Page 69 of Eldritch

Before he could elaborate, she noticed a tall, balding man around fifty with the build of a linebacker coming toward them. His eyes sparkled with humor as he arrived at the table.

“Hey sir,” Douglas said and moved to leave the booth.

“No, nope,” the man waved his hands. “Please don’t get up.” He leaned over to shake Doug’s hand, and both men wore huge smiles. “It’s been way too long, Doug.”

“Fantastic to see you, sir,” Doug said. “I’d like you to meet Sybil Alderan. Sybil, this is my former CO Colonel Clinton Seaworth of the United States Marine Corps.”

Clinton leaned forward to shake her hand.

“Pleased to meet you,” she said.

“Great to meet you, too.” The older man gave her a welcoming smile. “And maybe you can convince this guy here to stop calling me sir and colonel. I’m retired now. No need to call me that anymore.”

She smiled. “Well, I imagine old habits and respect die hard.”

Clinton shook his head. “Don’t let this guy fool you. He’s the authentic hero around here. People should call him sir.”

Curiosity hit her as she turned her gaze on Doug. Doug rolled his gaze to the ceiling and shook his head.

Clinton gestured at Doug. “This guy saved my damned life and the lives of several people one day during a firefight about a year before we pulled out of Afghanistan.”

“Wow,” she said, impressed.

“I’d love to stay and tell you the story, but this place is hopping. Make him to tell you. And if he doesn’t, call me.” Clinton turned his attention to Doug. “Dinner and drinks are on me tonight. Whatever you want.”

Doug’s eyebrows went up. “What? No, I?—”

“That’s an order, Marine.”

Doug looked at her. “Now he pulls rank.”

Clinton’s eyes sparkled with amusement. “I’ve gotta get, but I hope to see you later.”

She watched the big guy head off at a quick pace. “He’s a force of nature.”

Doug’s eyes looked a little sad, but he said, “Yeah, he’s that.”

“I take it he’s an honest man, and when he says you’ve been ordered to tell me the story, he means it,” she said, leaning toward Doug a little and keeping her voice down.

Before he could answer, the waitress arrived with Sybil’s glass of Merlot and his cola.

“I guess Clinton’s order means you and I don’t have to fight over the check, either,” she said.

Doug put his straw into his drink. “I asked you out. I would’ve paid.”

She nodded and took a small sip of her wine. “Thank you for this night out. I needed it.”

“You’re welcome.” He stared at her, and the warm admiration in his eyes took her off guard. Just as fast, the sad look returned to him. “I guess I’m going to tell you the entire story.”

Her curiosity hadn’t tanked, but she said, “You don’t have to tell me. The Colonel isn’t a bully, is he? I know he wants you to stop calling him sir and using his rank, but...” She shrugged. “You don’t have to tell me anything if you don’t want to.”

Doug shook his head. “He’s one of the best men I’ve ever met. He’s had a lot of tragedy in his life, too. His wife and young son died in a horrible accident back in Virginia when he was deployed almost twenty years ago. I met him after that time. So, he lost his whole family and soldiered on.”

“Oh my God, how horrible.”

“It was a freak building collapse. They were walking along on a street and some siding that was being repaired slid off the building and hit them. Killed instantly.”

Sadness lingered in his eyes, but she stayed silent and waited.

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