Ceci gave him a curious look, then caught on and slipped to the 188 Melissa Good other side of Kerry, tucking an arm around her waist. “All righty, then,”

she agreed. “Ah. A steakhouse. How Republican.”

“Hey,” Kerry objected jokingly. “I’m the one who eats vegetables.”

She poked a finger at Dar. “Unlike her.”

They chuckled and walked toward the restaurant. Dar felt a little silly, but she could see the exchange of glances as Jeff took in their posture, the look on her father’s face, and the very obvious acceptance of both her and Kerry inherent in their body language. Sometimes, she mused, I underestimate my parents. The thought made her smile, and she slid an arm around her father’s waist and gave him a squeeze.

“’Lo there, Jeff,” Andrew drawled as they arrived in front of the door. “Been a while.”

“Andy,” the officer acknowledged quietly, shifting his eyes slightly. “Cecilia, good to see you.”

Ceci looked him right in the eye and smiled. “Same here. Nice to have these little family get-togethers, isn’t it?” She nodded at Jeff’s wife.

“Hello, Sue. Have you met Kerrison? No? Why don’t we go inside and catch up.”

It would, Kerry sighed inwardly, be almost comical if it were happening to someone else. They all walked stiffly inside and were taken to a waiting table, where Kerry found herself seated between Ceci and Andrew and across from the dour-looking Chuck. For a moment she felt very sad, because she knew this should have been a happy occasion.

Then her common sense kicked in and she straightened, cupping her hands around her water glass. Her eyes met the commander’s calmly.

“As a matter of fact...” she answered Ceci’s question, “the commander and I have met. In fact, we had lunch together.”

Unable to avoid conversation, Jeff Ainsbright cleared his throat.

“Yes, we did.” He managed to get out, ignoring the quick, almost startled look from his wife. “Yes, we did.”

“That must have been fun,” Ceci remarked. “Let me guess, on base?” She gave Kerry an amused look. “Was it meatloaf or open-faced turkey sandwiches?”

Andrew snorted softly.

“Meatloaf,” Dar acknowledged quietly. “Still tastes the same.”

“Oh. Yum.” Her mother made a face. The table fell silent. Ceci drummed fingers on the table and tried again. “Okay, folks, listen up.”

She put her hands flat on the wood surface. “Either we agree to have a nice time here, or I’m going to have to start talking about Greenpeace.

Which is it going to be?”

The Ainsbrights stared at her. Finally, Sue Ainsbright sighed and pushed a curl of gray hair out of one eye. “Ceci, you always did have the tact of a dead swordfish, didn’t you?”

“I’m sorry, get over it,” the smaller woman shot back. “Broaden your horizons, adjust your thinking, swallow an Ex-Lax, whatever it takes, but drag yourselves into the twenty-first century and get over the Red Sky At Morning 189

fact that my kid’s gay, okay?”

Kerry bit the inside of her lip so hard it almost bled. The looks on the Ainsbrights’ faces were so priceless, she wished she had a camera, though one look at Dar’s wide eyes told her that her beloved partner wasn’t sharing the mirth.

“Well,” Andrew drawled, “guess I can show ’em my rainbow keychain now, huh?”

Jeff Ainsbright took a breath, released it, then just lifted a hand and let it fall. “Haven’t changed a lick, have you, Ceci?” He managed a faint smile. “You always took the gut punch if you could.”

Ceci shrugged.

Andrew took her hand in his. “Straight talk never killed no one, Jeff,” he advised his old friend. “I’ve been in places that coulda used more of that.” Their eyes met, and something passed between them.

The commander nodded. “You’re right, Andrew. Dar, I apologize.

I...it was just a shock, that’s all.” He cleared his throat. “Ms. Stuart, my apologies as well.”

“For what?” Kerry asked mildly. “Dar and I are used to getting mixed reactions to our being partners. Some people just can’t handle it.”

“It’s not that,” Sue Ainsbright interjected. “We’re very progressive people. It’s just that we’ve known—or, well, we thought we knew Dar, and it’s just...strange, that’s all.” She reddened. “That you’re so...um...”

“Out?” Dar remarked conversationally.

The commander shot her a look, then glanced away.

“It’s not contagious,” Dar said.

“It’s disgusting,” Chuckie interrupted.

His mother looked horrified. “Charles!”

“You can sit here and pretend, but I won’t,” Chuck said. “It’s disgusting, and you’re perverts.” He got up and slammed his chair back, then stalked out of the restaurant as startled patrons watched him go. The commander and his wife had the grace to look intensely embarrassed. “He doesn’t mean that,” Jeff finally said quietly. “He’s just...” His eyes lifted and finally met Dar’s. “He never really did let go of you, and he was hoping...”

Dar let out a long breath. “I know,” she said. “He’s a good man, Uncle Jeff.” She felt the awkwardness in the name. “I’m sorry.” She felt a little guilty that she’d never thought of Chuckie, not for the longest time since she’d left the base. Not until he’d popped back up into her life as part of this damned investigation.

Now he was lost to her again. She didn’t know whether to feel sorry or relieved. At least he won’t be bugging me to go out anymore. Dar looked up to find Kerry gazing across the table at her with a look of quiet compassion, and she managed a smile in return. Suddenly, she wished they were done with this. Wished they were away from this unneeded stress, homeward bound and headed for a quiet night and a 190 Melissa Good warm hot tub together.

Getting cowardly in your old age, Paladar? she mocked herself. “Let me go talk to him.” Dar stood and pushed her chair in before they could protest, then turned and walked away from the table, toward the outside door through which Chuckie had left.

The commander and Andrew exchanged glances. “Sorry, Andy,”

Jeff Ainsbright muttered. “Hell of a reunion.”

“Could have been worse.” Ceci motioned over the hovering waiter.

“I could have invited my brother and sister.” She held up a finger. “Do you have beer?”

“Of course, ma’am,” the waiter spluttered.

“Bring the largest container of it you have, and seven glasses,” Ceci told him. “And what are those, peanuts? Put them down.” She handed a peanut to Kerry. “I could have been a social director, don’t you think?”

Weak chuckles responded to her valiant attempt.

THE AIR OUTSIDE the restaurant was cool, and a little damp, and Dar paused to take a steadying breath of it before she let her eyes search the parking lot. Her mother had surprised her, she admitted privately.

But then, her parents had been surprising her for a while now, hadn’t they?

Dar spotted Chuck standing by a beige Ford Explorer, and she headed in that direction, passing through bars of twilight mixed with the lurid ochre of the security lamps.

He looked up as he heard her footsteps, and his lip curled reflexively. “Get out of here.”

Dar paused several body lengths away. “Listen.”

“Get the fuck out of here, you freak,” Chuck spat back. “Just get away from me.”

“Charles.” Dar put her hands on her hips. “Get a grip. I’m not touching you.” Her stomach twisted in a knot. “Calm down.”

He stared at her. “You make me sick.”

Dar rolled her eyes. “What in the hell do you think you are, a bad commercial for Jesse Helms? Get off the milk crate, Chuck. I’m not the first gay person you’ve ever known.” She took a step closer. “What’s the big deal?”

Chuck’s eyes narrowed. “What’s the big deal?” he asked softly, balling his fists and coming a little closer. “What’s the big deal? You fucking little lying perverted slut.”

“Charles.” Dar’s voice dropped in pitch. “Slow down. I never lied to you.”

“Yeah?” Chuckie exhaled. “I knew you’d follow me out here.” He turned and grabbed something leaning against the Ford and lunged at her. “I knew I’d have a chance to do this!”

Dar barely reacted in time. She saw the bat headed toward her and Red Sky At Morning 191

half turned, taking the crunching blow on her shoulder. “Chuck!” She dodged the return blow and backed off. “Stop it!”

He was beyond reasoning. “Fuck you. Making a fool out of me. Bet the guys all knew, didn’t they? Didn’t they, Dar?”

The bat came back at her, catching her on the hip before she could evade it, but Chuck overbalanced and smashed full into her, and they both went to the ground in a tangle of limbs.

Shit. Dar’s defensive reactions kicked into gear, and she swung an elbow up into his chin, feeling the shock of the impact as his head rocked back. She got a knee between them and pushed up, then to one side, throwing Chuck off her. “Stupid bastard.”

Dar grabbed the bat, which had rolled free from his hands, and flung it from her, hearing it clatter and roll down past the next row of parked cars. She got to her feet just as he did, and her body moved, balancing as she whipped out a roundhouse kick that caught him flat-footed, striking the side of his head with a crunch Dar could feel all the way down her leg.

His body slammed against the car next to where they were fighting, setting off its alarm with a loud, strident sound. They both froze, then stared at each other. “Now what?” Dar asked. “You going to find another bat, or are you going to just get the gun out of the trunk and shoot me, Chuck?”