Taboo

Keywords: Nereids, Ch., 04,

Universe: Summer Camp

Summary: Jack MacLean is happy with married life, but it's the Swinging Sixties and he wants more. His wife does too, and they have their eye on her new friend, Beth Hughes. But Jack and Beth's husband will soon be fighting a war in the skies over Vietnam. When they return, everything will change.

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STANDARD DISCLAIMER

This story is intended as ADULT entertainment. It contains material of an adult, explicit, SEXUAL nature. If you are offended by sexually explicit content or language, please DO NOT read any further.

This story is a work of fiction. All characters and events portrayed in it are fictional, and any resemblance to real people or incidents is purely coincidental. The author does not necessarily condone or endorse any of the activities described.

This story may not be reproduced in any form for profit without the written permission of the author, Nick Scipio.

Copyright © 2006 Nick Scipio. All rights reserved.

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Nereids

A Summer Camp Story

by Nick Scipio

CHAPTER FOUR

"Congratulations, Mr. Hughes," Commander Scarlatti said, shaking David's hand.

"Thank you, sir."

"His wife just had a baby girl," Scarlatti said to Frank Waulk.

"So I heard," Waulk said. He turned to David. "Well, Mr. Hughes, tell us about your little bundle of joy."

"She's beautiful, sir," David practically gushed. "She was born at oh five thirty-five... seven pounds, twelve ounces... nineteen and a half inches. She's got fine blonde hair and blue eyes."

"Of course," Scarlatti said.

David looked puzzled.

""All" babies have blue eyes when they're born," Scarlatti said patiently.

"Oh, yes, sir. Of course."

"And what's her name?"

"Erin Rianne, sir. Named after my wife's grandmother." With that, David remembered his cigars and passed them out to the assembled officers.

Jack smiled graciously and accepted his third... no, "fourth" cigar in two days.

Commander Scarlatti closed his eyes and inhaled as he passed the cigar under his nose. Then he tucked it in his breast pocket and turned serious. "Does your wife have someone to look in on her while we're on cruise?"

"Yes, sir," David said. "Her mother's flying in tomorrow."

"Good to hear. In the meantime, tell her to call Mary if she needs anything."

"Thank you, sir."

"My wife's with her now, Skipper," Jack said.

Jack smiled inwardly at the thought. He didn't like thinking of David and Beth as a project, but a candid part of him admitted that they were just that. They were friends—"good" friends—but he also hoped they'd be more.

Unfortunately, he and David still had to deploy with the squadron, and they'd be away from their wives and families for nine months. Carrier Air Wing 14 sailed with the "USS Ranger" in two days, and they "would" be aboard, no matter what Jack wanted. He wasn't very patient, but he was disciplined, and he'd already resigned himself to the wait.

"Congratulations again, David," Scarlatti said. "And give my best to your wife." Then he glanced at Commander Waulk. "Frank, is 809 still grounded with engine problems?"

The two officers shared a knowing look.

"Yes, sir, I believe it is," Waulk said.

David blinked, uncertain about the direction the conversation had taken.

Jack understood "exactly" where it was going, and he fought not to smirk.

"We should probably replace the engine while we have shore facilities," Scarlatti said, glancing slyly at Jack, including him in the ruse.

Waulk nodded, his face impassive.

"I don't think we'll be able to bring 809 with the squadron when we fly aboard," Scarlatti said.

"No, sir," Waulk agreed.

Scarlatti pretended to think for a moment, and Jack grinned when he realized that David still didn't know what was going on. The man was obviously intelligent, but sometimes he didn't put two and two together.

"Have Alvin requisition a new engine ASAP," Scarlatti said, referring to the squadron's maintenance officer. He tapped his chin. "Chief Ingersoll and his crew can install it. The chief's wife just had a baby, correct?"

"Yes, sir," Waulk said. He glanced at his clipboard. "The maintenance crew won't be able to finish the work before we depart, though."

"No, of course not," Scarlatti said. He shrugged. "There's no help for it. The chief and his crew will have to come aboard on the COD flight."

Waulk nodded, stone-faced and serious. "We'll have to detail a pilot to fly 809 itself, sir."

"Yes, I suppose we will," the Old Man said.

Jack had to bite his tongue not to laugh as the light of comprehension began to dawn on David.

"This sounds like a shitty little job, Frank," Scarlatti continued.

"Indeed it does, sir."

With an absolutely straight face, Scarlatti turned to David. "Mr. Hughes, I'm afraid this onerous task falls on you. That means you won't be able to sail with the ship. You'll have to come aboard the day after the squadron departs."

"Aye, sir," David said.

"See Lieutenant Commander Young about the maintenance schedule. He'll detail Chief Ingersol and a crew to work on 809."

"Aye, aye, sir."

"Pass the word to Alvin and the chief, Frank," Scarlatti said to Waulk.

Waulk cracked a grin for the first time. "Aye, aye, sir."

Scarlatti nodded politely, dismissing them.

"Come along, Mr. Hughes," Waulk said. "Let's go break the, ahem, bad news to Chief Ingersol."

As soon as the two men were out of earshot, Scarlatti grinned at Jack. "Sometimes I love my job," he said, gesturing toward a chair as he seated himself behind his desk.

"Yes, sir," Jack said, grinning in reply. He took the proffered seat and gazed across the desk as his commander turned serious.

"I was impressed with your training plan at Yuma," Scarlatti said, "and I'm going to make you Assistant Operations Officer. I've already talked to Commander Featherston, and he's eager to get you up to speed."

Jack couldn't imagine Terry Featherston eager about "anything", but he nodded attentively.

"Once we shake down and start regular flight operations," Scarlatti continued, "I want you to..."

**

Beth and her mother went with Susan and her sons to the base to say farewell to the squadron. She nestled the swaddled Erin against her breast while her mother held Paul, resting him easily on her hip. Susan, Kirk, and Doug stood nearby, the boys listening earnestly to last-minute words from their father.

Jack crouched in his flight suit, his pockets bristling with pens and pencils. His handsome face was grave as he talked to his sons, and he looked like a recruiting poster for Naval Aviation.

Beth felt a presence beside her and turned to smile up at David. Unlike the other officers, he was wearing his khakis. His expression was serious as he gazed at the men preparing to fly their planes aboard the carrier.

The ship itself had departed the day before, amid a fanfare of families saying farewell to departing husbands, fathers, sons, and brothers. As the squadron's most junior officer, David should have been on it with them, but Commander Scarlatti had intervened. Beth silently thanked the man for the two extra days he'd given her with her husband.

She had tried to thank the commander in person, but he brushed off her kind words with an embarrassed wave. Her eyes misted at the memory, and she smiled at David again.

"What's the matter?" he asked when he saw her face. "Is everything okay? Is it too loud? Is the baby okay? Are "you" okay?"

"I'm "fine"," Beth reassured him. "Erin's fine too. I... it's nothing."

He frowned, but accepted her at her word.

Soon enough, the pilots said their final goodbyes, hugged their wives and children, and climbed into their planes. Down the line, the jet engines started with a whine and a roar, and David ushered Beth into the maintenance hangar, out of the sun and noise.

Susan remained on the tarmac with the other wives and families. They watched and waved as the planes taxied out to the runway and took off in pairs, fourteen in all.

Beth turned to look at the fifteenth, the reason she had two more days with David. The new engine was on a test stand with the maintenance crew busily working on it. According to David, they'd have it replaced by mid-afternoon, so he'd be home for dinner at the usual time.

With a detached part of her mind, Beth listened to the massed roar as the squadron flew over in formation, a final farewell to the families. Susan joined her a while later, smiling as she kept a watchful eye on Kirk and Doug.

"C'mon, boys," David said, waving them forward and including Paul with a gesture. "I'll let you sit in the cockpit."

Beth's mother went with them, to watch after Paul.

"They're gone," Susan said quietly. A moment later she composed herself and reached out to Beth. "Here, let me hold Erin and give you a break."

Beth suppressed a momentary qualm at being separated from her newborn daughter, but she let Susan take her. All of a sudden she felt several days of exhaustion catch up with her, and cast about for someplace to sit.

"Over here," Susan said, gesturing to a row of chairs in the corner of the hangar.

The two women sat silently for several minutes. Beth watched David and the boys, while Susan gazed at the sleeping baby in her arms.

"She's so beautiful," Susan said quietly. "Are you and David thinking about more children?"

Beth shook her head. "We wanted a boy and a girl, so we're going to stop at two. I had my tubes tied while I was in the hospital."

"Ah. I did the same thing, but I waited till a couple of months after Doug was born."

Beth nodded.

"Is your mom going babysit while you and David go out tonight?"

"No," Beth said softly, "we're going to have a quiet night at home. Besides, David wants to spend some time with Erin before he leaves."

Susan smiled. "He's a good man."

"He is," Beth said, her voice thick with emotion.

**

The next morning, David packed the last of his things. His sea locker had already gone aboard the ship, which was currently sailing west from Alameda.

"Susan offered to come with us to the base, Mom," Beth said at breakfast.

Keywords: Nereids, Ch., 04,