Part 6 (1/2)

seeing his father,” she said, guiding Kerry up the dock. ”He was in the service with Dad.”

”Ah!” Kerry smiled. ”His friends are always interesting people.”

”Mm,” Dar agreed. ”He doesn't know.” Her eyes flicked to Kerry's face. ”About my father being alive. There're no phones out here. I think he keeps it that way on purpose. Dad was going to make a run out here, but I told him we were stopping, and that I'd pa.s.s the news.”

Kerry read several levels of meaning in her lover's words.

”Hm.” She studied the small cl.u.s.ter of weatherworn buildings. ”I'm looking forward to meeting him, then. He lives here?”

”He runs the joint we're having dinner at,” Dar said. ”After he got discharged on a medical, he came out here and set up this place.

He and his partner-they do all the cooking and brew their own beer.”

Kerry's ears perked up. ”Partner?” she queried. ”Partner, like you and me partner?”

Dar nodded.

”Hmm.”

”They adopted Rufus. He showed up one day on a little raft and just refused to leave.”

Kerry absorbed all that as they walked off the dock and onto a sh.e.l.l-strewn path. As they approached the buildings, a figure came out onto the porch of the largest one, placed hands on the porch railing and leaned on it.

”Look at what that d.a.m.n wind blew in, wouldja?”

The man behind the railing was tall and had a chunky build, but that's not what Kerry noticed. He was also missing a leg. Below his right knee, swathed in an overlarge pair of dark green khaki shorts, extended a metal frame. On the end of the frame was a well- worn shoe. He had thick, silvered brown, curly hair and a bushy beard, and his skin was criss-crossed with thin but noticeable scars.

Dar lifted a hand. ”Howdy, Charlie.”

The man limped down the wide, wooden steps and came to meet them, pulling Dar into an enthusiastic hug. ”d.a.m.n, it's been over a year, Dar. Where've ya been?”

Dar released him. ”Here and there,” she replied. ”Charlie, this is Kerrison Stuart.” Her arm draped over Kerry's shoulders. ”My chosen one.”

The man turned to study Kerry, who was hard pressed to hide her bemused surprise at Dar's new term for her. ”Ahhh, so that's where you been, huh?” He held out a hand. ”Ms. Stuart, it's an honor and a pleasure.”

”Mine too.” Kerry rose to the occasion, clasping his hand firmly. ”I hear you make some mean conch chowder.”*43 Charlie laughed, clapping Dar on the shoulder and gesturing toward the larger building. ”C'mon. Let's go siddown and let me prove out my reputation. We got some catching up to do.” He limped ahead of them, obviously used to his disability to the point where it didn't appreciably hamper him.

Kerry and Dar followed after him, Dar with her arm still draped over Kerry's neck.

”Chosen one?” Kerry inquired softly, giving her lover a curious look.

Dar's jaw bunched, and she glanced down at the ground before she snuck a look at Kerry's face. ”I'll explain later,” she murmured as they reached the steps. ”It's a compliment.”

”Duh.” Kerry b.u.mped Dar's hip with her own as they walked up the stairs. ”Looks like we'll have lots of interesting things to talk about tonight.”

”Hm.” Dar held the door open and they went inside.

KERRY GLANCED AROUND curiously at the inside of the little shack. They were seated at one of six tables, all made of hand worked driftwood. The room wasn't much bigger than her bedroom at the condo, though at the rear, swinging doors led into the kitchen. Though the large, square windows on three sides of the room let in the glow of sunset and a cool breeze, the place was lighted by oil lamps hanging on the walls and sitting on the tables.

Two other tables were occupied, one by two scruffy-looking men in beachcomber outfits, and the other by a handsome islander and his female companion, who-to all appearances-were on their honeymoon.

”Smells great in here,” Kerry commented, sniffing appreciatively at the spicy, delicious scents coming from the kitchen.

A quirky grin twisted Dar's lips. ”Not too rustic for you?”

”Dar,” Kerry frowned, glancing down at herself, ”did I forget to rip the alligator off my s.h.i.+rt pocket or something today?”

Dar fingered the woven rope salt and pepper holder. ”Just kidding.”

”No, that's the second time you brought this up.” Kerry shook her head. ”Are you really that sensitive about dragging a Midwestern WASP around with you?” She turned her head and regarded Dar seriously, finding soft, round blue eyes gazing back at her. ”Honey?” She put a hand on Dar's in pure reflex.

After a moment, Dar cleared her throat with a touch of sheepishness, and propped her chin on her fist. ”Yeah, I really am that sensitive,” she admitted quietly. ”Sorry.”

Kerry relaxed a little, stroking Dar's fingers with her own. ”I'll 44*

just have to work on that, then.” She glanced up as Charlie limped over, almost jumping up to help him as he navigated a tray toward them.

”Naw, just siddown, there, little lady.” Charlie managed to get the tray on the table without spilling a thing. ”Go figure. Bud's over on the big island, right when I need 'im.” He set a large bowl of steaming, spicy scented, almost stew-like soup in front of each of them. ”There ya go.”

”Wow.” Kerry blinked at the ma.s.s of rich broth and seafood.

”This looks great.”

Charlie grinned at her. ”Ya got good taste, but I knew that- seeing as you picked old Dar here. Get you anything else for now?”

Kerry looked up at him. ”The biggest mug of beer you have. I think I'll need it.”

An even bigger grin split his face. ”You got it. Dar, same for you?”

Dar nodded vigorously.

”All right. I'll get these here folks taken care of, then we can sit down and catch up... how's that?” Charlie picked up his tray.

”Sounds great,” Dar replied. ”Thanks, Charlie.”

He winked at them, then limped back toward the kitchen, disappearing behind the two swinging doors.

Kerry waited a few moments, watching Dar out of the corner of her eye. The dark haired woman was fiddling with her spoon, a pucker visible above her eyebrows. ”Dar?”

”Hm?”

A tumble of words suddenly filled Kerry's mouth and she let them out, almost without thinking. ”You want to talk about it?”

Dar c.o.c.ked her head, gazing at Kerry curiously for several heartbeats, then she put her spoon into her chowder and stirred it.

”It's...um...” She hesitated as Charlie returned and put two huge tankards with nice, foamy heads down in front of them. ”Thanks.”

Kerry grinned in appreciation. ”Ditto.”

Charlie chuckled, and then headed off toward the next customers.