by Melissa Good
“Now then, Dar.” Easton crossed over to them and took a seat. “What’s this all about you leaving?”
Dar cleared her throat gently. “We’re resigning,” she said. “Kerry and I. We gave ILS six months notice.” She exchanged looks with Kerry. “We’re going to form our own company.”
The general looked thoughtful. “Well now, that’s a bit of good news.”
About to continue speaking, Dar halted, and looked at him in mild puzzlement.
“It is?” Kerry asked, equally surprised.
The general’s admin came in with a tray, bringing it over and putting it down. She poured out cups for them and handed them over, then smiled, and withdrew.
Easton took a sip of his and wriggled his nose a little. “Sounds a bit funny,” he admitted. “Fact is, there’s been a bother about your whole lot there, being in so many areas, y’know?”
“No, I don’t know,” Dar said.
“You mean, because we’re international?” Kerry asked. “Is that it?”
Easton nodded. “Too big an exposure, people say. Some of the spooks were talking to us about it the other day. Said it was dangerous having all those technical things in the hands of people who talked to so many non-Americans.”
Dar reached up and rubbed the bridge of her nose. “You’re kidding me, right? Most of the Fortune 500 are international.”
“Sure,” Easton said. “But they don’t handle all our private stuff, don’tcha know?” He reached over and patted her knee. “That’s what I wanted to talk to you about in person. We want to do that project, but I’m getting a lot of push back on using all those fellers of yours who aren’t from around here.”
“Wow,” Kerry said. “General, most of the staff that handles our government accounts are from the US. Only a few of the follow-the-sun monitoring services aren’t, so we can give twenty-four hour support.”
Easton shrugged. “Got those spook fellers who think differently. Told the President we should change it. So here you are, and I’m thinking I’m going to have bad news for you, and then you tell me this. Wonderful. So we’ll just hire you to do it. Problem solved.” He looked extremely pleased. “Nicely done!”
Dar set her coffee down. “Gerry, we can’t do that,” she said. “I’ll be under a non-compete clause, and it’ll take us at least a year to get our company set up and going to where we’ll be able to take on something as major as this is. Especially since we’ll in effect be taking this business away from ILS.”
“Pah,” Easton said. “That’s just legal mumbo jumbo. We’ll pay off that other thing. Why now, it’s chicken feed to the dollars they’re pushing at me. Best news I could get, you saying you’re cutting out of there, Dar. I was feeling bad about taking the work away. Would have anyway, but still, this is better.”
Kerry rubbed her temples. “Dar, you want me to have boxes of Scotch sent to the board for your next meeting with them?”
Dar sighed. “Gerry, of the two offers I got today, believe me, yours is the one I’d jump at. But I can’t just...” She paused. “I’ve got a pension and out package coming to me.”
“Ah.” Easton nodded. “Understand that, Dar. I really do. Got mine in my back pocket too, don’tcha know? But the fact is, the boys upstairs don’t want us to put our fannies where someone might take a shot at them. I know, how about we just draft the two of you? That’d get around your lawyers, eh?”
“Whoa.” Kerry held a hand up.
Dar sighed.
“C’mon now, Dar. I know you filled out a draft card.” Easton chuckled. “But we’ll find a way around it. Long as I know you’re bound to get off their payroll, we’ll think of something.”
Dar propped her head up on her hand. “Got any whiskey? It’s been that kind of day.”
“Now, Dar, relax.” Gerry patted her knee again. “What did the Executive Branch want from ya?”
“Don’t ask.” Dar slid down in her chair and put her arm over her eyes.
“They want Dar to be the technology czar for the government,” Kerry supplied helpfully. She doesn’t want to.”
“Hell no!” General Easton straightened up. “That’s a scapegoat looking for a place to be shot in. Heard them talking about that. Let ‘em find some politico to fill that slot.”
Dar sighed. “I just want to go to the Grand Canyon,” she said in a mournful tone. “Play with my dog, watch Kerry take shots of the sunset, and park my RV downwind from the barbecue grill. Is that too much to ask?” She looked over at Gerry. “After we leave ILS in March, we’re going on a tour.”
Easton studied her.
“The agreement that Dar is going to sign requires her to stay out of our industry for a period of time,” Kerry said. “So we’re going to take time off and go travel.”
Easton sighed. “Soldiers don’t get vacations, ladies. Not when we’re at war.”
Dar slid upright. “We’re not soldiers. I had the chance to do that, and I turned it down.” She met his eyes. “If we can work out a way to work together, that’s great. If not, Gerry, I’m sorry if you don’t want to continue with ILS. They’re a good company, and they have a lot of good people who have done a very good job for you this last year.”
“It’s politics, Dar,” Easton said. “Nothing personal, you know? I’m sure we can work something out. I’ve got no quarrel with your people, in fact I like that McLean fella a lot. Got a good head on his shoulders. But I trust you.”
Dar sighed again.
“Victim of your own success, sweetheart.” Kerry had, at this point, to find it almost funny. “You said it.”
“I said it,” Dar agreed. “Now I wish I’d stayed a technical manager running saturation reports on the tenth floor.”
“I’m glad you didn’t,” Kerry said. “We would never have met. General, I’m sure we can work something out. Even if Dar can’t participate officially, there’s no reason I can’t sign a deal with you.”
Easton beamed at her. “That’s the ticket!”
“Kerry.” Dar eyed her.
“You were the one telling me to get moving on setting up the company,” Kerry reminded her. “Fish or cut bait, Roberts.” She watched Dar’s hands, waiting for any sign of the fidgets she knew meant she’d pissed her off. But they remained relaxed and open on her knees, until one lifted to prop her head up. “Dar, someone has to do this. You know they need it. If not us, who?”
General Easton sat back in his chair, sipping his coffee, his eyebrows wiggling around as he listened.
Dar remained silent for a minute, then she half shrugged. “We’ll work something out. I’d feel a lot better about bringing the military into the twenty-first century than dealing with politics.”
Kerry patted her knee.
“Great,” Easton said, after a bit of silence. “Well, Dar, how are your folks? I tried to give them a call the other day, but no one was home.”
Dar took a sip of coffee. “That reminds me. Can you get them to leave my dad alone?”
“Eh?”
“They’re trying to drag him back into active service,” Dar said. “He and Mom took off for a while to get away from it.”
Easton frowned. “Hmph.” He considered. “I suppose he’s inactive retired...I know they’re doing some stuff with retention, but surely he’d not be in line for a call back?” he said. “I’ll sort it out, Dar. Should only die once for your country, eh? He’s put in his time.”
“That’s what I thought too,” Dar said in a quiet voice. “Gerry, I don’t want to lose my father again like that. Tell them to lay off, please?”
There was an awkward little silence, then Easton leaned forward and put a hand on her arm. “I’ll take care of it, Dar, I promise.”
“Thanks,” Dar said. “And I’ll do my best to sort out this contract.”
“Deal.” Easton stood up. “Tell you want, c’mon to dinner, the two of you over at our place. We’ve got a pile of puppies there, don’tcha know? Alabaster’s. I think one’s going to your fam
ily.” He looked over at Kerry. “Jack’s carrier’s out in the Med, but the wife’ll be glad for company.”
“Sure,” Dar said. “That’d be great.”
“Never say no to puppies.” Kerry smiled. “We’d love to.”
THE PUPPIES WERE as adorable as she’d imagined them to be. Kerry sat with her legs sprawled out in the utility room of the Easton’s house, as the litter of eight puppies climbed all over her, snuffling and squeaking and bringing back memories of Chino when they’d first gotten her. “Oh my gosh.”
Dar was in the living room with Alabaster and the Eastons, and Kerry had tactfully elected to spend some time with Alabaster’s litter to give them some privacy. The puppies were eight weeks old, and in a week or so one of the little girls would be leaving for Michigan.
“Sweetie, you’ll love it,” she told the chosen one, who had a little red collar on and a perfect black button nose. “There are two little kids to run around and play with and a big, big yard for you.”
The puppy sat back and stuck her tongue out at her, small silky ears flopping around as she rocked her head back and forth, squeaking with delight when Kerry picked her up and cuddled her. “You’re such a cutie.”
Curled up next to her was a large black Labrador, who, she’d been told, was Buford, the puppies father. He seemed very relaxed and dignified, his muzzle resting on her thigh as he watched his puppies gamboling around.
Kerry chuckled softly, as she felt a tug on her shoelaces and a nibble on her ear at the same time. The puppy smelled clean and dusky, its breath holding that indefinable scent of new life and she had a sensation of being surrounded by that steadfastly trusting adoration she’d come to associate with Chino.
It soothed her soul.
“You know what, you little baby you, I want you to be good friends with my niece and nephew. I know Sally’s going to love you, so try not to eat all her toys before you grow up, okay?”
The puppy made a squeaking, growling noise as she snuffled down the back of Kerry’s collar, making Kerry bite her lip to keep from giggling. She looked down to find another puppy, a chocolate brown little boy climbing up on her leg to sniff at her kneecap. “Hey, I’m not your bed!”
The puppies were a range of colors to her surprise. Of the eight, five were a creamy whitish gold like Chino, two were chocolate brown, and one was inky black.
“Adorable.”
Kerry looked up to find Dar in the doorway, watching her with an affectionate smile. “Oh, Dar, they’re so darn cute.” She indicated the puppies, two of whom had rambled off to investigate this new intruder. “I’m remembering all over again the day we got Cappuccino.”
Dar sat down on the step and scooped up a puppy. “That was a beautiful day.”
“It was.” Kerry watched the girl puppy chew her finger. “That was the day I knew we were us.” She watched the smile on Dar’s face broaden. “So I hope this little girl makes Sally as happy as Chino made me.”
“Aw.” Dar leaned against the door jamb, giving the brown puppy in her arms a scratch behind his ears. “I remember just thinking about you and your little spaniel and how angry that made me,” she said. “Just so pissed. I wanted you to know I was committed to our relationship and that wasn’t ever going to happen to you again.”
Kerry nodded, savoring the moment. “So what’s going on out there?” she asked. “We okay with them?”
“Yeah.” Dar gazed fondly at the little boy puppy. “They’ve had time to come to terms with the fact I’m gay,” she said. “Did I ever tell you they were hoping Jack and I would get married?”
Kerry made a little face.
“I told Jack if it came down to it, I’d have a kid with him to give Gerry a grandkid,” Dar said. “Glad I didn’t have to make good on that. He’s hooked up with a supply lieutenant and it looks serious.”
“Guy or girl?”
“Girl.”
“Ah huh.” Kerry pursed her lips and nodded. “Well, I think my eyes would turn lime green if I had to deal with that, but you know, Dar, I did tell you your genes should stay in the pool.”
“We have a dog,” Dar said. “Matter of fact...” She eyed the puppy. “Think Chino wants a little brother?”
“Do we want to deal with Chino’s little brother?” Kerry demurred. “You’re the one who lost half her shoes.”
They reluctantly extricated themselves from the furry pile and rejoined the Eastons in the living room. “Those puppies are so cute.” Kerry dusted her hands off. “Thanks for letting me snuggle with them.”
“Oh, that’s all fine, honey.” The General’s wife smiled at her. “Now tell me, you’re that nice young lady who talked to us about Thanksgiving dinner, a few years back aren’t you?”
Kerry chuckled. “Matter of fact I am. I think I saved Dar from Brussels sprouts.”
“You did,” Mary Easton agreed. “I told Dar then I thought you were fond of her, and I was right. Wasn’t I?”
“No doubt at all,” Dar said. “Thanks for not freaking completely out about us, by the way. My parents were really proud of you all.”
Easton chuckled with a touch of embarrassment. “Different times,” he said, briefly. “But after all, we’ve known you since you were knee high.”
They walked into the dining room where a meal of meatloaf and sides was waiting. Kerry excused herself to wash her hands, and pondered her reflection in the mirror as she did. “Do I even remember what it was like to be on the other end of that phone call?”
She remembered getting it. Mari’s admin had called her, apologizing for interrupting her but saying someone was calling asking about Dar, and Maria was out. Could she talk to them?
Of course she could. She recalled the little, nervous start she’d gotten about it, almost a sense of guilt as she spoke to this unknown, friendly sounding woman taking possession of her new lover, while wishing wistfully she was going to join her for the now sprout free meal.
She’d forgotten completely about it, in her own holiday misery.
Drying her hands she returned to the dining room, taking her seat at Dar’s side and putting her napkin in her lap in time to hear Dar relating a story about her and Jack in a tree that she thought she’d heard at a party sometime. “I can picture you doing that,” she said. “I remember coming into that wiring closet on our first floor and finding you hanging upside down like a bat.”
“Why were you doing that, Dar?” Mary asked.
“Why was I doing that?” Dar mused. “Damned if I remember. Was I stretching my back out?” she asked Kerry. “Yeah, I think I was. After sitting on that concrete floor all that time. I’m not a kid anymore.”
“Oh you poor thing,” Mrs. Easton mock clucked her tongue at her. “Wait ‘til you get to be my age, young lady. Then we can talk about aches and pains.”
“Well, Dar’s retiring, matter of fact,” General Easton said. “From that company, that is.”
“Really?” Mary said. “My goodness.”
Dar nodded. “We both are.” She indicated herself and Kerry. “But we’re going to open our own company after we take a break to go do some traveling.”
“That’s wonderful,” Mary said. “Could you hire Gerry? He needs a better job.” She eyed her husband. “And Jack also. His air group is being assigned to active duty in the Arabian Sea and I don’t mind telling you, it makes me nervous.”
The general frowned. “Least he’s not on the ground, Mary.”
“Anytime,” Dar said. “I told Jack the last time we hung out I’d be glad to hire him at ILS, matter of fact.” She looked at her plate of meatloaf with satisfaction. “Hell, I hired my father.”
“He’s a great research analyst,” Kerry said.
“See?” Mary said.
“Now look here.” The General shook his fork at them. “I’ll retire soon enough! Service has been my whole life. Done us well so far, hasn’t it?”
“Yes, but you’re here,” Mary said. “Jack isn’t.” She turned and regarded Kerry.
“He’s my only child.”
“Mary, enough.”
Mary subsided, but her expression was still stormy, and Kerry sorted through possible changes of subject. “So, aside from my sister, do you have homes for the rest of those adorable little kids?”
Gerald Easton gave her an approving look. “Well now, most of them do, in fact,” he said. “Only one we have left to place is one of the brown boys.”
Dar and Kerry exchanged looks.
“Really,” Kerry said. “So tell me, do Labradors like company? We worry about Chino home alone all the time,” she said. “Do you think we can maybe give that little boy a home?”
Easton’s eyes lit up. “Why sure! That’s a grand idea, isn’t it Mary?”
“Absolutely,” she said. “You know, they’re really social dogs. Alabaster is such good stock, we only breed her every couple of years, and quite a few of her pups have gone on to do all kinds of things. But she’s always a little disconsolate when all the puppies leave. I’m so glad she has Buford to keep her company.”
“They are very social,” Kerry said. “They’re almost human, you know? Their expressions and everything. I really think Chino understands what I’m telling her when I talk to her.”
“Got the smarts of three, four year old kids.” Gerry relaxed, happy to be discussing one of his favorite subjects. “Very smart animals.” He glanced to the side as Alabaster arrived, as though she knew she was being spoken of. “Isn’t that right, madam?”
“Growf.” Alabaster sat down next to him with her tail sweeping back and forth.
“So of course it would be great company for her to get her little brother,” Mary said. “Have you thought of breeding Chino?”
“No,” Kerry said. “Dar and I have such a busy life, it would be hard to do that, but I think we can handle another puppy, now that we’ll have more time for a while.”