Chapter Six-Independence Day
The days flew by and it was now the Fourth of July. The sun was starting to set and Bobby was preparing dinner. His weekend was pretty typical: he and Eames worked all weekend until cracking the case early Sunday morning. After solving the case, he went to his weekly therapy session with Dr. Gyson, which was an interesting experience as always. It was warm that night, so Bobby kept dinner simple by fixing himself a sandwich and potato salad he bought at the grocery store.
After grabbing a bottle of beer out of the refrigerator, he took his plate outside so he could eat on his balcony. He sat in a chair and tucked into his meal, thankful for a day off and some peace and quiet. It had been a chaotic weekend and as much as he loved his job, it was nice to have some time to himself. As he took a bite of his sandwich, he felt his cellphone vibrating in his pocket. He reached inside the pocket of his shorts and answered.
"This is Goren."
"And this is Eames. It's so nice to meet you, Detective Goren. I have heard so much about you."
"And yet you still want to talk to me."
They both shared a laugh and Bobby continued talking. "How is your holiday? I hope the kids aren't running you too ragged."
"Are you kidding me? In comparison to tackling, shooting, fighting, and otherwise engaging with armed criminals, looking after young children is nothing."
Just then, Bobby heard a commotion in the background, to which Eames reacted. "Spencer, give that sparkler back to Aaron right now. I don't care if you are older, he had it first so give it back...Emily...Emily, you need to back up a little bit. Aunt Elizabeth is getting ready to light more fireworks and I don't want you to get hurt. Jenny and Derek, please be careful...put down the sticks...oh dammit! Guys, Seaver got off her leash and she's running into the street! Could someone get her please? Thank you Penny, but walk *nicely* with the puppy. Puppies don't like their collars pulled on."
"I think I should probably let you get back to your family. Happy Independence Day, Eames."
"You too, Goren. See you tomorrow."
Bobby hung up his phone and placed it back in his pocket. He finished his meal and sat back in his chair, getting comfortable as fireworks exploded in the sky. He couldn't help but compare his holiday with his partner's: she was up to her eyeballs in relatives and the only companionship he'd had today was the cashier ringing up his groceries. Eames had been kind enough to invite him to spend the holidays with her and her family but Bobby demurred.
He knew how important family time was to Eames, especially time with Spencer, the little boy she carried for her sister. Eames had struggled for a while after Spencer's birth, caught between feeling elated for giving her sister the gift of motherhood and a sense of loss for knowing she would most likely never experience it herself. Bobby drank his beer, his thoughts wandering as he watched the fireworks.
As Bobby enjoyed relative quiet and solitude, Mary was surrounded by the ones she loved most. The weekend had been glorious: barbeques, swimming and various water sports, tennis, hours on the beach, wandering through town, and just spending time together. The night was warm and the water peaceful, so everyone was on the boat so they could watch the fireworks. Mary's mother prepared a beautiful meal for them to eat on deck and also brought sparklers and poppers onto the boat. Mary was standing with her father, who was steering the ship.
"This weekend went by so fast-too fast," Mary said.
"I agree with you, princess. This was a wonderful trip," Stephen agreed.
Stephen Mayfield was fifty-eight and standing at 6'8, had a rugged handsomeness that exuded from men that wore a uniform. After spending twenty years in the army, thirteen as a green beret, he retired and established a successful computer software company with Terra's father Mark. Stephen looked his age with a slightly weathered face and tinges of grey in his brown hair, but Mary thought he was handsome. His small, round, dark brown eyes missed nothing and when Stephen focused his steely gaze on someone, it was as if he could see through them. He had a wide nose and thin mouth, which could be set in a thoughtful frown or turned into a bright smile, depending on who he was with and his mood. Like Mary, he was most comfortable with loved ones and like her, his expression was usually neutral, deep in thought.
"Hey, Daddy, would you mind if I took over for a while?" Mary asked, nodding towards the wheel.
"I suppose so," Stephen said, feigning pain at the prospect of handing the reigns to Mary. "we're the only ship on the lake, so I don't have to worry about crashing or cutting anyone off
"You forgot about leaning out the window and making obscene gestures."
"My precious little girl would never do such things. My daughter is a kind, courteous person who behaves responsibly and puts other's needs above her own."
"Yes, that is true, but what does Jasmine have to do with this conversation?"
Stephen and Mary laughed and Stephen stepped aside so Mary could take over the wheel. He placed his captain's hat on her head and she held onto the wheel, her eyes focused forward. The evening was so peaceful and Mary felt so happy, calm, and relaxed. She adored being with her family, especially her father. They had always been close and seemed to grow closer everyday.
"Is something on your mind, princess? You have that far away look in your eyes."
"Oh, I'm fine, Daddy, really. You know me-I just get a tad pensive when I'm behind the wheel. I guess it's just inbedded in me now to tune out when I'm navigating something."
"You do have a tendency to get lost in your own world. As a kid you never needed a television or games to amuse yourself-all you needed was a journal and pen, or sometimes nothing at all. You coud sit alone for the longest time and seem perfectly content."
"Yes well, private time is a rare commodity in this family, Daddy. There's only what, a million of us?"
Stephen laughed and at that moment Jasmine raced towards them, holding sparklers in her hands.
"Sissy, Daddy, I have sparklers for you!" she exclaimed, handing one to each of them. None of them were lit of course, since her mother thought it was best for her to wait until the sparklers were delivered.
"Why thank you, peanut," Stephen said, bending down so he could take the sparkler from her. "I looove sparklers, but something seems to be missing from this one," he said, turning it around in his hands as if trying to figure out what the sparkler was lacking.
"The sparklers aren't lit, Daddy! You have to light them for them to be bright and shiny!" Jasmine said, giggling at her father's sillyness.
"You know what, Jasmine, I do believe you are correct. You are such a clever little girl," he said.
"Do you have a lighter, Dad, or do I need to get one from Mom?" Mary asked.
"That's alright, Mary, I think I have one in my pocket," he said, reaching inside. Sure enough, a lighter was indeed resting in the pocket of his shorts.
They walked onto the deck, where everyone was already gathered, waiting for the fireworks display. Mary's mother, Carolyn, and her sister Diana, walked towards them upon noticing their entrance. Carolyn was fifty-six, but still maintained a youthful glow thanks in large part to a healthy, active lifestyle. Like Mary and Allyson, she was an avid tennis player and loved water sports.
Standing at 5'11, she had shoulder length, wavy, cinnamon colored hair and small, wide set dark brown eyes. She had a fit, toned body with a slim waist and smal curves. Unlike Stephen, whose somber expression and large, powerful frame left others intimidated, Carolyn's appearance was warm and welcoming, her demenor motherly. She had a sweet smile and a twinkle in her eyes for everyone she met and always gave everyone the benefit of the doubt. She wasn't naive by any means and could hold her own if someone did something that wasn't to her liking, but she was considerably less intimidating than her husband. She knelt down and held her arms out to Jasmine, who ran towards her.
"Look, Mommy, I found Daddy and Sissy. They were steering the boat!" Jasmine said.
"Good job, little detective. I can always count on you to get the job done," Carolyn said, her voice as soft and soothing as her embrace.
"Jazz said we weren't allowed to light sparklers or use poppers until she found you," Carolyn said to her husband and oldest daughter, amusement sparkling her her eyes.
"That was very sweet of you to want to include us, peanut," Stephen said.
Carolyn stood up and walked towards her husband' wrapping her arm around his waist. He returned the gesture and held her close. "do you think anyone at work would notice if we didn't come back tomorrow?" Carolyn was a CPA and also worked as the company's office manager. She split her time between the office and working from home, since she also wanting to be on hand to participate in Diana and Jasmine's school functions.
"They may not notice me, but somehow I think the lack of a looming, almost seven foot shadow breathing down their necks might be noticed, as least in passing."
"I do not loom or breathe down anyone's neck. I am merely acting like a responsible, competent boss."
"Just like when you scare the crap out of my dates, you're not acting like a crazy, irrational psycho. You're just...acting like a responsible, competent father," said Diana.
"Right," Stephen said, amusement in his eyes. "and when you bring one of your baggy pants, multiple piercings and tattoo wearing, shunner of any kind of hygiene or long term goals male friends, you are not *really* under the belief that I will allow to leave the house with them. You are merely...trying to add some amusement to my day. You're bringing live theater into my home."
"Yup."
Diana was Mary's fifteen, almost sixteen year old sister and she was very different from Mary or Allyson. The older Mayfied girls were practical mind, wanting to focus on their careers and having fun within reason. Diana, on the otherhand, was a dynamo of fun energy, unpredictable and always entertaining. She was the girl who at eight years of age double pierced her own ears with a sewing needle, ice, and an apple because her father refused to let her get them done with her friends. Last month she gave herself a nose piercing, thinking her father wouldn't notice was quite surprised when he did.
Stephen banned the nose ring from his home, but acquiesed to his wife and allowed his daughter to keep her pink and indigo highlights. He hated them, but Carolyn forsaw WWIII in her future if she didn't mediate a compromise between her husband and daughter, so she said Diana could keep the hair style until the beginning of the school year. Diana and Jasmine attended a private, Catholic school with a strict dresscode, so thankfully Carolyn could blame the eventual parting of Diana's hightlights on the school and not take the heat herself.
Diana stood at 5'6 and was still growing. She had her mother's slim build and warm smile, but the mischief that glittered in her eyes was all her own. She had shoulder length dark brown hair that looked much more festive with her new highlights. She had an olive complexion like her mother, as well as small, round, wide set dark brown eyes. She had a round nose, thin lips, and heart shaped face.
"Daddy, I wanna light sparklers now!" Jasmine whined, tugging on his arm.
"Yeah Daddy, we wanna light sparklers now!" Diana said, mimicking her little sister.
Stephen chuckled and lit sparklers for Jasmine, Diana, and Mary. Once they were lit Jasmine took off and started running around the boat. Diana followed after her, as did Mary, after Stephen handed her the lighter and more sparklers. Stephen and Carolyn walked towards Mark and Linda as Mary and Diana decided to keep Jasmine in check. After the first set of sparklers went out, Jasmine insisted on lighting more. Mary lit three more and gave one to each of her sisters.
"Ohh, look at how pretty and sparkly they are!" Jasmine said, her eyes growing wide.
"They sure are," Diana agreed.
"I love sparklers! Wanna know what I like best about them?"
"Sure," Mary and Diana said in unison.
"I like...CHASING YOU!" Jasmine exclaimed, her little feet now fully moble as she charged at her sisters.
Being the good sisters they were, Mary and Diana obliged and ran in the opposite direction, adding dramatic shrieking for affect, and Jasmine's delight. As they ran around the ship, fireworks exploded in the sky, casting their own glow on the boat below.