“All this time helping Ed at the restaurant should have given you some speed for serving up refreshments, Peacenik,” Bull intoned haughtily.
Holly gasped, and turned to grasp Bull around the neck. Bull smiled over at Dan, Becky, and Jill, who were laughing at the sight of Holly throttling her husband with absolutely no effect. She finally gave it up, and accepted her tea from Peace.
“Don’t mind him, Peace,” Holly said breathlessly. “I’ll try and improve his manners as time goes by, but it will be a long process.”
Peace nodded, handing shot glasses to Dan and Bull, before filling them. “We’ll toast to a very long process, Holly. If you think choking him is hard, you should try carrying him up a hill.”
“To a long process,” Bull toasted, holding his shot glass up as Peace settled back into his seat, “and Holly and Jill graduating from college.”
They all echoed his toast and sipped their respective beverages.
“Lord,” Peace exclaimed satisfactorily, “I can feel that sip all the way to my toes.”
“You seem to be climbing in and out of the hot tub pretty well, Wolvy,” Bull commented. “I would have thought after running point today, you’d be walking with a cane.”
“It’s going after the Bushmills that energized him, Bull,” Dan observed.
Peace nodded, sipping appreciatively. “Yea, this stuff really has a way of making the pain go away. Just thinking about hopping out to get it made me feel better.”
“Just don’t overdo it, Peace,” Holly warned. “I’m looking forward to some entertainment tonight.”
“Don’t worry, I’m pumped for it,” Peace replied. “I talked to the manager, and he said I could entertain as long as no one starts throwing stuff at the piano.”
“That would be ill advised,” Bull growled. “Everyone but Tony and Nick will be there. I don’t think any of us would take kindly…”
“Don’t even think it, Cap,” Peace cut in, filling up Bull’s shot glass, then Dan’s, and finally his own. “No trouble tonight, or any night, for that matter. We’re married men now. We have to behave ourselves.”
“I’ll drink to that,” Bull grinned.
“What are your plans, Cap?” Peace asked after the toast.
“Holly’s folks want to stake us to a down payment on a house of our own, as long as it’s in San Diego,” Bull answered.
“We’re going house hunting when I get around seven months along,” Holly added. “They want to be near my little girl.”
“Her parents are the greatest,” Bull said, putting his arm around Holly. “We hope to have a significant piece of change to add to their generous down payment offering by then. Holly already landed a job with a financial lending group, you know, one of those places where they help people get loans for houses.”
“It pays good money, and I get to check out potential homes at bargain prices,” Holly continued. “They even offered to work something out for me to continue at home after the baby is born.”
“Very impressive, guys,” Dan said, approvingly. “Maybe we can all stay out of trouble in the foreseeable future, at least on the mainland.”
“Dan’s been promoted to Lieutenant Commander,” Becky announced.
“Wow, that’s great news,” Peace said, shaking hands with Dan.
“You ain’t leaving us, are you?” Bull asked hesitantly, as he also shook hands with his old friend.
“No,” Dan answered. “Jessup told me the Navy will not be fooling around any time soon with the teams already trained and together. There’s too much going on. I’ve put you in for Warrant Officer training, Bull. We need to get you past the enlisted ranks.”
“I’ll settle for Master Chief,” Bull replied, “but I won’t turn down a nice pay hike, especially now.”
“What about you, Peace?” Becky asked. “You can’t stay a second class forever.”
“I’m going to take my First Class test when they do the testing next month,” Peace answered. “I guess if they allow exceptions, maybe I can shoot for Chief next year. I get a healthy paycheck from my other endeavors too, so I’m doing okay financially.”
“Have you heard from your friend since we returned?” Bull asked Peace.
“We talked yesterday,” Peace replied. “He’s recuperating here in the states at Walter Reed. Julio will be good as new in a couple of months.”
“He still nursing a grudge?” Bull asked.
Peace nodded, but said nothing more.
Taking his cue, Jill changed the subject.
“Have you and Bull decided on a name for the baby?”
“We’ve agreed tentatively on Catherine Elaine Jenkins,” Holly answered with a smile of satisfaction.
“That’s beautiful, Holly,” Becky said. “Maybe you can fix her up in an arranged marriage with little Cole.”
“Catherine will be proceeding directly to a nunnery when she graduates from high school,” Bull announced, much to his friends’ amusement.
Chapter Forty-Four
Rogue
“How’s it coming, Peace?” Ed asked as Peace walked behind the bar, and put on his apron.
“Better and better,” Peace answered. “I have full movement in my arm and shoulder, and I’ve stopped limping around at the end of the day. Commander Jessup looked in on our workout today. He told me he liked what he saw. Dan won’t give him the thumbs up on me yet though. I think my two buddies, Lieutenant Dan and the Chief, have a final exam for me, which will probably make hell week look like a walk in the rose garden.”
Ed laughed appreciatively. “They just want you to be a hundred percent in case the team deploys.”
“I know,” Peace sighed, looking around at the three tables with patrons. “This isn’t too bad for a Monday night. Nancy told me it just calmed down out in the restaurant.”
“We did fine. The college boys Dink used to hang around with stopped in for a beer, and asked about you. They seem a heck of a lot nicer since they don’t have Dink around, stirring them up.”
“They’re good guys,” Peace agreed. “My domestic adventures are over for the time being.”
“What, no secret missions on the docket?”
“Nope,” Peace shook his head. “Everything is still focused on putting the finger on whoever fathered this latest near disaster.”
“At least you’re getting some time to heal,” Ed pointed out. “I remember one thing, it took us a long time to get comfortable with a new team member. I guarantee you, Dan and Bull don’t want to deploy without you. Jill did great today in the restaurant, by the way.”
“Her Mom is having a conniption fit about her working as a waitress. Everything seems to be a disappointment to that lady. What time did Jill go home?”
“Nancy sent her home about an hour ago. She wanted to stay until you came in, but she was getting a little nauseous,” Ed replied. “We don’t want her to overdo it. Sorry to hear her Mom ain’t getting with the program.”
“She’ll come around after the baby’s born. At least I hope she does. Jill’s already had words with her a couple of times, and Jill’s Dad keeps trying to get her to count her blessings. I think being a Grandmother when she’s still in her forties has something to do with it too.” “Women,” Ed pronounced forcefully.
Peace laughed, because Ed had looked around nonchalantly when he said it; but Peace knew he was making sure Nancy had not overheard him. Polasky grinned sheepishly when he realized his first impulse had betrayed him.
“You’ll understand in a few years, wise-guy,” Polasky said knowingly. “I’ve already seen the signs. Jill’s measuring you for the leash, and don’t try to deny it. I’m wondering when the Tuesday night computer classes here will be called off after she drags in on the reins.”
“Yea, I guess you’re right, Ed. I’ve already agreed to give up singing here,” Peace replied thoughtfully.
“What!!?” Polasky whipped back around from where he had been loading dishes to be washed. “Are you trying to bank
rupt us… oh… I see. That’s not funny, you little weasel.”
“Oh, hinting I’ve been symbolically castrated is okay, huh?” Peace replied, still laughing at how easily he had turned their verbal banter around on Polasky.
“We’re talking about my Grandson’s monetary future here,” Ed retorted. “I’ll have to have a heart to heart talk with Jill if she hints at ending your adlib singing career. Speaking of which, why is it I had to hear about your night, singing on the town up at Tahoe, from Tracer?”
“I meant to tell you about the whole thing, but getting Jill moved in drained my energy. Besides, it wasn’t much different from when I sing here.”
“Tracer told me you drew in a real audience, and the owner even offered you a job.”
“It was the manager,” Peace corrected, “but what does that have to do with anything? I already have a duel career going here.”
“You could make a fortune as an entertainer, you twit,” Polasky chided.
“With this face?” Peace said, pointing comically at his face while flashing a lopsided grin.
“You just look dangerous,” Ed replied, waving him off. “Women eat it up. You’d pack them in just like you did the night you were up there. Now, what happened?”
“Dan, Bull, Tracer, Doc, and J.T. all wanted dance music,” Peace explained, wiping off the bar. “I went with the old stuff, and it was a hit. I’ve done it here before.”
“Tracer said it was inspired,” Ed replied, pointing out a customer to Peace, who held up his beer glass. Ed poured him another draft and handed the beer to Peace.
“The only thing inspired about it was Tracer picked up a very attractive redhead from Carmel,” Peace grinned over his shoulder at Polasky as he served the beer, and made change.
Polasky took the money from Peace when he came back with the empty glass on his tray. “Still, you did get a job offer.”
“Hey, I’m not saying it wasn’t flattering, but it just isn’t in the cards for me, Ed.”
Peace went back around to the tables, exchanging pleasantries with the people, replenishing the chips and salsa, and taking drink orders. After he had finished serving, Peace bussed the empty glasses, and took two orders for shrimp. He was surprised when Ed spoke up again about his singing.
“I just don’t want you sitting around some day like Marlon Brando in On The Waterfront, griping about how you could have been somebody.”
“Did you know Jill wants to have four kids?” Peace said, changing the subject.
“Four kids!? I don’t… hey… don’t change the subject. That’s all the more reason to make a fortune. Being famous can open a lot of doors.”
“I’ll make Ed’s famous,” Peace shrugged. “Drop the sales pitch. It ain’t working. Now, what do you think about Jill wanting four kids?”
“It’ll drive her to drink,” Polasky replied, smiling and leaning on the bar. “She better slow that thinking down until she sees how it goes with one.”
“That’s what I told her. I don’t have any objections. I just think four kids running around the house at the same time might be a little challenging.”
“A little?” Polasky laughed. “That’s an understatement. You’ll have to do a lot more moonlighting to bring up a crew like that.”
“I have a pretty fair nest egg already,” Peace told him. “I saved everything from my moonlighting.”
“Smart move, you’ll need it with a wife and four kids. Did you contact your Dad yet?”
Peace hesitated for a moment, and then nodded. “I wrote him a letter. It came back unopened.”
“What an asshole, he opened all the ones you sent him with checks inside,” Ed remarked through clenched teeth. “Dan’s Father told me what it was like living next to your folks when we were up at Tahoe.”
Peace nodded, grinning in agreement. “Mr. Righter’s too polite to say it, but he hates the sight of my Mom and Dad. They back every left wing goofball cause around. Over the years, they just get more closed off and extreme. My folks even reported the Righters to the homeowners’ association back there, for having an American flag displayed every day.”
“Have you decided on finding out on your own?”
“I gave him my word I wouldn’t look into it,” Peace sighed. “I was young and stupid when I did it. All the young commie girls at Berkeley loved my name, so I…”
“You were thinking with the bottom half instead of the top,” Ed cut him off. “I can understand. What your folks have done since then should void any agreement you made. Little Cole ain’t going to like your name as much as you do PP.”
“You’re vicious tonight,” Peace told Polasky, pointing a finger at him. “What happened to get you into attack mode.”
“I’ve never met your folks, but I’m beginning to wonder if you aren’t adopted.”
“I look a lot like my Dad,” Peace laughed. “I can always change my name to Polasky.”
“Pauley Polaski? I don’t think so. Ask Dan if you can become a Righter. That would fit both you and little Cole.”
“No,” Peace shook his head. “If I change it, I’m going to change it to my real surname. From the way my folks cursed out my Grandparents to me, I figure they were a lot like you and Nancy. I feel sorry for my Dad and Mom. They really won’t have much in their old age besides bitterness.”
“They have no one to blame for it but themselves, Peace,” Polasky countered. “Find out and decide later.”
“If I find it out, there won’t be a later,” Peace replied. “I’ve broached the subject with Commander Jessup. He got a kick out of the background behind the name. He told me it can be done without too much trouble.”
“Your medal citations will have Peacenik on them though,” Polasky reminded him. “Getting the Navy Cross was really something. Too bad it won’t have your real surname on it.”
When Peace stayed silent and went back to wiping the already clean bar, Polasky gave him a push in the side of the head. “You earned it, you boob, and it was nice of you to invite Nancy and me to the ceremony, small as it was.”
“We all deserved the Cross for that mission,” Peace replied finally. “All I did extra was get shot.”
“If Dan and Bull say you had it coming, then you had it coming, end of story.”
“Anyway, I’m working it out in my head about my name. I still have a while before the baby is born. I’ll get on it after I try calling home.”
“They’ll hang up on you like a phone salesman,” Polasky grinned.
“Maybe, but I have to give it one more try. If I can get one of them to talk to me long enough, I’ll tell them about Jill and the baby. If not, I’ll get off the phone, and start looking.”
“Let me know how it comes out,” Polasky said, sarcastically. “I hope they do come to their senses, but I wouldn’t bet money on it.”
“By the way, it’s really great of you and Nancy to…”
“Are you kidding?” Ed broke in with some fervor. “You and Jill moving in, and the baby on the way soon, is just about the best thing we’ve had happen since we took your skinny butt in. You two can sleep through the night. Nancy and I will get up for the night feedings with the little bugger.”
“I’m not sure Jill will want to relinquish too many of her duties as a first time Mommy, but we’ll probably all be jumping up at night for a while.”
“We can take turns,” Ed suggested.
“Only if Jill doesn’t decide to breast feed.”
“Oh yeah, I forgot that little detail,” Polasky shrugged. “We’ll have a baby in the house. That’s all I care about. It will be something brand new for us too. I wish I could give you some sage advice, but I don’t know any. Becky will have to give Jill and Holly pointers.”
“She already has,” Peace replied. “She said buy a case of zinc oxide. According to her, it’s the only sure fire diaper rash medicine in existence. It’ll be neat having Bull and Holly’s baby grow up with little Cole.”
“Yea, old Bull really stepped
up to the plate,” Polasky agreed.
“You’d never be able to tell him Holly was the lucky one.”
“He’s so excited about Holly having a little girl, he can hardly talk about anything else. Bull agreed to let me help him add to the down payment Holly’s folks are ponying up for a house. I figure since you won’t let me and Jill get out anytime soon, I could front him a loan to help keep his mortgage payment down.”
“We don’t ever want you to leave, Peace,” Polasky said seriously. “I don’t care if you have ten kids. Nancy and I will give you and Jill as much space as you want, even if I have to add on to the house.”
“I won’t leave unless my wife makes me.”
“Spoken like a true Alpha Male,” Polasky laughed.
__
Peace knocked on the motel room door, and Chuck opened it a split second later. The grim expression on his face was so out of character, Peace decided not to launch into their usual initial verbal banter. Chuck gestured for Peace to follow him over to their usual seats around the small motel room table. Chuck, to Peace’s surprise, poured himself a double Scotch, offering Peace the same with a small questioning look. Peace shook his head.
“No thanks, I have to go out shopping with Jill tonight for more maternity clothes. She’s popping out of the ones she has.”
“So married life’s treating you pretty well after a month, huh?” Chuck asked, smiling as he sipped his Scotch.
“Magnificently would be a better word,” Peace replied. “I’ve never even seen you have anything stronger than a beer, my friend. What’s up?”
“Julio’s gone rogue on us,” Chuck explained. “We had to make an unfortunate deal with Colonel Martine for his complete and continued cooperation.”
“Please tell me you didn’t let the Colonel’s bitch daughter loose,” Peace whispered, leaning forward suddenly with his hands on the table.
Instead of replying, Chuck leaned back and sipped his drink.
“You could have strung her up with razor wire,” Peace said angrily, “upside down naked in a room, with electric cattle prods attached to her body, and a two way mirror. Then you could have bargained with her Daddy, so he could see the reason he would be cooperating fully for as long as we wanted him to.”
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