by Lynn Story
We drove off the airport property and onto the beltway. I was booked into a hotel in DC as it was central to everywhere, I planned to go this weekend. My appointment at Bethesda wasn’t until Monday. So, I had the weekend to meet up with grandpa and maybe enjoy myself for a moment. I really wanted to go to the zoo and maybe a gallery. Something to completely take my mind off of everything.
We arrived at the hotel and Eddie dropped me at the door. I went in to get us signed in while he parked the car. I waited for him in the lobby.
“Here’s your key card.” I said as he met me near the elevators.
“Thank you. What floor are we on?” He turned the key card over in his hand.
“Fourteen. Should have a nice view.”
“Hmmm.”
“Why didn’t you bring Wanda or one of the kids? They might have enjoyed it.”
“It’s a business trip.”
“Eddie you need to relax a little. What does it say when the CEO is more relaxed than her employees?”
“That her employees are doing a good job, so she doesn’t have to worry.”
“Yeah except now I worry that you are working too hard.”
“You don’t fool me any Kay, I see those lines around your eyes, and you’ve had something on your mind for days now.”
“Well you really know how to compliment a lady.” I teased.
“Hmmpf.”
The elevator opened and we found our rooms.
“Wanna have dinner later?” I asked.
“Yeah, okay.”
“Unless you have plans. Which is fine.”
“I don’t have any plans.” He reassured me.
“Okay, let’s go down to the dining room about eight?”
“See you then.” Eddie entered the room next to mine.
I had an hour and a half to kill.
I went in to explore the room. I never splurged on the big suites as it just didn’t make any sense. I didn’t have meetings in my room, it was just me. All I needed was a mini fridge and a TV for the most part. This room had a jetted tub though and I looked at it longingly. That would have to wait until after dinner. If I got in there now, I’d never want to get out.
I called downstairs and made a dinner reservation. Then ordered a bottle of wine to be delivered to my room later. If I was going to take advantage of that soaking tub, I was going to do it with a bottle of wine.
An hour and a half later I had a sense of Deja vu as Eddie and I were in the elevator again.
“Reservation for Dandridge.” I announced as we approached the hostess stand.
“Yes ma’am.”
We were seated near the window and there was a piano player on the opposite side of the room, the music was soft and allowed us to be able to hear each other without shouting.
After we ordered our dinner Eddie leaned in a little. “So, you want to tell me what’s on your mind?”
“It’s nothing.”
“Kay I’ve known you since you were a little thing trailing along behind your father. I know when something is on your mind.”
He had a point. I had known Eddie all my life. It was like an uncle to me.
I sipped the water and shrugged.
“That bad, huh?” He leaned back.
“It’s nothing or it should be nothing.”
“It’s not, so it’s something.”
I knew I wasn’t going to get out of this and more importantly Eddie would sulk the rest of the trip if I didn’t tell him.
“I guess I’m just more nervous than I thought about this meeting at Bethesda on Monday. It’s really important to me.” I didn’t want to go into the details of it and discuss survivors’ guilt with him. But I believed that was part of what was driving me to get this implant option accepted and that Bethesda didn’t believe it would work, I’d have little chance of getting any other hospital in this country to try it.
The waiter returned with our meal and I concentrated on my food.
“What did you do when your father told you that you were too small to climb that big magnolia in the yard? You shimmied your way up the trunk to that first branch and climbed all the way to the top.”
“Yeah, and then I got scared and he had to climb up and bring me down.”
“Okay, what about when your mother didn’t want you to leave Gates Point? You not only became a photojournalist, but you did it in the most dangerous places on earth.” He stabbed the tabletop with his index finger. “And the fact that you have a Ph.D. and run a huge company all on your own, what does that say about you?”
“Eddie, you know I don’t run it on my own, all the employees are part of the company but, if this doesn’t work all those employees who have been working so hard to make this happen will be disappointed. I’ll feel like I let them down.” I didn’t say what I was really feeling which was that I would have let my team down. Even though it was too late for Oliver, Chris, Micah and Devon, I was doing this for them.
After the plates were taken away Eddie reached across the table and took my hand.
“Look, I’ve never known you to shy away from a challenge. You stick your neck out for other people every single day. You take care of the company, the people the company serves, and you take wonderful care of all of your employees. Promise me you will take care of yourself too.”
I covered his hand with mine. “I promise.”
“Okay, good.” Eddie leaned back in his chair. “Then I will be able to sleep tonight.” He smiled.
I smiled back but I had my doubts about my ability to sleep.
I was looking forward to a nice bubble bath and a bottle of wine.
Chapter Twelve
Ethan
“You wanna get a beer or something after work?” Logan asked.
I thought about it. I really didn’t want to go home because I know I would end up just sitting in front of the Kay’s house all night again.
“Yeah, let’s all go out and celebrate Jared and Stephanie!” I looked over to them.
“Yeah, that sounds great!” Jared was the first to join in. “How about it?” He looked at Stephanie.
“Well, I guess so.”
“You guess so?” Jared pressed, “You got a hot date or something?”
“Not exactly.”
“We can do it another night.” I offered her an out.
“No, no, I’ll text them and tell them I’ll join them later.” She picked her phone and started tapping.
“Great! Where are we going?” Jared asked.
I looked over at Logan.
“Sports bar?”
Stephanie wrinkled her nose. “Too rowdy.”
“Okay….” Logan looked back to me.
“What about the Grill?” I suggested. “We’ll go early enough to have dinner, on me.”
“We’re in.” They all cheered.
“Good.” I nodded. Well at least this would keep my mind occupied for a while. Distract me from Kay for a few hours anyway.
◆◆◆
“Well, I’d better be going.” Stephanie announced after we had finished dinner and I had lost track of the beer tab I was running. It didn’t matter the team had been working hard and we needed to blow off some steam.
“Are you sure? Why not just tell your friends to meet us here?” Jared encouraged.
“Maybe next time.” Stephanie smiled. “You sure I can’t pay for something, Boss?”
“Absolutely, not. Go have fun with your friends and be careful!”
Stephanie waved and bounced out of the Grill.
“Come on man, it isn’t that bad.” Logan put his arm around Jared.
“What? I don’t care if she doesn’t know how to have fun.” Jared shook him off.
“Yeah okay, then you can buy the next round.” I said.
“Fine.” Jared waived over the waitress. “Another round and I’ll pay for this one.”
“You got it.” She gave him a sweet smile.
“Maybe she needs someone to walk her home tonight.” Lo
gan nudged Jared.
“She’s not my type.”
“Oh?” Logan looked at me and laughed. “The young man has a type. Do enlighten us.”
The waitress returned. She was young with a complexion that said she spent her days at the beach. She had long dark hair in a braid and she clearly worked out.
“I like a woman with a lot of self-confidence.”
“Looks like she has plenty of confidence to me.” Logan said admiring the waitress’s Daisy Duke shorts and low-cut t-shirt.
“She’s trying too hard.” Jared said.
“What do you mean? She knows her customer base. This is a Navy town and a port city. It is full of drunk guys are going to tip a girl who shows a little more of herself. I bet she pulls in a couple of hundred a night.” I offered.
“So, you’re judging her based on her occupation?” Logan challenged.
“No, but I know I wouldn’t want my girlfriend being pawed by men every night.” Jared replied.
“What century were you born in?” Logan laughed.
“You want me to believe you’d let your girlfriend work in a business like this, showing off her chest so men will tip her?” Jared came back at Logan.
“I didn’t say that. I said I wouldn’t judge her for doing it. Maybe she is a single mom and needs all the money she can make. Maybe she hates this job, but it pays. Or maybe she is putting herself through college. My point is you can’t judge people based on their jobs.” Logan took a long pull from his beer.
Jared looked over at the waitress.
“Didn’t you ever have to work some crappy job to get by or were you born with a silver spoon in your mouth?” Logan was starting to get annoyed at Jared.
“Hey man, let it go.” I said before the two of them ended the evening throwing punches.
“Maybe you’re right, Logan. You’re still an ass.” Jared put the money for the round on the table. “See you Monday.” He got up and walked out.
I shook my head at Logan.
“What?” He gave me a wide-eyed stare.
“Why do you always have to push his buttons?”
“Because, he is a punk kid and he needs to be taken down a notch every once in a while.” Logan defended.
“He’s a good kid and he’s just young. He’ll get there one day. You just had a head start is all.”
Logan stared at the table. “I guess you’re right. I’m sorry.”
“Apologize to Jared on Monday.” I instructed.
“Yeah okay.”
It was nearly one in the morning when we finally left the Grill. I drove past the Kay’s house slowly. I didn’t stop. All the windows were dark. I went home and slept.
Chapter Thirteen
Kay
I managed to sleep in on Saturday morning. It was a wonderful feeling and I hadn’t indulged in such luxury in a long time. I ordered breakfast from room service and sat by the window and looked out over the city. DC had a beautiful skyline.
There was a knock at the door.
“Yes, come in!”
Eddie was wearing jeans and a button-down shirt. “Have you eaten?” I asked.
“Hours ago.” He smiled.
“Well, sit down and have some coffee.” I offered.
“What are we doing today?” He inquired.
“Well I thought it would be nice to go to the zoo. It is a nice sunny day.”
He looked at me with an impatient look.
“Well you don’t have to go, seriously. I am more than capable of getting myself to the zoo and back.”
“Like I’d let you go alone,” he huffed.
“Are you mothering me? May I remind you that I managed to get to Afghanistan and back without your help.” This was a reoccurring argument we had on a near weekly basis.
“May I remind you that, that little trip didn’t work out so well.”
I didn’t mind the reminder of my ‘experience’ I really don’t think the pandas are going to have RPG’s, do you?”
“Should I change into shorts?” Eddie ignored my comment.
“God no! You might want to wear short sleeves, though.” It was June in DC and I could already see the haze forming over the city from the heat, humidity and traffic.
He got up in a huff and went to change.
Eddie enjoyed the zoo even though he wouldn’t admit it. He even bought a stuffed animal for his granddaughter and a toy for his grandson.
Sherry loves panda’s so I bought her a panda necklace.
“What are you going to do tonight?” I asked Eddie on the way back to the hotel.
“Probably just sit in the car and wait for you,” he sighed.
“Eddie, that doesn’t make any sense. You said you are familiar with this area so go have fun. I’m not going anywhere until tomorrow evening. I can look after myself.”
“Fine.” He was resigned.
I didn’t want to argue anymore. It was hot yet it felt hotter than Gates Point and frankly I didn’t think that was possible. The heat here was vicious. It was an angry heat. Back home it was a kill you with kindness sort of heat. It snuck up on you slowly.
***
Tonight, was the night that I would go to my grandfather’s house for dinner. The heat had not subsided, so I decided on palazzo pants and a loose-fitting blouse. We were stopped at the gate and checked briefly. No one can just drive into the Secretary of the Navy’s home, not even his granddaughter. I didn’t mind. I’d rather his security detail be safe rather than sorry. Eddie explained he would be back sometime later to pick me up. They wrote down the car’s information and Eddie’s license and waved us through.
“Kay, so good to see you!” Grandpa called stepping out of the front door as Eddie opened the car door for me.
“Grandpa!” I hugged him and kissed his cheek.
“Let me look at you!” He held me at arm’s length. “You look so beautiful.” He smiled.
“Thank you. You look handsome as ever.”
“Eddie, good to see you.” He reached over to shake Eddie’s hand.
“You too, sir.”
“She giving you any trouble?”
“Always.” Eddie deadpanned.
“Hey!” I objected.
“She’s a lot like her mother in that way.” Grandpa added.
“I am standing right here.” I pointed out.
“Well, I’m not sure about that but I believe she gets her stubborn streak from her father.” Eddie continued to ignored me.
“Well, you’re probably right there.” My grandfather laughed. “You want to join us for dinner?”
“No sir, you two need some quality time together.” Eddie gracefully declined.
“You’re welcome to hang out in the guest house, there’s cable and I’m sure we can scare up some dinner for you,” my grandfather offered.
“That is too generous,” Eddie objected.
“Don’t be ridiculous. You’re staying. I’ll call the gate and let them know.” My grandfather looked over at one of the security guards. “Jimmy, Eddie here is going to hang out and wait for my granddaughter. He is her bodyguard so take good care of him. Let him watch TV or something in the guest house, okay?”
“Yes sir.” And just like that Jimmy and Eddie were gone in an instant. “Now then, come in and tell me what you have been up to.” Grandpa got right to it.
“Well, just work, you know how it is.” I hedged.
“Yes, I do that is why I worry about you.” He squeezed my shoulder in a one-arm hug “Are you taking any time for yourself?”
“Yes, I went to the zoo today.”
He turned and looked at me, clearly surprised.
“Yeah, I did. It was a lot of fun. I love watching all the animals.”
“Eddie go with you?”
“You know he did. He wouldn’t dream of letting me go alone in the big scary city.”
“He is only trying to help.”
“I know but it is something I am not used to. It feels like he is smothering me sometim
es.”
“He cares about you.”
“I know. You care about me too and you don’t follow me around.”
“I would if I could.” He laughed.
I rolled my eyes. “You probably would.”
“You’ll understand one day.”
“What do you mean?”
“When you have kids of your own.”
I stopped walking. “Are you serious?” I was shocked by his comment.
“Yeah, of course I am.”
I wanted to tell him I didn’t want kids. I didn’t want to have a deep philosophical conversation about having children or not before dinner and I didn’t want to start an argument either. “You’re probably, right.” I let it go at that and hoped he did too.
“When you have someone, you care for them more than life itself and you tend to do things like follow them around and make sure they are okay.”
I immediately thought of Ethan. “I suppose but Eddie has his own children and grandchildren and he doesn’t need to worry about me.”
“He does and you should respect that and be grateful.”
“I didn’t say I wasn’t grateful,” I corrected.
“No, of course not, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to imply that you were ungrateful.” He stopped to kiss my forehead.
We sat down in his study. I loved this room. It was like my grandfather’s personality filled every corner. It was a dark, earthy room, with natural colors and textures. He had a heavy wooden desk that was well worn and had a few scars of its own. The furniture was soft and comfortable. You sank down into the sofa and it was like getting a hug. The books were all shapes and sizes and everything from military history and reports to James Michener.
“So, tell me about your meeting on Monday.” He asked as he sat down in a worn leather chair.
“Well, I’m meeting with the head of orthopedic surgery to talk to him about the prosthesis we developed and see if he would be willing to offer it as an option to patients particularly veterans before going straight to amputation.”
“Do you think he’ll agree?”
“I hope so, I mean it is patented and it has FDA approval, not that, that means a lot. They require it before they will use it in the hospital.” I informed him.
“What do you mean the FDA approval doesn’t mean anything?”