By this time Bill had retrieved the two MAG lights and was looking around for the door closer button. Teri volunteered the needed information along with gate opening instructions. Within a minute they were standing at the end of the driveway and had turned towards Harry's. Holding up one MAG light Bill flipped out a steel ring from its base and asked Teri to clip it to the snap centered between his shoulders. With amusement in his voice Bill said, "We'll be safer if you turn the light on." Teri chuckled but quickly turned on the MAG light.
As Bill and Teri crossed the parking lot at Harry's they heard the authentic gong of six bells. They both knew the time to be 1900 hours. Harry had seen them coming and was waiting.
"Something happen to your transportation?" he asked.
"It was a pleasant evening so we decided to use what God provided." Bill replied.
Harry extended his hand to Bill and said, "Welcome back, Bill." Turning to Teri he opened his arms and asked for a hug and a kiss. Teri answered her fathers request joyfully. "Let's sit in the back tonight. Andy and I are closing early because there hasn't been enough business. Get a good window seat but not in line with the front doors."
Teri and Bill did as requested while Harry went about the business of closing down the restaurant. Before they could be seated Andy appeared with two steaming mugs. They were filled with Andy's special blend. "Good to see you both. Down for the weekend?"
What's with the white light on the back of your coat, Bill?"
Bill responded first. "We walked down here and I felt safer with a warning signal attached to my fantail." Teri continued the conversation by saying, "I'm spending the whole week so I can learn about my new house and the finances that keep it running. Bill didn't check his social calendar before he left so he may be here for just the weekend." She smiled at Bill and he stuck his tongue out at her.
Harry showed up just then and asked if they had eaten. When Andy heard the negative reply he immediately left for the kitchen muttering under his breath about Harry being old and senile.
Suddenly Harry let out an oath and asked Bill to accompany to the front desk computer. "It has been giving me no end of trouble lately," Harry said as he started towards the front.
"Go see what he wants," Teri said, "I'll sit here, have my tea, and enjoy the view."
Bill rose from his seat and followed the wake caused by Harry's passing. When he arrived Bill was surprised to see Harry leaning against the counter with a big grin on his face. "Good, I didn't raise Teri's curiosity. Now Bill I know that we were supposed to have our meeting tomorrow. What with slow business tonight and your sitting on pins and needles for the past two weeks why don't we have the meeting after you and Teri finish dinner?"
"Okay, Harry. I'll sleep better tonight without the tension and anxiety I've put myself through. Teri should know the best and the worst about me."
"Good man, Bill. I knew you had guts and a strong will when I met you two weeks ago. I have some papers to get from upstairs so you go back to Teri and enjoy Andy's dinner. Even for a 'Yank' like me it was fine eating."
Teri saw Bill's refection in the window as he approached the table. Turning towards him she said, "Obviously the problem was minor and you agreed to have the meeting tonight after we eat."
Bill smiled as he responded, "Yes to both parts. All I needed to do was reboot the computer to have the glitch go away. I will feel and sleep a lot better having the meeting over and done with."
Just then Andy came around the corner bearing a heavy tray. "There isn't enough room at that table for all this. Move over to the big table so you can start to eat. You two sit on that side so you can continue to enjoy the view." Andy placed two heaping platters next to each other on the side facing the windows.
??
Dinner was finished. The dishes were soaking in the big sink and the necessary trips to the head had been completed. When Teri and Bill returned to the table there was a large carafe of coffee waiting along with ash trays. Andy was seated opposite Teri while Harry sat opposite Bill. Bill lit two cigarettes and handed Teri one of them.
"Let's tell the worst part first and move on to the better things," Harry said in a solemn voice. "Teri, Bill lied to you about his name. Now don't judge him until you hear me out. Bill did what he did out of self-preservation. With his disabilities and limited income he was unable to clean up some wreckage of his past."
Picking up the top sheet in front of him Harry slid it across the table in front of Teri. "Allow me to introduce you to William Edward Bouchet, the second. Teri had heard the words and her eyes scanned the paper in front of her. She was numb with shock. Bill was as shocked as Teri.
Harry picked up the next set of sheets. Bill, in 1993 you suffered a rather nasty wound to your head requiring forty-two stitches. The concussion you sustained in today's medicine would have been noted in the mandatory CAT scan now required. Because you never lost consciousness the ER at Harborview didn't do a scan. More important was divorce that became effective as of 1 January 1994. The reason for the divorce being granted was irreconcilable differences." Harry slid the packet over in front of Bill. Bill let the tears flow down his cheeks. Teri silently gave Bill a heavy duty napkin while Andy and Harry both offered their handkerchiefs.
Harry then started to hand documents over to Bill. Included were birth certificates for all members of his family, including his parents. There was even a copy of the marriage license to his now ex-wife. Finally Harry dropped three DD214's on the pile. Bill saw Harry holding a fourth DD214.
Harry stared at Bill. "It is with great pleasure that I present you this DD214," Harry said as he stood up and extended the document towards Bill. Bill accepted the document and quickly scanned its contents. What caught his eye was the phrase "Amended as of (with a date three days prior to the present date).
Andy broke the silence by saying, "Harry, I think this retired Master Chief Yeoman is going to argue with your CNO."
That statement galvanized Bill into action. As he stood his chair fell back and crashed to the floor. "Wait just a minute," Bill said in his best command voice, "I was raised to respect my elders and I have enough honor left in me to respect officers of any rank. Whether I liked the individual as a person is immaterial."
Harry responded quickly, "Bill, before you say another word read these retirement papers. Then compare the signatures on the two documents. After you have done that you have five minutes alone in the front parking lot to howl at the moon or kick the gravel or whatever. After those five minutes are up you will come back in here and exhibit the proper demeanor and courtesy befitting a retired Master Chief Yeoman."
Harry then walked around the table to face Bill. Harry extended his right hand as though he was offering to shake hands. Harry had carefully positioned Bill to mask the transfer of a small, square box from his hand to Bill's hand. "You have five minutes starting now you GD Yeoman." Harry added with a gruff tone.
Bill was walking out the front door of the restaurant as Teri reached for a cigarette. A match was struck and quickly offered. As Andy extinguished the match Teri nodded her thanks. She then turned towards her father saying, "Admiral Whitman, I known you for sixty years of your life. What you just did went beyond reason. It was cruel."
Harry looked at his daughter and captured her eyes with his. Teri couldn't look away. She could not refuse the love and affection flowing out of his eyes towards her. Harry said in a voice gruff with emotion, "I did what was necessary. Andrew will probably read me chapter and verse after the two of you leave but..."
Andy interrupted at that point by saying, "You will get no such thing from me. Teri, your father had to break through the tough outer shell Bill has spent years making. The two you falling in love with each other cracked that outer shell. Your father had to be savage so Bill could really see the truth. When that man of yours comes back through the door you of all people will see the subtle change. Now, I am getting the glasses and the sparkling cider we will drink in celebration. Come help me, Teri."
Bill had followed directions to get to this point, the parking lot of Harry's restaurant. Three items were crystal clear in his mind. He was a free man. He would ask Teri to marry him this evening in front of two witnesses. He would be able to fight with the VA about his compensation. Hopefully in the coming years the claim would change from non-service connected to service connected. Bill wandered over to the nearest security light and opened the box clutched in his right hand. Harry was giving Bill his permission to marry his daughter. That the ring had special significance was above question. Closing the box made several circuits of the parking lot attempting to reestablish the cloak of detachment that had been his protection for years. Realizing that the cloak had been broken Bill remembered what Harry had said as he sent him out to the parking lot. Yes! That would be his key to survival from now until he died. He would allow his emotions to flow where they willed but he would exhibit the proper demeanor and courtesy. Having made the decision Bill squared his shoulders and walked across the parking lot to his new life.
Being in tune with the noises made by the restaurant Andy and Harry knew before Teri that Bill had reentered the building. Teri's sixth sense kicked in and she knew her soul mate was approaching the table. When Bill's hands were gently placed on her shoulders Teri almost feinted. The clarity and vibrancy of his touch startled her. She could almost feel the curtain fall away and float slowly down to the ground. Teri felt the subtle shift in Bill's fingers and the picture faded away. Then Bill's hands were withdrawn and Teri had to close her eyes. When she opened them Teri saw Bill kneeling at her side. Her heart soared as she heard the words.
"Janice Teresa Whitman, will you do me the honor of being my wife?" As Teri said yes Bill slowly slid the engagement ring onto her finger. When the ring was firmly seated Bill leaned forward and gave Teri a firm but gentle kiss on her lips. As their lips met Teri felt the tip of Bill's tongue touch her lips. The picture of Bill's rampant cock sliding effortlessly into the deepest reaches of her pussy was intense and brief. Contact was broken and the picture faded. Bill stood up and assisted Teri to her feet.