Duty(45)

“Roger that, sir. And thanks for the heads up. Can I ask you a question, sir?”

“Sure, go ahead,” Captain Lemmon says, scribbling down a note. Knowing him, he's making sure that he has my info right for talking to Aaron.

“What was Lieutenant Simpson like as a cadet?”

Captain Lemmon laughs and sets his pen down. “He was a total spaz as a plebe, but most plebes are. Got pretty squared away by the end of his second year. By the way, when you talk about him . . . make sure he's Lieutenant Simpson anytime you're on duty. You called him Aaron twice. I understand off duty, as part of the program, we set the uniform aside, and I think of him as Aaron too. But it'd help if you make sure that to anyone else, he's Lieutenant Simpson.”

“Understood, sir. And thank you for your understanding.”



Watching Lance snuggle down with his favorite stuffed animal, I make sure he's sleeping peacefully before I head out to the living room, sitting down. Now that I've got a few moments of peace and quiet, I have the chance to actually think about what Captain Lemmon said.

The fact is, I liked that twenty minutes or so just hanging out with Aaron. And I didn't just like it because I was tired and appreciated the tea, or as a way to thank him for watching Lance for the extra time with no complaints.

But when I think of last Saturday, the memory of his thumb on my cheek is powerful, and the fact is that I haven't called him yet this week because I wanted to make sure that I'm clear on why I'm calling him. Am I calling for Lance? Or for me?

I guess it doesn't really matter, though. Aaron knows that, I think, which is why I reach for my phone and dial. To hell with it. Lance needs time with him. “Hello?”

“Aaron? It's Lindsey. How's it going?”

Aaron's voice in my ear helps me relax more than anything I've tried today, and in that instant, I know that I have to spend time with him too. Friend, lover, whatever . . . I need him. “Hey, Lindsey. This is the second time I've heard your name this evening.”

“Ah, Captain Lemmon called you?” I ask, smiling. “I thought so. He talked to me in his office, off the record.”

“That's Pete. He always prefers doing things person to person, if he can. Called me on my cellphone about an hour ago, just after I got home. We'd swapped numbers when we ran into each other at the O Club, just kinda networking at the time. He asked me about the Big Brother program and confirmed that I was there taking care of Lance. Actually, it was helpful that I did get called away. It gave me a clear time when I left. Did you hear?”

“About your soldier who got busted in the bowling alley? Yeah, that was on the blotter,” I tell him. “When I saw Delta, I cringed for a moment, hoping it wasn't one of yours.”

“Mighty Regulator, that one,” Aaron says, laughing for a moment. “So . . . what's up?”

“I'm calling to ask if you're free this Saturday.”

“You sure about that?” Aaron asks, surprised.

“Yes, I’m sure, and after the way that Lance went on about your day together, I wouldn't want it any other way,” I answer, lying to myself even as I say it. Sure, I want Lance to see him, but I want to see him too. “What do you say?”

“Of course,” Aaron says, and I can hear him smiling. “What do you have in mind?”

“Well, I seem to remember that you and I used to enjoy biking together a lot,” I say, smiling. “While I don't have the bike shorts anymore, and my bike's built to carry Lance around as much as it is to ride, what about the three of us meeting up at your house and going for a ride? You can't keep dropping a hundred dollars every time you spend time with Lance, you know.”

“Oh, I can't?” Aaron says, chuckling. “Isn't that why I make the big bucks? To spoil my . . . sorry, to spoil Lance?”

“I do love that you two are getting along.” I pause for a second before continuing. “Okay. I'll bring my bike. We can have a date on Saturday.” It's only after I say it that I realize what I just said, and I feel heat creep up my neck. “I mean, a play date.”

“Right. What time, say . . . three or four? I don't know how long you like to ride anymore.”

“Four is better,” I tell him. “I'll get Lance up from his nap, if he'll go down at all, knowing he's coming to see you. We can ride for an hour, then maybe dinner?”

“I can't promise fresh grilled burgers, but it sounds like a plan.”

I laugh and shake my head. “Nope, I'm bringing dinner. It'll keep in your kitchen while we ride. How's that sound?”

“Sounds like a great afternoon. I'll poke around and see if I can find some decent bike routes in my neighborhood, nothing too hard. I'll see you Saturday. Good night, Lindsey.”

“Good night, Aaron.” I hang up the phone, smiling. I wonder, is it time? Aaron certainly likes Lance, and Lance likes Aaron a lot too. Am I rushing things, considering they've only hung out together twice? But, for three years now, Lance hasn't known who his father is, and I know he's starting to notice. It's not a big thing right now, but back in June, when the kids at daycare all made Father's Day cards, Lance was the only one who couldn't. He still made me a card, but I could tell he was thinking about it.