87. Not With My Daughter . . .
Chapter 3
Garrison was sitting at his desk, toying with a pencil. The only light was from the lamp on his desk. It was still dark out. Too dark to have his morning run. Maybe he would just have to wait for Chief to get up. None of the men were up when he had left his room. The doors to the two girls' bedrooms were closed. The upstairs was silent.
He pondered his reaction to the events of the previous evening. Events he was still not fully aware of. So why had he blown up at Terry and Actor. He was used to fighting with his sister. And Actor would back her. Still . . .
A silent figure of a woman stepped into the doorway. Craig looked up at the curly hair above a worried face.
"Can't sleep?" asked Craig.
Meg shook her head. "Strange place and too much on my mind." She gave a small smile. "Would you like some coffee, Lieutenant?"
Well, it didn't look like he was going to get a run in today. He'd live. He smiled and nodded, pushing his desk chair back. "Come with me. I'll show you were the kitchen is."
He rose and walked past her out the door. She followed silently. In the kitchen, Craig turned on the light. The coffee pot was on the unlit hob. He opened the ice box door and removed the container of coffee from the freezer. Going to the sink, he filled the pot with water and poured the right amount of coffee grounds into the basket, putting the lid back on. Garrison glanced at the young woman.
"Would you prefer tea?" he asked.
Meg shook her head. "Coffee is fine. I have developed a taste for it."
Garrison gave little grin. "Just don't mention it's real coffee."
A smile crossed the girl's face. "One must do what one needs to do, Lieutenant. Even if it means dealing with Black Market."
The pot was put on the back burner and the flame turned on. The officer was aware of the girl watching him getting saucers and cups from the cupboard. The coffee went back into the freezer and the pitcher of milk came out to sit on the table.
"Pantry's back here," he said to Meg. "Good to know where things are in case you're here and we have to go on a mission."
She watched him open a cupboard door and take out a covered sugar bowl.
"Probably shouldn't mention the sugar either," added Garrison.
Meg's smile widened. "Really, Lieutenant. I do know how things are done."
She sat down at one end of the kitchen table. The Lieutenant leaned back against the counter with arms and legs crossed, waiting for the coffee to brew.
Meg looked up, unsmiling. "I know you don't like my friendship with Goniff. Right now, it's just that . . . a friendship. Rodney and I seemed to hit it off. He's funny, he's sweet, and he's a kleptomaniac."
Garrison had to chuckle. "He is that."
"He needs to be taken care of," continued Meg. "I guess I am the 'taking care of' type. I've been doing it with Father since Mum died. Dad is totally opposite of Rodney."
"Do you love him?" asked Garrison. "Goniff that is."
Meg cocked her head. "Yes, I think I do. And I think he is beginning to feel that way about me. He brings me little things. Most of which I hope are not stolen."
"If it's bright and shiny, chances are he stole it," said Garrison.
"I was thinking that," admitted the girl. She looked up. "Lieutenant, he showed up when I needed a friend. He makes me laugh. He gives me a little happiness that I haven't had since way before my mum passed. I think all he has are his mum and his aunt, and they are in the States. I need him, Lieutenant, and I think he just might need me," she said pleadingly.
Craig looked at her for a moment. He had to admit, Goniff might be better around women if he wasn't under Casino's influence. Still, he had to play devil's advocate.
"What about your father?" he asked. "You know how much he dislikes our team."
"Lieutenant, the Major dislikes everybody," said Meg. "He has high standards no one, not even family, can live up to."
Craig straightened and went to pour the coffee for them. He set the cups in front of himself and the girl and took a seat facing her. Meg put a tiny bit of sugar into her coffee and a little splash of milk. While he was fixing his own coffee, the girl spoke again.
"Did Actor and Terry tell you about the first time Father and I met Julie in the restaurant?" she asked.
Craig took a sip of coffee. "They only said it was 'special'."
"Father tried to ask if she was the illegitimate daughter of Actor and Terry." Meg watched him across the table.
"He may or may not have been the first one to question that," smiled Garrison. "He definitely won't be the last."
"It wasn't right for him to say that in front of the girl," pursued Meg. "I know she is Actor's illegitimate daughter, but it isn't right to say it in front of her." Her mouth pursed together. "It's not just me and Rodney. It's Terry and Actor. It's Chief and Casino for different reasons. Father thinks they are dirt, and nothing is going to change that. It was time for me to leave and not have to listen to it almost every night."
"Do you know what you want to do now?" asked Craig gently.
Meg shook her head. "I can't go back to being Father's secretary. I need to work, but I don't know where. I don't have any place to live."
Garrison took a sip of coffee and pulled out his pack of cigarettes from his shirt pocket. "For now you stay with us. Major Richards thinks it is safer for you here. I don't know what is going to be done to your father. But I would bet Major Richards has some ideas about what you can do, without going back your dad. Just wait and see."
Meg nodded. "Thank you, Lieutenant. You are being kind, and I know you are unhappy with Rodney and I."
Craig shook his head. "I understand where you and Goniff are coming from. I understand the fights the men have with each other. I'm still not sure I understand Terry and Actor. But even understanding does not make it easier."
Meg gave him a soft smile. "You hold them together. It would be easier for you to keep them locked up in the stockade between missions, but not easier for them."
Craig really did understand the relationship between his pickpocket and the Major's daughter.
They were sitting quietly, drinking their coffee, when a slight sound from the dining room let Garrison know Goniff had arrived. The blond man entered slowly, skirting carefully around the officer. He was fidgeting already.
"Um, Warden, I'm sorry I caused trouble for you with the military," said the man haltingly.
Goniff glanced at Meg and saw her encouraging smile.
"I can't say it's all right yet," said Garrison. "We'll have to see how this turns out. If it wasn't you, it would be one or more of the others. Terry doesn't deal well with Major Schaeffer either."
"Nobody does," put in Meg. She turned her attention back to Goniff. "Rodney, why don't you sit down. Would you like a cup of coffee or a cuppa?"
"I cuppa, I think," replied the Cockney. "I can make it."
"So can I," retorted in Meg, still smiling. "Sit down. I don't think the Lieutenant is going to bite you."
That got both men looking at her in amusement. Goniff sat down. Meg got up and asked where the fixings were for tea. Garrison gave her directions and let her go on. The Englishman gave Garrison a little shrug. Craig couldn't help but smile wider.
At least the Warden seemed to be in a better frame of mind than he had last night, thought Goniff. Well, the Warden and Schaeffer could do their worst, but in the end, no matter how long, Goniff promised himself he would have Meggie for the rest of their lives. If she agreed. He still didn't know what to say to the Warden, so he kept silent, which was hard for him. And it did not go unnoticed by the other two in the kitchen.
Goniff watched a contemplative expression cross Garrison's face. The officer looked at the girl going through the ritual of tea making.
"Meg, did you ever think of maybe working for Bletchley? They always need more help," said Garrison.
Meg chuckled. "I don't like crossword puzzles for one. I did apply before. I don't know whether I wasn't good enough for them, or Father somehow stopped it from going through. Probably a little of both."
"Bletchley is too far away, Love," said Goniff worriedly. "Ask Actor and Terry."
"Ask Terry what?"
The said person wandered into the kitchen, an eyebrow rising when she saw all three people who were there.
Goniff spoke up quickly. "Bletchley's too far away from here for poor Meggie to go."
"Oh, I'm 'poor' Meggie now?" asked the curly-haired girl with amusement.
Goniff was embarrassed. "You know wot I mean."
"Yes, we do," said Garrison with a smile.
Terry sat down at the table. "Let's see. When Actor and I drive it, it takes about two and half hours. It's mostly narrow roads through villages. When we took Julie back in the rain and fog it took three and a half hours. It's not bad going up to London and cutting over. The road up to London is two lane, but wider and fewer villages."
"What about the train?" asked Meg.
"There's no direct train from Bletchley to Brandonshire. You have to go through London and change trains," Terry explained. "Depending on the accuracy of German bombers on the rail lines it can take the same amount of time to get there."
Meg set a cup of tea on a saucer in front of Goniff. "And Julie took a train to London, changed trains, and came down here by herself?"
"Oh, even better than that," chortled Terry. "She didn't want to be found, so she went to Bristol, back to London, and down from there."
"A twelve year old knew enough to do that?" Meg was impressed.
"She is Actor's daughter," said Goniff.
Craig looked at his sister. "Didn't you say her mother was Maquis?"
"Yes," answered a deeper voice from the dining room. "And so was Julie." Actor entered the kitchen with the same look of surprise on his face at the number of people there. "Tell me she hasn't done something else now. Run away again?"
"Easy, caro," said Terry. "We were just discussing the ways to get to Bletchley."
Meg moved around the kitchen, getting two cups and filling them with coffee. She set one in front of Terry and the other across the table in front of Actor.
The con man looked at Garrison. "You're making her work?" he questioned.
"I want to," said Meg. She smiled like a waitress. "What would all of you like for breakfast and where is it?"
Terry took a sip of her coffee. "I'll make it," she said. "I know how each of them likes their eggs. You can help so you know."
Casino was the next one in the kitchen. "What? Are we all eatin' in here this morning?"
As it was already getting a little crowded in the kitchen, Terry answered, "Why don't you gentlemen go out to the dining room and let us cook breakfast."
They all got up and made their way to their usual spots at the table.
Terry grinned and whispered to Meg. "They have their own seats at the dining table and the same set up at the conference table in Craig's office. Creatures of habit."
Meg grinned back. "Hierarchy?"
"Something like that," admitted Terry. "Craig and Actor are on opposite ends of the table. The two leaders. I'm at Actor's left and Casino is between me and Craig. Chief is on Actor's right and Goniff is between him and Craig."
"So where do I fit in?" asked Meg dubiously.
"Which side of Goniff do you want to be on?" teased Terry.
"Probably between Rodney and the Lieutenant." Meg paused beating eggs in a bowl. "Where is Chief? Is he always the last one up?"
Terry shook her head and flipped bacon in the fry pan. "No, he's usually the first one up with Craig. They run a mile long course they built around the perimeter. Chiefy's probably still out there."
The Indian showed up at the table at his usual time, just as the breakfasts were finishing up in the kitchen. The girls brought the plates out and set them in the proper places, except along the back of the table where Goniff and Chief were.
The spare chair was along the wall behind Chief and to the right of Actor. "Where's she sittin'? asked the scout.
"Between Goniff and Craig," answered Terry.
The Englishman and the scout got up and shifted chairs down so Chief could pull the spare in his place. Plates were arranged and everyone sat down to eat.
After breakfast, Meg insisted on washing the dishes. "I have to be doing something useful," she said.
To the surprise of the others, Terry thanked her and did not object. As expected by the others, Goniff stayed behind to help Meg because he 'knew where everything went.' The Cockney waited until the others had left and followed Meg into the kitchen. She went to the sink and began filling the pan with hot water and soap flakes. Goniff glanced stealthily around before giving her a quick kiss on the cheek. He received a smile for the gesture.
After the food was put away, Meg began washing the dishes that Goniff brought in from the dining room. He picked up a towel and started drying the dishes and stacking them on the table.
"Wot about your dad?" he asked quietly. "Are you really okay with leavin' him?"
Meg nodded. "It's a little scary. That's all I have done my whole life. But I need to get away from him."
Goniff nodded. "Major Richards will find sumfing for you to do."
"That is what I have been told," said Meg, scrubbing at drying egg yolk on a plate. "I just hope it isn't too far away."
"So do I, Love. So do I."