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"So babe, when did this happen?" Danny handed Steve a beer as they stood on the Lanai and watched Catherine and Mary laughing and giggling together. Mary and Catherine were sitting at the edge of the shore. They were enjoying each other's company as their feet caught the gentle laps of water with each wave.
"I have no freakin' idea" Steve answered as he took a gulp of beer. "They apparently met on the plane. Now they're like best friends or something. Can you believe that? There are like hundreds of flights coming into HNL every day and those two end up on the same one. And who actually talks to the stewardesses? I mean really?"
"Whoa, relax buddy. Besides, I talk to the stewardesses. You don't? Oh that's right, you only have eyes for Ramboette over there" Danny nodded towards the ocean. "What's going on? Why are you so angry?"
Steve finished up the beer he had in his hand and reached for another. "Apparently Cath is feeling stuck in our relationship and she spilled her guts to Mary. She didn't know Mary was my sister and she was going to meet her brother, to keep her options open." He used his fingers to make quotation marks.
"Ummm, Babe, Mary's brother is you" Danny knew exactly what Steve meant, but he was finding this quite amusing.
"She didn't know that. And why is she telling a stranger about us" Steve was clearly upset.
"Well, let's see… when was the last time you actually went on a date? I mean a real date. Not here at your place, not on a ship, not on a base? And don't count the charity dinner, because we all know that she ended up eating with the Governor's wife." Danny was smirking, he loved this.
"I don't know. Dinner is not a relationship. We are way beyond that. After 8 years, I think that we don't have to abide by all the formalities of dating" He was explaining.
"What? 8 Years? You have been with her for 8 years? Exclusive for 8 years?" Danny was shocked.
"Yes, so?" Steve didn't know why Danny was so surprised
"You realize that within 8 years, I met Rachel, got married, had Gracie, got divorced and ended up here on this Island. You have been stringing her along for 8 years and nothing?" Danny was ranting.
"First of all stop saying 8 years, please. Second of all it's different. We were rarely on the same side of the planet and when we were, it was brief. Time just flew. I never intended it to get serious, it just happened" Steve grabbed another beer and sat on the steps. Danny sat next to him.
"What are you going to do?" Danny asked with genuine concern
"I don't know. I mean, I love her, but that's about all I can offer right now" Steve played with the label on the bottle.
"Tell her that" Danny made it sound so easy.
Before Steve could reply, Mary walked passed them. She smiled at Danny and slowly bent down to get two beers from the cooler. Danny watched. Steve punched Danny in the shoulder.
"Ow! What did you do that for?" Danny was rubbing his arm as Mary giggled at the attention that she was receiving.
"Are you guys going to sit there, or are you going to grab two chairs and join us?" Mary asked as she wiggled passed.
"I'll go." Danny grabbed the folded chair that lay against the wall and walked with Mary to the shore.
Steve remained on the lanai and slowly got up and proceeded to the barbeque. He started the fire and carefully placed the steaks on the grill. He stood vigil at the grill occasionally glancing at his friends.
Catherine turned and saw Danny and Mary walking towards her. She sat up to get a better look and noticed that Steve had taken his position at the grill. Disappointed, she slumped into the chair.
"I tried" Mary whispered to Catherine.
"That's ok. He's pissed. It's probably better this way" Catherine got up, and in one motion dove into the water. She swam with a purpose and gently pushed each wave, carrying herself further and further away from shore. Eventually she changed direction and swam parallel, doing laps, back and forth, effortlessly. She loved to swim and sunset was her favorite time to do it.
Steve took notice of her, when she got up from the chair. He secretly hoped she was coming to talk to him, but when she walked closer to the water, he knew she was upset. She always swam when she was upset. He loved to watch her swim; she had perfect form and was actually a better swimmer than he was. He may have been a stronger swimmer, but she was much more graceful; perfection in the water. His little mermaid, that's what his SEAL team called her. He smiled at the thought.
Releasing his aggression on the Steaks that sat on the grill, he flipped them. He flipped them so hard the grill shook and each time the fire ignited making a crackling sound that made Danny and Mary turn.
"If those steaks weren't already dead, they would be now" Mary laughed
"He's just pissed off. And how long do you suppose she's going keep doing laps?" Danny laughed as he nodded to the water.
"She's disappointed in him. Do you see a pattern here? These two have to stay together. I mean, come on, they're like the same person" Mary and Danny chuckled. Mary placed her hand on Danny's leg and the two of them laughed at the drama that was unfolding before them. Mary told Danny about her plan to get them together and Danny was more than willing to do his part.
"You know that they are already together. They just don't know what to do with each other" Danny remarked
"Oh trust me, they know what to do. I was in the next room last time I was here. It was very loud and I swear, the whole house was shaking" Mary giggled
"Ok, that's not what I meant. I meant that they don't know how to proceed with this relationship. Steve is afraid that if he doesn't "do" something, she will leave him. He doesn't want that to happen, but he feels that he can't officially bring her into his life, until he takes care of WoFat. I mean look what happened to you" Danny defended his friend's actions
"I know." She suddenly became serious "We can't let that son of a bitch ruin our lives more than he already has. I like Catherine, a lot. I would love to have her as my sister, but, I do understand. He needs to tell her the truth. She's smart, she'll get it." Mary slumped into her chair and began to cry. "I hate that guy. I really hate him"
Danny leaned over and hugged her. "We all do. I promise, we'll get him. I don't know when, but we will"
Steve turned to look and see what was happening when he saw Danny leaning over into Mary's chair. He couldn't tell what was going on, but it appeared that he was hugging her, or kissing her, or… No, no, no, this is not going to happen. Steve turned off the grill, grabbed two beers and swiftly walked towards them. He was determined not to let Danny and his sister hook up.
Catherine emerged from the water, just as Steve approached the row of chairs. Catherine paused, Steve paused. They both stared at Danny and Mary, as they were engaged in a sultry kiss.
"Danny! What the hell are you doing?" He shouted
Danny jumped up and wiped his mouth with his hand, he was embarrassed.
"Are you kidding me? Don't yell at him. If he wants to kiss me, so what" Mary jumped out of her seat and scolded Steve
"I can't believe this" Steve threw his hand up in surrender and turned to walk away.
As he turned, he found Catherine standing directly in front of him. "There not children Steve. You can't keep telling people what to do and how they should feel" She spoke softly, but it felt like a dagger had stabbed him in the heart.
"How do you feel? You know what, don't answer that" He walked up the beach, leaped over the steps, open the French doors and slammed them shut. The sound of breaking glass echoed across the beach.