Page 17 of Passing Ships

Her eyes go to Avie. “Oh, yes, of course. If you prefer barbeque, we’ll do barbeque.”

“That was painless. What’s next on the agenda?” I ask.

“We need to decide on the desserts, and the bakery sent over a list of options. Let me find it on my phone,” Naomie says.

“Oh, there’s no need for that,” Sabel says. “Ida Mae and I have desserts covered.”

“You do?” Naomie asks.

“Yes, Mom. The rehearsal dinner is hosted by the groom’s family, so I asked Sabel if she could make some of Sebastian’s favorite things,” Avie interjects.

“Oh, how nice. You’ll be making them yourself?”

“Yes, I’ll be making the cobbler, and Ida Mae, the pudding,” Sabel answers.

“Cobbler and pudding. For a wedding?”

Sabel looks her in the eye and smiles. “This is North Carolina. We don’t have showers, receptions, or rehearsal dinners without peach cobbler and banana pudding on the menu. I’ll also be serving sweet tea and lemonade. You may serve whatever froufrou parfait and beverage you prefer in addition to those though.”

“No. That sounds lovely and will fit perfectly with the barbeque cuisine,” Naomie says.

Avie reaches across the table and takes her mother’s hand. “Mom, we really would like it to be more laid-back so everyone can just relax and enjoy themselves before the wedding.”

“Of course. I didn’t mean any disrespect. I want everything to be perfect for you, sweetheart, and I am sure Sabel’s cobbler is to die for,” she says, bringing her apologetic eyes back to Sabel. “I’d be happy to help if you need me,” she offers.

“I can always use an extra pair of hands to pit and cut the peaches. Sebastian and Lennon can eat an entire cobbler apiece, so I plan to make several.”

“I’m an excellent sous-chef,” Naomie states, happy to be involved in any way.

“Look at us, drinking margs and getting shit done,” I say as I raise my glass.

Avie gives me an appreciative smile and mouths, Thank you, before raising her glass to clink mine.

I wink at her and down the rest of the liquid in my glass, and Sabel refills it.

Lennon

The meeting with Chief Petty Officer Hammon went great. He has a position coming open in the next month that would allow me to keep my O-6 rank as captain with only a slight pay cut, and with the cost-of-living gap between Virginia and North Carolina, I won’t even feel that difference.

Retiring and buying into a partnership with Wade is tempting. Being my own boss after twenty-two years of being under the Navy’s command would be refreshing, and with my time served, I’d receive fifty-five percent of my current base pay and full benefits from the Navy. Which is nothing to sneeze at. However, if I finish out my career with the Coast Guard, I can retire at fifty-seven with a pension of one hundred percent of my monthly pay.

It’s a lot to consider.

Wade swings by his house to pick up Eden and her brother, Kenton, and we head to my parents’ house.

Dad is pulling burgers off the grill as we arrive.

“Take this to the patio for me, son. We gotta get some food into the women soon. They’re on their fourth pitcher of margaritas already,” he whispers as he passes me a platter.

I look over to where Mom and Nana are seated with Avie and her mother. The four of them are laughing loudly.

I scan the yard, and my eyes fall on Amiya. She has Leia’s hands clasped in hers, and she is swinging the child around in a circle as fast as she can while Leia squeals in delight.

Wade finds Sebastian and Gramps at the firepit, and he and Kenton park their behinds in the chairs beside them.

I make my way over to the folding table that is set up just outside the back door and set the platter down beside the packs of hamburger buns.

“Lennon!”