Catherine came slowly to awareness, so unlike her usual instant wakefulness. It took a moment for her to regain her bearings as she looked around at morning sunlight slanting through slats into a large and well-appointed although decidedly masculine bedroom. The sheets beside her were still warm and she drew in the scent of the man she assumed was responsible for the other delicious smells teasing her nose.

After a moment simply enjoying her surroundings biology forced her from bed and into one of the two bathrooms adjoining the suite. Once she’d taken care of business, brushed her teeth and washed the residue of the previous night from her she took a few moments to examine the room. This had clearly been intended for a woman and one who loved flowers as that was the overarching theme from the painted tiles and subtly decorated rose-pink towels.

The usual doubts crept into her mind. How could a man who’d loved such an entirely feminine woman feel the same for her with her just slightly too angular to be called pretty… well, everything really…? The soreness down below told her that he most certainly was though and that little twinge served to derail the negative train of thought. A little more exploration yielded a short silk robe in a vibrant deep red with a lotus blossom print and she pulled it on, noting that it very nearly failed to cover her. The little loops held the belt so high it would have been almost an empire wait if tied so she took it from the loops and tied it properly around her waist, studying herself critically in the mirror.

The robe softened her look and she had to admit that it ending just below crotch level was quite suggestive. Her hair required only a little work, a hand run through sufficient to make it look roughly styled. Her customary long wearing makeup hadn’t even smudged so after a final appraisal she turned and made her way downstairs.

She stopped at the entrance to the kitchen, taking in the spacious work areas and the profusion of heavy grade stainless steel, the hanging racks over one of the islands with all manner of implements and shining copper pans. “Wow… This is a kitchen for a serious chef!”

“That was Leigh Anne… I can manage but…” Bobby shrugged. “Sleep well?

“Better than I have for a long time, you?” She studied the bare skin that showed around the apron he wore, noticing he wore only shorts with it

“It was odd, having someone else with me… I’d finally learned to sleep alone…” He smiled as he picked up a piece of bacon with tongs to flip it, rearranging it with the other slices. “Best sleep I’ve had in years.”

“I’m glad. Can I help?”

“Nah, its all waiting on the bacon, nothing to do just yet. Coffee?” he looked over to the machine, a carafe of dark liquid against shining steel.

He turned his attention back to the stove while she poured a cup and added sugar to taste, sighing at the first sip of the bitter nectar. When she turned his eyes were on her, taking in her form with a smile and she returned the frank assessment. It was a timeless moment for both of them when their eyes finally met after roaming across each other and before she realized it they’d met each other halfway and were kissing passionately, hands roaming over each other.

They finally broke for air and she snuggled into his embrace for a moment before he gently disengaged. “Gotta pay attention to the food…” he almost gasped. He suited action to words so she sat on one of the high chairs at the island that also served as a small bar and sipped at her coffee while admiring the interplay of muscles under his skin.

“So what brought you back here? I saw the Montana plates so I guess you still live out there?” the bacon had made its way onto a drip rack and he cracked 4 large eggs into the skillet, the sizzle of them in the bacon grease making her mouth water. Just as he slid the eggs onto plates he added the toast that popped out at almost the perfect time along with several slices of crispy bacon and came over to take a seat beside her.

“Thanks Bobby, it smells delicious and I’m famished!” Salt and pepper were applied before she used her fork to carefully make a hole in the top of the liquid yolk, dipping her toast into it and smiling beatifically as she chewed. “I keep a house there, yeah… its convenient for a few reasons but I spend a fair amount of time traveling for work. I’m here for Dad’s funeral…”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t know…” she cut him off.

“Its okay. We’d made our peace some years ago and he got the death he always said he wanted, dead before he hit the floor. I worry about Mom a bit but she’s the toughest woman I’ve ever known so not all that much. I’m just a little nervous about the memorial service… I can’t imagine how people will react… I mean some of them changed my diapers when I was a baby.” Her eyes danced “I’m rather looking forward to it but the ceremony itself… Take a regular funeral and make it twice as preachy, add in some really horrific group singing and you’ve got half an idea.”

“Sounds… well it sounds like you could use an escort. It’d be my honor to do it you know.” He took a bite of bacon and chewed, watching her reaction with a feeling of relief as she grinned at him.

“I’d like that, one of his brothers should be there to send him off. I’m assuming your dress uniform still fits?”

He grinned back at her. “Well not still exactly, I had to have it altered a bit. I was a bit bulkier back then but that’s just not something you can maintain if you’re not training all the time.”

“I can’t wait to see you in it. Thank you for the offer Bobby… I wanted at least one person there to honor his service and I can’t imagine anyone more perfect than you. You won’t mind that I intend to wear his Budweiser as a broach? Lori is going to wear his jump wings.”

“I honestly can’t imagine anything more fitting but I am a bit curious how you intend to make matte black show up against a black dress…” He frowned slightly, trying to envision it.

“Well come Sunday you won’t have to wonder any more… but you’re right, it took some doing. Fortunately I have this friend who makes the odd item of clothing and he’s absolutely brilliant at it.” She flashed another grin at him.

“Do you have someplace to stay?” he hesitated a moment. “What I mean is, will you stay here? I’d really like it if you would…”

“I had a reservation at the Mills house but since you’ve offered… yes, I’d like very much to stay here. I spend much more time than I’d like in hotels.” She chewed for a moment before adding “Besides, you have the most extraordinary bed-warmer…”

They finished breakfast, both working to clean up and soon they were getting ready for their days after a very long shower together. She’d brought her bags in and was attired in a business suit, looking almost severe with her hair in a tight bun only softened by subdued jewelry and the crème lace over watered silk of her shell.

“Whatever you’re doing today they won’t know what hit em! Its that perfect combination of businesslike and super-hot!” Bobby enthused as she straightened his uniform. They walked together down the stairs to their cars, sharing a long kiss before they separated. She watched as he took his “Smokey” hat off and hung it from a special gadget designed to snug it up against the roof of his cruiser out of the way, then pulled out behind him to follow the winding driveway. They turned in opposite directions then and she focused her thoughts on her task for today. A deliberate trip through back roads led her to the airbase gates where after a moment her credentials were handed back to her and she was waved through.

The familiar roads took her almost without conscious thought to an anonymous brick building with nothing to mark it as separate from its neighbors unless you counted the number of rather expensive vehicles in its parking lot. She smirked to herself as she thought about how all these new cars bought so dearly would be left in the dust by her decade old Mercedes bought for just under $10,000 dollars. Once inside and past the security checkpoints she was ushered into a large conference room filled with other in civilian dress. She took the remaining vacant seat and smiled around at her team, getting grins back from most of them.

“Someone had a good night from the looks of it!” Catherine tried to glare at Stacey but couldn’t keep it up. “So do tell, how was the night with Mr tall dark and studly?”

“You’re a nosy lot…” The silly smile that spread over her face said all that was necessary and there were a few more moments of good natured razzing.

“Ok guys, we do actually have work to do. You first Rimmi.”

The tall thin man manipulated his tablet, causing a display at one end of the room to show photos of a decent sized compound with armed guards patrolling the perimeter. “Okay, overhead gave us a little more than we had from sigint but not much. I’m afraid we’re looking at a largely blind entry in force if we want to retrieve the materials. Destroying it onsite isn’t feasible because it could contaminate a wide area so there doesn’t appear to be much of an option. Now notice here” a pointer appeared onscreen “here and there. Those appear to be the weakest areas and should likely be our entry points…”

Some hours later the meeting ended and they had a course of action drawn up. As they filtered out to the parking lot she found herself walking with Stacey.

“You sure you’re gonna be alright boss? We can do this without you you know…” The teasing from earlier was gone, just concern in her voice.

“I’ll be fine Stace. I can’t shirk my duty just because there’s stuff going on in my personal life” she looked down at the shorter woman “Any more than you could when your brother died. We’ll get this mission dealt with and then I’ll see about taking some time off, ok?”

“I’ll believe that when I see it. You haven’t taken any time since we lost Wizzy.”

“I know…” she sighed. “I just couldn’t manage to do it… there was always something that needed to be taken care of yesterday and honestly I think I needed to be that busy. It kept me from thinking about him so much…”

“And this new guy?”

“Not new exactly… we grew up together, at least mostly and I was… am still… madly in love with him.”

“Ooooh. That must have been so hard for you.” The sympathy in Stacey’s voice was genuine.

“Its most of the reason I left home actually. I couldn’t bear it and of course there was the parent’s attitude about people like me and… it was just better for me to go or so I thought at the time. He’s the last person I expected to run into though…”

“You don’t half make a flashy entrance either. What possessed you to get involved?”

“It wasn’t a decision really. I could tell they were gonna lose that guy with no air support so I made sure that didn’t happen is all. I expected to just follow him till they managed a roadblock or something but the idiot blew his engine and then managed to wreck himself and I couldn’t leave him in that car…” She frowned “Probably not the brightest thing to do but you know how it goes. He helped me drag the guy to a safe distance and…”

“And then whatever logic was left went out the window huh? You’ve really got it bad girl!”

“Speaking of… how’s it going with Javier? He seemed almost ready to run away when he found out what you really do for a living.”

Stacey pursed her lips and looked up at her companion. “He’s settling down a little… I guess it’s a pretty big switch from thinking the woman you want to marry is a glorified Personal Assistant. I think it actually turns him on a bit. He’s started calling me super spy in bed…” she giggled. “Not that I mind you understand!”

“I’m glad. You both deserve to be happy.”

“You do too you know. I trust you’re going to stay with him instead of using your hotel?” At a nod from Catherine she continued “Then can I use your room instead? My airBnB is nice but its nothing like that place.”

Catherine shot the shorter woman a glance. “Javier came along, did he? Yeah feel free, its on account anyway and I’d rather you use it than it sit empty. You two should spend some time walking around downtown, hit the tourist traps, that sort of thing. We have a few days before everything comes together and you really should experience the city.”

“Thanks mom…” Stacey giggled at the halfhearted swat that followed.

“Why I oughta…!” They both burst out in laughter. “Go, tend to your young man. Some of us have things to do!”

“Hmmm, well I wouldn’t call tall dark and studly a thing… but have fun!” The two had reached their cars and gave each other a brief hug before separating. “You have to help me buy my next car. I spent waay too much money on this stupid thing and its not even a patch on yours.”

“Whenever you’re ready I’ll find you something nice. Keep that big ol SUV though, you’re going to want it someday and it should last quite some while. Besides, do you really want to go over 135 with kids in the car?” She was seated by now, letting the engine warm up just as bit as they chatted between cars.

“Of course not but… wait, kids? I guess I hadn’t really thought about that as a real thing…” Stacey mused. “I do want it you understand, just….. I don’t want to have to give up doing this, you know?”

“Who said you had to? We have a great family leave program after all. Take as long as you need and when you want to come back you’ll be welcome. You’ll have to sort childcare out with Javier but that’s nothing any military spouse hasn’t dealt with forever, right? I’d want a family if it were possible so how could I possible want to deny you the same?” she paused and grinned across the gap. “Besides, if I’m your mom that means I get to come spoil my grandchildren!”

Laughing, she dropped into gear and led the way toward the gates.

“You look awesome!” the sisters chorused at each other after their initial heartfelt hug.

“Seriously, you do! I see all that stomping through the ‘glades is doing you well huh?” Catherine examined her sister critically, noting the medium tan and the sun bleached hair and most striking, the loss of 30 pounds.

“I wish… I have to do the gym thing mostly. I’m either stuck in a classroom or a meeting or something other than getting to do field work. Price of getting to do the research or so it seems.” Lori grumbled.

“Eh, work has its downsides for sure. I was lucky to get a break myself.”

“I know you better than that sis. You’ve got some kind of job lined up and you’re expensing the whole trip!”

“Me? I can’t imagine why you’d think such a thing of your dear sister. Why the gall!” Catherine couldn’t hold it anymore and burst out laughing at the exaggerated look of offense her sister pulled.

It took a moment for them to get it together and stop making faces and laughing at each other and Catherine reflected on how good it felt to joke around like they had as children. “I didn’t plan it that way anyhow, it just happened. I’ve got till a couple days after the service before I have to do any work so it won’t get it the way and yes the trip is expensed… although I’m not using my hotel room.”

At an arched eyebrow she continued “Remember Bobby? We kinda ran into each other and I’m staying with him.”

“About time. I know you’ve been in town more than a few times and you never looked him up before?”

“I figured let sleeping dogs lie, ya know? I thought I’d managed to put him out of my mind finally and, well, you know. I couldn’t imagine that he’d be attracted to me, much less feel the same way I do…” Catherine trailed off.

“That boy has been in love with you since you were both 5 and you with him. It’s a shame his dad messed him up with all that macho bullshit and made Bobby try so hard to be a neanderthal like him. Anyway, you’re staying with him and that grin you can’t manage to wipe off your face says you two did the nasty, yeah? So dish!” Lori demanded.

“Um… you pretty much said it. We kinda picked up from 20 years ago but with everything on the table and it was just like we fit so well together…”Catherine mocked slapped her sister on the arm at the smirk that drew. “Not like that! Well, ok like that but I meant like emotionally. Its like we’d both been waiting for the other and doing our best to have a life while waiting and suddenly that was all past and there we were and he was so perfect…”

“Aww that’s sweet. I’m really glad for both of you. How exactly do you run into a state trooper at random anyway? Get a ticket or something?” The inquisitive single eyebrow was raised again.

“Oh no, nothing like that. You see I was just driving like normal and…”

*******

“Why am I not surprised my sister the secret squirrel drives a supercar? Pretty hot looking for a sedan too. Anyway… you ready for this cause I’m not. I never have figured out what she has against me…”

Catherine sighed. “I’ll never figure it out. You’d think I’d be the outcast but nope, they talk to the trans atheist and not to the cis daughter that bore them a grandchild and all because of religion. I wonder how hard she’d flip her lid if she discovered you’re a Wiccan?”

“I dunno, she’d probly try to guilt us into apologizing for being alive. Anyway, I’m not going to let it bother me. I’m not here for her, I’m here to pay my respects to dad… getting to watch how that whole congregation reacts to us both showing up… that should be pretty rich.”

“I couldn’t decide what to feel about it myself. I finally decided to just go with the flow and we’ll see what happens. Bobby’s coming in uniform and we’re wearing Dad’s pins so at least someone there will honor his service. If they don’t like that then to hell with em!”

“You said it! Now come on, we’re supposed to be there at 4.” Lori closed the door of her own rental car and backed the rumbling mustang out with Catherine following suit. They made their way through narrow streets and soon found themselves crossing an expansive cable stay bridge into the sprawl that had been a bucolic beach town a mere 20 years before. A few minutes later Lori pulled up into the driveway of a tidy brick cottage behind a dusty Subaru while Catherine’s lower slung vehicle was parked on the street.

The sisters joined hands in the driveway, each offering the other comfort and support and taking the same in equal measure. A brief moment passed between them before Catherine led the way though the arched trellis of the front gate, up the curving sidewalk to a front porch just large enough for two rockers and a small round table between. The door stood open but she stopped and pushed the doorbell anyway, listening for a response.

“Door’s open! Come on in and I’ll be with you in a minute!” They did, to find their mother wiping her hands on a dish towel in the kitchen. For a moment they all stood there until she finished and she walked over to hug them both tightly. After a brief glance at each other and an eyebrow shrug they returned the embrace and for a long moment the three held each other. She disengaged and then took her older daughter into an even tighter individual embrace first before turning her attention and her hug to Catherine.

“Mom” They’d separated and she was beginning to bustle around the kitchen again. “How are you? Want me to help?” Catherine moved toward the canning grip.

“I’ll be better in a few minutes. I have to finish these last few jars and then I’ll be done with the Purple Knuckles. Get yourselves some tea if you want and pour some in my glass while you’re at it.” She pulled a jar out of the boiling water and sat it on a thick towel to cool, the top already in place. “I’ll have to finish the greenbeans and pickled okra sometime tonight if you’re in a rush.”

The sisters shared a look of exasperation as Catherine got tea for them all, adding a few cubes of ice to the half glass of warm tea already on the table and pouring it full.

“No rush mom. We’re here for you and for dad.” Lori said a little flatly. “We meant how are you doing emotionally?”

“I’m fine. I have lots of friends in the congregation and I have things to keep me busy.” She continued pulling jars out, finally setting the grip down and flexing her hand. “Mind helping me fill these?” She gestured to a row of empty mason jars and a large pot of green beans that had been blanched and shocked in icewater to stop them cooking further.

“Here, let me…” Catherine put her tea down and rose hurriedly to head off an old argument. With her filling the jars with beans and her mother pouring the canning broth they made quick work of the beans and started on the okra as soon as the pot was filled with jars, the boiling water an inch or two below their rims.

That was soon finished as well with each jar being filled with pickling liquid. Lori had come over and washed each pot as they finished, wiping them dry with a towel before putting them in their familiar locations. Catherine snuck glances at the women on either side of her satisfied that a microaggression had been foiled for now.

“You want to do something when we’re finished?” she said it to the air in front of her, leaving it there for either to pick up.

“Well I have Bible Study in an hour or so, you can come if you want?”

“I think we’d rather skip that if you don’t mind. That’s only 2 hours, how about after?” Catherine was now trying to avert blowback from the overt macroaggression clearly aimed at them both.

“Well I was going to dinner with Phyllis and Mickey, then over to their place for a while. Surely you both have plans?” She looked up at two carefully pleasant expressions.

“I didn’t actually have anything planned, Mom. We came here to be with you. Surely you could skip bible study for one night?” Lori was being careful not to let her irritation show in her voice but Catherine could hear the ever so slightly clipped tone she couldn’t quite hide. It was an ingrained habit for them both to retreat into a more reserved and proper mode of speaking when being careful to keep self control.

“Oh I couldn’t do that… I’m sure you girls can occupy yourselves tonight and we’ll see each other tomorrow.” She was again pulling jars out to cool and refilling the pot.

“Sure mom, we’ll find something to do.” Catherine nudged her sister gently.

“Yeah we’ll be fine mom. Enjoy your bible study and tell Mickey and Phyllis we said hi, ok?” Lori turned to her sister, drying her hands. “Want to catch a movie?”

“Sure!” Catherine quickly dried her own hands. Retreat it was then, and well advised in her opinion. “Got a show in mind?”

“I thought maybe Necromancer? Its up to you, we can see whatever…” Lori’s eyes were flashing.

“I’ve wanted to see that!” Catherine was entirely willing to back her sister’s parting riposte. Pulling times up on her phone she continued “OK, if we leave now we’ll just have time to get snacks and get seated. You good mom?”

“I’ll be just fine, I have to finish this and then get ready. Enjoy your movie!” She put the grip down and gave them both a hug that seemed at odds with her words before turning back to the stove. “If Dodger’s inside close the door so I don’t have to chase him down, will you?”

They made their escape as quickly as possible, their progress followed by the eyes of a rather portly tabby cat of some advanced years who seemed the antithesis of his name and reputation. His only motion was the barest twitch of a tail-tip but they both knew he’d run for outside on a whim so the door was pulled closed as instructed.

“Can you believe her?” Lori hissed as they made their way down the sidewalk.

“Well she is our mother so… yeah, pretty much. You just gotta overlook her petty bullshit sis. Its not worth rising to the bait. Look, lets talk about this somewhere else, we have to look like we’re hurrying off for a movie. Pitt Street Bridge work for you?”

“Yeah that sounds nice. Meet you there!” They’d separated and Lori was in her car already. She pulled out first, carefully given the gradient of curb and driveway that had prevented her sister from even trying to park there. They made their sedate way through quiet leaf shaded streets to the old ruined bridge they’d played on as children. Both noted the newly paved approach as well as the enlarged parking area.

“Wow, they’ve really done a lot of work on this place. Remember when it was just the piers and what was left of the roadbed?” They were off the asphalt and onto a boardwalk. Smaller walks led down along the length of the piers where the roadbed was long gone except in the middle, a few steps down to small decks good for fishing or crabbing in the shallow tidal water. The wood had been there long enough to take on a weathered silvery grey and provide a pretense of benign neglect.

“I remember both of us climbing way out onto the last pier to crab and getting in trouble for it. Can’t say I blame them for that one really, it was kinda horribly unsafe…” Catherine laughed. “Worth it though!”

“That was so much fun… that and playing in the tunnels at Fort Moultrie… shame they closed em up but it was pretty dangerous… Was there anything we did as kids that wouldn’t be thought of that way these days?” Lori mused

“Um… Nope, can’t think of anything offhand…” They both chuckled. “But we managed to survive to adulthood somehow. I wonder if mom caught the Necromancer reference? I didn’t see so much as a twitch but with her who’d know? Nicely done though, I was beginning to get a little irritated and you were about to go off on her.”

“Why does she always have to be like that? I mean she knows we’re coming over this afternoon and yet she deliberately plans to have her time filled with everything else. Its just so infuriating! I shouldn’t let her get to me….” Anger ebbed quickly into disappointment as Lori leaned back against the railing.

“We always have handled them differently, I was just better at keeping my mouth shut. We’ll just have to deal with her for a few days. Just remember… the difference between when we were kids and now is that she has none of the power in the relationship. That likely gets right up her nose!”

“I certainly hope so! Anyway… Feel like doing anything?” Lori had turned and was looking out over the water toward the bridge they’d crossed earlier.

“If there’s something you want to do, sure. I’m fine with just hanging out.” Catherine thought for a moment. “There’s a great little coffee shop just off King, we can sit in there and chat, maybe join in on the singing or drumming or whatever it is today.”

“Maybe in a bit, I want to just enjoy being here for a while. You don’t realize how much a place is home to you until you come back after a long absence, ya know?” She lapsed into silence and the sisters gazed out over the harbor, each lost in their own memories.

********

“So how was your mom?” She’d been back at Bobby’s house for only a few minutes before he pulled up and she met him at the door to be greeted with an embrace followed by a kiss that lit her toes on fire.

“Huh?” Was all she could manage for a moment. “She was herself. Hyper religious, oblivious to any sort of attempt at emotional connection or caring and too busy with make-work to bother paying attention to her kids.”

“Wow… don’t hold back now, tell me what you really think!” he gently chided her.

Catherine blushed. “Sorry, its just… she bugs me and I have to try to keep the peace and… anyway, I shouldn’t load that on you. You put me off my stride with that hello!”

“I’ve finally found a truth serum! Bwahahahaha!” His mad scientist laugh had her giggling. “Seriously, its ok. I remember how things were when we were kids, I just wish it’d gotten better for you and I want to share this stuff with you, all of it. I have my own ration of shit too you know?”

“I do… it just that I usually try to keep them… her… in the past where they belong and I can’t do that right now cause the shit is all front and center. I can even manage to deal with her one on one pretty well but add Lori to the mix and things escalate over the tiniest little comment. I’d rather not think about any of that right now though. How was your day?”

“I spent about half of it in the office finishing up paperwork from yesterday, then gave out a ticket or two, helped the odd stranded motorist and spent all of it daydreaming about you.” He stole another quick kiss as he removed his utility belt and holster, storing them in a small gun safe inside an entry closet.

“Aww that’s sweet. I thought about you a lot too you know. You hungry?”

“I could eat but I don’t feel like cooking. Anything in particular you want?” Bobby was busy peeling off his undershirt and spoke through the fabric as Catherine watched appreciatively.

“I could go for a bit of seafood, maybe the Crab Shack? I think I want to have a drink or few though so either you’re driving or we take a car.” She stroked a fingernail down his stomach and the undershirt soon joined his uniform shirt, draped over the back of a chair.

“I need a shower first” he said as they broke from a kiss. “I’ll be fast!”

“Sure!” she smiled up at him. “I could use a shower myself!”

******

“Just let me know when to request the car” he tossed over his shoulder an hour and a half later as she put the final touches on her makeup. He retreated downstairs to wait in the afterglow of their shower activities and Catherine smiled to herself, thinking how different his approach was to her former husband’s constant joking about how she took so long to get ready.

It only took a few more minutes before she pronounced herself ready if still a bit too angular but happy that makeup did a great deal to soften her face. She came downstairs to see Bobby engrossed in a news program. When she came into the room he turned to take her in and simply stood there for a moment.

“I’ll never get over how women can go from looking like a hard as nails businesswoman to looking soft and casual and just so beautiful and free with just a change in hairstyle and clothes.” They shared a quick kiss.

“You look pretty hot yourself you know, and you seem pretty comfortable.” He was dressed in jeans just loose enough not to be tight and a kelly green polo shirt that had to work to accommodate his frame but had no trouble at all enhancing his eyes. “Car’s on the way?”

He checked his phone. “8 minutes. I guessed based on how long it used to take Leigh Anne from about the same point. Shoulda known you’d be a bit faster than that.”

“Yeah? Why’s that? She bristled a little but managed to keep it out of her voice.

“Oh gods I didn’t mean it like that! I just… When we were doing the paperwork I had to deal with your part in the whole thing and I ran into the sort of access issues I only see when dealing with Operators. Remember I told you about Martinez? She went on into Intel and the things I saw trying to look her up some years later are similar although honestly yours seem to be… I dunno, more hardcore I guess. Anyway I know the kinds of training they do for that sort of work and I figured being super fast and skilled with makeup might be a part of it so you’d be faster than the average woman at it…” He trailed off at her grin.

“I’m sorry I thought the wrong thing Bobby. Its just that… I’ve had to deal with a lot of shit just to be myself and do what I do and its hard not to be ready to slap down some jackass making snide comments. I’ll try to be better about that.” She kissed him lightly. “I’m sure you know I can’t really talk about what I do but… there are certain allowances to be made for properly vetted family and Significant Others.”

“I’m sure I don’t want to know too much, I suspect it would only make me worry about you… more, I mean. You’ve always been the daring one out of all of us and it doesn’t surprise me at all that you’d be doing that sort of thing. I won’t ask questions unless I really want to know the answers, ok?”

“That’ll work for now. I can give you a lot more answers than most can because you still have active clearances so feel free to ask. If I can’t tell you something I’ll say so but if I can I will answer as fully as possible.” The sound of a horn from outside coincided with a trill from his phone announcing the arrival of their car. “We’ll talk more about this later if you want.”

They soon settled into a spacious sedan and were off down the driveway, Catherine noting with amusement that their driver was a member of her team. “I’m looking forward to the crab. I’ve had it all sorts of ways in all sorts of places but there’s nothing like the taste of local fresh caught with just some drawn butter.”

“I feel the same way. Even better if you catch it yourself but somehow I just never seem to find the time, you know? Here I am not 2 miles from a tidal creek and all I’d need is some string and a rotten chicken neck, just like when we were kids. I miss going out crabbing and shrimping with you when we’d just be out the whole day, totally free and enjoying each other’s company…” He looked out the window for a moment in silence.

“The more I think about it the more I realize I’ve been in love with you since we were kids and I was just too stupid to see it.” He turned to face her and took her hand into his own. “Can you ever forgive me for that?”

She captured his hand in both of her own and raised his knuckle to her lips, brushing it lightly. “There’s nothing to forgive. We both had things to overcome before we could find our way back to each other. Along the way we lived and learned and maybe even grew a little toward being the people we wanted to be. No shame, no wrong done, just lives lived as best we could.”

They sat half facing each other, holding hands until the car drew up in front of the nautically themed restaurant. Catherine smiled up at her date as he arrived on her side far too late to open her door but just in time to offer a hand which she took.

The hostess took them back to a table almost immediately and she noticed the table was one that allowed them to have their backs to a wall and was near the emergency exit. “I see they know you here…” she murmered.

“What makes you say that?” he replied in kind.

“They put you in the most defensible position in the house, that’s what. That and I’m pretty sure I see Monique headed this way. Wow, she looks really great!” He held her seat, then slid it in as she sat before taking his own seat.

“Hey Bobby, good to see you. Who’s your lady friend?” The woman standing before them was a far cry from the chubby acne ridden girl with no confidence that Catherine remembered. Her long hair was caught up in an intricate arrangement of tight braids before it spilled down her back and she carried herself with an assurance that spoke of comfort in her own power.

“Monique, so good to see to you as well, sorry I haven’t been in for a while. Allow me to introduce Catherine who has graced me with her presence this evening.” Her eyes wandered from his face over to hers with a puzzled look of half recognition and Catherine decided to get it over with.

“Hey Neecy” she gave a little finger wave. “Its been a few years. You look good, girl!” She watched with amusement as her old friend examined her face for a moment before recognition finally dawned and she almost squeaked with excitement before stopping herself and looking around.

“You and I have got to talk later girl! Here’s my card, call or text or whatever when you get a chance and by that I mean tomorrow!” She shook her head as if to clear it. “Bobby I know you want the crab, you too Catherine?” They both nodded before she continued. “Bobby you want the house brew?”

“Make it a pitcher Neecy, we’re gonna make pigs of ourselves and get a little tipsy before I take this lovely man home and… well I’m sure you can guess…” Catherine laughed at her date’s flush.

“Nuff said but I’m serious, I want to have a chat soon!” She turned away and hustled off to the kitchen.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t think…” Bobby started but she held up her hand to stop him.

“You have nothing to be sorry for. If I’m going to be around town then I’m going to run into people I knew… we knew… from back then and I’m okay with that. You heard Mindy yesterday, everyone knew anyway, even when I tried to hide it and you couldn’t handle it. I’m glad to finally stand up and say ‘You were right, I am a girl and I’m in love with Bobby!’ to them. I’m proud of who I am and everything I had to overcome to be that girl.”

Two thick frosted mugs arrived along with a frosty pitcher so expertly drawn there was no visible head and he took a moment to slowly fill both mugs to the same standard. They both took a sip and sighed. “You know her daddy made really great beer but her daughter? She’s in a class by herself. Straight out of high school she went to an apprenticeship program in Czechia and was named BrewMistress just 2 years later. Totally bypassed Journeyman status and won the highest award given, then came back here and took over the brewery Cletus started a year ago. She’s working on expanding now and you’ll find Copahee Lager in a fair number of local bars and restaurants. Last I heard she was working on a regional marketing and distribution plan so she’ll probably be on store shelves in at least 3 states by the end of this year.”

“Wait, Neecy has a daughter?” Catherine paused” Well, It has been 20 years but… wow!”

“Yeah she married Derrik in Senior year and had Collette 2 months after graduation so no prizes for guessing about how that went down. They both went off to college while Cletus raised her mostly until they both graduated. She went into finance, he became a bioengineer and still Cletus mostly raised their daughter so its no surprise she learned brewing at his knee. When she went off to Czechia Neecy had a bit of a rethink about what was important, cashed out of her finance job and bought this place. They both seem a lot happier now so I guess it was the right move.”

Catherine nodded. “I can totally see that. You grow up poor like we all did and you get a bit driven to never be in that place again. I can identify with it to a large degree… its just that for myself I never had any desire to do those things. I wanted to follow in the footsteps of my ancestors, to serve my country even though they wouldn’t have me in the military. The rest? Just stuff even if it is easy to get attached to some of it.”

“I get that, I’m a lot the same. I’d never have bought a house like that but Leigh Anne wanted it and I couldn’t say no.” He took a sip of his beer. “It became home though and I’m kind of attached to it.” He stood up and dug in his pocket for a moment before getting down on one knee in front of her.

“Catherine, I meant what I said. I want to make sure you never lose that tan line and I’d love to share the place I’ve come to regard as home with you, as our home. I should have asked you this all those years ago but…” he paused for a moment and held up an open box with a ring in it. “Catherine Bridget MacConnell, will you marry me?”

Catherine sat for a moment in shock. He’d as much as told her his intentions the night before and a part of her wanted nothing more than to accept while the old fears tried to drag her away. While her mind was in shock her mouth seemed to have no such handicap.

“Yes, Bobby, I will marry you.” Catherine found herself saying softly into the sudden silence of an expectant dining room. She was almost frozen as he slid the ring onto her finger and stood, pulling her out of her seat and into a hug and a deeply loving, passionate kiss. As they separated the room erupted into applause and congratulatory shouts.

Catherine smirked then pulled Bobby down to whisper in his ear and they shared a grin before turning to face the room. He bowed at the waist while she curtsied and the applause came again. “Thank you folks. I’m sure you understand I had no real idea this was coming” she waved away the Bronx cheer offered by Monique “although as you can see I’m not exactly unhappy about the way it worked out. Now we’re going to sit here and make pigs of ourselves so yawl might not want to watch that part. Thanks again from both of us for your congratulations. You’ve been a wonderful audience!”

With that she dropped another curtsey while Bobby repeated his bow and they both took their seats, hands joining beneath the table. The handholding only lasted a few minutes as a basket with 4 large blue crabs in it appeared along with 2 plates, ramekins of drawn butter and a small mallet and cracker for each. They each tried to be civilized about eating but that soon fell by the wayside and they made their way through 3 more baskets before beginning to slow.

A fresh basket of crab landed on the table along with another pitcher of beer and they ate much more slowly this time, both finally forcing the last bit of succulent meat down with a swallow of beer. This time they both sat mallet and cracker on their plates to signal they were finished. Their plates vanished and they sat there for a long while, finishing off the second pitcher and just enjoying the contentment of repletion and each other’s company. When they both reached the last of their glasses he pulled out his phone and she nodded, getting up to go to the restroom before the car came for them and realizing she was a little tipsy as she walked.

Catherine did the necessary and took the ring off first, slipping it back on after she washed her hands. She studied it for a moment in the harsh lighting and just admired how it looked and even more how much it meant to her. When she came out Bobby was standing waiting for her and they went right out to their car. She noticed with amusement that both car and driver were different but it was still a member of her team behind the wheel and they sat in silence on the way back, happy to just hold each other’s hand across the seat.

They made their way inside and by mutual consent went straight up to the bedroom, both undressing and taking a moment in the bathroom. When Catherine came out after brushing her teeth and cleaning her face Bobby was lying on the bed asleep and she worked for a few moments to get the covers out from under him before sliding in beside him and turning off the light. She drifted off to sleep with a leg thrown partly over him and a hand on his chest, still marveling at the events of that evening.

********

Catherine came slowly awake, noticing how pleasant the hand cupping her breast felt and how his warm firmness was spooned behind her. A certain bit was quite firm indeed and she wriggled against it slightly, relishing the slight pulsing in response. Another pressure made itself known and was becoming more insistent so she slowly extricated herself from his embrace and slid out of the bed, making a quick dash for the bathroom. It only took a few moment for her to attend to business and brush her teeth before she made her way back to the bed and carefully slid back into his embrace, even resettling his hand on her breast.

She came awake again some drowsy time later, the hand having become active and just barely brushing her nipple with a playful thumb. The arousal that she’d thought would make sleep impossible came roaring back and she ground back into him, drawing a groan. Things progressed from there and it was quite some while before they made their way into the shower, even longer before they finally made their way downstairs, happily satisfied and fairly glowing.

“Don’t you have to get to work?” Catherine asked over her shoulder as she flipped the hamsteaks in one skillet while giving the grits a vigorous stir.

“Nope. I took the next 2 weeks off to be here for and with you and I’d like to do just that. I know you’re strong Catherine, stronger than I think I could be but I also know you loved your dad even with all that happened. I can’t imagine not being here with you, to support you and help you through it all if you’ll let me.” He walked around and hugged her lightly from behind while she focused on the food, trying not to cry.

A single tear traced down her check anyway, soon joined by a flood of others and she turned away from the stove after turning both burners off, glad to be held while she cried against his chest. “I didn’t expect it to feel like this…” she finally murmured into his warmth.

“I know what you mean” his voice rumbled pleasantly against her face. “I never did make up with my dad and I expected I wouldn’t feel anything because I hated him so much but… I was wrong. I can only imagine how you feel but if my own feelings then are any guide then you’re hanging on a very thin emotional thread. The best I can offer is support and love and I know that’s precious little but its all yours.”

“Its everything in the world Bobby. I love you so much…” she snuggled into his embrace, the tears finally drying up. After a few more minutes she disengaged enough to blow her nose and then kissed him soundly. “I have to finish breakfast.”

She turned both burners back on and waited a few moments for things to heat back up again. “Thank you Bobby. You made me think about it and though I don’t even know how to ask for it I need your support.”

“I couldn’t possibly do anything else. You’ve never been able to even realize you need help, much less ask for it and the notion that someone might give it if you asked… I don’t think that has ever so much as crossed your mind. I’ll never forget watching you square off against five guys half again your size from across the highway with not even a hint of fear or any idea that you wouldn’t come out on top. By the time we could get across traffic it was all over and there you were, bloody and battered but the only one standing. I wanted so much to help but you never even looked around for help, you just dealt with what was coming at you.”

“Catherine I was so scared for you and so proud of you and so in love with you… and we tried to help but you just walked away like it was nothing. Not being able to get through that impossibly thick shell of yours broke my heart and I didn’t know how to deal with that. I wasn’t as strong as you are, I’m still not...” He trailed off uncertainly.

“Oh that’s bullshit and we both know it. I have a pretty fair idea what you went through over there and you don’t survive that without being tested far beyond your limits.” The hamsteaks set aside on a plate, she poured coffee into the skillet and worked the spatula along the bottom, scraping the deposits left by the searing ham up to mix with the bubbling coffee. A hefty dollop of butter found its way into the grits and she stirred with one hand, scraping with the other. After a few moments she poured the resulting mixture into a gravy boat and set it aside, giving the skillet a quick rinse and waiting a moment for it to heat again before adding butter and cracking 2 of what she realized were duck eggs into the sizzle.

“You‘ve never been able to ask for help either Bobby. The difference is you realized you needed it and the fact that it wasn’t provided hurt you. I always wanted to find a way to protect you from that… Now we can be that for each other.” She’d plated the ham and grits while talking and left a little hollow in the grits with a spoon, satisfied they were thick enough to hold the shape. Eggs quickly joined the ensemble and she slid the plates onto the kitchen table, kissing him as she sat down.

Gravy was spooned into the prepared spot in the grits with a little spooned over the egg as well and they both dug in. “I love grits and redeye gravy… Thank you! I didn’t think I had any yellow grits in the house though…” He cocked an enquiring eyebrow.

“You didn’t. All you had was that awful instant crap! Now I ask you, what kind of self-respecting southern boy eats microwaveable instant grits?” She grinned at him, teasing. “Anyway, Lori and I were downtown and we dropped in to the little place that has the old handmill in the window… can’t recall the name. Decent grits are hard to find outside the Deep South so I picked up a couple of bags. I didn’t chuck the instant crap but I wanted to!”

“Oh feel free, that was Leigh Anne’s thing. Can’t stand the stuff myself, I’d rather eat paste. Come to think of it, it tastes a bit like grainy, lumpy paste…” he chuckled. “I hope you don’t eat breakfast like this every day, I’m gonna have to start working out more if so.”

“You’re probably going to want to schedule some workout time then. Feel like going for a run after we let breakfast settle a bit?”

“Trying to avoid dealing with your mom, huh? I’m totally on board with that but its unlike you to avoid that kind of thing. Worried about Lori?”

Catherine sighed, toying with her fork. “Yes and no? I’m almost tempted to let them have it out, you know? I’m tired of being the peacekeeper between them. I wish… I wish mom wasn’t so damned sanctimonious and Lori wasn’t so hotheaded but I might as well try to push the ocean. I can’t do anything but try to keep it from erupting into open hostility and apparently I’m pretty crap at that.”

She stood and took the dishes over to the sink. “Honestly right now I’m feeling pretty damned fragile and I don’t know if I have the energy or whatever to deal with it right now. I know I have to but the notion of just running away from it all for a few hours is pretty attractive.”

“Its up to you, love. I’ll back whatever you want to do.” He stood beside her at the sink and they made quick work of the dishes, a quick wipe down of surfaces as the dishwasher began its cycle.

“What I want to do is go for a run and then spend the day with you, just avoid the whole thing for a day. I’m not going to though. You sure you want to come?”

“Where you go I go. Yes I’m sure if you are, I just don’t want you to feel like I’m intruding.” They shared a quick kiss. “Any idea how I should dress?”

“Jeans and a polo should do it, I’m pretty sure mom doesn’t have anything planned anyway. Lets get dressed and I’ll call Lori so we can meet up before we go over there.”

Half an hour later Catherine joined Bobby downstairs in a light sundress and wedge heeled sandals. He stood and she eyed him appreciatively, receiving the same regard in turn. “Separate cars?”

“I’d rather ride with you.” They kissed and headed out to her car.

The drive over to Lori’s hotel took only a few minutes and they were soon knocking on the door of her room. Bobby stood with his arm loosely around her waist as the door opened and Lori’s face lit up in surprise.

“Why Bobby, I had no idea you’d be coming along today! You two come on in for a minute and have a seat.” They entered to discover a tidy suite rather than a typical hotel room, taking the love seat. Catherine carefully sat with her legs crossed, the appropriate hand displayed on her knee.

It took Lori a moment to notice and Catherine watched as her sister’s eyes swept over her hand, jerked back to it and widened with surprise. When she finally tore her gaze up to her sister’s face Catherine grinned widely and nodded toward Bobby.

“Congratulations you two! I’d say it’s a bit fast if it weren’t a couple of decades too slow…” she smiled at the couple. “Mom’s gonna shit a brick!”

The sisters laughed. “Right? I don’t care, honestly. Just because she didn’t know how to be happy doesn’t mean I have to be the same way. Besides, if nothing else it’ll deflect some of the incoming from you to me and I think I mentioned something about not giving a damn…” they both chuckled again.

“You never have, sis. I’m glad for you both, really. Its like the universe brought a tiny bit of balance, something good in the midst of all of this. Come here, both of you and give me a hug!” They rose and the three embraced. “Now, are we all ready to go deal with… her?”

“Is anyone ever ready for that? I expect we’ll survive the experience anyway. Onward, into the breach!” Catherine struck a dramatic pose and the others laughed.

******

“Remind me to never ever ride with you again!” Lori fanned herself dramatically. “Seriously sis, what the hell? Just because you can go that fast doesn’t mean you should!”

“Oh that wasn’t fast… I just needed to decompress a little and there weren’t any cops. Sorry if I gave you a little fright there…” Catherine smirked inwardly as her tactic to distract Lori from the impending parental meeting bore fruit.

“I’ve never gone that fast except in an airplane! What the hell is wrong with you! We topped 140!”

“Yeah I didn’t feel like flooring it, I just wanted to feel a bit of speed. Sorry if I worried you sis.” She was still doing 110 but she didn’t see the point in making an issue of it. “We’ll be there in 5 minutes. You ready for this?”

“Well I certainly have enough adrenaline flowing!” Catherine could tell her sister was feeling out of control.

“Remember, breathe. Go to your mantra and find your center.” As she coached her sister Catherine took her own advice, half her mind on driving and half on making sure she was centered. The familiar state of total calm with its attendant readiness for action at any instant took over and she piloted the car smoothly, silently. When she pulled up in front of the brick cottage it took a moment for her to come out of her driving trance.

“Ok, finding your center does absolutely jackshit when you’re riding with a madwoman!” Lori teased Catherine as they exited her car. “Seriously, who drifts through a traffic circle!?”

“Well the idiot thing wasn’t there last time I came down Rifle Range. I really hope those neighborhood planning jackasses had some kind of speed gun…” Catherine grinned broadly. “Seriously sis, you’ve ridden with me more than a few times. You know damned well I don’t take risks the way most people think of it. We were perfectly safe.”

“You and I need to talk about the definition of ‘Safe’!”

Through the archway, up to the door with Catherine in the lead again, the door closed this time. She rang and a moment later the door opened to admit them with the older woman stepping aside. They filed in, the sisters exchanging a hug with her before she looked up at Bobby.

“Bobby Manigault, is that you? You certainly grew up!” She hugged him as well and after a moment’s hesitation he returned the embrace.

“Its been quite a while Mrs. MacConnell, I’m sorry to learn of Mr. MacConnell’s passing. Please let me know if I may be of service.” Bobby was trying with some degree of success to hide his nervousness.

“Thank you Robert. You’ll be here with Catherine then and about time too. I see by that ring newly occupying her finger that you and she have reached an understanding?” She glanced back over at her daughter, then up into his face, searching.

“Yes ma’am, one we should have come to long ago. Catherine has agreed to marry me, to my and I hope her everlasting joy. I would be honored if you be in attendance on the day?” He couldn’t stop a slight twitch of his big toe but Catherine thought only she could see it.

“I wouldn’t dream of missing it young man! For reasons I’m sure you understand I had nothing to do with Lori’s marriage or Catherine’s first one and I’m not going to miss the opportunity this time! So tell me, what have you been doing with yourself for 20 years?”

******

“Who was that woman and what did she do with our mother?” Lori demanded from the back seat.

“Right? I’m pretty sure I’ve never met that woman before. She was, like, almost normal!” Catherine barked a short laugh. “Well normal for her anyway. Who knew she could have a conversation without dropping something religious into it?”

“I halfway expected to get chucked out of the house… I’m still not quite adjusted to the idea that she actually accepts… well, you, me, us…” Bobby was reluctant to say more.

“Ah well if its logic you’re after forget it. You know the day I left she actually renamed me? Sometimes I wonder how much of all that was her and how much was dad and social pressure… But then I always was closer to her than to dad. I gave up trying to figure them out a long time ago and anymore I can’t even be angry about it, or judge them as wrong…” Catherine ran a hand through her hair to move it out of her face.

“I think they both went through their own hells and this was them retreating from the world they saw as hurtful to them. In some ways I can understand that, I’ve even done it a time or two. I don’t expect mom to suddenly not be that long-suffering wounded woman but maybe she’s peeking out of her shell a little?”

“Well you coulda knocked me over with a feather. I’m with Bobby, I expected fireworks or a least a lot of put upon sighing. The way she said ‘Its about time!’ I wonder if she knew back then and maybe even approved a little?” Lori sounded doubtful.

“Apparently everyone who knew either of us was pretty clear about it so I’d be amazed if she hadn’t figured it out. I’m realizing that my attempts at hiding myself or my feelings were an utter failure…” She reached over and Bobby took her hand.

“Well speaking for myself I was a bit too thick to understand your feelings… or my own for that matter… but thinking back on it I can’t ever remember being able to see you as a boy even when we were little. Even with a buzz cut you just looked like a girl with really short hair to me and I’m pretty sure everyone else saw the same thing. Its probably why some of the bigots went after you, all confused about their own attractions…” Bobby trailed off, uncertain what else to say.

“Well I’m glad you went the other way and wanted to protect me instead Bobby. Just hanging out with you kept me out of a lot of that stuff and bonus! I got to hang out with you!” Catherine laughed. “Hey Lori, feel like a drink or two?”

“After today? I think I need more than a few! Bobby?”

“Oh I think I could use a belt or two myself. We can park at the hotel and take a car from there?”

“No need, let me make a quick call.” Catherine reached into the console and pulled out a wireless earpiece before dialing. “Stacey, I could use a driver. Yeah, likely more than a few. Cool, thanks. Dudley’s in 8 minutes? See you there.”

She restored the earpiece to its cradle. “Someone will pick the car up and take it back to your place so no worries. Either of you ever been to Dudley’s? Not surprised. It’s the oldest gay bar in town. Not fancy or anything but a bit of home to some in the local community and John makes a mean Margarita. I didn’t figure any of us were up to a noisy dance club.”

“I can’t imagine dealing with EDM or something right now so it sounds kinda nice and I won’t have to deal with guys hitting on me.” Lori complained only half in jest.

“No but Bobby sure will! Don’t be surprised if a few women hit on you, you are pretty smokin sis.”

Lori didn’t reply as Catherine had drawn to a stop outside a small bar and parked right in the street before getting out. They weren’t blocking traffic so the others followed suit and were surprised to see a perky blonde run up to Catherine and give her a hug.

“Oooh he looks even better up close! We have to talk when you have time!” she disengaged and spun to face the other two. “Bobby, Lori, I’m Stacey. Nice to meet you. Mr tall dark and studly you better treat the boss lady right, we love her and would be very unhappy if she were… unhappy I mean. Anyway, yawl have fun!” She spun, snatched the keys Catherine held out and was soon gone.

“Why do I get the feeling that little girl could have kicked my ass in my prime and not even broken a sweat?” Bobby asked the air.

“Well she works with your fiancée… that’s probably a pretty good clue. I’m a bit surprised to actually meet one of them though. I’ve seen what I assume is her security overwatch a time or two but they are very good… just didn’t have the advantage of being raised the way we were.”

“I think you’d be surprised at Stacey. I swear that girl can track across bare rock with not a sign I can find and you have to be really sharp to track her at all. Bobby, she wouldn’t even have noticed you trying to put up a fight. Now enough about that in public, lets get out of the street!”

They were barely inside before a man with a bushy graying beard and no hair at all on the top of his head swished out from behind the bar and hurried toward them.

“Cathy! So good to see you my dear! I assume this is your sister? And who is this?” He eyed Bobby appreciatively before hugging Catherine.

“This is my fiancée Bobby, my sister Lori.” She waited while he hugged Lori and shook Bobby’s hand. “We had a long day of dealing with mom and need one of your margaritas to help us recover!”

His smile disappeared. “I heard about your dad. I’m sorry for your loss, both of you” nodding to Lori. “You coping ok?”

“Thanks John. Yeah doing alright, just a little weirded out by mom behaving almost like a normal human being…”

“Hey wait… Bobby? Surely this isn’t The Bobby?” The older man’s eyes lit up at her nod. “Well I can certainly see why you spent so many afternoons crying in your root beer! You gave this young lady quite a time back then kid. Glad to see you finally came to your senses, our girl here is a true gem. Now let me see about those drinks…”

It took them a while to get to the bar as old friends greeted Catherine and made her companions welcome so their drinks were waiting on them as they arrived. As promised the drink was first rate and of course one led to several. A few hours later they made their way unsteadily outside and into an untidy pile in the back of an SUV driven by one of Catherine’s team, laughing uproariously until Lori parted ways, moving on once they made sure she was safely ensconced in her suite.

The rest of the ride was spent with quiet laughter between the two lovers although once they arrived home they only made it up to the bedroom and got undressed before falling into the bed together, still giggling occasionally at each other’s sweet nothings before falling asleep cuddled into each other.

QuickSilver 5

Catherine awoke in almost the same position as the previous night but arousal was nowhere near her mind as she made her way to the bathroom and held her head while on the toilet. After a very long hot shower she felt considerably better and made her way downstairs with a slight grimace of amusement at the sound of Bobby in the shower.

By the time he made it down she was sipping on coffee, having already set up the makings of breakfast. He leaned over for a kiss and when they broke mumbled “Mmmm, you taste like coffee…”

She snerked at him as he shuffled over to fill a mug and sat back down. “Give it a few and you’ll feel halfway human. Regretting those shots huh?”

“Not regretting exactly, no. Paying for a good time is more like it. How did neither of us know you were a local celebrity?” He sipped and rubbed the bridge of his nose between thumb and finger.

“I’d hardly call myself a celebrity but apparently a few people remember me…”

“The way I heard it you were a one-woman vigilante militia. I never knew there was a neo-Nazi skinhead bar down on George but you’re supposed to have caused it to go away…” He grinned at her. “I’d say they likely do remember you!”

“It wasn’t like that at all!” Catherine protested. ”I didn’t even really do anything except help a few people realize their own power and band together for protection. There was that one little tussle but I had almost nothing to do with that! It was a pride parade after all and I never expected them to go after the skinheads the way they did! I will admit to advising them to use substantial pieces of wood to hold their signs up but I was like 2 blocks back from the whole thing and only saw what happened later.”

“The way I remember that little riot being reported like 40 people wound up wounded, a few of them with broken bones and concussions so I’d say your little encouragement meant a lot more than you thought. I’m glad to know you had somewhere to go to feel accepted even if I was the cause of your need for it a fair amount of the time…” he stroked her hand lightly with a thumb.

“It was just that, you know? A place to feel accepted, welcomed even.” She kissed him lightly as she rose. “Now, a greasy carb heavy breakfast should set us both right. How many pancakes?”

“No idea, how big do you make em?” She showed him with her hands. “Maybe 3? Lets say 4 and I might leave a bit.”

Catherine turned the heat on under the griddle and put several sausages for each of them in a skillet before making the pancake batter. By the time she was finished the sausages were just beginning to sizzle and the griddle was almost ready so she sat for a moment to keep herself from trying to start too soon. Soon she was back up, rotating the sausages and quickly buttering the griddle before ladling batter onto it and in just a few more minutes she was back at the table bearing plates with a medium stack of large pancakes already buttered with maple syrup on them, a sunny side up duck egg sitting atop it and sausage links arrayed around the edge sitting in syrup.

“I hope you know I have no plans to do any running today…” Bobby mumbled around a bite of pancake.

“Hadn’t even considered it. Lori’s going to meet with some friends today, mom has her churchy stuff to do and I just want to hang out with you. Care for a little run down to St Helena? I need to see a lady about a horse.” She grinned slightly as she realized what she’d said.

“You know coming from anyone else I’d think that was a bit crude but from you? I’m pretty sure we actually will be going to see a lady about a horse and I’m intrigued. I’d think horses would be a lot easier to come by out in Montana…”

“You’ll find out when we get there. You gonna eat that sausage?” Her fork was poised.

“Where do you put all that food? I barely managed to finish the last one…” He watched as she speared it and didn’t even bother cutting, just rubbed the end in the remaining syrup on her plate and took a bite. “Nevermind, I think I’d rather not know. I’m guessing I should wear boots?”

“Boots you don’t mind getting a little nasty would be a good idea, along with a bag to put em in and some shoes or something. Actually just bring a whole change of clothing along in case you need it.” She was already munching on the last bite while she made plates and pans and even the griddle vanish into the dishwasher, started a cycle and wiped everything down in just over a minute.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen anybody do that. If there was a wasted twitch anywhere in there I sure didn’t catch it. You’re a bit scary, you know that?” He reached down and kissed her on the nose, moving away before she had a chance to turn it into more.

“I had some pretty demanding teachers. When you get whacked for wasted motion you tend to get pretty hard core about eliminating it.” She followed him up the stairs.

“I didn’t know your dad did that…” Bobby tried to hide the tinge of anger in his voice.

“Oh he didn’t, he was much more straightforward about things. His idea of teaching was to beat the crap out of me until I learned how not to get hit and going on from there in an equally brutal way. That was a place to start but I sought teachers after that and learned so much more, about myself and how to survive… some of those teachers were… very strict. I likely wasn’t the best student either but I learned what I needed to, things they saw more clearly than even I did.” Catherine was packing a small bag with a change of clothing after donning jeans and a grey tank top.

“One day I’d love to hear about that… about everything that happened since you left. It sounds like you’ve had quite an eventful couple of decades. Duck boots or western?” he inquired.

“Western if they aren’t dress boots.” She tossed over her shoulder as she sat on the other side of the bed pulling on her own boots. She stood and turned, noticing his boots looked just as beat up and well cared for as her own. “Perfect. You’ll want to add a flannel shirt though. Should I expect a Stetson too?”

“Sorry, just a ballcap. Anything taller tends to part ways with me at the first doorway. You on the other hand… Sexy cowgirl! Hubba Hubba!” He managed to dislodge her hat and she let it tumble to the floor behind her, enjoying the kiss.

He spun her around and broke, leaning over to pick up her hat and bag, offering the first to her. “Thank you sir…” she purred at him and he gulped before starting back into motion and grabbing his own bag.

Catherine followed him down the stairs giggling to herself, glad she had such an effect on her fiancée and enjoying the view of his strongly muscled backside in snug jeans. They were quickly sat in her car and he was leaning over the backseat to inspect the hat-hanger she’d affixed to the back of each seat just below the headrests.

“Interesting place to put it.” He’d sat back and was fastening his belt.

“Couldn’t exactly put it on the cabin roof, not with the sunroof and out there I usually wear a hat so it had to go somewhere.” Catherine saw that he’d buckled in and dropped into gear. She drove at a reasonably sedate speed until pulling out of Dodge’s, the filling station with some of the best fried chicken in town. Traffic thinned out shortly thereafter and in just over 30 minutes they were creeping slowly down a rather rough set of sandy ruts purporting to be a driveway.

“Seriously, that traffic circle thing… I mean I can see how you did the one on Rifle Range, just like a curve in the road but you had to go 3 quarters of the way around that thing and you never dropped under 100! That is some kinda insane witch-driving or something…” he shook his head. “I’m not even sure if I want to ask you to teach me that one!”

“Its not that hard Bobby, really. Its all about application of thrust and simple physics. I swear this road wasn’t this bad last time I was here!” She carefully followed high grassy areas in the low slung car. Several horses were investigating their progress from the other side of the fence, accompanied by an assortment of goats.

They finally drove through a gate which swung open at their approach, rounded a huge pond and pulled up in front of a large rambling home sitting nearly 3 meters above the ground on heavy pilings. A slight figure limped down the broad front steps from where she’d been seated on the verandah as they exited the vehicle and Catherine skipped over to envelope her slightly taller friend in an enthusiastic hug.

“I’m so glad to see you’re alright! I worried about you, you know…” The two friends pulled apart to look at each other again.

“Me? I’m retired! You’re the one doing dangerous stuff…” the taller woman remonstrated. “So does that ring on your finger mean…?”

“It does!” She pulled her friend over to Bobby. “Meet my fiancée Bobby! Bobby, meet Ashleigh…” Catherine trailed off as she saw her friend’s expression of shock.

“Petty Officer.” The words weren’t quite military crisp, more friendly and concerned.

“EllTee. Little surprised?” A crooked grin pasted itself on Linda’s face.

“You’re kidding, right? You were a damned effective operator but butching it up convincingly was beyond you. I think your old teammates would be glad to know you’re alive… Although some of them might be a little pissed you made us all think otherwise.” He held his arms open. “Sorry about the rank thing, I’d just run into a dead friend…”

She accepted the offer, giving him a quick hug. “I get it… I wanted it that way and I guess I’m sorry for that but back then it seemed simplest. My leg was too messed up to ever rehab worth a damn and they offered me a way to be useful that meant I had to disappear for a while and afterward it seemed simpler to just stay dead, ya know?”

“You seem to have done ok for yourself. I’m not sure if I should ask how you know Catherine…” Bobby chuckled lightly, only half joking.

“Well come on up and have some tea and we’ll tell you the story…” They followed her up the steps, Catherine watching her closely.

“You know you’re doing really well. If I didn’t know you were wearing a prosthesis I’d just think you had a moderate limp.” Catherine accepted a glass of tea and sat in one of the high backed rocking chairs.

“Took em 4 times but I think they finally got it right. That and being a little obsessive about rehab. I still get the phantom limb thing sometimes but not much anymore. You get used to it I guess…” She shrugged and took a sip from her glass.

“I had no idea you lost your leg back there! I mean, I thought you were dead but… you know what I mean.” Bobby covered his embarrassment with his tea glass.

“Oh I didn’t! I’ve had 7 surgeries over the years trying to hold onto it but I guess fate or whatever had other ideas. That hurricane that didn’t really touch you guys gave us like 6 feet of water and being where I am you can imagine the water was pretty shitty… literally! Everything’s jacked up around here but somebody had to go feed the critters and I managed to fall out of the boat. Wound up getting infected and they had to take it 4 inches below the knee.” She pulled up the leg of her jeans and thumped a knuckle on carbon-fiber.

“Wow… irony much? That really sucks but I’m just happy you’re alive. “He turned to Catherine. “Did you know we served together?”

“Not the beginnings of a clue. She didn’t want to talk about her service and I was fine with that. We’ve never actually had any dealings in that context at all. I get this call from some people I, erm, do stuff with sometimes and they’re just like straight ‘We need a horse-thief’…” She shook her head “I mean yeah, dog rescue and such but horses?”

Ashleigh laughed. “Well it was a bigger job than most rescues but we figured out a way to get the job done and I’m glad we did. We not only rescued the horses but managed to gather enough evidence beforehand to make sure those… people” she spat the word “got their just desserts. We still lost one of the jennies… she was just too far gone. Your girl here reverses an 8 horse trailer for like half a mile at well over 50 miles an hour, then gets out and walks right up to two horses that wouldn’t let anyone near them. Mind you these are on the large side even for draft horses and one of them was like 19 hands. She talked to em for a minute and they both walked over and nuzzled her before getting in the trailer as calm as you please. I’ve seen her do it since and its still spooky…”

“Its nothing special, you just have to talk to them. Horses are way smarter than people think, most animals are. Anyway, I wound up coming back here after we got them to safety and we became friends. Finding out that two of the people who are close to me also share a connection? I think that’s pretty awesome actually. How’s Fritz doing?”

“I still say that’s a tragic name for such a beautiful horse. He’s doing just fine but you can tell he misses being able to perform. His foals are… well there’s one white one and if I had to guess he’ll be the spitting image of his sire in a year. I’m still amazed that they just gave him to you…”

“Yeah well a trained Lipizzaner with a broken leg generally gets put down but I thought it was fixable and they disagreed. To them he was just a giant vet bill with a lost investment at the end so they were pretty happy to sign him over. Turns out I was right and I’m glad for that but I’d have done it anyway. No creature deserves to be just thrown away like that.” Catherine consciously relaxed her fingers around the glass.

The three friends chatted for quite a long while on the broad verandah before making their way out into the farm and simply enjoying each other’s company as they walked around and tended to the animals, greeting each with a nibble or tidbit. Bobby and Catherine finally took their leave some while after dark with many hugs and promises to return.

******

The next morning dawned on a cloudless sky and the day was forecast to be warm. The couple shared a quick breakfast before returning upstairs to dress. Bobby was surprised when she affixed a golden Trident to her left breast.

“I thought you were using your dad’s?” he inquired gently.

“Change of plans. Ashleigh gave me hers and wants me to do the honor… I couldn’t possibly refuse her that.” Catherine adjusted the intricate updo she bore and checked her makeup with a critical eye. “That’ll have to do. You look really sharp in that uniform, you know.”

“Not even a candle next to your blazing sun.” She turned and he kissed her lightly. “You ready for this?”

“I’m not sure I’ll ever be ready for this kind of thing but… yeah, as much as possible I think. I’m just the tiniest bit nervous about the reception I’ll get…” she gestured at herself. “I’m just slightly different to the kid they knew from birth, you know?”

“Well whatever it is I’m here for you. If you want my opinion they’ll see a beautiful woman and stop right there. You didn’t even hide as well as Ashleigh so I rather doubt it’ll be a huge surprise.” He chuckled.

“We’ll find out. Lets go meet up with Lori.”

********

The large open space seemed smaller than she remembered as they made their way into the main room. Catherine’s fears proved mostly groundless as she was almost universally embraced and welcomed by the entire congregation. A single Elder and his wife were the only ones who seemed anything other than delighted to see her and she noticed they gave her sister and fiancée the same sour look. Nothing new from those two so she shrugged it off.

Unfortunately when the time came for the sermon she learned the sour faced man was to officiate and began to get a little irritated. The dreadful hymns sung so loudly and with such a supreme lack of tonal value had only made her wryly reflect on how glad she was to have absented herself. When the man had made his way through the first 2 minutes Catherine leaned over slightly and muttered to her sister.

“That jackass is just reading the fucking program!” She’d apparently been slightly louder than intended as her mother’s lips pursed. Lori pressed slightly down on her arm to calm her. “His service? How dare he compare himself to…”

“Just chill sis…” came the muttered reply. “They aren’t worth it.”

Shortly after it turned into fairly standard preaching and yet she seethed until the final prayer ended. When the Elder giving the prayer stepped off stage she found herself moving up and behind the podium. She stood there for a moment, watched the mic adjust to her height and settle before beginning.

“So I realize I’m not in the program and that’s fine because as you all know dad didn’t care much for programs anyway. It has been lovely to meet all of you again after so long although the occasion is a solemn one. “ Her clear contralto was projected to the rear of the room almost without need of the sound system. “I’d like to say a few things about the man we all knew and the life he lived and by that I mean all of it. My dad was no saint and there have been times in my life when I didn’t even think he was a good man, times when I wondered if even he thought that of himself.”

******

“I never ever expected you to get up there and pull a Speaking for the Dead!” Lori’s tone was amused.

“I’m sorry… Rhome got up there and just read the stupid program and then goes on about comparing his service to dad’s and… it just pissed me off… I shouldn’t have taken over like that. I just had to say something real.” Catherine turned to her mother.

“I’m sorry mom…”

“You have nothing to apologize for sweetie.” She gathered the sisters into a hug. “I’m glad you got up and said what needed to be said… I’ve read Card you know, and I approve of a Speaking. I remember being so angry at my stepmother’s funeral when everyone said wonderful things about her… This way is better. Bobby, thank you for being here to honor him, he would have appreciated it.” She gathered him into the hug too.

“Always a sad duty but one I’m proud to do Mrs. MacConnell.” They separated after another tight squeeze.

“I’ll have none of that from you young man! I won’t ask you to call me mom but I’ll settle for Kriss. I’ve known you almost as long as you’ve been alive and now you’re marrying my baby girl here you’re family.” She looked up into his eyes. “I’ve always considered you to be halfway my son anyway and now its all the way. I know I’ll never replace your mom and I wouldn’t think of trying but…”

Bobby stood there for a moment, unable to muster words. “Thanks ma—um Kriss. That’s gonna be hard to get used to. I think I’d prefer mom if you don’t mind?”

******

“Honestly I have no idea. Its almost like she’s a different person or something. I damn near did a spit take when she imitated Rhome’s expression!” Catherine laughed “then she comes out with ‘Ya know he’s been tryin to pray the gay away for 70 years and 4 kids… hasn’t worked yet…’ “.

It was late and they’d been rehashing the day for a few minutes in Lori’s hotel room having had a truly excellent meal and spending several hours at their mom’s just talking and greeting the occasional drop in bringing a dish of some sort or just well wishes.

“Well for as long as it lasts I’ll take it. It felt good being a family again… I wish it could have been sooner.” Lori was nursing yet another cocktail, slightly tipsy and just a laugh short of turning morose.

“Whatever she does or doesn’t do you’re my sister and nothing can change that.” Catherine had a ginger ale, having limited herself to a glass of wine with dinner.

“My sister too and I’d like it if you thought of me as a brother. Family by choice.” Bobby hadn’t been as judicious and was a little more than tipsy, carefully enunciating. He put his empty glass down and struggled for a moment to get out of the low chair.

“OK, lets get you home…” Catherine paused for a moment, liking the sound of that.

“Of course I think of you as my brother, Bobby. I think I always did anyway, really. Now you let my sister take you home and give you a good seeing too! Night sibs…” She pulled them both into a hug before hustling them out the door.

*****

“Everything indicates the materials are on site but there’s a lot more activity than we expected. I think they’ve moved their timetable up a bit.”

“I hate to say it but I have to agree with you.” Catherine swiveled to face Cristobal across the conference table. “Cristo, I assume you guys have already gamed out an accelerated timeline?”

“Its messy any way we do it. Best option seems to be a halo jump with squirrel suits so we can glide in, pop chutes at 500 and come down inside the compound. We should have at least a little element of surprise that way but after that it just gets super-hairy. As soon as they realize we’re there the main assault has to hit and hard but we have to secure the materials first.”

“So its doable then?” Catherine smiled across the table at him slowly.

“You do realize super hairy in Cristo-speak means barely survivable, maybe?” Rimmi’s tone was almost droll.

“That’s better than the chance the people in their target city stand if we don’t stop it. We still haven’t been able to narrow down a target.” Yusef rose and started pacing. “If we don’t catch this thing before they move it we might not get another chance. You all know what it took to get what little intel we have…”

“Look, we can sit and chew over why we have to do this forever but I think we all agree it isn’t really a choice. We don’t act, a city dies. I’ll take a hell of a lot thinner chance than Cristo’s ‘super hairy’ to stop that. I’d love to go tonight but no cloud cover and a full moon…” Catherine’s smile had vanished, replaced by look of determination.

“There should be heavy thunderstorms tomorrow settling down to dense cloud cover and heavy rain around midnight with little to no lightning after that. If the weather cooperates tomorrow after midnight is about the best opportunity we could ask for and we can stage and isolate the main assault troops 4 hours before go time.” Stacey grinned around the table. “We do it all right we can reduce ‘super hairy’ to merely ‘extremely hairy’!”

“I’ll take it! Now, what did they give us for backup?”

*****

Bobby greeted her with a meal already prepared and a massage afterward. He recognized the signs of runup to a mission, the tension coupled with a focus that was entirely elsewhere and did what he could to help her relax a little.

“That’s so nice…” Catherine half moaned as he dug into a particularly knotty muscle half underneath her shoulder blade.

“Usually this one has people at least whimpering.” he found a corresponding knot on the other side and rubbed in small circles with increasing pressure. “I really hope you don’t get off on pain because I can’t roll with that.”

“Hmph, most people haven’t had a massage from my mom – oooh right there… I swear the woman could crumple sheet steel with her bare hands but she can hit pressure points only a couple of others have been able to approach. People whimpering about this would be screaming in agony if she had at em for real.” She gasped as he dug in even harder on both sides. “Not quite but close and no, I’m not into pain even a little… its more about how you train yourself to perceive it. If you realize on a core level that it doesn’t translate to significant harm or injury instead of resisting it let it flow through you and out… use it as a tool. Still there but it has no power over you.”

“Pretty impressive trick.”

“I figured that one out dealing with dad and then with other kids… I could let em hit me if I figured it right and avoid actually getting hurt, or at least not much. There was training later of course but I had the basics as long as I can remember. Some knowledge isn’t worth the price…”

“I wish you hadn’t had to learn those things, at least not that way.” Bobby soothed the spot he’d been rubbing for a moment, then gently turned her over and gave her a kiss as she lay there. “I wish I could ask you not to…”

“I wish I could say I wouldn’t but both of us know better. I made my choices long ago and I can’t imagine just walking away, not being of service if I can… its part of who I am. I know you understand that.” She kissed him again. “I think we both need a little relaxation just now and we’ll take tomorrow as it comes.”

*****