Page 78 of A Hero Comes Home

Jake looked at Sally, wondering what she’d told everyone.

She just shrugged. “I might have mentioned that you’re an ass on occasion.” Then she grinned. “Or that you have a great ass.”

He grinned back at her and said, “Likewise.”

Once they were seated, Jake noticed a little girl wearing a red dress with a black belt and a mop of blonde curls. She was talking to a waitress over near the counter. “I assume that’s Kindergarten Barbie,” Jake said.

“Da-ad!” Matt protested, his face red with embarrassment as he pivoted to make sure no one overheard him.

“Hey, boys, I could give you some tips on how to draw in the chicks. First off, no picking your nose. For some odd reason, girls consider that uncool.”

Now it was all three boys who said, “Da-ad!”

“Stop teasing them,” Sally said, fighting a smile.

They ate and listened to “Hound Dog” three times on their personal jukebox. He and Sally listened to the boys chatter about every little thing that had happened on the weekend with PopPop, including a few things that might discomfort the old fellows.

It wasn’t until they got up from their booth and Jake was placing a tip on the table that Delilah was able to bring her husband out to meet Jake. She apologized for the delay, explaining that the sudden influx of customers was due to a van load of bird-watchers from Virginia coming in, unannounced. Not that the diner took reservations. The Outer Banks was noted for its nature preserves, and because of both its marsh and beach environments, there were presumably more than four hundred species of birds flying or nesting about. Jake knew because many of his school trips involved birding. It was something all Outer Banks kids knew about, his boys included.

“Jake, this is my husband, Merrill Good. Merrill, honey, this is Sally’s husband, Jake Dawson, that we’ve heard so much about.”

Good’s handshake was firm and he looked him straight in the eye as he said, “I’ve been looking forward to meeting you. I understand we have a lot in common.”

Jake assumed that he meant the military.

Sally and Delilah stepped aside and were talking softly about something involving Lollypalooza weekend. The boys subtly moved over crablike to where Maggie was now sitting on one of the counter stools helping the waitress fill ketchup squirt bottles. Well, subtle as a clump of three clumsy boys could be.

“Have you decided whether you’ll stay in the military or stay here in Bell Cove?”

No beating around the bush with this guy!

“Nope. Not a clue.”

“You’re welcome to join my salvaging crew, and we’re about to start another venture into the mountains, looking for precious gems. We can always use a guy with a military background.”

“Are you shitting me? I don’t have the physical capability or the coordination to do anything like that.” And, frankly, Jake was offended that he would bring it up.

“Bullshit!” Good said amiably. “You and I both know that men can overcome any kind of obstacles if they really want to. I know a guy who lost both legs, and he runs a fleet of trucks.”

“Don’t you mean Lieutenant Dan, and a fleet of shrimp boats?”

Good grinned. “No, I’m pretty sure Alan Petrie never met Forrest Gump.”

“I’ll think about it,” Jake said. “Thanks for the offer.”

“By the way, I’ve had my own experience with Nazim. Met him during a live op in Kabul one time. He was one mean sonofabitch.” Good gave Jake a knowing look, taking in his eye patch and the scars on his wounded leg. “If you ever want to talk, I’m here on the island. Anytime.”

Jake nodded.

Just then, several men and one woman walked into the diner, and Jake’s three boys exploded in excitement, “Uncle Kevin, Uncle Kevin!” They rushed the one guy, hugging his legs, and he actually picked Luke up in his arms, and the little traitor kissed him on the cheek.

It was Kevin Fortunato, of course, the guy he’d seen Sally talking to in the bakery last week.

Good looked at him with concern, and Jake assured him, “Don’t worry. I’m okay with this.”

He noticed Sally glancing his way with worry, too.

Am I really such an ass?