CHAPTER 3
My phone vibrates with an incoming text.
Incoming in 10.
I look at the number. Jeremiah.
Time for some fun. Roger. Permission to board. Send.
My phone vibrates almost instantly. Permission to board my own ship? How quickly you forget.
I laugh. He’s right. When you board a Naval ship you’re supposed to ask, “Permission to board,” in a strong a confident voice. It’s a question you don’t ask as a question. But how can I give him permission to board when it comes to his own house? It’s his and it’s not a ship. Two strikes for my attempt at humor.
Exactly 10 minutes later the gate opens and Jeremiah walks in. I stand in the threshold of the front door in my bare feet.
“Welcome home, brother.”
“Good to be back. How’s Jill?”
“Out like a light.”
“Great.”
“How was the mission?” I ask.
“In and out. Mission Accomplished.” He says.
“As they all should be. Congrats.”
“Thanks. Beers in the fridge?”
“With your name on ‘em.”
“Perfect.”
We sit in the living room. I know Jeremiah can’t tell me everything, but he tells me enough to figure out he was cleaning up the coast off Somali again. Those pirates were getting better and better. The cargo ships were trying new methods and routes, but those waters are like the Wild West. Anything goes, and when the pirates do take control of a ship they know the carriers don’t want an international incident. Better to hand over the cash and avoid the embarrassment. Unfortunately for the pirates the Navy, and in some extreme cases the SEAL teams, were cleaning up those waters. It would take time though and there would always be some young gung-ho guy willing to risk it all for the chance at a fortune.
“Enough about work. How was Jill’s Parent’s Day?” He asks.
“It was great. She really brought the house down.”
“What do you mean?”
“They had to give a presentation about 10 things that are special about their parents. Her answers were very well thought out. Really touching. Parents were captivated. The emotional answers had them crying. The funny little anecdotal answers had them laughing. Everyone was waiting with baited breath to hear what she had to say next.”
“She really can write that one. And she likes to present too.” He praises.
“That’s an understatement. I’m no expert, but I think there’s a real talent there. I think she could even lead SEALs into battle with one of her speeches.”
Jeremiah smirks.
“Thanks, but let’s keep her out of harm’s way for now. I’m already absorbing enough trouble for the two of us.”
“Good point.”
“Anything else happen while I was away?”
“Nah. Who was that girl from the wedding?” I ask.
“Which one? The one you locked onto all afternoon?”
“Yeah. That one. What’s her story?”
“Name’s Grace. I don’t know too much about her. She’s Emily’s friend from somewhere I guess. I met her once before at a happy hour.”
“She works at the school.”
“Yeah, that sounds familiar. I kind of remember her talking about kids during that happy hour.”
“As in from her school or that she has some?”
“Well, hoping from the way you two were attached at the hip on Saturday, I would say from her school. Why?”
“We were having such a good time at the reception and then she disappeared. Today when I bumped into her she seemed really cold and distant. It was weird.”
“Did you call her out on it?”
“No. I couldn’t. Not in front of Jill.”
“Good idea. What’s your next move? Or is there a next move?”
“Good question. I need to track her down.”
“She’s probably Facebook friends with someone you know.”
“Facebook? Really? Come on, man. I’m not going to ask a girl out on the Internet. I’m going to find her and speak to her in person. Like a man.”
“Well put. And you’re right. Just goes to show what I know these days after being out of the singles world for so long. Technology shouldn’t be used as a crutch.”
“Amen, brother.”
“So, you’re going to show up at her school?”
“That might be my only option.”
“Or you can wait for Emily and Ethan to get back from their honeymoon and ask them for an introduction or the best way to approach her.”
“Also an idea. I’ll give it some thought.”
“And my thoughts right now are limited to putting my head down on a pillow and calling it a day.”
“Good idea. Catch you in the morning.”