Page 37 of Crash Over Us
Margot shook her head. “Never.”
“If Dad wants a new boat, why get in his way. Imagine if he told you you had too many books, Mom?”
Oh shit. Those were fighting words. “I own a bookstore, Jacob. I can’t have too many books.”
He laughed. “Mom, you fall for it every single time.”
She sighed, exasperated with her older son. Margot smiled. It was nice to see her at ease in my family’s kitchen.
“So, Jacob, you don’t miss the Coast Guard?” she asked.
He shrugged. “Maybe if I hadn’t been stationed all around the country I wouldn’t have minded so much.”
“What do you mean? I thought you were all stationed here. This is your base. You don’t go anywhere but Marshoak Island.”
He looked at me as if I could explain her question.
“We can get orders to go anywhere,” Jacob stated. “I’ve been to Virginia, Rhode Island, Maine. You name it, if there is a base, we can get orders to go there at any time.”
I wished I had stopped him before he answered. I saw the alarm flash in her eyes.
“Hey, hold on. That’s not how it works,” I warned him with my tone. I looked at Margot. “We have some say and pull. And not everyone wants to come to Marshoak because it’s remote. So those of us from here and with legacy heritage get first dibs. Right, Jacob?”
His eyes widened. “Yeah. That’s true. I was ready to go somewhere else. Should have said that first.”
I wasn’t sure if Margot’s shoulders had relaxed yet or not. She had a death grip on the carrot peeler.
Mom interrupted. “I think the salad is ready for the carrots. Could someone call Dad and see where he is? I’m about to take the chickens out of the oven.”
“Sure,” Jacob volunteered. “My phone’s in the other room.”
He headed out of the kitchen, and I made my way over to Margot. “Look, he says all kinds of shit. He wanted to leave Marshoak and he put in an orders request. I’m staying right here.”
She nodded. “I guess I thought it was a permanent station.”
My mom’s back was to us as she opened the ovens. I pulled Margot into my arms. “I’m not going anywhere. Don’t let my brother be the one to scare you, okay?”
“Okay.” She smiled. “Where’s that wine?”
I laughed. “Looks like he got out of doing that job. I’ll get it for you.”
For the next few minutes, I struggled with the cork, Mom inspected the chickens, and Margot filled the water glasses for dinner. Jacob strolled in announcing Dad was on his way back from the boatyard. We didn’t have to wait long.
Mom seemed less irritated, but when Dad walked in the kitchen, he didn’t look happy.
He had grease on his hands and his shirt was stained.
“Adam, what is that?” Mom shrieked, pointing at the floor. He had tracked grease in on his work boots. The kitchen floor was dotted with oil shoe prints.
“Sorry.” He walked backward to the kitchen entrance, and took his boots off. He walked back in. He spotted Margot.
“Dad, this is Margot.”
“Hi, there. I’d shake your hand, but I’m afraid I’d get this all over you.” He grinned. “I’m already in trouble,” he whispered to her.
She laughed. “It’s okay. I’m just glad I’m not the one who made the mess in the kitchen,” she teased.
Dad laughed and nodded at me. “She’s funny.”
