Chapter 4
He placed socks in the bag then hit the button for the next recorded call. “Hey, Dad, just checking on you. I guess I now know why you were busy on Sunday. The press is going wild—” He hit redial before listening to the remainder of the message.
“Dad. Thanks for calling back.” His oldest son always sounded happy to talk to him.
“Levi, I’m so sorry that we weren’t able to talk on Sunday.” Trevor chuckled. “I’ve been so busy since I was notified of the mission on Saturday that I barely had time to shower and change my uniform.”
“I remember those days when you’d all but run into the house, take the steps two at a time up your bedroom.
Five minutes later, you’d be hunting us down, hugging us goodbye.
” Levi was absolutely right. Trevor refused to leave the house without hugging each of his kids, kissing them on the forehead, until they became too old for such a display of affection.
Then he’d tell them that he loved them, even though they were embarrassed to hear it. That was their routine.
“I only have a few minutes to talk right now. I’m on my way to the East Coast to see my men there when they get back.
Is there any chance you could join me for lunch tomorrow?
” He hadn’t seen Levi in months. Sam had made it down for a long weekend in June after a business meeting in L.A.
and his twin sister, Linda, had surprised him for Easter after helping him move in January.
Damn, he missed his kids. Unfortunately, all three were on the East Coast. They were all adults, living their own lives.
“Let me call you in the morning. I’ve got a few things on my desk for one of the senior partners, but Jim is very family oriented and would totally understand if I slipped away for a few hours to go see you.” He hesitated for a long minute.
He obviously had something on his mind. Grinning, Trevor realized he did the same thing.
“Is everything okay, son? I can talk and pack.” He reached into his top dresser drawer and grabbed running clothes. If he got up early enough, he might PT with the men.
“Everything is okay with me, and the twins, but we’re worried about you.” Levi let out a long breath. “You’re out there all alone, nearly three thousand miles away. We worry about you.”
“I’m flattered. You know my life is crazy. This command is extremely demanding.” He seemed to work sixteen hours every day.
“Dad, are you planning to stay out on the West Coast after you retire?” His son quickly added, “You told us this was going to be your last command. Or have you decided a desk at the Pentagon would be your next step?”
“Why?” Trevor had only been in that position since January. He had at least two more years before he’d be considered for another transfer.
“Well, when they took me on at this law firm, I knew it was only a two-year position. If you’re going to stay out there, I’ll start job hunting in California. I’d like to live closer to you.” Levi was such a family-oriented kid.
“You think you need to take care of me in my old age?” He quipped.
“Hell no. You’re not old, which brings up another point. Have you started dating, yet?” His son knew exactly where to throw the javelin.
“Son…”
“I hate to think of you sitting around that big house you have to live in as an admiral, heating a box dinner in the microwave then eating it in front of the television.” Levi sighed heavily.
“Dad, I’m so afraid that would be your life in retirement.
You’re still young. You’re far too vibrant and energetic to waste away the next twenty, thirty, maybe even forty years. ”
He stopped moving. For the first time, Trevor didn’t know what he was going to do next.
Ever since Carol passed away, he’d just been free sailing through life, not caring which direction the wind took him.
He went wherever the Navy sent him. He lived wherever the Navy told him to live.
He did whatever the Navy told him to do.
Thoughts of the future were gone with his wife.
Refocusing, Trevor took his uniform out of the closet and started to drape a hanging bag over it. He’d been promoted from two stars to three and never gave it a thought. Did he want to wear four stars on his collar? Be stuck behind a desk a hundred miles away from the nearest SEALs?
Fuck no.
“Dad? Are you still there?”
Trevor zipped closed the bag containing his crisp white uniform. “I’m still here. Thinking about what you said.”
He’d been allowing the current to take him wherever it wanted. Currents. Waves.
Marta riding the waves on her surfboard came to mind. She looked damn good in that wetsuit. Curvaceous, like a woman should. His son’s words; vivacious, energetic. Those words most certainly described Marta.
“Do you believe your brother and sister would accept me finding somebody else to share my life with?” Trevor was surprised he’d said those words out loud.
Levi laughed. “Yeah. I do. We’ve talked about it.
Linda would be there in a heartbeat pushing you through the door to take someone out to dinner, to the theater, or just for a ride down Pacific Coast Highway.
Sam, not as much, but he does want to see you happy.
We all know that you loved Mom, and she was taken away from us far too soon.
” His deep voice cracked. “But it’s been over five years, Dad. ”
“I know.” His voice was quiet.
“Dad, she’s gone, and all of us are here.
” Levi cleared his throat. “Jim, the partner I spoke of earlier, he’s in his eighties and remarried at sixty after his wife died.
He takes off a month every summer spending a week with each of his grandchildren.
One granddaughter loves camping, and they take her to a different national park every year.
A grandson got so excited after studying about France last year, so they took him to Paris.
For the last twenty-four years they’ve traveled the world—cruises, train trips.
They even rented an RV one year and camped their way through Alaska.
They go on a couple cruises each year. She’s in her late seventies and plays tennis twice a week.
” He chuckled. “I’m not suggesting that you act like Davis, another of the partners.
He must’ve had a midlife crisis last year.
For his fiftieth birthday, he bought himself an expensive sports car, divorced wife number three and started dating women half his age.
It’s sad. They’re milking him dry, and he doesn’t see it. ”
“I can tell you’re a lawyer, citing multiple examples.” He looked at his suitcase and ran through his mental checklist. Everything was there. Zipping it closed, he thought about Marta and her sassy advances earlier in the day.
Holding her in his arms had felt wonderful. Her kiss heated parts of him he thought died with his wife. His son was right; he had a lot of life to live. “Okay, I’ll have a dinner date by the end of the week.”
“What?” The shock at his son’s voice made him grin.
“You heard me.” He just hoped after he’d rebuffed her a few hours ago that she’d forgive him and let him take her out to supper. It was a good first step. Besides, he didn’t know any other single woman his age.
“You’d already planned to date someone, didn’t you?” His son accused him with a smile in his voice.
“Honestly, no. You convinced me.” He glanced at his watch. His driver would be there in two minutes if he wasn’t already waiting outside. “Sorry, Levi, I’ve got to catch a plane. Don’t forget to call me in the morning. I’m really hoping to see you for lunch. Love you, son.”
“Love you too, Dad.”
On the way to the airport, he called the twins. Neither answered the phone so he left messages inviting them to lunch. Maybe one of them would be able to meet him.
“Sir, the other two on my manifest are on board.” The pilot glanced toward the driver. “Is anyone else accompanying you?”
Usually, an admiral traveled with his aide, but Trevor hadn’t selected a new one yet.
Lieutenant Spooner had been given command of a platoon in Group 2 and moved during the summer rotation to Little Creek.
He really needed to pick somebody but hadn’t had the time.
In truth, he hadn’t taken the time. Before the last one left, Marta had given him a file filled with possibilities.
He’d move that job up the priority list a few notches.
“Thank you. No. We can take off when you’re ready.
” He jogged up the steps to the cabin and slid into the seat across the table from Marta.
Now that she was back in full makeup, he realized how beautiful she was without it.
The wet hair slicked back in a ponytail looked just as appealing as soft curls at her shoulders.
Her navy-blue pantsuit and light blue blouse brought out the blue in her normally silverish eyes.
He wanted to tell her how pretty she looked but didn’t dare.
It could be misconstrued, and he’d end up with a sexual harassment complaint.
He’d wait until he could talk to her in private. He would ask her out. Soon.
“I’m sorry, Mar—” He caught himself before he addressed her casually. “Ms. Markel, that I canceled your half-day off. And since we’ll be traveling far past the normal workday, I expect you to take a day off next week.” Fuck. He sounded so formal. So cold.
“Thank you. I’ll let you know which day I’ll be gone.” Such a frigid response.
“Please fasten your seatbelts. We’ve been given a priority takeoff. We’ll be in the air shortly.” The pilot didn’t lie. They were off the ground within minutes.
“I believe this is our first trip to Little Creek together.” That should be a neutral topic. “Did you travel much with Admiral Abrams?”
“Before I answer that question, is he a friend of yours?” Knowing Marta, her tone told him she didn’t like the man.