“She’s with her aunt in Buenos Aires, recuperating nicely,” Blake said. “I just got a letter from her.”
“From Maria?”
“No, from her aunt. Maria has told her all about me. About you, too. Says she wants to come here and live, go to school next year.”
“That’s great,” Kelly said.
“Her aunt’s all for it. She’s quite elderly. But it won’t happen,” Blake said. “She wants to talk to Mrs. Blake before she’ll permit it.”
“She’s a proper Argentine lady. Wants to be sure you’re married. That’s reasonable,” Kelly said. She looked at Blake hesitantly. “No word from the missus, I guess?”
Blake shook his head. “I didn’t expect any. It’s over.”
“Well, you could always get married again,” Kelly said. “But I guess that’s not likely to happen. Once burned, twice shy and all that.”
Blake shrugged and tossed the letter on the nightstand. “I suppose. What’s next for you?”
Kelly shook her head. “The Navy’s great, but life at sea is something else again. It’s tougher than I ever imagined. There are too many things you can’t control. I satisfied myself that I could do it, but it’s no place for me. I’ll leave, keeping the sea-lanes free to the people who love it, like you. As soon as my enlistment’s up in three months, it’s back to San Jose State for me.”
“Why not go to San Diego State?”
Kelly looked at him the way she did that day on the bridge wing. “Why should I?”
Blake shrugged. “It’s a good school.”
“So I’ve heard.” Kelly waited.
Blake straightened the sheet across his lap. There was an awkward silence.
Kelly shrugged. “Well, I just came to say goodbye. I guess at this point, we go back to our own worlds. You to the world of officers and gentlemen and me to the world of radiopukes.” She stuck out her hand bravely. “Have a good life, Lieutenant. I don’t suppose I’ll ever see you again.”
Blake took her hand. It felt warm and firm. He released it and felt the soft pad of her fingertips drag against his.
“Well, so long.” Kelly walked to the door. She stood facing it for a long minute with her hand on the latch.
“I think someday the whole world’s going to know who you are,” she said. She looked over her shoulder at Blake and flashed a plucky smile. “I’m glad I got to know you first.”
Kelly turned and faced the door again. She opened it and started to walk out.
“I’m getting out of here on Saturday,” Blake said. “You going to be around?”
Kelly turned and looked at him. “Why should I be?”
“There’s someone I’d like you to meet,” Blake said.
“Oh, Jesus.” Kelly rolled her eyes and looked up at the ceiling. She let out a long breath and stood staring at the door for a minute, then turned to face Blake. “Why is it that everybody feels compelled to fix up every single person in the world? Look, Lieutenant, I don’t need any favors. You don’t need to be fixing me up with any-”
“Why don’t you shut up and listen once in a while?”
Kelly let out a long sigh. “Okay, I’m listening. What’s his name? Joe Dweeb, boilerman third?”
“It’s not a he,” Blake said.
“You want me to meet a girl?” Kelly asked.
“You’ll like her,” Blake said, nodding to the picture on his nightstand. “Her name is Laurie.”
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Copyright © 2018 by Maurice Medland. All rights reserved.
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Point of Honor Page 38