Go Baby Grow

Chapter 68 – Fair Winds and Following Seas

Saturday, June 27th

On his last full day in Seattle, Ryder spent the early hours of the morning sitting on the back porch staring at the water. He'd woken up early so he'd have some time alone. He was so eager to begin the new chapter of his life, yet was so reluctant to leave home. It's time, he thought, I'm ready to leave… I'm no longer a little kid. I just hope I can hack it at the Academy. I can't imagine returning home if I end up quitting during the summer.

Although it wasn't July 4th, this event would be very similar to the annual Shepherd-Hunt celebration in terms of set up and guest list. As he thought about it, Ryder was relieved that the annual 4th of July party at the house had been cancelled – it would help knowing that he wasn't missing it when July 4th arrived in Annapolis.

Before long, the family emerged one-by-one and began to help set up the party. Evelyn rang the doorbell and, after hugging and greeting their grandma, both Ryder and Nolan ran to her car to unload the food she'd prepared. The Tremblay-Hunts arrived without the babies, having begged Becca to help out since the day held unusual obligations. Molly, however, accompanied her parents and was the star of the show as she kissed and chatted with each person. "I hep," she repeatedly offered as Evelyn cut fruit. "I hep."

"How about if you help by making sure this strawberry is yummy," Evelyn smiled with a creative comeback.

"Yummmm," Molly exclaimed as she held her hand out and requested, "Mo, peas."

"Molly, not now. You can wait until snack for more," Lissa instructed.

"Mo now," Molly protested, stomping a foot into the floor. Amelia and Owen held back their laughter – since Molly was their granddaughter and not their daughter, her actions were endearing and adorable.

"More later, Little Miss," Lissa stated clearly and calmly.

Pulling out all the stops for her audience, Molly began breathing audibly and puffing her lip out. As if experiencing her last breath, she begged, "Mo now, Mama."

Nolan happened to step inside as the situation unfolded. He and Lissa exchanged glances and he nodded to his wife. Crouching down in front of Molly, Nolan reasoned, "What did Mama say, Molly?"

"No mo," she pouted.

"Then that's it. No more," Nolan explained without emotion.

Molly began to dissolve into obviously intentional tears and Nolan warned, "If you are going to cry, you need to go lie down. No fits, Molly Jolissa."

She fell onto her bottom and played with her sandals, refusing to look at her daddy. She sat quietly and stewed about her bad luck. Nolan stayed sitting in front of her for a moment until he was convinced she'd changed her attitude. His serious daddy face was pasted on clearly.

As soon as Nolan went back outside to help with chairs, Molly stood up and noticed Lissa was in the Dining Room. She toddled over to Evelyn with her hand extended, "Mo, Gamma? Peas?"

"No, no, Molly. Mommy and Daddy said no more, honey," Evelyn smiled warmly. "But you can sit up here on the counter and help me. Would you like that?" Molly nodded eagerly and velcroed onto Evelyn, never quite making it to the counter.

"Mom, let me help," Owen offered when he saw Evelyn trying to work on the hors d'oeuvres and balance Molly in her arms. "What can I do?"

"She's fine, Owen. I love this," Evelyn smiled as she kissed Molly's cheek and stroked her hair. "Where's your lovey, Molly? Shall we go find it?" Molly nodded definitively as Evelyn advised Owen, "Can you finish up the fruit, Dear, and then start on the vegi plates?"

"Sure," Owen smirked as he headed to the sink to wash his hands.

Outside, Amelia stretched on a lounge chair and watched the activity. She felt guilty that she wasn't helping. Ria came up to Amelia with a furrowed brow and whispered, "Mama, Bogey's super sad."

"He is?" Amelia questioned, finding Ria's insight endearing.

"He's on his bed in the garage making sad sounds, and Barkley is cleaning him," Ria shared.

Thinking twice, Amelia decided Ria's concern was a worthy reason to stand up and walk to the garage. On the way there, Ria looked up at her mother as they walked hand-in-hand and sadly added, "I'm worried about him."

"Let's take a look, Ree. Maybe he ate something that gave him a tummy ache," Amelia reasoned, concerned she was about to encounter a sick pup.

When they reached the dog, he tried to hold up his head but it flopped back down. Although he intended to wag his tail, it barely lifted off the surface of the dog bed.

Amelia knelt down and pet the dog. "What's up, boy? Are you feeling crummy?" The dog's tired eyes and lack of energy concerned her. "Please find Daddy, Ree," Amelia requested.

Ria dragged her walker over to the door to the kitchen and made her way down the hall. Once in the kitchen, she pulled on Owen's shirt. "Daddy?"

"I'm a little busy, Victoria," Owen explained.

"Mommy needs you," Ria shared. "She's worried about Bogey."

"Oh," Owen paused. He wiped his hands on a dish towel and headed to the garage. "What's up Mia?"

"I'm not sure, but he's hurting," Amelia reported. Owen bent down and pet the dog, immediately agreeing with Amelia's assessment. "Did anyone see him come in here?"

"I don't think so. Ria came in for something and spotted him," Amelia explained.

Whispering, Owen questioned, "Should we tell Ryder?"

"I'm not sure he'd forgive us if we didn't. Maybe he and Nolan can head to the vet," she suggested.

"Can I go?" Ria asked, able to easily overhear her parents.

"Maybe, honey," Owen responded. He walked out to the back deck and put his arm around Ryder, whispering to him about the situation. Without delay, Ryder ran in the house and grabbed the keys to the family van. He stepped into the garage with fear covering his face and gazed at Amelia.

"Hey, Bogey," Ryder soothed as he prepared to lift up the large dog. "Let's get you checked out, pal."

Owen opened the side door of the van and spread out a blanket for the dog. "Folks are going to start arriving around 2, Ry."

Nodding, Ryder affirmed, "I know. It's only ten." As if reading her mind, Ryder asked Ria if she wanted to go with him. She nodded and he helped her load up. She wanted to lie next to the dog and pet him during the drive, but received an emphatic veto from both parents and from Ryder.

Once the kids pulled out of the garage, Owen helped Amelia stand and mumbled to his wife, "Bogey's going to be fine, right?"

"Sure," she nodded with denial. "Probably just needs fluids."

Within forty-five minutes, Ryder called from the vet's office and handed the phone to the doctor. The vet reported to Amelia that he was fairly certain that Bogey had eaten something that wasn't settling well in his stomach, but he was concerned about the dog's lack of energy. He suggested keeping Bogey for observation. Since the vet's office was on the same property as his home, Bogey would be beside him all night. Given the rush of the day's activities, everyone agreed that was a wise plan. Ryder explained that he'd be catching a flight on Sunday and moving to the East Coast, so the vet offered to meet him at the clinic on Sunday morning as the family made their way to the airport.

When the vet and Ryder returned to the exam room, Ria was stroking Bogey's coat and praying out loud. She gazed upward, but continued her prayer without delay or embarrassment. Ryder wiped a tear from his eye, hoping Bogey would be better in the morning.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~'

Friends arrived that afternoon and shared their best wishes for Ryder's big move. The yard filled with Ryder's high school and soccer friends, and most of the teens piled on the dock or swam. As the guys wrestled in the water and showed off various jumps, Ryder joined in the fun and enjoyed a temporary distraction from worrying about Bogey.

Amelia and Olivia had arranged an area at the Dining Room table where people could write encouraging notes that would be slipped into various care packages throughout the summer. Some of Ryder's friends took papers that listed Ryder's address; the paper suggested that his friends send pictures and letters about their summers as well as print outs from Ryder's Facebook page so he could see what people were posting while he had no internet access.

Owen and Amelia were touched by how many people from the hospital stopped by to say goodbye. With gentle re-direction, Owen headed over to the dock. He pulled Ryder aside to encourage him to focus on all his guests and not just the crew surrounding him. Without reluctance, Ryder made the rounds and chatted with family friends, his parents' colleagues, neighbors, and others. He promised he'd do so occasionally throughout the day and fulfilled his word.

When he was making his way back to the dock after his second round of adulting, Hannah emerged from inside the house and Ryder's radar directed him to her immediately. Not having learned Julie's sister's name and not having seen a picture, Ryder approached the completely unfamiliar and attractive blonde with eager ardor. Since he didn't know some of Owen and Amelia's colleagues and friends, Ryder didn't think twice about not knowing Hannah.

Extending his hand and ensuring a wide flashy smile overtook his face, Ryder stated, "I'm Ryder. This is my party."

"And you can cry if you want to," Hannah laughed. As Ryder studied her and paused, she explained, "Sorry… my mom loves music from the 1950s. There's a song with that line."

"Right," Ryder nodded with a grin. "I think I've heard that one."

"Thanks for letting me crash your party. Feels kind of weird, not knowing the guest of honor," Hannah flirted. "My dad brought me along with the fam," she explained without mentioning anyone else specifically. She had no idea who this guy was to Julie; she only knew he was another Naval Academy appointee from the State.

"You know me now," Ryder chuckled. "Come join me down at the dock. I'll introduce you to everyone. You're…"

"Hannah," she announced as she slowly and purposefully slid off her cover up to reveal her well-filled bikini.

"You're the best gift of the day, Hannah," Ryder bantered as he slid his arm around her. The two giggled and chatted as they slowly made their way to the dock. Hannah and Ryder were equally smitten, and Ryder hoped he'd been given the opportunity for one last fling before he left Seattle.

After swimming awhile, Darren suggested the guys team up for a game of chicken fight. He pulled James over and ordered him to climb on his shoulders. "Who's your partner, Hunt?" Darren challenged.

One of Ryder's soccer pals encouraged Ryder to sit on his shoulders and the effort to push the other guy off his partner's shoulders began. Round after round, Darren and James prevailed.

"I want another chance," Ryder declared boldly once every obvious team had challenged Darren and James.

"Then you have to switch places," Darren ordered.

"Who's climbing on board?" Ryder motioned loudly to the assembled crowd. Hannah readily volunteered and all of the guys tried to dissuade her from participating due to her gender.

She challenged them then offered the final deciding words to James and Darren, "Are you afraid of a girl beating you, guys?"

"Hell no," Darren scoffed.

As Hannah climbed on Ryder's shoulders, James teased, "We'll be gentle, sweetie."

"Not necessary… honey," Hannah quipped, causing Ryder to laugh.

Ryder and Hannah became the new champions, fighting all-male and co-ed couples. Although she resembled a Barbie more than an action hero, Hannah was ruthless and strong. Catching a glimpse of her toned and muscular arms, Ryder was all the more impressed as his hands grasped her legs.

Oblivious to the goings on, Adam introduced Tessa around and mentioned he'd lost track of their daughters. Julie, when she emerged from the house wearing her cover up, spotted Lissa first. She gravitated to her friend and played with the babies on a blanket Lissa had spread out on the lawn.

"Holy crap, girl, you've worn me out," Ryder spouted as he emerged from the water and began to dry off.

"You loved it," she teased.

Holding his gaze for an extended moment, Ryder suggested, "Want a tour? I can show you the house or we can walk down the driveway and check out the treehouse."

"Treehouse?" Hannah giggled. "You have a treehouse? You're how old?"

"You haven't seen it," Ryder declared proudly. "We add on to it every summer. It's pretty cool."

The two strolled down the driveway slowly, chuckling and sharing funny stories. Hannah made Ryder wish he had more time to get to know her. Little did he know that he'd see her in the fall at the Academy.

They reached the treehouse and she gave the outside a once over. "Eclectic," she assessed positively.

"Check out the inside," Ryder offered as he opened the door and extended his arm.

Hannah ran in and jumped on the pile of pillows. "Ok, this is sweet," she declared with joy.

Ryder stood at the edge of the makeshift trampoline and grinned. He was as intrigued by Hannah's playfulness as he was by her bouncing chest. She flopped down onto the pillows and giggled, "Get over here."

Without pause, Ryder joined his new friend on the pillows. "What do you think? Is this a treehouse for little kids?" he challenged.

"I stand corrected," Hannah beamed as she held her forearms and hands in front of her.

Ryder's eyes focused on Hannah's face as he reached out and weaved his fingers between hers. The right side of his mouth slipped upward slightly and he gently started to ask, "Can I…"

"Yes," Hannah smiled as she leaned toward him. He bridged the remaining distance and began kissing the blonde. Within seconds, their arms embraced each other's bodies. Dressed only in swimming suits, the two ran their hands over each other's skin. Their lips roamed along arms, necks, and ears.

"You are absolutely amazing," Ryder cooed in Hannah's ear as he nibbled on her ear lobe.

"You're saying that already?" Hannah teased as she ran her hand on top of Ryder's bulge. "Let's keep going and see what's in store."

Ryder hopped to a nearby shelf and reached up to grab the container where he stowed condoms. Hannah stretched out on the pile of pillows and watched Ryder's every move. He crawled over the pillows and back toward Hannah. Without pause, he untied her bikini strings and she slid off his trunks. The two thoroughly enjoyed themselves for the next forty-five minutes, ending by snuggling and softly caressing one another's arms as Hannah rested her head on Ryder's chest.

Kissing Hannah's cheek, Ryder offered, "I'm really sorry, but I should get back to the party. My mom and dad are probably going to send someone out here to look for me." He grabbed his phone and asked for her number, which she readily gave him.

"202-555-5555." With a slight scoff and soft giggle, Hannah offered, "You mentioned your mom might be looking for you. In my case, I'm surprised my dad hasn't ordered the National Guard to organize a search party. I've been out of his sight for over an hour."

"He's in the National Guard?" Ryder inquired with curiosity as he pulled up his trunks.

"No," Hannah smiled. "He's a Navy Captain. He runs the shipyard base in Bremerton."

"Holy f !#…" Ryder spouted then froze.

"What?" Hannah asked with a smile.

"You're JJ's sister… Captain Caldwell's daughter…" he sputtered.

"JJ? You mean, Julie? Yes, I am. You know my dad, huh? Of course you've met my sis, since you're both appointees," Hannah reasoned.

"I'm your sister's best friend…" Ryder mumbled slowly, fully and completely stunned. "Oh… boy… this is not good."

Hannah reasoned, "My dad will never know, Cutie, and my sister… well, best friends doesn't mean you guys have sex or a romantic relationship, right?"

"Yeah," Ryder stuttered as he forced a laugh and ran his hand through his hair.

Hannah stood and pulled her hair into a messy bun, smiling at her latest conquest and hoping he wasn't a onetime fling.

Remembering his manners, Ryder cleared his throat and offered, "Want to join me, Hannah? We can walk back to the party together."

"Maybe I'll hang here a bit and make my way there alone in a few," Hannah considered as she tried to piece together Ryder's reaction. She stood and kissed him, whispering, "I loved our time together."

He reciprocated and wrapped his arms around her waist, musing, "You're… incredible. We'll… uh… we'll catch up soon and talk about all this, huh?"

"Sure," Hannah smirked. "And I'm sure we'll see each other in the fall at school."

"Huh?" Ryder bumbled.

"I attend the Academy. It'll be my second year," Hannah explained.

"Right," Ryder faked a smile, wondering how he was going to navigate his latest faux pas. Hannah offered a temporary goodbye and fell onto the pillows. She stretched out, imagining that their rendez-vous was a far smaller issue than Ryder seemed to think.

As Ryder threw his towel over his shoulders and emerged from the treehouse, he saw Julie approaching. She was halfway between the house and the treehouse. A minute later, as the two reached one another, he stretched his arms and hugged her, stating, "I haven't seen you all day."

"Your dad sent me to find you. How's the party going? Are you enjoying it?" she asked with care.

"Surprising and fabulous," Ryder grinned. "Have you had a nice time?"

"I have. I played with your nieces and hung out with Lissa. Somewhere along the way, I lost track of my sister. I want to make sure and introduce her to you," Julie announced eagerly.

"I met her at the dock," he faltered. "Blonde? Chesty? Brown eyes? Wearing a red bikini?"

"That's Hannah," Julie smirked. "I wonder where the hell she is?"

"From what you've told me, my guess is that she's made new friends and is enjoying herself," Ryder chuckled nervously.

Julie side hugged her best buddy and confirmed, "Very likely."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~'

After he made another set of rounds with the crowd, ate dinner, and cut the cake, Ryder decided to focus some time on the Littles and Molly. He swam with Molly in the chest-deep area of the lake, wandered into the deeper parts so the Littles could stand on his shoulders and jump into the water, and playfully wrestled with Lucas.

Shortly before he slipped out of the water, he spotted the Caldwell clan laughing and chatting with Amelia. As he brainstormed a way to avoid the gathering, Ryder groaned internally when Amelia called out and summoned him over.

He pulled the Littles out one-by-one and held a shivering Molly in his arms. Not worrying about himself and his dripping body, he wrapped a few towels around Molly and dried off her hair. When he reached Amelia, he leaned down and kissed her, "Hey, Mom. Having fun?"

"I am. I've been chatting with the burgeoning Caldwell clan," Amelia smiled widely.

With an appropriate grin, Ryder greeted the Captains and turned to Hannah saying, "We met over at the dock, right?"

His hint was not lost on Hannah. She replied enthusiastically, "Exactly."

"Did you know Hannah will be a second year at the Academy?" Amelia questioned.

"I think JJ mentioned that," Ryder nodded. "We'll have to wait a year to call you by first name, huh?"

"Only when other upperclassmen are around," Hannah laughed.

"We're departing for DC tomorrow at 1200. When do you fly out, Amelia?" Adam asked.

"Same! Tomorrow at noon," Amelia replied. "We're bringing along quite the crew but not the entire family."

"Who's coming?" Julie wondered.

"Owen and me, of course," Amelia listed, "Nolan, Molly, and the Littles."

"And me," Ryder teased with a grin.

"Of course, and the Plebe," Amelia winked. "Hannah, will you be at I-Day?"

"No. I'm flying to DC with my family tomorrow, then heading out that night for my Youngster Cruise," she shared.

"Tell Dr. Shepherd your ports," Adam smiled.

"I lucked out. I begin in Gibraltar and end in Greece," she shared. "The flight there is going to be crazy long, though."

"Will you have any free time to explore?" Amelia wondered.

"About 24 hours in Gibraltar and two days in Athens, much to my worried father's dismay. Along the way, we'll dock in Venice, Dubrovnik, and Malta," Hannah shared. "But I'll be back at the Academy for Parents' Weekend."

"Just in time to harass the survivors of Plebe Summer, huh?" Amelia surmised.

"You know it," Hannah exclaimed with gusto. Looking directly at Ryder, Hannah commented, "I can't wait to see them."

The End

Check out my new series, Anchors Aweigh, and next book, The Long, Hot Summer, on fictionpress DOT com backslash ~graciebecker. I've chosen to post the series on fictionpress rather than fanfic DOT net since at least half of the chapters will focus on Ryder and Julie's experiences at the Academy. Owen, Amelia, the Shepherd-Tremblay-Hunts and Caldwells will also appear in the book.

I hope you keep reading, commenting on, and enjoying my writing. Your reflections, ideas, and respectful feedback are welcome and encouraged.