Cynthia smiled. "That's so charming. And you know, I do think you're right. I believe I will change my itinerary, and leave this afternoon as well, since I have so much to do back in Michigan."
"Hear you got a wedding coming." Andrew sat back and sucked his coffee. "Glad that feller stepped up."
The woman across from him lifted her teacup in his direction. "Thank the lord," she said. "I was so disappointed with Brian, really. It's been very hard on Angela, though surely she had to take the same responsibility for her actions." She studied his scarred face. "I did think that was going to be quite awkward between Angela and Kerrison."
Andrew chuckled. "Kerry was some pissed at that boy. Thought he wasn't doing right by her sister."
"Oh," Cynthia said. "Well, yes, I suppose she would feel that way." She sipped her tea. "After all, she'd met Dar by then, hadn't she?"
Andrew smiled. "She done that." He allowed. "Dar said they got to be sweethearts right off."
They were both quiet, as the waitress came back and set their plates down, then left again to attend to the customers now coming in for lunch.
"That--ah, never bothered you, did it?" Cynthia asked.
"Naw." Andrew cut his burger in half and selected the left side of it. "Never had to worry about no feller coming by and doing her wrong while I was out there overseas, anyhow."
"Oh." Kerry's mother sounded surprised. "Well, I never thought of that." She picked her way through her tuna croissant. "At any rate, I am glad she's happy, and that she and Dar are so very fond of each other."
"Me, too." Andrew ate a fry. "Your kid's good people. I am damn glad she's part of mah family."
Cynthia smiled wryly. "I would imagine she feels the same," she murmured. "I know she's had a trying time with her own."
Andrew finished his burger. "Wall, ah think y'all will be all right in that way." He wiped his lips. "She's right fond of you all. Just take sometime. Y'all got that."
"Yes, we do." Kerry's mother smiled a little more easily. "As terrible as this past week has been, it has given me hope that my family can find a way to come together again. Kerry has invited me down to see their home and meet their friends."
Andrew chewed his fries as he considered this. "Got a nice place,"he finally said. "Ah like that little place they got down south better than the fancy one, but it's all right too."
"Do you mean the cabin? Kerry showed me pictures. It looks so charming." Cynthia sipped her tea. "I'm looking forward to seeing it. She even showed me photos of their pet."
"Hairball." Andrew chuckled softly. "Cute dog." He amended.
"Yes," his table companion said. "Kerry told me--" She hesitated. "I never actually knew what had happened with her little Cocker Spaniel."
Andrew merely grunted.
"I feel terrible now about it. Roger wanted to get her another one, and I convinced him not to." Cynthia said a pensive look on her face. "I just didn't want to have to deal with a puppy. All the mess--I just never knew how much it meant to her or what--"
"That feller who done that was a wrong-headed man," Andrew said quietly.
"Yes, he was," Cynthia said. "Do you know, the police finally closed that case they were investigating about it?" She watched his face intently. "They decided it was an accident after all."
Andrew lifted his eyes and met hers squarely. "That man got what was coming to him. Ah only wish it'd come to him twenty years b'fore then so he did not have no chance to do what he done to your daughter."
Cynthia took a breath, and released it. "Roger finally realized the things Kerry had said weren't lies." She lowered her voice. "It upset him so much. He sent Kyle away while he investigated, and the night he got so sick--it was after he finally spoke to Kerry's old doctor."
Andrew cocked his head slightly.
"You know, I had never seen him cry before," Kerry's mother said simply. "It astounded me. I had no idea why he was so upset, and then--well, then he had this meeting he had to go to and after that--it was too late and he couldn't tell me."
"Lord."
Cynthia wiped her lips slowly with her napkin. "Terrible," shemurmured. "I am glad Kyle died. It is not a Christian thing to say, but it's true." She watched Andrew slowly nod. "I do like to think he got what he deserved."
"Ah do believe he did," Andrew said. "Might be he even knowed that fore he died."
Cynthia exhaled. "May the Lord grant that he did."She reached over and patted his hand. "Commander, thank you for taking the time to have lunch with me. It's always lovely talking to you."
Andrew's eyes took on a humorous glint. "Ya'll be sure to let mah wife know when you're coming down our way. We can go have us some conch fritters together."
"I certainly will." She stood up, as the waiter came over. "Here, I believe this will cover it. Thank you." She handed the man a folded bill. "Commander, thank you for letting me buy you lunch. I hope you have a wonderful trip home."
"Same t'you."Andrew lifted a hand and waved it at her. "And call me Andy. I ain't in the Navy no more."
Cynthia smiled. "I will do that. After all, we're family, aren't we?"She turned and left the café, heading for the front door again.
Andrew shook his head and chuckled briefly. "Lord."
DAR WAS CONTENT to sit quietly on the couch providing a pillow for Kerry's sleeping form. The room had gotten crowded with both New York staff and their visiting team, and a pile of boxes had just been deposited on the conference table filling the air with the scent of cheese and garlic.
Kerry was oblivious to it all. Someone had brought a blanket up from the bus and she had it tucked around her, and around Dar's arm that was draped over her body.
Alastair came over with a plate. "Piece of pizza, Dar?" He offered her a slice. "Probably won't have much at the airport."
"Sure." Dar maneuvered the big slice with one hand, getting it folded between her fingers before she nibbled at the small end. It was hot, cheesy, and had a nice crisp crust that tasted a touch smokey. "Mm."
"Sometimes you like life's simple pleasures." Alastair took a bite of his own. "This is one of them."
Dar had to agree. "Bet your wife is looking forward to you getting home, huh?"
"Lady, you know it." Alastair settled back in his chair, balancing a can of root beer on the arm. "We can share a ride to the airport. Get a few minutes of private chat time."
Dar nodded. "You talk to the board?" She glanced up to see the door open and Hamilton appear. "Ah. Lawyer's in the house."
Alastair turned his head. "Hey, Ham, over here." He called out. "Grab yourself a piece of pie and sit down."
Their corporate lawyer complied. He laid two pieces on a paper plate and came over to join them. Atypically, he was dressed in jeans and a polo shirt rather than his usual suit, and he settled into the chair across from Dar with a weary grunt.
"Got your tickets?" Alastair asked.
"Hell yes." Hamilton answered. "I've had enough of the neighborhood to last me a coon's birthday." He bit into his pizza. "I'm on your flight back to Houston, Al. I've got so much paperwork to dig through I might as well take up your space to do it."
Alastair grunted and nodded.
"Where are we with all those government demands?" Dar asked.
"Don't go there, Maestro." Hamilton waved his pizza at her. "Do not ask about any of that. Just please go back to Miami and continue being brilliant and let me do my job."
Dar blinked at him. "Sure. All yours."
"Let's just say I had my hands full the last couple of days," Ham said"Al, you owe me a damned fine steak dinner out of this."
"No problem my friend." Alastair took a swig of his root beer. "That's a debt I'm glad to pay. We've got a lot of work ahead of us in the next few days."
"Got that right."