“Isn’t it a matter of shipping the stuff?” Dade asked.
“Sort of. But shipping can take time. My job is to try to anticipate. So, when my team realized what was going to happen, we got the gear packed and shipped ahead of time and found space in one of the supply depots for it, though it wasn’t there for very long. The heavy rain gear was distributed to units within days of its arrival.”
“So you look out for the troops and make sure they have what they need? That’s pretty cool.” He sat back as their food arrived.
“I like to think so,” Cliff said as he dug in. His stomach rumbled at the golden-brown goodness on his plate. He ate slowly, and Dade did the same. “God, this is so good.” He took another bite and closed his eyes. “My mom made sure I knew how to cook basic things. But it isn’t as though I can do much more than that. So, I heat something up at home.”
“Okay, I have to ask. Is army food as bad as they show it on TV?”
Cliff chuckled. “Sometimes. I mean, there are things that should never be served to anyone. But on the whole, no. It isn’t grand cuisine, but it’s not goop either. Now, after all these years in the army, I can eat just about anything. If there is something I don’t like, I close off that part of me and swallow it because it’s what you have to do in order to get through the meal and on to the next thing that’s required.” He sighed a little. “But I don’t think I’ve ever had anything as good as this.” Cliff had to stophimself from rushing. He was so used to eating in a hurry and then getting back to work that he had to keep himself from going into that mode.
This was the type of meal he wanted to savor, and that included his time with Dade. After tonight, it wasn’t likely they would see each other again. He’d gotten Dade out of the smoke-filled building, and Dade was thanking him. It hardly mattered if he found Dade fascinating. It seemed that Dade was not interested in seeing a guy in the military, and that was too bad, because Cliff would have liked to see more of Dade. Lots more.
ChapterThree
“You havegot to tell me what the dessert did to get you to make those noises,” Dade said with a grin. Cliff had been eating his dessert and making the most delicious sounds, which seemed to reverberate through him.
“Do you want a bite?” Cliff asked, and offered him the spoon. Dade took a small bite of the chocolate concoction and groaned himself. “So, you get it now?”
“I do.” He didn’t dare have any more than that.
“You can have some more,” Cliff offered.
Dade sighed. “I wish I could. Most of their desserts are chocolate, and I can’t have them. Chocolate is one of the things that triggers a migraine for me. If I have too much, I’ll spend the entire day in a dark, silent room either wishing the pain would go away, or asleep because the medication takes over and knocks me out. It’s either one or the other, so chocolate is my enemy in a way, and I do my best to stay away from it.”
“You have to be kidding. Chocolate is one of the great joys in life. I’m sorry you can’t eat it.” He finished his dessert. “You should have said something. I could have ordered something else, or we could have gone for ice cream. There’s a fantastic place on the edge of town.”
“It’s okay. I’m trying to watch what I eat, and dessert is one of those things I can do without.” He finished his glass of wine and was just content. It had been a long time since he was simply happy in someone’s company. There were no expectations or pressure. It was easy being with Cliff.
David returned to the table and took care of the dishes. Dade paid the bill, and then they left the restaurant. He stood out front, not sure what he should do. It was probably time togo home, but Cliff offered him his arm, so Dade took it, and they slowly walked up the street.
“I feel like Judy Garland inMeet Me in St. Louis,when she and John take their walk after the ball. Though he proposes to her and they have this lovely moment of fantasy before she and her family are supposed to leave town.” He drew closer against the chill in the air.
“Does this feel too old-fashioned?” Cliff asked. “My friends always tell me that I was born in the wrong age. That I don’t act like someone from now. Maybe I watched too many old movies.” They slowly walked down the sidewalk, past the antique store and one selling handmade soap. Traffic continued past, but Dade barely noticed it.
“Sometimes there’s no such thing as old-fashioned. I mean, we’re two men, and I’m holding your arm in public. That’s the least old-fashioned thing I can think of.” He leaned slightly against Cliff as they continued past the church to the square. “I don’t think care, respect, and courtesy are out of date or should ever be considered as such.” He liked that Cliff seemed attentive.
“Daedalus!” He knew that sharp tone and tensed, pulling away from Cliff as his father approached, in full officer and command mode, as usual. His father never did anything any other way.
“Yes, Father.” He addressed him the way he always had. After all, the general had never been a dad to anyone. He was a father in the most remote and formal way possible. “What is it you want?” Thankfully, he wasn’t in uniform; that would have been humiliating. His father had retired from the army as a general two years ago and had returned to Carlisle at that time. He’d pulled some strings to get himself officially transferred to the barracks and then retired so he could stay here. Why he didn’t get himself transferred to Area 51 or somewhere much closer to his sister Maria in Las Vegas, he had no idea. Maybe hissister hadn’t wanted their father living so close to her any more than Dade did.
“I found you a much better job than the one you have. It’s a civilian job with the army, and it pays much better than… the one you have.”
Dade rolled his eyes. “I’m perfectly happy where I am.” He cleared his throat. “This is Cliff.” He refused to introduce him by his rank, or his father would get on his high horse and talk Cliff’s ear off about getting ahead, showing respect, and God knows what else. “He and I had dinner together.”
“Yes.” He nodded to Cliff but turned back to Dade as though he didn’t matter.
“Cliff saved my life. I told you that my apartment filled with smoke. Cliff came in and got me out. Otherwise, I’d have died from lack of air.”
“Don’t be dramatic. I’m sure you would have found a way to get out. You’re my son, after all, and nothing would stopmefrom getting out of a room with a little smoke.” He was as dismissive as usual. “Anyway, I want you to meet with the people from this school. It’s a military academy.” Of course it was.
“No, thank you. I’m happy right where I am. I love my students, and I’m happy here.” He tried to keep his voice neutral because his father would only get pushier if he got upset. “Is that all you wanted to tell me?”
“Yes. I’m meeting your mother for dinner.” He turned and took two steps. Dade didn’t wait around for his father’s parting shot. Instead, he headed down the sidewalk, with Cliff coming along next to him.
“Saracina… I knew that last name sounded familiar. That was General Thomas Sacarina. He’s your father?”
“Yes. Now, can you imagine growing up in a house with him? Believe me, I try not to remember it as much as possible. Everyone says he was a great leader, but as a father….”
