Chapter 6 #2
“Let me check my schedule and all three of you make sure you can take off a week. Levi, I know diving isn’t your thing?—”
His son’s smile was all teeth. “Girls in bikinis are my thing, though. Grand Turk has some awesome bars and cruise ships sail in and out every day.” He inspected his untanned arm.
“I could use some tropical sun. Besides, I can give scuba diving another chance. If I still don’t like it, you can dive while I snorkel. ”
“Let’s make this happen.” Trevor was now determined.
He could make an East Coast visit to Group 2 and then take the next two weeks off.
There was always a Navy pilot around who was willing to fly them to the Caribbean for some fully paid R&R.
They would charter the plane for the week in case they wanted to visit a different island.
He and Sam had a favorite resort hotel since they’d gone so many times.
Marta assuredly knew of an excellent travel agency who could make those arrangements.
When the conversation lulled for a few seconds, Marta quickly spoke up. “This is a lovely restaurant. That view is gorgeous. Linda, did you reserve this particular table or did we just luck into it?”
“We’ve been coming here for years, every Sunday when Daddy was stationed at Little Creek, so the hostess recognized our name when I called. If it was at all possible, we try to get this table.”
Sam picked up the story. “Mom used to cook a big Sunday dinner for us. Even while we were in college, we tried to make it home as often as we could. A home-cooked meal on Sunday was enough reason to make that drive.”
“When Mom passed away, we still tried to be home on Sundays, but we wouldn’t let Dad cook.” Levi gave his father a courtroom stare.
“I’m great with the grill, and I have awesome knife skills so I can chop shit up for a salad.” Trevor had to defend himself.
Linda gave that self-deprecating smile of hers. “They all value their lives too much to allow me to cook. That was one skill Mom tried to share but I must have a disability when it comes to the kitchen. I’m damn good at takeout, though. Reheating white foam boxes in the microwave, I’m an expert.”
“I claim leftovers.” Sam raised his hand.
“Have you ever known there to be any leftovers when we leave this place?” Trevor teased.
Their waitress returned and set the stacked tray aside.
“Your crab are going to be here in about ten minutes, so I thought I’d get the table ready now.
” She quickly removed the condiments and set them on her tray.
Expertly, she spread the thick plastic covering and two layers of brown craft paper over the linen tablecloth.
With the flare of a sommelier, she showed Trevor the label, popped the cork, and poured him a taste.
They’d had that vintage so many times he waved her off. “Please go ahead and pour for everyone.” When she finished distributing the glasses, he was about to order a second bottle.
“I don’t care for anymore, Daddy,” Linda called from across the table. “I’ve got a two-hour drive.”
“Me, too.” Sam added.
“Mine’s only an hour but I have to be on a call most of the way home.” Levi sipped. “Damn, I love this wine. May I see the bottle, please?” He pulled out his phone and took a picture of the label when the waitress brought it to him.
“Shall I bring ice water?” She offered.
Everyone joined in a chorus of yes, please .
“Would anyone like the cork for a keepsake?” She asked as she returned the condiments to the table.
“I would like it, if no one else wants it.” Marta looked a little sheepish.
“Once a year my friends and I take a trip to Napa to tour more wineries. We collect the corks.” Her face lit up when she turned to Trevor.
“When we’d collected so many of them, Genevieve held a wreath making class at her house Thanksgiving morning.
We sat there watching the Rose Bowl parade on television gluing corks to a foam circle. ”
Her face fell as though she thought of something sad. “Now that she’s back with Evan, I guess she won’t be joining the Cougar Club for any more trips and holidays.”
“I wouldn’t take that bet.” Trevor shook his head. “She still goes to sunrise yoga and out for coffee with you, doesn’t she?”
“Well, yes.” Marta admitted.
“And Lieutenant Chaney is taking care of his son full-time, when he’s home.” Trevor pointed out.
“Yes, but?—”
“Are you ladies going to kick her out of the club now that Genevieve and Evan are married?” He pressed.
“Certainly not.” Marta cocked her head to the side in her could-you-be-that-stupid expression.
Trevor raised his eyebrows and cocked his head, throwing the look right back at her.
“Your raw oysters,” the waitress announced as she set the large platter in front of Trevor. While he and Marta had been involved in the conversation, she’d set the table.
They passed and shared like family. Trevor was a little surprised when Marta slurped down two oysters after smearing them with spicy cocktail sauce.
Minutes later, their waitress was back waving plastic bibs with the name of the restaurant on them. “Any takers, today? The crab will be right out.” She looked directly at Trevor. “Sir, I can tell you from experience that butter and cocktail sauce doesn’t look good on that pretty white uniform.”
He proudly held out his hand. “I’ll take two in that case.”
Marta glanced at her light blue blouse and navy-blue pantsuit. “I’ll definitely take one. We have another ceremony on the West Coast in a few hours and I’m not sure I have another blouse in my office. I certainly don’t have time to run home.”
His children never took bibs, but that day, they did. Once again, making him proud. They did it because Marta wore a bib. Perhaps, they also did it for their old man.
When the crab arrived, Marta held one up between her thumb and forefinger. “These are cute little critters. I’m used to King and Dungeness crab, but these little guys look like they have all the same parts.”
“Blue crab lungs are gray rather than bright yellow,” Levi pointed out. “Be sure to scrape away the dead man’s fingers.”
“It’s easiest if you flip it over and break away the T.” Sam demonstrated. “Then crack it in half. You can eat the green stuff?—”
“No. Don’t.” Linda corrected her twin. “That stuff is just yucky.” The face she made reminded Trevor so much of her childhood that he couldn’t resist a laugh.
“Damn, I’ve missed the three of you.”
“You just need to get your ass back on this side of the country more often, Daddy.” Linda chided as she ripped the legs off her crab.
Marta seemed to be doing all right for herself, so Trevor dug in.
Thirty minutes later, he was stuffed.
Sam surveyed the table, peering into the bucket in the middle. “Nothing left but shells.”
Trevor grinned when the waitress reappeared with three large to go bags placing one in front of each child.
“Goodies!” Linda declared in a high-pitched voice as she opened the bag.
“Because I love you.” He unfastened his bib and stood, placing the cloth napkin on the table.
“She-crab soup, several crab cakes, shrimp, and dessert.” His daughter flew around the table and threw her arms around his neck. “Thank you, Daddy.” She kissed him on the cheek. “I love you.”
“I love you too, sweetie.” Trevor held his daughter, enjoying the feel of being engulfed in her love.
His boys snapped up their bags, Sam grabbing Linda’s, as they came around the table.
“Thanks, Dad.” Levi hugged his father. “I like her.” His oldest son whispered in his ear.
“Good. She and I have our first date this Saturday,” Trevor whispered back.
“Good for you, Dad.” Levi leaned back. “Have a safe trip.”
Sam was last, making his sister hold his bag while he hugged his father. “I’m sorry I was an ass to Marta.”
“I’m not the one you need to apologize to, and you know it.” There was warning in Trevor’s voice.
“I know.” Sam strode past his siblings directly to her.
“Marta, I want to apologize.” Sam said as he approached her. “I’m sorry I was…”
“Such a dick?” Linda filled in for him.
“You took the words right out of my mouth, sis.” Levi threw an arm around his sister and gave her a hug. He punched his brother in the shoulder. “Continue with your apology.”
“I just wanted to say that I’m sorry. When it comes to Dad, I’m more than a little protective.”
“And nobody wants to be a cliché, least of all me.” The smile Marta gave Trevor was soft and sweet. A layer of bandages fell from around his heart. He could so easily fall for this woman.
“I’ve worked for a lot of admirals over the years.
Your father is very special. I hope you know how lucky you are to have him.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to make a trip to the ladies’ room.
It’s a long way back to California smelling like crab.
” She held up her hands. “It was truly a pleasure meeting all of you again. I hope you get out to see your dad soon.” With that she slipped into the bathroom.
Trevor knew what she was doing, and he was thankful for it. She knew damn well that the terminal had a complete locker room including a shower, and the plane had a bathroom on board. She was giving him time to spend with his children.
Marta Merkel truly was a wonderful woman.