “I like walking with you.”

She squeezed his hand, and he felt a pleasant sensation travel up his arm. He almost laughed out loud. Why would such a simple act cause pleasure?

Her tablet buzzed. She reached into the bag she always carried—she called it a purse—and the tablet silenced.

“Just Kay,” she said.

“It could be important.”

“Oh no, she just wants…” Her jaw worked for a moment, and then pointed. “Oh look, we’re here.” She pointed toward a grove of trees. “There’s a small clearing on the other side.”

She guided him off the main path, still holding his hand. There was no obvious trail, but the trees weren’t too close together. The shadows of the leaves above danced across them as she guided him.

After a few moments, they reached the clearing.

She held up the blanket. “Here, help me.”

He set the basket down and helped her lay it out smoothly. It was just big enough for the two of them.

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