Author's note: Sorry about the long delay! I kind of lost this story and it just wouldn't work itself out. But I think I got it back. I also took a little break from writing anything so that didn't help either. Thanks for being patient! Hopefully I can finish this one and the mirror view story now! Happy reading. Dark rolling sea.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
A few weeks had passed, and Tom had been busy. He had settled Tex into his role as the chief of police. Tex still hadn't let Tom know if he would come to the wedding or not, but Tom was still hoping he would show up. Tom had also been busy working with Mike setting up the wedding. The Nathan James was out of dry dock and had been run through the ringer of tests out at sea. All the kinks had been worked out and the crew had their sailing orders in a week. Mike and Tom had managed to get everything necessary set up for later in the week. The wedding would happen the day before the ship was to sail.
Life at home was gradually getting better. Ashley and Rachel were starting to form a friendship. The more Ashley was around Tom and Rachel's relationship and the more they became a family, the more Ashley understood her dad's decisions.
Sam was slowly coming around although there were still outbursts over his anger at the situation. It helped the Jed was down the road and would take Sam for short times to let the boy cool off. Tom knew that in time it would all be fine. He had found a psychologist for the kids to talk to.
Ashley was thriving with the extra help and dealing with her anger and grief about her mother's death, Tom being away when it happened, and all the fall out of the pandemic. Sam was another matter, but he was starting to open up a little more each session. Tom hoped in due time Sam would understand the importance of the sessions and get the help he needed. Tom continued to try to talk to him at home as well.
All in all, life was getting better as everyone settled into their new lives in St. Louis. Rachel had been working diligently to get the new version of the CDC up and running, hiring more people, getting the labs in top shape, and making and distributing the cure worldwide, as they neared that goal, she was working on changing gears to work on other pressing issues that were cropping up. Tom was kept busy running the Navy, trying to keep the President happy and off his back, and generally adjusting to the fact he was not deploying with the Nathan James in a week.
He checked the clock and frowned. He looked around and breathed a sigh of relief as he packed up his things and started to escape the office. He was hoping to sneak out unnoticed today as he wanted to meet up with Mike and Russ to finalize the plans for the wedding in a few days. He made it out the door unscathed as no last-minute meetings cropped up. He went to the restaurant they had agreed to meet at and saw Mike and Garnett sitting in a booth. They were kissing, when he walked up, and he cleared his throat. They pulled away from each other and smiled, Mike laughing a little.
"Pretend you didn't see that, Admiral," Mike drawled up as he looked up at Tom. Tom shook his head as Garnett gave a sly smirk. They both knew Tom wasn't going to say anything.
"Just keep it quiet on the ship," Tom sighed as he slid into the other side of the booth.
"Good to see you, Tom," Garnett said with a warm smile. Tom smiled back.
"Back at you, Andrea. How's life treating you?"
"Pretty good," she said as she looked at Mike. Tom nodded. They were interrupted with Russ Jeter slid into the booth next to Tom.
"Sorry I'm late, everyone," he said quickly.
"Nope, I just sat down myself," Tom replied. It felt good to sit with his friends again. He had to admit he did miss seeing them on the regular after so long at sea and everything they had been through together. "But let's get down to business. Russ you'll oversee the ceremony?"
"Of course," Russ said emphatically with a vigorous nod. "Who are you having stand with you?"
"Well, Mike's my best man, and my dad, I haven't picked a third because I thought you, but I'd rather you officiate."
"And Rachel?" Russ asked nodding slowly. He was taking notes on a small notebook.
"Kelly Tophet, Kara Green, and Ashley. Which is why I feel I need to pick a third."
"Cutting it close," Mike quipped, and Tom shot him a 'shut up' look. Mike chuckled.
"Maybe I'll ask Andrea to stand with me," Tom said with a smile, looking at Garnett.
"I'd be honored if you asked," Garnett replied with a smile.
"Consider if a formal invitation, then, want to be a groomsman… woman? I'm not sure what to call it," Tom said a confused look on his face. Mike and Garnett both laughed as Russ contemplated what Tom asked.
"I'd love to be a grooms…woman," Garnett said with a flashy smile. Tom returned it and nodded. He turned towards Russ.
"Wedding party complete," he said with a nod. "What else?"
"Are we doing a rehearsal the night before?" Russ asked. Tom looked at Mike.
"I'm not sure we can get clearance for that. They weren't exactly happy to sign off on the wedding itself," Mike said with a cringe. Tom nodded slowly. Even as CNO he had to pull some heavy strings to get clearance for the wedding.
"We can do it at the house then, dinner afterward." Tom replied.
"Okay. You have the marriage license?" Russ asked. Tom reached into his pocket and took a folded-up piece of paper out. He unfolded it and smoothed it out before placing it in front of Jeter.
"Good," Jeter said as he skimmed the document. He nodded. "Looks in order. Reception after?"
"Yes, I have a hall rented just down from the docks," Garnett said. Tom looked up a little stunned. Garnett smiled at him. "Me and Mike's treat for you and Rachel. It's the least we could do."
Tom nodded at Garnett and looked at Mike. "Thanks, guys," Tom said his voice catching a little. Both nodded back at him.
"And don't worry about any of the reception stuff. I have the crew on it," Mike replied. Tom swallowed to work the knot in his throat down. He just nodded not trusting his voice. Garnett and Mike smiled at him.
"All right sounds like it's all in play. Invitations went out?"
"Yes," Mike jumped in. "The crew received their invites already."
"And that's all we're inviting…well besides Tex and his daughter Kat, but I haven't heard if he's going to come or not," Tom said a hint of disappointment in his voice. Mike looked at him with a cocked head and a confused look.
"I figured Tex would love to see you guys get hitched."
"There's a sticky point in the relationship there," Tom said.
"The whole rejection by Rachel thing?" Mike asked. Garnett elbowed him and Mike grunted. "What?"
"Try a little tact next time," Garnett said out of the corner on her mouth.
"What? Tex and Rachel aren't here, what's the issue?" Mike shot back rubbing his ribcage. Garnett shook her head at him.
"Sometimes you're just a big oof."
"What'd I do?" Mike whined again. Tom laughed.
"It's okay, and it's not really the rejection part. But sort of. Tex was…is…in love with Rachel so it's probably hard to see her with me. There was a point when he asked my intentions but at the time…Darien was still alive and well…circumstances kind of changed over time."
"He had to see Rachel always had eyes for you," Garnett said without thinking. Her eyes went wide when she realized her slip and she covered her mouth. Mike elbowed her this time, and she glared at him. He stuck his tongue out at her.
"Try having some tact, next time," Mike said in a mocking voice and Garnett shoved his shoulder.
"Shut up," Garnett said with a small laugh. Tom smiled at their antics. He was happy those two had found each other and healed each other.
"What do you mean?" Tom asked, and both Mike and Garnett gave him incredulous looks. Jeter laughed and Tom looked at him. "What?" Tom asked completely lost.
"Are you serious? Man, men are dense," Garnett said as she shook her head. Mike gave her a shocked look and Jeter laughed again. Garnett smirked at Mike. "Especially you," she said sweetly to Mike. Mike laughed and shook his head.
"Are we going to ignore what you said?" Tom asked. He was still trying to unpack when Garnett had meant.
"Are you serious?" Mike asked this time, then he laughed. "I guess you were too wrapped up in saving the world to see what was going on?"
"I mean I did have a lot going on," Tom said defensively. Mike laughed again. Garnett shook her head.
"Dr. Scott had a big crush on you from the beginning Admiral," Garnett said with a smile. "She just knew you were married, and she wasn't a home wrecker."
"Wait…what?"
"It was pretty obvious, Tom," Mike replied with a shrug. "But you had blinders on. I know you'd never stray from Darien when she was still alive."
"I guess I didn't…Makes sense now," Tom said as he thought back over the time on the ship. He blew out a breath.
"How is Tex anyway?" Jeter asked. "I heard you helped hire him."
"Yeah, the President thought I should be in charge of hiring a good chief of police. Tex popped into town, and I figured he'd be trustworthy. He took the job. He's all settled in been working for a week now."
"Good to hear he's settling in."
"So do we have everything squared away?" Tom asked getting back to the topic they were meeting for.
"I think we do," Jeter replied with a smile. "I look forward to officiating this in a few days."
"Thanks. It means a lot to us. All of this," Tom said, looking first to Jeter then to Mike and finally Garnett.
"Our pleasure," Mike said as he leaned back and draped an arm across Garnett's shoulders. They wrapped up their get together and Tom made his way home.
When he got there, he noticed two extra cars in his driveway. He went into the house to find Kelly and Kara sitting at his table talking with Rachel and Ashley. He walked in and gave Rachel a kiss and Ashley a hug before he slid into the last empty seat at the table.
"Good to see you again Kelly," Tom said warmly, then turned towards Kara. "And you too Lieutenant."
"Likewise," Kelly said. "I'm glad you took my advice," she continued with a knowing smile. Tom chuckled and nodded.
"Good to see you too, Admiral," Kara replied.
"We got our dresses today, Daddy," Ashley piped up excitedly. Tom smiled at his daughter.
"That's great, Baby, I'm glad you're excited."
"Did you pick a third groomsman?" Rachel asked.
"I did…sort of," Tom replied with a smile. Rachel cocked her head to the side and stared at him with curiosity. "I asked Garnett to stand with me. And she said yes, but she said she's a groomswoman."
"I see," Rachel said with a smile. "And everything else is in place?"
"Yes," Tom said with a smile. "Last I heard Dad was getting fitted for his tux today, and Me, Mike, and Garnett will wear our whites."
"Dresses are accounted for, except Kara will wear her whites." Rachel replied.
"Sounds like a plan. Russ will officiate for us." Tom said softly.
"Three more days," Rachel said, and Tom could hear the nervousness in her voice. He smiled at her.
"I'll leave you ladies to it," Tom said as he got up and walked towards the door.
"Where are you going?" Rachel called after him. Tom looked back over his shoulder.
"To check in with my dad," Tom replied then exited his house and walked down the road a few houses. He knocked on his dad's front door before opening it and walking in. "Dad?" Tom asked as way of greeting.
"In the kitchen, Tommy," his dad yelled. Tom walked into his dad's kitchen at froze momentarily as his dad sat at the table with a woman Tom didn't know. "Hey, son, how's it going?"
"Good," Tom said his eyes still on the woman. "And with you?"
"Not to shabby. You need something?" Jed asked as Tom tore his eyes from the woman and landed them on his dad.
"Just checking to make sure you got your tux squared away," Tom said probing his dad's face. Jed stared right back at his son, a small smile on his face.
"Fitting went wonderful," Jed said as he glanced at the woman and smiled broader.
"Good," Tom said still looking from Jed to the woman. "Dad?"
"Yes, son?" Jed asked.
"You're really going to leave me hanging out here? Didn't Gramma teach you manners?"
"I guess you're wondering who this lovely lady is," Jed asked with a chuckle. The woman looked up at Tom and smiled.
"You must be Tom Chandler, Jed's son. He's told me a lot about you," the woman said.
"I'm glad he's telling one of us something," Tom said a little miffed. She glanced at Jed and shrugged her shoulders.
"This is Gladys. Gladys, this my son Tommy. He lives a few houses down and thinks he owns this house too."
"Well…I did pay for it," Tom said with a shrug of the shoulders. Jed sighed.
"There is that slight fact," Jed mumbled. Tom laughed.
"It's nice to meet you Gladys," Tom said as he took a seat at the table. Jed frowned at him, but Tom settled in. "How long have you known my dad? He hasn't been in town that long."
"We just met a few days ago," Gladys said with a smile. Tom nodded and glanced at Jed. "I fitted him for his tux."
"Ah," Tom replied and grinned at his dad.
"It's your wedding he's in?" Gladys asked.
"Yes," Tom replied. "Three days."
"Congratulations," Gladys said with a warm smile. Tom nodded at her.
"Thanks," Tom said. Jed raised an eyebrow at Tom.
"Need anything else? My tux is fitted and squared away upstairs waiting for the big day."
"No, I guess not, except I wanted to ask if Sammy could hang out down here. He's not coping well in the house with all the bustle happening."
"I suppose he would be struggling," Jed said with a sigh.
"I know, Dad, but I can't choose between my kids. He has to understand," Tom started but stopped himself. "Another time," he finished. Jed nodded.
"My door's open if he needs to escape," Jed nodded.
"Thanks, Dad. It was nice to meet you, Gladys. I hope we see each other again."
"Likewise," Gladys replied with a smile. Tom got up and said his goodbyes then headed back down to his own home. He was distracted when he entered and didn't notice that the others had gone. He was occupied with his thoughts of his dad and Gladys. He nearly jumped out of his skin when Rachel spoke.
"Tom," she said. She cringed when he jumped, and he took a moment to compose himself before he faced her fully. "Sorry, didn't mean to scare you like that."
"No, it's…okay. What did you want?"
"Something happen at your dad's?"
"Um…I think my dad has a girlfriend," Tom said hesitantly. Rachel raised her eyebrows and then smiled.
"Awe, that's adorable."
"I guess," Tom said pondering the thought. "It's weird."
"Any weirder than you having a girlfriend?"
"I have a fiancé. And in three days I'll have a wife," Tom said softly as he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her in for a kiss.
"Semantics. Is it any different?"
"I suppose not," Tom mumbled. "I…just never figured my dad…I guess I just never thought about it before."
"He deserves to be happy too," Rachel sighed out. And Tom nodded.
"I suppose. Plans all set? Ladies all ready to go?"
"Yes, we are go for launch in three days," she whispered. Tom smiled and leaned down and kissed her again.
To Be Continued…
