The Navy Seal's Rescue

In this heat, it would be difficult. He wanted difficult.

Even with hustling, his thoughts couldn’t stay just on his pace despite the rhythm he worked to establish. He kept thinking about Peter and Yvette, and how they would decorate the house with a banner they kept, and how Adam’s pictures would be all over the mantel and the walls, and in the kitchen, and in the hallway. Interspersed with photos of the grandkids and wedding photos. But Adam’s portrait was the only one with a black ribbon around it.

How they loved his friend. The two of them used to gorge on Yvette’s packages of cookies and candy whenever they knew where the unit was going to be. She’d always sent double, knowing Wyatt would steal half, and borrow the extra socks.

His mom had sent stuff, too, but she’d never been extravagant. Not with food or supplies, or letters for that matter. Too busy being an officer’s wife. With the Marshes, including Adam, family always came first. In Wyatt’s family, it was duty.

“Hey, what are you doing here so late?”

Wyatt recognized the voice before he spotted Delia, who was standing at her stall at the fish market. How was she already almost sold out? He checked his watch. Damn late. And nope, hadn’t broken any records. Down by six seconds. It didn’t matter.

“How are you, Delia?” he asked, slowing to a crawl, wishing he’d brought his water bottle. He rarely forgot it.

“You’re sweating like a pig. You want some water?”

“Yeah, thanks. That’d be great.”

The stands were cooled very pleasantly with misters and fans, and the ice that was constantly replenished under the morning’s catch. He could see from the scarcity that the local chefs had been by, not just for the restaurants, but for the hotels and B&Bs, and then there were the locals, who knew when to show up. He’d often gone home with a fish so fresh it’d barely stopped wiggling. One of the great joys of living near a fishing village.

“So this reunion, huh?” Delia said. “Damn prep school a-holes.”

“They’re not all a-holes.”

“No. That’s ’cause some of them come from the south.”

She meant the fish side of town, he knew. That rivalry wasn’t going to be over anytime soon.

Delia had to be over sixty-five, but she was out here every day until most of the catch was sold. During tourist season, that was pretty early. Today, she’d be wrapping things up soon. He thought about buying some fish but he wasn’t finished running, and it was too hot to lug a striped bass home. “But they pay a pretty penny for seafood.”

“Damn straight they do. I see ’em coming, I put out the other prices.”

He’d known that for a long time. It had been almost a year before she gave him the local rate. “That’s wicked smart, Delia,” he said, using his best Rhody accent. “Say hi to Fred, would ya?”

“Your accent’s still crap, you know.”

“I’ll keep trying.” Instead of running back to the bar, he was going to go to the hotel, find out what the schedule was for the reunion crowd. He knew there was a big dinner tonight, but he might let a few of the bell staff know he’d have a special going on.

His trip had nothing to do with hoping to see Cricket. Nothing at all.

* * *

CRICKET FOUND THE gang in the perpetually crowded bar off the lobby.

“I ordered a pitcher of sweet tea,” Jade said, just as Cricket sat down between Harlow and Ginny.

Harlow grabbed the small menu displayed in the middle of the table. “Guess who’s here?” she said, glancing at Jade. “Fletcher Preston.”

“So. What do I care?”

Cricket and Harlow laughed. Ginny only smiled. She looked tired. Cricket wished she had more time here. To go see her, to meet Tilda. But she was leaving Monday morning, and God, she didn’t want to think about that. Not when her nights had been crowded with worry.

Jade checked for the waitress, then pushed back her flowing copper hair, the hair she’d hated in school because the boys made fun of her. She wore tamer makeup now, and curled her hair, and wore nail polish that wasn’t black. Getting away from Temptation Bay had done wonders for her, although she was still Jade. Ready to stand up to anyone.

“You were hot for him all of junior year.” Harlow sat up taller, smiling as the pitcher arrived at the table.

“At least you’re not denying it,” Ginny said once they were alone again, and Jade was pouring. “Did he ever ask you out?”

“No.” Jade grunted while taking her first sip. “Men are dopes.”

Cricket smiled.

Ginny and Harlow grinned. “Not all men.”

“Most men.”

“So, you’re not seeing anyone, I take it?” Cricket said.

“Nope.”

“What do you do about sex?” Harlow asked, not in the least abashed by her question.

“That’s what one-night stands are for,” Jade said. “No fuss, no muss and no disappointments. Except when they’re...” She held up her hand, index and thumb two inches apart.

“I’ve missed you, Jade Kelly,” Ginny said, laughing. “A lot.”

Jade gave her a look. “What about you? Living here and all. You getting any?”

“With Tilda around? God, no. I don’t even remember getting any. I think I’m actually a virgin again. Technically.”

“Oh, honey.” Harlow covered Ginny’s hand with her own. “That’s what reunions are for. You have a babysitter, right? Tonight’s your night. We’ll all help you find someone decent.”

“Someone from school? No, thanks.”

“A stranger, then. Honest. There are lots of guys here, and if it’s someone on vacation or here just for the golf tournament, you never have to see them again. It’s perfect.”

Ginny blushed, but grinned. “I did shave all the important parts.”

“That’s the spirit.” Harlow drank some more, looking around at the packed tables. “I wouldn’t mind a dip in the water myself. Although, I don’t know. There’s someone in LA that I’ve been kind of seeing. No one special, though. Another teacher. Science and math. You’d like him, Jade.”

“Just because I’m a chemist doesn’t mean I instantly bond with all other science nerds. Especially the men, superior jerks. When I open my store, I’m only hiring young women who are interested in STEM, and I’m going to mentor my ass off.”

“Wait?” Cricket put down her drink. “Opening your what?”

Jade grinned wide. “I’m going to open a perfumery. Nothing huge, but I’ll be making personalized scents. Tailoring them to people’s chemistry. I’ve already set up a website, even though I can’t start yet, not until I’m out of contract, which won’t be for another five months. And I have a partner. She’s a professor from Berkeley and she’s financing the whole thing, because God knows I’m still in debt up to my eyeballs, but she thinks we can really do a lot with this. Kind of like what they’re doing now with DNA. Getting saliva samples from people via the mail, then I do my magic, and give them a scent that’s unique to their body chemistry. I’m wearing one of mine right now.”

“You smell delicious,” Harlow said, leaning in for another sniff. “I noticed when we hugged.”

“I know,” Cricket added. “I noticed, too. But it’s not the same as last night, and I told you how amazing that was. Are they both yours?”