IT APPEARED THAT THIS STYLE of gown had been my mother's favourite. The high neck at the back of the dress brushed against the bottom of my ears if I slouched at all and the sweetheart neckline revealed a tad more that I normally liked. It seemed I was better endowed than mother had been. That word still sounded so odd.

My Earth mother.

Alek's mother, echoed my rational voice.

Right, Alek's mother, had been bigger than me in the bust and I'd felt rather silly ...