Dar and Kerry exchanged another glance, with a completely different set of emotions reflected in it. “Right.” Dar said. “So tell me about Jack's new squadron. New planes?”
They launched into a military hardware conversation that left Kerry and Mary Easton regarding each other in bemused silence. “Do you like Washington, Kerry?”
“No, not so much.” Kerry had finished her meatloaf, and was now sipping on the blackberry ice tea Mary had served with it. “I spent more than enough time here while I was growing up. Never really liked it.”
“No, I guess not. Gerry told me a little about you having some family issues.” The older woman looked at her sympathetically. “My father was a state representative. I did my share of cheese and pate parties.”
“Yeah.” Kerry smiled. “It can be tough for a kid growing up in that world. That was one of the reasons I wanted to get my sister to get a dog like our Chino for her little girl. I think she feels it, and they've had some family problems so..”
Mary smiled back. “Nothing like a little unreserved love, is there?”
“No. Nothing like it.”
“I was so glad when Jack said Dar was going to take one of the last litter. When she was here, she seemed a little sad.” Mary lowered her voice. “I always felt she missed out not being in the service, no matter what I said before about Jack being out there. It's a family, you know?”
Kerry nodded. “I know. I'm glad there's a family now around her.” She said. “I love her parents.”
“The Lord certainly looked after them.” The general's wife said. “No doubt.”
Well. “I'm sure something was.” Kerry said. “Good people have a way of winning out that way.”
Kerry stretched out in the passenger seat, watching the dark streets go by as they headed for the airport. “They're a nice couple.”
“They are.” Dar agreed. “I”m glad we stayed and had dinner with them.”
“And got a puppy.” Kerry chuckled. “Was that hasty?”
“I like hasty.” Dar asserted. “Besides, it's true. He'll be company for Chino, and he can go in our RV with us.”
Kerry thought that was going to be more chaos than the casual words indicated, but that was all right. “Let's make sure the RV has a washable floor.”
“Mm.” Dar turned into the small private airfield, already spotting their plane waiting to one side of a fenced wall. “That'll be a pleasure to deal with after all the crap we're going to have to get through with all this.” She shut the car off and got out, handing over the keys to a uniformed valet.
“Thought about what you're going to tell them?” Kerry zipped her jacket up and followed her partner into the airfield building, lifting a hand in greeting at their pilot.
“I already know what I'm going to tell them. No.” Dar handed over their overnight bag. “Sorry to keep you so late, Kent.”
“No problem. Friend of mine came over and took me for dinner.” The pilot assured them. “And I took a four hour nap. It's all good.”
They followed him out to the plane and boarded, trading the cold wind for the smell of leather and a hint of aviation kerosene. Dar dropped into a seat, then grimaced as her phone rang. She removed it from her pocket and glanced at the caller ID. “Uh oh.”
“Uh oh?”
“Alastair.” Dar hit the answer button. “Dar Roberts.” She enunciated clearly.
“Hey there Dar.” Alastair's voice echoed softly. “Just wanted to find out how everything went today. Boards a little anxious.”
Dar sighed. “With good reason, Alastair. I don't have news you want to hear.”
“Ah.”
Kerry removed her jacket and hung it up in the little closet, as the flight attendant came out with some cappuccino, and a plate of warm cookies. “Oo.”
“You know, Ms. Stuart, I have to say I really wish you two weren't leaving the company.” The woman said, with a sigh. “I'm sure going to miss you.” She offered the cookies. “The last exec plane I worked the only thing I got to service was vodka and caviar.”
“So you like cookies and hot mocha better?” Kerry laughed, taking a cup and a cookie. “I'll tell you it's nice to come back to after a day like today.” She could see Dar's grimace. “Better get her some milk.”
“Look Alastair.. what do you want me to tell you? Want me to lie? I didn't ask for this.” Dar leaned back in her chair and gave Kerry a pathetic look. “It was about as welcome as a hemorrhoid.”
“Gotcha.” The flight attendant went back to the small galley as Kerry brought her cookie over and broke off a small piece, offering it to her beleaguered partner.
Dar accepted it, chewing and swallowing it as she listened. “Just don't say anything about the government position. The board half figured that was something directed at me personally anyway. I'm going to say no.”
Kerry fed her another piece.
“Well, honestly Alastair, it was me that got them Gerry's contract.” Dar said after another long moment of listening. “I get their point, we are international.”
The flight attendant came back and offered a glass of milk, which Dar took after giving her a bemused glance, which she then turned on Kerry, who smiled and took the seat next to her.
“Then I suggest you tell the board we're going to have to form a US only subsidiary if they want to pursue that. Maybe I can convince Gerry to go that route.” Dar said. “I gotta go, they want to take off.” She paused to listen. “Yeah, I know Alastair. For what it's worth, I”m sorry.”
She hung up as they started to taxi and let the device rest on her thigh, turning her head to regard Kerry. “He thinks they're going to want me to come to Houston again.” She said. “Maybe I'll get lucky and they'll decide to let me get out of there early.”
“Us.” Kerry replied instantly.
“Us.” Dar took a sip of her milk. “I hope to hell they find someone to take this damn job soon.”
“Look at her.” Kerry was sitting on their couch, as Chino subjected her to a complete and very thorough sniffing. “She knows I was messing with those puppies.”
“Of course she does.” Dar was standing looking out of the sliding glass doors, watching the lights of the channel blink in their red and green pattern. “You smell like puppy. You think she's dumb?”
Kerry studied their pet, whose tail was wagging wildly. “I think she likes it.” She stroked Chino's thick fur, and the dog settled down and put her head on Kerry's lap, tail still thumping against the couch surface. “What do you think, Chi? You want to play with your little brother? He's really cute.”
She glanced at Dar's back, seeing the tension in the shoulders facing her. “You still freaking out?”
Dar's hands lifted and then fell again. She turned and came over to the couch, sitting down on the other side of Chino and draping her arm across the back. “I feel bad.” She admitted. “I wasn't counting on Gerry's deal.”
“Yeah.” Kerry slid her arm outside Dar's and stroked the skin of her shoulder through her shirt. “But what you told Alastair was right, Dar. You did get that account for ILS. I remember when it happened.”
“I remember using it to make your numbers work and save your buddies jobs.” Dar mused. “But it was legit. That second one, when I coerced him into giving me all those extra contracts to keep my mouth shut on the Navy base, that wasn't so legit.”
“ILS won, either way.”
“They did.” Dar let her head rest against the couch back. “You know what, maybe I don't feel bad. Maybe I'm just frustrated at being in such a weird spot with everyone.” She admitted. “Anything you particularly want to do this weekend?”
“Hm.” Kerry accepted the subject change gracefully. “I don't know. We'll figure something out tomorrow.” She held her hand out palm up. “It's midnight. Want to join me in our water bed?”