CHAPTER TWO
Genevieve~
“The Frankfurt Consulate is the largest US consulate in the world,” Capt. Genevieve Carson told her phone. “There are about a gazillion military attachés. I’m just one of many.”
Her friend Eleanor D’Angelo’s chuckle warmed Genevieve. “Is it true you report to Gen. Stonewall himself?” D’Angelo was awestruck.
“Nope. My superior officer reports to an officer who reports to Stonewall.”
“Oh. I thought you were going to Frankfurt to be the general’s helicopter pilot?”
“So did I,” Genevieve returned dryly. “The Air Force had other ideas. I’m assigned to a desk.”
“Typical,” Capt. D’Angelo commiserated, one career officer to another. “And what’s Frankfurt like?”
“Very, very German. Spotlessly clean. Very cultural. Very correct.”
“What exactly do you do?” demanded Eleanor.
“You know I can’t answer that, Captain,” Genevieve retorted. Not that what she did was any big deal. Decoding excerpted sections of low-security text didn’t exactly put her at the forefront of international espionage. But a rule was a rule. She had sworn secrecy, so secrecy her country would get.
“Sorry, Gen. I meant in your spare time.”
“Oh. That’s the fun part. I have lots of free time. We’re strictly nine to five at the consulate. I go to museums. Concerts. Art galleries. Explore the city. It was rebuilt after World War II, with replicas of the old buildings. Absolutely drips history. And then there are all the Air Force bars near the consulate. Which is where I heard that your brother got married.”
“Which one?” Eleanor shot back.
“Pierce. Heard he left Special Forces.”
“Yeah. Pierce was injured. He’s flying a desk now. He got married last year*. He and Diana just had a baby boy.”
“Hey, that’s great. I didn’t know that. What’s his name?”
“James.”
“Congratulations, Aunt Nell. And your other brothers?”
“Harry remarried. He and Tasha are expecting**.”
“Wow! How is Quincy taking having a stepmom?”
Eleanor laughed. “She and Tasha’s daughter Rebecca are BFFs. It’s my understanding that the girls arranged their marriage for their own convenience and the baby is also their doing.”
Genevieve choked on the idea of someone arranging Col. Harrison D’Angelo into anything. “You give him my respectful congratulations.” It was difficult to be friends with Eleanor and Frankie’s family seeing as how their father and brothers outranked her. No matter that she had known the family since she was seven.
“I’ll do that. You wouldn’t believe how Tasha’s mellowed him.”
“That’s good. But tell me, Eleanor, how’s Frankie doing? Your sister is so cagey these days.”
Eleanor gurgled. “Well, that’s quite a tale, girlfriend. Tasha has almost no family. Just a brother. But what a hunk! Cameron Reynolds is in the Air Force too. He and Frankie absolutely sizzle when they’re together. Only Frankie acts like he’s contagious. While Cam acts like she’s the cure.***”
Genevieve felt for the poor schmuck. A D’Angelo could be hard on an unwary heart. “Yeah? She didn’t say anything to me, and we talked last week.”
“She hasn’t said anything to me either, Gen,” Eleanor said dryly.
“Then I’ll add that bit of info to the Espionage Act.”
“You had better. Will we see you at Christmas, Gen? That’s actually why I called. I have leave and I’m going home to Grape Creek for six glorious days.”
“I envy you! I don’t get stateside this holiday. I’m stuck in Frankfurt for the duration. I get to spend Christmas Day as I please, but not to leave the city.” Had she chatted enough that she could now casually ask about Eleanor’s non-military brother?
“Grant’s singing Handel’s Messiah in Frankfurt this Christmas.” Eleanor announced before Genevieve could frame a casual question.
She knew. On December 22, 24 and 26. With every performance sold out since June. The Angel of the Opera was this season’s hottest ticket. His fallen-angel face was plastered all over Frankfurt. She and Mel had failed to get tickets. She and Dan had told anyone who would listen that they knew the famous tenor personally.
But Genevieve feigned ignorance. “Is he?”
“Yup. Mom is madder than a wet hen, even though he told her at Thanksgiving. I’ll tell him to give you a call. You can be homesick for Texas together.”
Genevieve wanted no pity calls from Grant. Bad enough she had this foolish crush on a guy who thought of her as merely his kid sisters’ fat little friend. “Don’t put yourself out. I’ve got plans for the holidays,” she assured Eleanor. “I’ve been invited to Christmas dinner by some colleagues. You remember Melanie and Dan Gilmore?”
“Sure. Last I heard, Melanie and Dan were in Guam. I didn’t know they had been reassigned. What are they doing in Frankfurt?”
“Recovering from Guam! Practicing being the best mommy and daddy in the Air Force. He’s a military attaché too. Mel’s on some sort of leave.” She figured her friends were military intelligence, but that was a guess best kept to herself.
“Of course. You have yourself a good Christmas with the Gilmores and say ‘Hey’ for me, won’t you?”
“I sure will. Give my love to your folks. Merry Christmas, D’Angelo.”
* Phoenix Ablaze
** Phoenix Aflame
*** Phoenix Alight