It had been six months since she took up residency on planet Yuma and there was never a dull moment. She found herself running the medical for a large portion of the Crayter Republic, doing everything ranging from kissing the scraped knee of a child to dealing with mass casualty incidents with regularity. No, she couldn't do it all herself but with the staff she had and the solid reputation she had gained, medical needs were always being met. She took her oath seriously as she treated people based on medical need and not nationality. It wasn't uncommon for her to treat a Gallic pilot or an Outcast over one of her own. At first, people were appalled by it but a kind hand to an enemy often yielded good intell so the doubters were silenced. She loved her job and her new home and they both were loving her back.
Through her busy schedule, she always made time for her son, Benjen. He too was loving his new home. Both were happy with a stable life and never worried about discrimination. Before Yuma, people on planet Houston issued threats and even attempted assault because they were native Rheinlanders, Rheinlanders living ona planet in Liberty space while the two houses were at war. They didn't care that she had years before been exiled from her homeland for crimes committed by her father. To them, they were the enemy...but not on Yuma. It was there that they found acceptance and prosperity. Sure, war was a constant but in time that too would be settled. So long as there were people, there would be a need for medicine.
Ben's life revolved around his new best buddy, Peter Corvin. They had become inseparable. They often played late into the night until they fell asleep where they played. Doreen treated Peter as her own. She did her best to fill in the roll of "Mom" even if she wasn't truly his mother but she managed to build a bond with him. On days off, Ben and Peter would often be found at a local beach or a local playground. Yes, they were never bored.
In as much as her professional life blossomed, so did her personal life. Rather than shuttle the boys between her and Erik, she and Ben moved onto the Corvin estate. It was an arrangement that proved to be best for all. There was always someone at the house to keep an eye on the boys and transportation arrangements were no longer needed. They both came to the same place each day at a given time from school and it was a secure environment. Besides her wardrobe, she didn't have a lot of material possessions so it was an easy move. Personally, she didn't mind at all. She was able to grow closer to Erik. They made time to go out on dates when schedules allowed and shared the same room. Both filled a void that was missing in the others life and she did her best to please him. Just having someone close was satisfying enough. She loved him and looked forward to seeing him each day and missing him when he wasn't home.
And still, on those nights when he was working late and after the boys were in bed, she found time to relax in a nightgown with a glass of wine near a window. The breeze from the Yuma beaches felt good and was a great way to end a day. Yes, life was wonderful indeed.
Marriage. This was a word that she never thought would ever enter her life, not for a woman with a history, not in a universe where people only seemed to remember the bad things people did and never the good. But, as she prepared for her day, she looked at the ring that now occupied her left ring finger as she sipped her coffee. She placed a letter in her purse and a small pouch as she had something she needed to do before going to work. She would greet Erik before they both left for work for the day wearing a white blouse and navy blue slacks which is how she often started her day. This morning was different as now she knew the man that she was living with would one day give her the honor of being Dr. Doreen Corvin.
She greeted him with a morning hug and kiss. Their engagement was still all so new as she repeatedly looked at the ring. Erik was a tea drinker so she had a hot cup ready for him as they sat together at the table in discussion of the day ahead. For sure the ring would generate a lot of talk at her office as her staff was very good at noticing details.
"Honey, I already told my staff I would be a little late this morning." She was standing before Erik, her hands on his forearms. "I have something I need to do before I go in. You can go with me if you wish but please, it is something that I need to do." By the look in her face, it was something serious.
Erik stayed with her when they arrived at the Corvin family memorial. This wasn't Doreen's first trip there. It was where his late wife, Cynthia, was remembered. Doreen felt indebted to her, especially now, that she was going to be Erik's wife in the near future and fill in the roll as mother their son, Peter. At the memorial, Doreen took a few steps from Erik and then took a knee before her memorial, placing her purse down at her side. She then started looking at the ring on her finger again as emotions began to pour from her.
"Cynthia, I guess you know that Erik has asked me to be his wife. I hope you're OK with this. I mean, we're different people. You were a fighter and I'm not. I even save the lives of the very people you fought against because of the oath I took." She just sighed as she tried keeping herself together. "I owe you much. I'll never be able to thank you enough for your sacrifice that is allowing me the honor for which he has asked." She shook her head a little, "I don't know where I'd be without him. I really don't."
She then removed the small, sealed envelope from her purse and placed it flat before the stone. On it she placed the pouch. Tears began to fall.
"This letter is from me to you. It is my vow to be a good wife to Erik and a mother to Peter. I WILL take care of them both......." She took a couple of hard breaths as she fought emotions, ".....or I will die trying."
"This pouch contains a gift from my family. My father was an engineer for the Rhieland Navy. In the pouch is a coin and a medal. The coin has the Naggar family seal and is something I feel is best left with you. The other is the Navy cross that my father received when I was little. He received it for saving the lives of hundreds of crewman at the cost of serious injury to himself in combat by keeping a cruiser from exploding in the middle of space."
She then removed both items from the pouch, folded the pouch and placed them all on the envelope. She managed a weak smile through the tears. "I don't deserve to carry this medal even if Daddy did give it to me. You did more to earn such an honor. Daddy will understand. I'm just sorry that he's so far from here because he'd make a great shipwright for the Republic. The letter? Well, you can read it for yourself. Mark my word that when I can, I will search space for your remains so that you get a proper burial."
She then stood up and failing to pull herself together, turned to Erik and held him, speaking through tears and emotion, "I want her to approve....to measure up."
With that, they made a slow walk away from the memorial. For Doreen, it wouldn't be her last.
The letter? Unless someone opened it, only Cynthia Corvin would read the words it contained:
Cynthia,
We never met but I feel as if I know so much about you. You were a woman of strength and intelligence. You served your people, you family from the seat of a fighter. I choose to do it in the operating room.
I give you my written word that so long as I draw breath, I will take great care of Erik. I promise to love him, cherish him and give him the best of me every chance I get.
I also promise to be the mother to Peter that he needs. I will never fill your shoes nor will I replace you but I will do my best for him. I promise to help raise him to be a man that you can be proud of.
I meant what I said. You will get a proper burial here. I'll see to it.