Page 19 of Fall of the Trident
He proudly held out his hand.“I’ll take two in that case.”
Marta glanced at her light blue blouse and navy-blue pantsuit.“I’ll definitely take one.We have another ceremony on the West Coast in a few hours and I’m not sure I have another blouse in my office.I certainly don’t have time to run home.”
His children never took bibs, but that day, they did.Once again, making him proud.They did it because Marta wore a bib.Perhaps, they also did it for their old man.
When the crab arrived, Marta held one up between her thumb and forefinger.“These are cute little critters.I’m used to King and Dungeness crab, but these little guys look like they have all the same parts.”
“Blue crab lungs are gray rather than bright yellow,” Levi pointed out.“Be sure to scrape away the dead man’s fingers.”
“It’s easiest if you flip it over and break away the T.”Sam demonstrated.“Then crack it in half.You can eat the green stuff?—”
“No.Don’t.”Linda corrected her twin.“That stuff is just yucky.”The face she made reminded Trevor so much of her childhood that he couldn’t resist a laugh.
“Damn, I’ve missed the three of you.”
“You just need to get your ass back on this side of the country more often, Daddy.”Linda chided as she ripped the legs off her crab.
Marta seemed to be doing all right for herself, so Trevor dug in.
Thirty minutes later, he was stuffed.
Sam surveyed the table, peering into the bucket in the middle.“Nothing left but shells.”
Trevor grinned when the waitress reappeared with three large to go bags placing one in front of each child.
“Goodies!”Linda declared in a high-pitched voice as she opened the bag.
“Because I love you.”He unfastened his bib and stood, placing the cloth napkin on the table.
“She-crab soup, several crab cakes, shrimp, and dessert.”His daughter flew around the table and threw her arms around his neck.“Thank you, Daddy.”She kissed him on the cheek.“I love you.”
“I love you too, sweetie.”Trevor held his daughter, enjoying the feel of being engulfed in her love.
His boys snapped up their bags, Sam grabbing Linda’s, as they came around the table.
“Thanks, Dad.”Levi hugged his father.“I like her.”His oldest son whispered in his ear.
“Good.She and I have our first date this Saturday,” Trevor whispered back.
“Good for you, Dad.”Levi leaned back.“Have a safe trip.”
Sam was last, making his sister hold his bag while he hugged his father.“I’m sorry I was an ass to Marta.”
“I’m not the one you need to apologize to, and you know it.”There was warning in Trevor’s voice.
“I know.”Sam strode past his siblings directly to her.
“Marta, I want to apologize.”Sam said as he approached her.“I’m sorry I was…”
“Such a dick?”Linda filled in for him.
“You took the words right out of my mouth, sis.”Levi threw an arm around his sister and gave her a hug.He punched his brother in the shoulder.“Continue with your apology.”
“I just wanted to say that I’m sorry.When it comes to Dad, I’m more than a little protective.”
“And nobody wants to be a cliché, least of all me.”The smile Marta gave Trevor was soft and sweet.A layer of bandages fell from around his heart.He could so easily fall for this woman.
“I’ve worked for a lot of admirals over the years.Your father is very special.I hope you know how lucky you are to have him.Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to make a trip to the ladies’ room.It’s a long way back to California smelling like crab.”She held up her hands.“It was truly a pleasure meeting all of you again.I hope you get out to see your dad soon.”With that she slipped into the bathroom.
