My Journal
By Harriman Nelson
50
“Isn’t he aware of the time?” I complained to Joe via my
videophone and his laptop. “We agreed he’d call at 2200.”
“Admiral, if you were out with a girl, even if she was a cop, would
you be checking your watch?”
“She’s hardly a Sophia Loren.”
Just then Lee entered without giving
Joe a passing glance, groaning, and flopped on his bed.
“I’ve never eaten so much in my life,” he whined.
“You were supposed to call me at 2200,” I said.
“Oh, hi, Harry...sorry,” he said with a burp, still lying down but having turned on the
bed to face the desk.
“So, where did you take Miss...er....”
“Rinaldi. Maria Rinaldi... and I didn’t take her anywhere. As soon
as her family found had found out she had a date, a date that had a Lamborghini,
well, her mama had popped over and prepared dinner. The whole family had come
over....I felt like specimen in your lab. Her brothers even went to get
their priest so he could vet me as a suitable match! Maria was embarrassed, I
was embarrassed, but we made the best of it and enjoyed the meal. I even had
seconds, knowing that in some cultures it might be an insult not to....”
“Good move.”
“Then after dessert, we were escorted to the roof.”
“The roof?”
“Yeah, seems they have a nice little patio on it. Kind of hard
to see all the stars and lights of the city with the laundry hanging on the
line, but at least after a few minutes they left us alone...we had a good laugh
about the absurdity of it all. She apologized for her family, and their
attempts at matchmaking....Harry? Am I getting old?”
“What? Why do you ask that?”
“I mean, a few years ago I might have suggested another date.
She’s a really nice girl and I enjoyed her company. I might even have
considered taking things to a more intimate level, but didn’t. Perhaps it was
the fact that the family was right behind the door...and were praying with the
priest that she get married off. Can you imagine it? As if her being unmarried
was some kind of stigma...and there I was, a prize bull at her doorstep.”
It was difficult not to laugh. “Well, lad, there are still some
old world customs that remain even today. A man might remain unmarried a very
long time, but a woman? In some
countries something was wrong
with her if she wasn't married off before she was 16.”
“Not very fair,” Lee grunted as sat up, “Joe, I need
the bicarb. No, wait. Make it the pink stuff.”
“Well,” I asked, “what are your plans for tomorrow? At lunch you
were still undecided.”
“We’ll find another vessel to ship the car, then we’ll catch the
train with the group at Brindisi. From there, we’ll be getting a ferry to
Greece. I’ll be taking a side trip to the island of Santorini. Introduce Joe to
Melina.”
“Ah, the Gounaris girl...you’ve kept in touch all this time? She
lives there now?”
“Yes, gets her living taking tourists scuba diving.”
“Well, I’m glad things worked out for her...with a little help
from you, if I remember correctly. You helped pay off her father's debts so she wouldn't have to.”
“You too.”
“Well, her father’s death was due to our getting him involved in
the Zeraff affair. I felt it was only right I help secure her financial
future.”
“We’re a good team, you know, Harry?” he said, as Joe handed him a
bottle of the pink stuff, which Lee drank directly from it.
“You realize Doc would have a hissy if he saw that. So, just what
did you two have for dinner?”
“Oh gawd, don’t ask me to relive it.”
“Bad? You had two helpings.”
“Oh, the food was good, but there was just too much of it. IMostly pasta dishes, and some Fried Calamari. Pastries
too. I
would have had some wine, but Maria told me not a good idea to get arrested for
DUI after I’d just gotten out of jail,” he laughed then held his stomach, “ohh.
Not a good idea to laugh on a full stomach.”
“Well, I’ll let Cookie know he can start thinking about Grecian
Food. Though I doubt I’d authorize any more squid fishing.”
“How about Baklava? That’s a famous Greek dessert.”
“And give everyone aboard a sugar high? No thank you.”
“Stuffed Grape Leaves and Moussaka instead?”
“I don’t like Moussaka,” I said.
“Bet Chip would.”
“Ah, but Chip will try anything. Well, I’m keeping you up...get a
good night’s sleep and I expect you to call in when you get to Greece.”
“Where are you taking Seaview now?”
“I thought we’d head up the coast to Spain. I’d like to join you at
the Madrid museum, and I won’t have to travel to far from the coast to get there.”
“Almost forgot about that.”
“You don’t have to go, son...”
“I know. But I promised. Besides, who knows? Maybe they’ve been
able to figure out who our Spanish conquistador was.”
“Who happened to look just like you. Shades of that mystery show
on TV. Now, get to bed. Goodnight, Lee.”
“’Night. Take care of my boat.”
“Goes without saying,” I replied with a grin and ended the call.
Even though Lee needed the pink stuff, at least Doc would be happy
he’d had a good home cooked meal.
As far as tomorrow’s menu, well, we can always purchase some Calamari
from one of the outdoor markets in Naples before we head out, but I doubt Cookie or Sharkey will attempt it again.
Then it struck me. Lee had said, “‘Take care of 'my' boat.”
His boat.
Legally, as my business partner, Seaview is his boat. But
the way he said it...like he used to. When he was in command.
Perhaps there’s hope after all.
