Page 22 of Fall of the Trident
“And I’ve already booked Chef Jorge to come to my house and cook supper in front of us.I also paid the extra for the wine pairing.”
“I’ve always wanted to do that.Let me know how that goes.I might do that for my birthday.”Ever since her divorce, Genevieve had thrown herself a birthday party.Marta wasn’t sure whether she’d continue the tradition now that she was married to Evan again.
“One of the reasons I stopped in was because I wanted to invite you over for a party.”Genevieve straightened her back.“I’m celebrating my retirement.In truth, what I’m really celebrating is that I’m never going to stand in front of a class of elementary children again.Maybe someday, when Ian goes to school, I might consider teaching at the college level.You seem to enjoy it.”
“I do,” Marta admitted.“The people who take my class want to be there.Sure, many of them are required to take it, but overall, I think most of them are very interested in the information.You’d be a great college teacher.”
Genevieve shrugged.“That’s a long way from now.”Her friend smiled as though she had a secret.“Right now, I’m too busy enjoying being a newlywed.”
“Ugh!”Marta dramatically rolled her eyes.“I don’t want to hear about how often you’re getting laid.I don’t care if you are my best friend, I have to work with your husband.”In truth, Marta didn’t want to think about how long it had been since she’d had a man between her legs.It had been years.Lots of years.Thank goodness for her drawer of toys.
“Back to myI’m not going back to schoolparty; I’m inviting the entire Cougar Club.Since we really haven’t had everybody over since April when we moved in together, Evan wants all the officers and their wives, fiancés, girlfriends, whatever, to be invited also.”Genevieve pulled out her phone.“I’m thinking the weekend after Labor Day.What do you think?”
Marta pulled up the calendar on her computer.“That works for me.As far as I can see, Trevor doesn’t have anything on his schedule either.”She rolled her calendar to October.“That reminds me, are you going with us on the annual Napa Valley trip?”
Genevieve looked shocked.“Of course.A love that trip.I wouldn’t miss it.”
“What about baby Ian?”Marta reminded her.
“He can go to base daycare for a week.I’ve already discussed that with Dylan.”Genevieve smiled coyly.“And Evan will just have to go a whole week without sex.”Giggling, her friend stood up.“Gotta run.I handed Ian off to Dylan, and now that he has a long weekend, Evan and I have two extra days without the baby.Naked time.”
“You bitch,” Marta called to her best friend as she waved goodbye.It was wonderful to see Genevieve happily married.
Marta wondered if she’d ever marry again.When she’d first lost John, she couldn’t imagine herself sleeping with another man.That changed after a few years when she’d decided to put herself back into the dating pool.Being surrounded all day by Navy SEALs, other men literally didn’t size up.
She’d even tried dating a few SEAL officers, but that hadn’t worked well.They’d either known her husband or had wanted nothing more than a quick fuck.Once she’d concentrated on her master’s degree, the men she’d met at night school seemed lacking in every way compared to those she worked with every day.
She’d gone years without a date, like her friends in the Cougar Club who were either widows or divorcees.All of them had seemed to have given up on men.They traveled together, worked out together, often met for supper, but most of all, they laughed together.
As Marta thought about her upcoming date on Saturday night, she worried that perhaps she’d been single too long.Was she too set in her ways?She liked her space and quiet time to read with a glass of wine.And was Trevor ready to move on?His wife had only been gone five years.
At least they’d agreed upon the rules while on the plane.If it didn’t work out, they’d go their separate ways.
But what if they discovered they liked being together?
Chapter8
Trevor’supcoming supper with Marta had filled his thoughts since she’d agreed to dine with him.He hadn’t been on a date in over thirty years.He didn’t feel comfortable asking his closest friend, Evan, for advice.What if Marta decided after their first date that she never wanted to see him privately again?He’d be embarrassed enough without Evan knowing the details.The fact that his wife, Genevieve, and Marta were best friends was another reason not to ask the commanding officer of Group 1.Although Paul was the closest officer in rank, Trevor barely knew the man.Their careers had been on opposite coasts.
After hours of personal debate, he decided he needed a woman’s perspective and called his daughter.
“Daddy, this is a surprise.Hang on.I need to move somewhere quiet.”
Trevor cringed.Of course his daughter would be out.It was nearly eight-thirty on a Friday night on the East Coast.Although they talked often, she’d never mentioned any man in particular.The pounding music dimmed until it was barely audible.
“Daddy, are you all right?Is everything okay?”Linda truly sounded concerned.
“I’m fine, sweetie.I’m sorry I called you this late.We can just talk on Sunday like usual.”He felt terrible pulling her away from the party or club or whatever.
“Daddy,” she said sternly.“You never call me during the week.This must be serious.Talk to me, please,” she pleaded.
He let out a heavy sigh.He had her on the phone and he might as well tell her.Maybe she could help him.“I don’t know if your brother mentioned it to you or not, but I have a date tomorrow night with Marta.”
She squealed so loud he yanked the phone away from his ear.
“No.Neither of the boys said anything to me, but I’m so glad that you are dipping your toe in the dating pond.I’ll warn you, though, sometimes I think it’s more of a cesspool than a pretty country pond filled with colorful fish.And I’m so glad you’re going out with Marta.I really do like her.”Linda finally took a breath.“Now, modern dating rules have changed a lot…but not for you.You’re my dad.You can hold her hand after the meal while walking her back to the car.A brief peck on the cheek is all you’re allowed on the first date.By the way, where are you taking her?”
That was his little girl.She didn’t hesitate to tell him exactly what she thought.Never had.He’d come to love her honesty.Trevor chuckled.“Are you done?Is it finally my turn to talk?”
