“Dad thought so.”He took a deep breath.“I have a few more calls to make, but I’ll shoot you the deets.My dad has already covered the cruise for the team and their plus ones.Norton confirmed block leave dates last week of May with me before I called you.You were next on my to do list.”
“I guess we’ll all be on block leave together, then,” Jerry laughed.“Thanks, man.I’ll let you get to that list.Shoot me your dad’s number, too.”
“He already has yours.”
“Okay.Well, count on me.Whatever you need.”
“Thanks, Jerry.”
“Talk later.”
After he hung up, he sent Olive a message.
Jerry: Hope you’re sleeping.Headed to chow.
She immediately called him.“Hey there,” he said as he answered, “doesn’t sound like sleeping to me, young lady.”
“Yeah.The snowplow came by the hospital about five minutes ago.Someone said the interstate’s clear.I’m trying to decide whether I want to try to make it home or just wait it out.I’m off until Wednesday, so if I could get home, I could just stay there.”
“Still coming down hard here.”He looked out the window at the snow pouring down.“I could come get you.The truck has four-wheel drive.”
There was a long pause.“I’m so close to saying yes.”
He checked the time.“Let me grab some chow and see what the weather does here.”
“Thanks, Jerry.”
After he hung up, he opened the weather app on his phone.The storm looked like it would pass through in the next hour.He took a screenshot and texted her.
Jerry: Be there around two.I’ll call when I get there.
Her response came five minutes later.
Olive: You’re the best.??
When he stepped out into the courtyard, the cold hit Jerry in the face like a sucker punch .He tried to walk in Fisher and Brock’s footprints, placing his steps very carefully to avoid slipping on the ice.His foot broke through a top layer of snow, through a layer of ice, and through more snow.As he entered the chow hall, he slipped his cap off and put it in his coat pocket.He didn’t see anyone working the grill, but the sandwich bar and salad bar looked open, so he headed that way.
He piled roast beef and cheese onto some rye bread.The tomato soup smelled good, so he added that to his tray and made his way to where his buddies sat.
“What’s up with Doc Oz?”Fisher asked as he slathered peanut butter on an apple slice.
“Would you believe wedding bells are ringing?”Jerry replied.“Apparently, we’re all invited.He already cleared block leave dates with Daddy.”
A smile covered Fisher’s face.“Kinda presumptuous, but still awesome.Be great to get down to Florida again.”
Jerry shook his head.“They’re getting married on a cruise ship.”
“No joke?”Brock asked.
“I went on a cruise when I was a kid,” Fisher said.“Pretty cool.Lots of cartoon characters on board, so probably a slightly more grown-up venue this time around.”
“It really is pretty cool.”
Brock pulled his phone out of his pocket.“Do you have the dates?I need to get it on the calendar before Erin adds something to the honey-do list.”
He looked at the text from Osbourne.“All expense paid cruise sailing 22 through 28 May.Miami to Bahamas to Haiti to Miami.”
“Wow,” Brock said.“Erin will be quite impressed with me.She’s all about cruises.Goes on like three a year with her mother.”
