Let's join Annie and Auggie on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. He has a lot on his mind with an upcoming operation, but he's accepted a lunch invitation that he's not excited about.
I don't have any association with the folks at Covert Affairs, so I do this just for fun and my own amusement. I'm glad you're having fun with me by reading.
Chapter 12 – Meeting an Old Friend
Saturday morning Auggie awakened early and couldn't go back to sleep. He reached for his watch on the bedside table and opened it to check the time … six thirty. It would be oversleeping on a workday, but seriously too early to wake Annie on a holiday weekend, even if accidentally. He slipped out of bed as quietly as he could manage, picked up his phone and its Braille input device, grabbed an old sweatshirt out of his dresser and slipped out of the room. He closed the bedroom door, and once in the hallway pulled the sweatshirt on over his tee shirt.
The house was cool and quiet. Now that he had pulled on the sweatshirt, the coolness was comfortable. And he could use some quiet … yes, quiet was good. And, with a pot of hot coffee, the quiet would be even better. He went downstairs, stopped in the downstairs powder room and then made his way into the kitchen to put on a pot of coffee. He sat at the breakfast table to sip his coffee and collect his thoughts for the day and the upcoming trip to St. Louis.
Lunch with his high school friend, since it was going to be at a casual restaurant, shouldn't present any problems. He and Annie had eaten at the restaurant last summer, so he knew it was a comfortable space to maneuver. But, he was not looking forward to the possibility that his every move would be scrutinized by Bob and his wife, Jan … "Whoever the heck she is," he thought to himself.
He thought through what Annie and he had to accomplish in St. Louis and who would be the best of his staff to be on standby in the DPD Tech Ops Office to back them up. Barber, Sandy, Millie and Jason were used to working with him. They understood him and he knew he didn't have to explain every move to any of them.
He called Joan's office number expecting to leave her a voice mail about the officers he would like to work with on the mission. Joan answered.
"Mrs. Campbell?" he queried. "You're certainly in the office early."
"Auggie, are you forgetting we're an hour ahead of Chicago?"
"Nope. But even with the hour difference, it's early for a Saturday … even for you."
"Auggie," Joan said, "I know you didn't call just to chat. What's on your mind?"
"I've been thinking who Annie and I need to be working with us while we're in the field. Do you think you can call in Barber, Sandy, Millie and Jason to monitor us from that end?"
Joan smiled to herself. She could only try to send him on a vacation, but it didn't matter. Auggie Anderson's mind was always hard at work on national security. "I'll start making some phone calls," Joan said. "I'll call you back and leave a message, if you can't talk."
"Thanks, Joan … you know, you're the best," Auggie said, ending the call.
She shook her head and smiled again. She understood Annie's frustration at his habit of never taking time to end a phone call properly. He already was thinking through the steps he and Annie needed to take to accomplish the first part of their mission tomorrow night. Auggie cradled his warm coffee cup in his hands and decided the first step was to have his team determine whether or not the dry cleaners had a security system and how to disable it, if one were in place.
Auggie picked up his phone to call Joan back. When she answered, he asked her to have Barber call his cell, if she reached him before twelve thirty. Joan assured him, she'd remember to tell Barber to call.
Auggie poured himself a second cup of coffee and returned to the table. He heard footsteps coming down the stairs. He recognized his mother's gait on the stair treads, and it caused him to smile. The smile turned to a slight frown when he tried to pair the sounds of her footsteps with the visual image in his mind of his mother. He realized she'd changed and aged since he last looked into her face and said "goodbye" when he left for Iraq. He felt a little guilty, realizing he may have added to some of the lines that had surely deepened on her face and some of her grey hair.
Less than a minute from when he heard Amanda's steps, she entered the kitchen area. "Did you undersleep?" she teased.
"Not at all," Auggie replied. "I couldn't go back to sleep, and I didn't want to wake Annie, so here I am with a pot of hot coffee."
Amanda poured herself a cup and sat at the breakfast table with Auggie. "You look pensive this morning. A lot on your mind?"
Auggie nodded and smiled. His mother was as good at reading him as he was at picking up on Annie's concerns. It must be a familial talent, he thought to himself. "Well, for starters," Auggie explained, "Annie and I are having lunch today with my high school friend, Bob Henderson, and his wife. I just don't know what to expect. I haven't had many of those kinds of encounters."
"Hmm," Amanda said, "You know it will be fine. Annie will be with you, and if you're uncomfortable; you can leave early." Taking another sip of coffee, Amanda asked, "What time are you meeting them for lunch?"
"Just before one o'clock."
"Well," Amanda said devilishly, "do you want me to give you a call on your cell about two thirty with an urgent request to make a stop at the supermarket on your way home?"
Auggie laughed. "That won't be necessary. But, call if you need us to stop for you on our way back."
Annie awakened as the morning light began to filter into the bedroom. She was curled up on her right side as she opened her eyes slowly, stretched and rolled over to kiss Auggie … who wasn't there. She rose up and read the digital clock … seven forty-five … and noticed his phone was missing from its docking station on the night stand. She smiled, realizing he'd slipped out of the room to let her sleep longer.
Annie pulled on a pair of running pants and dug in Auggie's sweatshirt drawer for a shirt to pull over her tee shirt. After splashing water on her face and running a brush through her hair, she headed downstairs for a cup of coffee. "Morning," she said coming around the corner into the breakfast room.
"Good morning," Auggie and Amanda said in unison. Before pouring herself a cup of coffee, Annie walked behind Auggie, put her hand on his shoulder and started to lean down to kiss his cheek. Before she could give him the kiss, his right hand reached up and lovingly patted her hand.
Amanda's heart was warmed at the ease in which they communicated. Auggie held onto Annie's hand as long as he could as Annie moved away from him to the coffee pot. Annie took her mug back to table along with the pot to freshen everyone's coffee. "What's on tap this morning?" Annie asked Auggie. "Do we have time for a run?"
Auggie thought for a few minutes, "No, I need to spend some time at the computer before we go to lunch. You can go without me, if you want."
"Nope, I'm fine." Annie said. "I'll hang with you. Want some cereal, Soldier Boy?"
"Mom, do you have any bagels?" Auggie asked.
"Why, yes … there's a bag of mini bagels in the bread keeper," Amanda said, getting up to retrieve the bread. "I think that sounds good, too. Shall we toast them?"
Amanda popped bagels in the toaster while Annie pulled out tubs of plain and flavored cream cheese. Auggie asked where his dad was, and Amanda explained he was working upstairs and would probably take a break soon for some coffee and a bite to eat. They ate their light breakfast, and Auggie excused himself to check his computer and make some phone calls back to Langley. Annie made a second pot of coffee and helped Amanda straighten the kitchen. She pulled three travel mugs out of the cupboard and poured them full of fresh coffee to take upstairs. On her way back to the bedroom Annie dropped a mug off in Fred's office with a cheery "good morning." He thanked her, and as she left the room mused at how easily she fit into their family.
Annie returned to the bedroom, and entered quietly when she realized that Auggie was on the phone with Langley. Auggie heard her come in and raised his hand toward her to let her know he realized she was in the room with him. He was listening to his phone through the ear buds and making notes on the computer. When he stopped to ask Barber a question, Annie set his coffee cup down at his three o'clock and showed him where it was by guiding his hand to it. Still talking with Barber, Auggie nodded and smiled.
Annie set her own cup on Auggie's night stand and stretched out on his side of the bed to sip her coffee. She shifted around with his pillow behind her back, and then added her pillow for comfort. Hearing her rustling around made him smile. When his phone call ended, Auggie turned to Annie and with a smirky smile asked, "You having a princess and the pea moment?"
"Just trying to get comfortable," she answered seductively.
"Are you comfortable now?" Auggie asked as he stood and started walking toward her. Annie set the cup back on the night table. Auggie's right hand was slightly extended in front of him as he walked toward Annie, his face lit up in a teasing smile. Annie couldn't help but return the smile as she reached out to take his hand to let him know exactly where she was sitting.
Annie quickly scooted over and pulled him toward her and she tossed the extra pillow to the other side of the bed and laid down. Auggie carefully lowered his body over hers and kissed her passionately and nuzzled her neck. They helped each other wiggle out of their clothes between kisses and caresses and spent the next half an hour exploring each other's bodies and making love. When they were happily exhausted, Auggie rolled on his back and took a deep breath. Annie rolled to her side and he wrapped his left arm around her and pulled her close. She kissed his shoulder and sighed, "August Anderson … I didn't realize I could love anyone as much as I love you."
Auggie was quiet for a few seconds. "Anne Catherine Walker … just when I think I couldn't love you any deeper than I do, I discover another layer to my love for you."
Annie raised up and kissed him tenderly on the cheek before she whispered, "I always feel so safe and happy when I'm with you … even when I just think about you." They lay in the embrace until they realized that they were going to have to think about getting ready for lunch with Bob and Jan.
Auggie turned his head and kissed Annie's forehead. "Who goes first?"
"You … It'll take me longer to dry my hair and do the makeup thing."
Before getting up, Auggie rolled over and patted her cheek. Annie smiled and Auggie's hand rested on her face for a few seconds enjoying being able to experience her radiant smile.
Annie found a parking place close the restaurant where they were meeting Bob and Jan Henderson. On the drive to the restaurant, Auggie was more quiet than normal and fidgeted with his folded cane, slapping it softly in his left hand. Annie thought she knew what he had on his mind.
"Hey, I bet lunch will go fine, but if it gets awkward and you want to leave, squeeze my knee or hand or whatever you can get a grip on twice. Then give me a few minutes to check the time on my phone and come up with an excuse why it's time for us to leave."
"Mind reading again, huh, Walker?"
"You, Mr. Anderson, are not the only one who is good at reading people's moods."
Annie swung into a parking place on the street near the restaurant entrance. Before they got out of the car, Annie reminded Auggie, "This won't be a real picnic for me either. You, at least, have high school history with Bob. I'm just going to do a lot of smiling, nodding and eating slow while you visit … or not visit."
They got out of the car, and Auggie walked toward the front of it to meet Annie, who nonchalantly touched the back of his hand with hers. Instead of reaching for her elbow immediately, he patted her on the back and said, "I appreciate you, Annie Walker."
Auggie grasped Annie's elbow lightly and unobtrusively, and they strode confidently toward the restaurant. He carried his folded cane holding it down by his leg.
Inside the restaurant, Bob Henderson and his wife were already seated at a table for four with their ice teas in front of them. "I still can't figure out why you dragged me here," Jan sighed as she stirred sweetener into the tea.
"I told you … to meet my friend, Auggie, the captain of our high school wrestling team," Bob said with an edge to his voice.
"I wish I'd feigned a headache and not come," Jan whined. "Handicapped people make me nervous."
"Auggie Anderson was and I'm sure still is one of the nicest people I've ever known. I don't know why you'd be nervous having lunch with a disabled veteran," Bob whispered to his wife. "After all, he's the one who lost his sight in the war."
Jan sighed. "Damn it, Bob, I never know how to act around a handicapped person; and I've never, ever even met a blind person. Is there anything I should know about this blind friend of yours?"
Bob though a moment about the boy with whom he'd attended middle school and high school. "Well, for starters, he's scary smart; and since he was a junior in high school, he was sort of a ladies man. He was … and I'm guessing since I saw him and his girlfriend out running … a talented athlete. At least he still has the physique of an athlete. I'm guessing he works out in a gym.
Jan became intrigued. "Why did you say he became a ladies man half way through your junior year?"
"Oh, that. Well … Auggie got braces when we were in eighth grade. He was a nice looking kid, but he had this mouth full of metal. We teased him about it, and he made more fun of himself than we made of him. Anyway … the braces came off in our junior year and he morphed into the most handsome guy in our class."
"A story about the ugly duckling turning into the handsome swan?" Jan asked, "and now back to the ugly duckling with a white cane?"
"Jan," Bob said with exasperation, "I don't think it's that dramatic. He was a nice looking boy who, in retrospect, turned into a handsome young man … just as we would wish for our son."
"I bet he became one of those arrogant jocks," Jan said with a little distain in her voice.
"That was just it," Bob remembered, "he was never arrogant … maybe a little full of himself like all of us … but always one of the most enjoyable people to be around. When we talked briefly the other day, I had the sense that he is still that person. Oh, I think I see them coming in the front door."
Annie stopped at the door to open it. As it swung in Auggie's direction, he took the bar and held the door for Annie who took a couple of steps inside and waited for Auggie to step beside her. The hostess approached the couple asking, "Table for two?"
"We're meeting someone," Auggie replied, "a Mr. Henderson. Do you know if he's here, yet?"
Annie scanned the dining room through the glass divider. "I see him over by the window." The waitress followed the couple to the table so she could give them their menus. The menus were placed at the two empty seats before either of them could request the Braille menu.
Bob stood to greet them and introduce his wife, who Annie noticed seemed more nervous than her. Auggie offered his hand to Jan who took it tentatively. Annie smiled warmly at Jan and shook her hand as well as Bob's. They all exchanged pleasantries and taking their seats, Auggie pulled Annie's chair out for her before sitting down. Annie picked up the menu while Auggie slid the menu at his place to the left of his place setting.
Jan watched the couple with curiosity … how as Auggie started to take his seat, Annie looked up at him smiling and whispered, "Thank you." How Auggie casually said, "You're welcome." They acted so normal, Jan observed.
Reading over the menu, Annie said, "It all looks so good Auggie, are you in the mood for a salad, soup or sandwich or a combo of something?"
"The last time we were here you raved about the Greek salad. I think that sounds good," he replied.
"We're having a big dinner again tonight," Annie said. "Greek salad it is for me, too."
When the waitress returned, Annie placed her order, but when the waitress said, "Sir." Auggie wasn't sure who she was talking to until Annie nudged his knee with hers. He tried to not to smile too much as their inside joke as he placed his order.
Not wanting the entire lunch to focus on him, after their orders were placed, Auggie asked Bob about his law practice in San Francisco. Bob explained how he worked in a large firm, specialized in corporate and bank law, and had made junior partner.
Auggie took a sip of his tea and mused, "Sounds like you're doing really well, Bob. Jan, are you from the San Francisco area, or are you a transplant, too?"
Jan was surprised at how easy it was to talk to Auggie. "Oh, I'm a native San Franciscan. Bob and I met at a Habitat for Humanity build that my father's company was sponsoring."
Auggie smiled. "Habitat for Humanity? Bob, you've become a man of community service as well as a barrister," he teased.
"That's right. Habitat is one of Jan's family's chosen charities. I guess we may never have met had I not been assigned to do some legal work for her father's company when I first went to work."
Auggie nodded and asked Jan what else she enjoyed. Annie glanced from Auggie to Jan to Bob and merely smiled and sipped her tea. Auggie was running an op on them diverting the attention from himself. He was so adept at his spy craft; they never realized what had happened.
Jan explained how she'd studied literature and creative writing at Stanford and had worked numerous freelance gigs; but since they'd had their son six years ago, she did less writing and more carpooling.
Their lunches were served, and the foursome became quiet at they started to eat. Annie leaned over and whispered what kind of ingredients were in the salad and ended with, "I think they use olives with the pits still in them, so be careful. We don't have time to make a pit stop at a dentist."
Auggie laughed. "Really. That's like the worst play on words ever … ever, Walker."
Annie smiled trying to pretend she'd actually intended to say that.
Through lunch, Auggie continued to ask Bob and Jan questions about their lives on the West Coast. Finally, as they were nearly finished their meals, Bob said, "Well, that's enough about us. What is it that you two do in Washington?"
They had decided to go with the Annie works at the Smithsonian and Auggie works with the computers at the Pentagon. They were introduced by a mutual friend at Allen's Tavern. Auggie made his job at the Pentagon sound important but slightly boring, after he'd described the adaptive technology that allowed him to be as proficient with computers as he was before his accident. "I just can't see the screen, so if something includes video, I have to rely on a member of my team to describe it to me." Everything he told the Hendersons was one hundred percent the truth, except it all happened at Langley and not the Pentagon.
As the lunch drew to a conclusion, Annie described how she'd had wonderful opportunities to travel all over the world for the Smithsonian. She talked more about where she'd traveled and conveniently left out the details of what she did while she was there.
After an hour and forty-five minutes, Auggie put his hands in his lap. Annie noticed the move and did the same thing, in case he reached for her, which he did. They grasped each other's hand, and Auggie gave her two gentle squeezes.
Annie finished her last fill up of tea and let it slurp in the straw for Auggie's benefit. Auggie raised his arms slightly so that Bob and Jan could see him open the face of his watch to check the time. "Annie, it's after two fifteen. Don't we need to pick up some things for Mom for her dinner tonight?"
The waitress returned to the table to refresh their ice teas. Auggie requested the check for the table over Bob's protest. "This lunch was my idea, Auggie," Bob said, "I should pick up the tab."
"Don't argue with me today, Bob," Auggie said, "and I will let you buy the next time." The waitress returned with the bill and laid it on the table telling Auggie where it was. Auggie slipped it to Annie, who whispered the total … seventy-eight dollars and change. Auggie quickly calculated the tip in his head and decided to give the waitress ninety-five dollars for the good service and for taking twice the usual amount of time to eat. He pulled folded bills from his wallet, counting the twenties, ten and five. He laid the currency on the table with the bill.
When the waitress returned, she picked up the payment and asked, "Change, Sir?"
Auggie turned his head to her and smiled. "No change."
Annie pulled out her cell phone to check the time. "Oh, goodness, yes. Where has the time gone?" she asked sincerely. Auggie got up first so that he could help Annie with her chair. When they both were standing, they shook hands with the Hendersons and Auggie said, "Bob, we'll have to do this again the next time were in town at the same time."
"Yes, Auggie, I enjoyed it," Bob said.
As they visited the last few seconds, Annie slipped her hand inside Auggie's until he slid it up her arm and gave her elbow a little squeeze indicating it was time for them to make their escape. "Well then, until next time," Annie said smiling her best dimpled smile.
Leaving the table area of the restaurant Auggie whispered with a little chuckle in his voice, "Walk quickly, but don't look back."
Annie kept up her pace through the tables, but when they walked through the lobby, she slowed just a bit to look up and tell him, "August, you are incorrigible."
"Not denying it. Now, to make honest people of us," he said as he pulled his phone from his pocket, "I'm calling home to see if there's anything Mom really does need for dinner."
In the next chapter we'll join our favorite spy couple as they have a casual Saturday night dinner with Auggie's family and then take off on Sunday for their mission in St. Louis. Again, thanks for reading.