SEALed At Sunset Page 7

  It also was something he knew Aimee was concerned about. But since Andy hadn’t been there a week yet, he decided to put off all the suggestions and confrontations until just before he left.

  Cory had also received something in the mail from Little Creek, which he ripped into shreds and threw it out in the trash without showing it to anyone.

  All these things had begun to add up. And while Andy wasn’t worried about the significance of any of these by themselves, the combination was more than he was comfortable with.

  He read the local flea market rag after he noticed Cory had glanced over his shoulder a couple of times to see if he was being observed. Andy made sure he kept his eyes on the paper.

  Finally, the call ended, and Cory came back inside.

  “Hey, Cory, you want to try one of my meal replacement shakes?” Andy asked.

  “Sure thing. Where do you get it?”

  “A couple of former team guys put together a company, and they did a lot of nutritional research too. We actually take some of their stuff on deployments now.”

  He pulled out two plastic bottles from his duffel bag, and showed Cory the powdery mixture filled to nearly a third. After adding water, he shook them both vigorously and then handed one to Cory.

  “Keep shaking for a bit. They’re all natural, but they don’t always dissolve right away. You know how it goes. No pain, no gain.”

  “Gotcha.”

  Cory started dancing around the room, exaggerating the meal prep.

  “All right, showoff. I think you have it now, Cory.”

  They shared a smile and then opened the shake. Andy was used to taking it down all at one time, but Cory taste tested it and wasn’t quite sure at first if he liked it.

  “It won’t hurt you. Lots of kick ass vitamins and it helps you hydrate. Stores for years. It’s good stuff”

  “Is this something my system has to get used to?”

  Andy shook his head. “I don’t know what you mean exactly.”

  “Is it going to give me the shits?” Cory spelled out.

  “Nope. Good and healthy. Nothing like that.”

  “Okay, down the hatch,” he said and then belched.

  Cory picked up the two empties, depositing them both in the garbage under the sink. He slowly wandered back and collapsed in the loveseat in front of him.

  “So I have some news, and I need to let you in on a few things that I’m kind of working on.”

  Andy was relieved that finally he might be getting some answers. “That mean this phone call was good news?”

  “Good and bad.” He stared at the ceiling for a minute and then lowered his eyes, as he scrunched back into the seat. “Depending on what they find with my arm, and I’m pretty sure I’m going to be okay, I might be called up for an assignment.”

  The surprised Andy. “Where?”

  “First, let me lay some groundwork. That trip to the sandbox was all screwed up, Andy. It was a huge botched job. People died who shouldn’t have. And, I’ll be honest with you, and I never want it to leave this room, some of that falls on me.”

  Andy knew this was serious. He adjusted his body and then leaned forward, resting his forearms on his knees. “You know, Cory, you shouldn’t really blame yourself. Nothing ever works out exactly the way it’s supposed to. Military stuff is messy even when the planning is nearly flawless. Stuff just happens.”

  “No shit. But I at least want to be honest with you. I mean we go over there as newbies, right? We try to follow the rules and follow instructions. But the bottom line is, even on the teams, you know we talk brotherhood and Rah Rah, everybody’s together, and all that stuff. But if something goes wrong and the people in Washington or Norfolk start to look for answers or look for fault or blame, it’s probably not gonna be the twenty-five-year guys they’re going to blame.”

  “Yup. That’s why we need to get a good LPO. My guy is great. I mean all of the guys on our platoon would die for this guy. And I’ve heard stories about all the people he saved, both civilian and military.”

  “I’m happy for you, Andy. But not all of them are like that. For some reason we had a whole cluster of newbies right out of the Academy. Anyway, I don’t wanna make this too complicated, but the bottom line is there are a few people riding my ass. And it makes it even more important that I get this arm healed. But if I get injured again, they’re probably going to quit me.”

  “For cause?”

  “Not really, in my opinion. But you know shit rolls downhill, right?”

  “Ha ha. And so that was your phone call?”

  Cory burst out laughing. “Well, part of that was a little recreational thing.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “I got a guy who sells me a little bit of weed now and then, to help me sleep. I found him through this girl that I met in the hospital actually. She’s a nurse. I was trying to score something so I could go to sleep naturally. Weed does that for me. I’m still healing. I still have pain, and I have to get up. If I can’t sleep well, I can’t heal.”

  Andy couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Cory had justified so many things, and he wondered if he still knew the difference between right and wrong. He thought about the expression ‘dying of a thousand cuts,’ and he wondered if the Navy had recommended he get some counseling.

  “You should get a referral to somebody, Cory. I appreciate you telling me about all this stuff. But you need to talk to somebody else. It isn’t healthy to not be sleeping, and as a matter of fact, you’ve been sleeping a lot, I think. So I don’t quite understand. But if you need something to take before you go to bed, you should get it from the Navy. Let them manage it. Don’t try to do it yourself, because it’s dangerous.”

  “Now listen to you. Dangerous. We’re fuckin’ dangerous. That’s what we do best.” He scowled and crossed his legs. “But I even thought about that. Therein lies the problem. I don’t want to give them anything that would make them want to toss me.”

  “Cory, have you even thought about this all being in your head, I mean maybe they’re not really thinking that way. And asking for help, doesn’t that show good leadership and courage? I’d hate to see you not get help just because you think it wouldn’t look good on your file.”

  “Andy do you even watch the news? They’re jacking guys all over the place for bullshit infractions right and left. Suicide rates are up. I mean, it’s a mess. And to make matters worse, we’re fighting a fucking war that we can’t win.”

  “But that’s not what we do, Cory. That’s not our job. We’re not supposed to ask those questions.”

  “Okay, Superman, I see where you’re going with this.”

  “So let’s just say you had a really crappy deployment and especially badly planned operation. Next one will be better.” Andy could see he wasn’t buying it.

  “Oh, I get you. Power of positive thinking and all. Get me some Yoga tapes and start doing meditation.”

  “Cory, you’re just an angry asshole. I’m talking about taking some definitive, positive steps to first find out if they really are looking for an excuse to get rid of you, and second, trust the system to give you sound medical advice. Quit managing it on your own based on what you imagine is happening. In fact, I’m wondering if that’s really you or the drugs working.”

  “We’re just going to have to disagree on that. Give me a chance to share some things with you. But dammit, you gotta shut up and let me talk.”

  Andy knew he’d make a lousy counselor, and Cory had just confirmed it. “I apologize. Tell me your plan.”

  “Before I left Little Creek to come down here, I put in for an extra training round at the burn center in San Antonio at the joint base. They told me it was a longshot, but since we had the long medical course, they said I might go to the top of the line. So I’m waiting for a slot.”

  Andy was thrilled.

  “That’s a good idea. Give yourself time to settle down. Heal up and in the meantime, get more training. Man, why didn’t you
tell me that in the first place? I wouldn’t have given you the lecture.”

  “No, that’s my fault. So at first they told me they wouldn’t consider the spot until I was clear, which made no sense whatsoever. I don’t have to just sit around the beach doing nothing until my fucking arm heals. As much as I love it here, you and I, we’re men of action. Anyway, I got a call yesterday, and they told me that there would be a place for me.”

  “When would you go there?”

  “They said it could be in a couple of weeks or another month. But one way or the other, I’m going.”

  Andy was puzzled by all of the little parts of Cory’s story that somehow just didn’t smell right. “So what’s the problem then, man?”

  “First, there’s Aimee. And to be fair, she hasn’t made any claim on me, Andy. She’s been great. I’m a better man because of her. But I feel bad just getting up and leaving her, because I never told her about the letter or what I had applied for. I knew in the back of my head that this might happen, and I didn’t tell her.”

  Andy was glad Cory was considerate of Aimee’s feelings. “That’s a good thing, Cory. If you love each other, you being gone for a few months isn’t going to mess that up.”

  “Well, I was thinking I could ask her to marry me, and she could go with me to San Antonio.”

  Andy stared in disbelief. This wasn’t at all what he was expecting to hear.

  After several seconds of silence, Cory ventured a comment. “So I guess you don’t think it’s a good idea?” Cory jumped to his feet and started nervously pacing back-and-forth.

  Andy wasn’t sure what he should tell him. “I’m just shocked is all. Hey, if that’s what you wanna do, go for it, go for all of it.”

  Cory drilled him a look but nearly seared his eyeballs. “I want to know what you’re thinking, Andy. I want your opinion.”

  “I don’t have an opinion. It’s not one of those things that has anything to do with me. It’s something you and Aimee should work out. Like I said before, whether she stays here, or she goes with you to San Antonio, those are all things you need to sit down and talk about. It doesn’t matter one wit what I think. You gotta do what’s right for you. And if this is the next step for you two, then I say go for it.”

  “That’s what I thought you’d say. And I want to thank you for being honest. I got some details to work out, and of course, I don’t have a spot until I see the paperwork, damn paperwork. But I know that with Aimee, it would be the kind of support I need to get through that course, and then she could help me decide where I’m going with the teams.”

  “Just. Be. Honest. That’s my advice from start to finish, Cory. That also means taking a look at what we talked about earlier, getting some help, not doing the illicit stuff, cleaning your act up. She’s a great gal. Very rare person, and I agree. I think she’d really be good for you.”

  Cory walked over to the picture window, placed his forearm against the glass, rested his forehead on the cast, and mumbled, “And I think I’d be really good for her too.”

  Andy hadn’t seen any of this coming. Something made him nervous. He suddenly discovered what it was.

  He felt an overwhelming need to protect her. That was beginning to be a problem.

  How in the world can I be a best friend to my buddy when I know the woman he says he loves would be better off without him?

  Chapter 8

  Aimee spent the better part of the morning looking for one perfect dress. The ceremony was to take place at the Presbyterian Church in Sarasota, the old First Church, starting at four.

  The plan was to attend the reception afterwards. She offered to drive so she could keep the boys, primarily Cory, out of trouble. Cory insisted they attend both. Because she’d never been to a huge formal society wedding before, she was glad she could be the only woman at the party with two dates.

  Poetic justice.

  The boys were to pick her up at her place around three.

  She got up early, skipping a run, and got an appointment to have her hair cut and highlights added at a shop nearby. She also had an appointment to get her nails and toes done. At ten o’clock, when the mall opened, she planned to hit Neiman Marcus as well as a specialty high end bridal and formal shop nearby.

  As far as jewelry, she had one set of pearls, which belonged to her mother. And that was going to have to do. She just needed to buy a dress with a scoop neckline, which would really showcase the beautiful pearls. Her father had spent nearly two months’ salary to buy them for her, or so the story went. Her mother had cherished them and worn them all the time. Every time they went to the symphony in Davis, or she was invited to lunch somewhere, or they went to San Francisco for a play or opera or ballet, her mother wore the pearls. This would be the first time Aimee would wear them.

  The Brides and Belle’s shop was first on her list, since she’d read online it was where several of the society ladies had shopped in the past. It was just one dress and one pair of matching shoes she was investing in, so she felt like she could splurge.

  No one knew that she had the proceeds of her parents’ Tennessee home already in the bank, and she planned on keeping it that way as long as she could. When she was good and ready, she’d start looking to buy a little house like she was renting. But she wasn’t ready just yet. She considered purchasing something she could later tear down and build something larger, but still modest. Right on the beach. That’s where she knew she wanted to be. She could afford to be picky and take her time.

  But for right now, the 1200 square-foot cottage suited her just fine.

  She checked her watch and calculated she’d have about four hours to complete her shopping, and then she had to allow an hour to get home. She set her alarm for two o’clock, which would give her enough time to shower again and be ready for the boys to pick her up at three.

  Just in case she couldn’t find anything, Plan B was to wear the short sleeve cocktail dress with the pearls, even though it was black. But that was Plan B. She was going for something a little more exciting.

  Once she walked through the front door, an attractive woman in her fifties introduced herself and asked her if she’d like a cappuccino. She was led to a small and very private sitting area with mirrors on three sides. It was furnished in red flowered wallpaper, which matched the red leather couch and ottoman. This “little” waiting room, as her helper described it, was larger than her dorm room at UC Davis.

  Marlene brought her cappuccino in on a silver tray. “I slipped a couple biscuits in for you, since shopping sometimes causes us to miss lunch. I hope that was all right.”

  The woman sat on the ottoman, crossed her legs, and placed a clipboard on her thigh, her pen poised, ready to take notes.

  “So you said this is a big wedding? A society wedding?”

  “Yes.”

  “Okay, and how much time do we have to get the dress ready?”

  “The wedding’s this afternoon.”

  Marlene looked like she’d just seen a naked man walk into the office. She quickly recovered, slid back onto the ottoman, and crossed her legs the other direction.

  “Most of these dresses in the store are samples, which is what we order from. Many of them are just pinned so we can fit you perfectly. I can perhaps call and see if I can locate a certain dress if you find one here that you like. We also have some sale dresses. So I don’t want to get your hopes up, dear. I’m not sure we’ll be able to accommodate you today.”

  Aimee considered what she’d been told. “So then show me the dresses that you have in stock, if you have any. Once I see my choices, I can make a decision quite easily.”

  “What’s your budget?”

  She’d not thought about that. “If I like it, I’ll buy it. I don’t have a budget. I want something that will make me look fabulous. I want to blow my boyfriend’s mind and make every other single girl at the party jealous.” Aimee grinned.

  “Color?”

  “Something bright and dazzling. No white or off
-white of course. That’s reserved for the bride. Is that correct?”

  “Indeed.” Marlene made some notes on her clipboard, asked questions about her normal dress size, picked up a telephone, and requested the in-house seamstress join the two of them. “She will take exact measurements, so we can see if perhaps we can find a top that fits you perfectly. The skirt can be a different size if you need to. We have lots of flexibility that way.”

  Aimee thought that was a clever way to approach the problem.

  “So what color is it that, when people see you wearing it, they tell you that you’re stunning. Most people have one color that they just absolutely love wearing. What color is that for you, Aimee?”

  “It would have to be red.”

  “Red, as in blood red, orange red, pinkish red?”

  “Fire engine red. Five-alarm red. Bright, no gray tones.”

  “Is the wedding in a church or outdoors at a venue?”

  “The wedding is at the old First Church in Sarasota. The reception is at the Sarasota country club. It’s called something else, but apparently, it’s a big beautiful one.”

  “That would probably be the Sarasota Silverado?”

  “That’s it. The Silverado.”

  “So can I ask you who the bride and groom are?”

  “The groom’s name, I think, is Moore, and I was told the family breeds horses. Racehorses?”

  “I know exactly who will be at that wedding.” She tilted her head and asked, “This will be quite an event. Are you friends of the bride or groom?”

  “Bride. My boyfriend and I recently met her at JJs near St Pete Beach.”

  “Well, you’re a very lucky lady. Don’t be surprised if you wind up dancing with Tiger Woods or a famous NFL or baseball player. The Moores also own a hockey team, as well as two Mexican league professional soccer teams. They’re lovely people.”

  Marlene checked her watch and frowned. Picking up the phone again, she demanded to know why the seamstress had not checked in with her. While she was on hold, there was a gentle knock on the door.