Chapter 14

07:35 PDT Saturday, August 17^th, 1991

28910 Matadero Creek Lane

Los Altos Hills, CA 94022

Looking out the window, Deb saw the car in the driveway behind Jack's. Slipping into the kitchen in her customary silk robe, she found the Admiral sipping coffee behind the newspaper. She was headed to the refrigerator to make breakfast when she stopped and returned to the Admiral, pulled his paper to the side, and kissed him lightly on the cheek.

Laughing lightly, she scampered to the refrigerator, and began pulling out the makings for omelets. Looking back at the Admiral, her eyes met his shocked expression. "Harry," she said exasperatedly, "a very dear friend will join us for breakfast this morning. Please, don't be an ass."

"Today is a day for firsts," the Admiral said wonderingly. "Of course not, Deb. Is this the end of détente?"

"Pax Modernus," Deb agreed, "peace in our time."

"Good morning, sir." Jack stepped into the room, and Deb laughed outright as the Admiral's eyebrows rose nearly two inches.

"Good morning, Chief," Admiral Harding told him. "Under the circumstances, and with us both being retired and all, perhaps we could just call each other by our first names?"

"I promise I'll slip from time to time, but yes, sir, I will." Kostowe smiled with the small jest. "I'm Jack," he said more seriously.

Harry smiled back. "Harry," he said simply, and slid the rest of the newspaper toward an empty seat, mute invitation to sit. Jack complied, and this was the scene as Barbara found them moments later.

Kostowe departed a few hours before, having said something about the Joy Redux. Harry was fairly certain it was a graceful excuse, though he did not rush away. Barbara and Deb had had a good talk, closer and more intimate than they'd had in more than a year, one in which Harry was definitely excluded.

Smiling to himself, he remembered the impulsive peck Deb had given him in the morning. The years with her in his household had been... strained, he supposed, at first, then they'd grown into a kind of standoff, a miniature Cold War. She'd worked for him, but always it had been because of Barbara, and his retirement had cooled Deb's relationship with Barbara considerably. He hadn't intended that, but Deb, for whatever reason of her own, had found Harry less than suitable, wanting Barbara to herself. Barbara, for her part, had chided Deb gently, and in private had reaffirmed to Harry that her place was by his side and in his bed. Deb would have to grow a little more, Barbara had said.

Harry had made it clear that Barbara should not end her lover's relationship when he'd first learned of it, and he had reiterated it after retirement. His view was that it was no fault of Deb's, but was somewhat of his, for being gone so long and wedded to his career as well as to Barbara. Who was he to complain if Barbara had a second lover? This was her weakness, and he admitted to himself, her strength, that she could love Deb and Harry both; the price was played out when he was back from the sea. Also, Deb had made an art of discretion, playing the part of the loyal secretary and retainer perfectly. Harry had known for years that he admired and felt affection for Deb.