Kaira followed Tarkus to the kitchen. He opened the cupboards and the fridge, pulling out some of the fresh food and some packets. He grunted, then pulled out some more.
“I’m not used to catering for two anymore,” he said. “It’s been a long time.”
Kaira decided to stay quiet, knowing he was skirting around the sensitive subject of his wife. As Tarkus started to cut up the fresh food she found she couldn’t help herself, though.
“Your wife… how long has it been since the accident?”
He stopped what he was doing, but didn’t look up. Then he sighed.
“Too long,” he said. “Nine years now. Stars, nine years!” He shook his head. “But we had twenty years together. Those were happy years. The time we spent together aboard the Glimmer is something I wouldn’t trade for anything in the u
