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“I didn’t at first, but we had a lot of time to talk back at D.C.. He really was very careful with me. He let me set the tone, and he didn’t come over that often. No more than once a week. I finally got so that I was excited to see him. And, of course, from there it just sort of grew.”
“Isn’t that something? Here you fell in love with the guy and don’t even remember that person, that guy or the person you were when you fell in love with him. Now you’re two new people together, and you fall in love all over again. I mean, it must be something more than personality. It has to be chemistry or something. Don’t you think?”
“Definitely. I think it is. Like people say, it’s written in the stars. Once I came here and I got to see where he lived—where I had lived and been so happy. I didn’t remember it except flashes here and there, but I was at home. I was at peace.”
“I’ll tell you one thing, Lydia, he is so much in love with you. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a man so smitten in my life. And he’s not had an easy life. But he doesn’t want to live if you’re not in it. I thought we were going to lose him. I really did. Thank goodness he had Venom. Venom really looked after him. It was a special bond.”
Lydia reached down and petted Venom’s head, squeezing his ears and rubbing the bridge of his nose.
“Any luck on finding a dog?”
“Oh, yes, I didn’t tell you. There’s a rescue Dobie place down near San Francisco. And they called me and said they have a young female that is ready to be adopted. Apparently, she’d been not well taken care of, and she’s been given a clear medical history. She’s not damaged, but she was just neglected. She’s a big dog, though. I think she’d get along great with Venom.”
“I hope she’s fixed.”
“Oh God, yes, she is. I wouldn’t want a girl dog in heat. Trust me on that.”
“So when do you get her?”
“Three days, they said. They’re going to bring her up to my vet here in Santa Rosa, the same one you guys go to. Dr. Gordon? And then he’s going to give her a complete check-up, make sure everything looks good, and if everything does, then she’s mine. I’ve got a nice bed for her. I’ve already bought her a bowl with pink flowers on it. It’s really quite cute.”
“You said big. How big is she?”
“Over a hundred pounds. She’s four years old and very big for her age, but when they got her, she was pretty skinny. They’ve built all that up, and I think being in the country here, it will be really good for her muscle mass. I think she and Venom, if they get along, will be best friends and will have the whole run of your yard. Plus, on the occasion when you guys travel and you want to leave Venom with me, he will have a playmate. I think it’s going to be great. I can’t wait. A big change for me.”
“I’m happy for you, Sally.”
Lydia looked out the large windows into her gardens and sighed. “I feel like I can finally relax. You know, I was so tense about all of this, this whole operation.
“Still not over it, of course.”
“No, I realize, but we have just this one more step to go through. After the interview with Lipori, I was feeling like there was no way we could control this. Now I have hope all will turn out. Am I being a Pollyanna?”
“Oh gee. Don’t let me squash your hope. But maybe it’s the calm before the storm. Don’t let your guard down, kid. There’s a lot ahead of you. These people are dangerous, but we have all the best guys around us. When it comes, it will be quick. It’s the waiting that’s the hard part for me.”
The dinner wasprepared and laid out on the dining table so that people could help themselves and sit out on the back patio or in chairs around the living room—wherever they could. Some monitored their consoles and ate prime rib, potato salad, and fresh green beans and other vegetables from the garden. Others sat and put their plates on their laps. A few sat at the dining room table.
Lydia hadn’t met all the team, so one by one, they came over to her. Mallory Cruz was the first to join that group. She was an extremely attractive Latina lady, fit, who looked like she could take down anybody kickboxing or cage fighting, with jet black hair she wore in a braid down her back. She had large almond-shaped eyes and spoke with a slight accent.
“Nice to meet you. I’ve heard so many things about you, Mallory. Where are you from?”
“I’m from Puerto Rico.”
“Harper tells me you got through BUD/S. That’s a first, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, I did. But I’m happier, I think, doing this, where I get to do what I do best. I would’ve liked to get picked for a SEAL Team, but they’re not ready yet, and I have too much respect for them to push them. Someday, though. My second specialty would be wrestling. And I can also run, not quite breaking their records because I don’t have the strength, but I was a track-and-field runner in high school and first two years of college.”
“Are your parents here or in Puerto Rico?”
“They’re in Puerto Rico. Very proud of me, though, and I’ve asked them to come visit, so if they do, you have to hang with me and my five sisters. They all want to come!”
“It’s a deal. Can’t wait. Where will you be stationed?”
“When you go outside and you turn around, look up the hill. You won’t be able to see me, but I’ll be up in that little gray and white water tower that you could just barely see at the top.”
Lydia could barely make it out.
“From that place, I can see almost from Cloverdale nearly to Marin, maybe even as far as San Francisco if no fog. It’s a huge panoramic view. And with my scopes, I can tell what you’re eating on the back deck of your house. That’s how good it is.”
