Chapter 547: Groton
Saturday, February 25th, Morning
They pulled into the parking lot and found a spot. Looking out onto the Thames River, they could see the black form of a retired dangerous deep-sea hunter. The sky was a mid-winter gray over the river, down which the US Navy housed some of its deadliest deep sea hunters. Finally, the driver looked at the passenger.
"We're here," Angela said.
"Why did Uncle Dash pick here?" Jess asked.
"He can't travel far," Angela said.
"Just like dad," Jess said.
"Well, Uncle Dash and your dad worked together," Angela said.
"I bet it's the same with Uncle Dash as Dad can't speak about his work and could get called away at any time," Jess said.
"Jess, your dad, liked that about his job; that way, he devoted as much time he had to be present with us," Angela said.
"But when the president called, he answered, and when the president of presidents called, he answered," Jess said.
"Yeah, he did," Angela said.
"Is that why we left Virginia and Atlanta?" Jess asked.
"You know I was trying to get with Washington so we could spend more time with your dad," Angela said.
"Why didn't it work out?" Jess asked.
Angela shrugged, "It didn't work out, and Atlanta was not a good situation anymore, and possibly out of spite, they traded me to New York, and that's how we end up here, in the parking lot of a submarine museum," Angela said.
"There's more to that than you're telling me," Jess said.
"You'll find there's always more, but most of the time, we don't know what it is to tell," Angela said.
"Is that part of being an adult?" Jess asked.
"Sadly, yes," Angela said.
"It sucks," Jess said.
"Yes, it can," Angela said.
"Why did you leave New York?" Jess asked.
"I wanted a change, and coming to Connecticut, you get to stay in your school," Angela said.
"But what happens when you retire?" Jess asked.
"I'm not yet thirty-three, I'm not ready to retire, anyway Sue Bird played into her forties," Angela said.
"Mom, you're not Sue Bird, and damn, you're old," Jess said.
"Young lady, don't look away because you'll be me one day," Angela said.
"Right," Jess said and laughed.
"So, please don't show your boredom today; Dash means well," Angela said.
"I won't promise that I won't be bored," Jess said.
"Just, please don't make it obvious," Angela said.
"I'll do my best," Jess said.
Angela nodded and looked out the windshield. She sighed and looked over at Jess. "He's waiting over by those small boats," Angela said.
"Okay," Jess said.
"Let's go," Angela said.
"Alright," Jess said.
They got out of the vehicle and walked toward the museum building. Angela paused and looked over by the natural rock cliffs to see what looked like a big monolithic tower with wings. She looked back towards the building and pushed ahead; when they reached Dash, they hugged each other.
"Hey Jess," Dash said.
"Uncle Dash," Jess said.
"Dash," Angela said.
"Angie," Dash said, "So are you ready?"
Angela nodded, "I guess," she said.
"Yesh," Jess said.
Dash nodded and led them into the building. They started to go through the displays. Angela noted that some things did get Jess interested, but others didn't. Angela found herself bored as well.
Eventually, Dash led them out to the museum's centerpiece, the submarine Nautilus, and the sole structure that stood high above the hull had the number 571 on it.
They took the tour through the submarine. Angela looked around the place and sighed. It took a particular person to live in these steel tubes. Church had off-handedly mentioned a few times about spending months on a submarine. During her rookie year, she met Church, and eventually, he went off to do something; she never knew what, but she watched him leave on a submarine.
Angela watched Jess as she pressed her nose against some glass. Once they left the submarine, they stood upon the pier and watched one of the newer deep sea hunters go down the river.
"So, what does Eternally On Patrol means?" Jess asked.
Dash sighed, "It means the boat is overdue and presumed lost," he said.
"What does that mean?" Jess asked.
"When a submarine goes out, it's called a patrol. Since submarines hide if they are lost, they only know when they don't show up; after a while, they become listed as overdue and presumed lost; submarines call it they are on eternal patrol," Dash said.
"That's why those names and numbers are listed on the plaque?" Jess asked.
"Yes, those were the submarines that never came home," Dash said.
Jess nodded, and she walked away. Dash was about to go after Jess. Angela grabbed Dash's arm, and he turned and looked at her.
"It's her way of coping with emotions," Angela said.
"She misses Church?" Dash asked.
"Of course, he was her dad. Some lame excuse he died in a training accident, and a flag doesn't replace the fact she lost her dad at seven," Angela said.
"What about you?" Dash asked.
"Of course, I miss Church, every day and every hour," Angela said, reaching into her collar and pulling out a chain. A diamond ring hung from the chain.
"Is that the ring he proposed with?" Dash asked.
"Yes, it is," Angela said.
"I noticed Jess is also wearing a necklace," Dash said.
"That's got Church's class ring," Angela said.
"How did you get that?" Dash asked.
"Church's mom gave it to her," Angela said.
A minute later, Jess came back. Angela looked at her daughter.
'Everything okay?" Angela asked.
"Yeah, but I'm hungry," Jess said.
"I know a place," Dash said.
"Okay, let's go then," Jess said.
The three nodded and left the museum. They headed to their vehicles to find some food.
