Page 171 of One Big Little Secret

As a kid, I thought all ships were still like that. I was disappointed when I enlisted and found out battleships were long obsolete, and the average aircraft carrier mainly serves as a floating airbase for distant missions in combat a sailor never sees firsthand.

“You were on ships?”

“Yeah. A destroyer escort. We sailed around with a big group of ships to help protect the carrier, where the jets take off.”

“Wow, cool! You should be the ships.” He waves me over to the toy ships. I pick up the battleship and smile, fond memories rushing back. “Was it fun?” he asks.

“The Navy? If you like waking up at six a.m. and busting your butt past sunset, it was a blast. Makes the rest of life seem easier, though.”

“Did you go on sailing ships?”

“Not often, but I trained on them briefly.” I try to hide the melancholy in my tone.

It was an odd time in my life, finishing growing up alone with no father. My older brothers had already moved out.

Whether I knew it or not, I was quietly reeling from Dad’s death. I thought sailing around the world might hold some answers, but the constant training and the isolation from family didn’t help much with loneliness.

It just kept me out of trouble and molded me into the playboy idiot I became when I came home. But a playboy idiot with an ironclad work ethic.

“But you’re not a sailor now,” Arlo says curiously. “You’re a boss. Mommy told me.”

“Your mommy knows a lot of things. Listen to her.”

“Okay!” He turns back to his blue soldiers again, slowly reforming them in a neat line.

While he’s distracted, I head over to the sofa beside Salem, but Evelyn catches my eye first and gestures me over to a cabinet where Mom keeps the good booze. There’s a half-empty wine bottle sitting on top of it.

What I want more than anything is to sit down next to my frigging girlfriend, but apparently that’s too much to ask.

A quick drink never hurt anyone, though, so I meet her beside the bottle and pour us both a glass. She’s dressed up tonight, wearing large gold earrings.

“Patton, darling.” She accepts the glass with a clink of bracelets. “Don’t you look handsome? It’s so wonderful to see you boys together again.”

“Thanks, Evelyn.” I submit to her perfumed kiss.

“Oh, and I wondered when you might introduce her. Doesn’t it feel better to come out in the open and leave all the games behind you?”

I smile.

Technically, I never got the chance to make much introduction.

Mom started treating Salem like family the second she was through the door. Even now, I can see from the set of Salem’s shoulders that if she’s not quite relaxed, she’s not feeling the near-panic she was before we showed up.

“It’s new to us. Didn’t want to rush anything,” I say, sipping my wine. Compared to the beer I finished outside, it’s fruity and sweet.

“Of course, of course. But anyone with eyes can see you both have real affection for each other. It’s charming, just like with my dear Walt back in better times…” She sighs. Her eyes glisten as she shakes her head. “But that’s enough of that. I hoped I could catch you alone, Patton.”

I cock my head.

“Sure, what’s up?”

“I meant—oh, dear, I meant somewhere a tad more private, if it’s not too much trouble? Do you have a minute?”

What now?

I glance back at Salem, who’s listening to Mom talk about her recipe arsenal like they’ve known each other forever. I’m sure she can handle herself for a few more minutes.

“All right. Why don’t we head into the office?”

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