Suspicions

 Month 14 Day 19

1630 Hours

Jane Burke

 It's a good sign that Smitty has joined Duck and me for supper. Jane selected a table and sat down, followed by the trio of underlings who followed her. Maybe those two are getting a grip on their lust, and I won't have to worry about them being indiscreet again.

She glanced at the redhead, and noticed a familiar form coming across the mess hall. And now's my chance to gently prod that fellow on his strange behavior the last several days. "Lieutenant!" she called and raised her hand to get his attention.

Bugalu changed his direction to stand behind the redhead. "Yes, captain?"

The redhead had been turning to see who was behind her, but abruptly sat forward, one hand white as it gripped her knife. Smitty dropped his own silverware to reach out and cover MacDowell's taut hand.

He's reassuring her about something. Or making it plain the two of them are together. Or both. Jane turned her attention to her helmsman. "I thought I might persuade you to join us this evening. I'm sure we can make room for you."

The redhead squirmed, her head low. "Colleen," Smitty whispered.

I can't tell if that was a threat or a plea.

"I'm sorry, captain," Bugalu answered. "I... have a prior commitment tonight."

MacDowell swallowed and resumed breathing. Smitty's hand eased over hers.

Something is definitely going on between those 2. Or maybe it's those 3. Even Duck is aware of it. "I should have issued the invitation before now. Perhaps another evening, then."

"I look forward to it," Bugalu stated with an unmeant smile, and walked around them to a table somewhere behind Jane.

Duck turned his head to follow Bugalu's progress, and began muttering.

"Speak up," Jane instructed softly. "I can't hear you."

Duck cleared his throat but kept his voice low. "What's gotten into the younger generation? I never would have passed on a chance to eat with a superior officer just to eat with the same people as always."

Jane turned her head to face him, and saw in her peripheral vision that Bugalu had taken a seat with Capac. "Perhaps they have something important to discuss tonight," she suggested, and turned back to her chief engineer and his new protégé. "And have you two taken time to discuss all the important details of your wedding ceremony? Time is getting short, and I haven't heard anything about who else will be in the wedding party, who's been invited, or any of that stuff."

MacDowell raised her head to stare at Jane, her gaze shifted to a point beyond Jane, and then her head abruptly lowered again.

"Is something wrong, Lt MacDowell?" Jane asked in concern.

"I've... I've selected the cake," the redhead answered, but only raised her head enough to see Jane's tray of food. She turned her attention to Smitty. "I chose white cake, white frosting, and pineapple puree, if that's okay with you."

"Yes, yes," he answered hurriedly, and patted her hand. "Sorry, captain, the days have been passing in something of a whirl for us. Time has, uh, gotten away from us, you could say. But it's just a matter of... of asking the people we want to be involved."

"Time has indeed gotten away from you, if you haven't done that yet," Jane agreed. That came out with a touch of anger that I didn't intend to include. They haven't even lined up their wedding party? What have they been doing?

"Yes, we plan to rectify the problem this evening," he told her, and turned to MacDowell, who was just taking a bite of roast beef. "You remember, Colleen, you're going to ask... uh... that woman... to be your maid of honor."

She gave him a panicked look, as if she had no idea what he was saying. "Um, who did you want me to ask?"

He smiled as if she was joking, but it was Jane's impression the question had been in earnest. "Now, you know that's your decision. It's usually your best friend."

MacDowell's gaze slid past Jane's head again, then rolled over to Duck before jerking back to her fiancé.

The glances weren't lost on Smitty, and he would have been gritting his teeth if he hadn't been so determinedly smiling. "Your best female friend. I've got her name on the tip of my tongue, but I can't quite..."

"You mean, Yellow Dog?" MacDowell asked.

"Yes! That's it!" Smitty agreed at once. "Lieutenant Yellow Dog! How could I have forgotten her name?"

"Yeoman," Duck muttered.

Duck's got a point. MacDowell and Yellow Dog arrived together, and it was obvious they got along well then. Not to mention all the times I've seen them together since then. And if I've noticed it, and they really have been talking about their wedding plans, how could Smitty have forgotten such an important detail?

"Tell you what, Colleen, after we've eaten, you can run along and ask, um, Yellow Dog, and I'll ask my, er, best friend. You can send a few invites to the rest of your... friends, and then we can meet up in the arboretum. About 1900? Will that give you enough time?"

"I think so. Do... do you mean all of my friends?"

Smitty's gaze veered off to a certain table somewhere behind Jane. "A few of your closest women friends would be enough."

She nodded, and scooped up a forkful of mashed potatoes. "I understand."

Something is definitely going on, and I'm not sure I like it. She seems to need his permission to do anything, and he's determined that she not invite any men—and particularly not Bugalu—to the wedding. There's a problem in Paradise and at this rate, it's not going to be settled before the wedding. "Perhaps she wants to go and get started on that now," Jane heard herself suggest.

MacDowell looked up in surprise, and once again, her gaze started to wander, but she abruptly turned back to her food and began shoveling food into her mouth. "That might be best," she said, and then stopped to look at Smitty. "Don't you think so, Smit?"

"Whatever you want, Colleen. You know where to find me."

"Thank you, dear." She took another large bite of beef and potatoes and swallowed it. "Thank you for including me this evening, captain. I, um, had a wonderful time. See ya, MacG. Later, Smit." She was up and gone with her tray before anybody could respond.

Jane kept the redhead in sight until she was out of the mess hall, but MacDowell didn't glance toward Bugalu, and Bugalu made no move to follow her. Jane turned back to consider the engineer. "I see you finally remembered to send your marriage request to Headquarters," Jane said softly. "I was beginning to wonder if you were going to."

"As I stated before, captain, time—"

"Yes, got away from you. Unfortunately, there's no guarantee you'll receive an answer before the date you've set for the wedding."

"I know." He seemed uncomfortable with the subject. "I guess we'll just have to face that problem when it arrives."

"I'm not sure why you're in such a rush to get married."

"Oh, we have our reasons," he answered, and suddenly wiped his mouth with his napkin and tossed it onto the remains of his meal, prepared to stand up. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have those same chores to do. Good night, captain. Drake."

And then she and Duck were alone. Duck finished his entree and started on his dessert. "Is it just me, or did I detect some tension between those two?"

"I found myself wondering if it was between those two, or those three."

Duck seemed to know what she meant. "Bugs isn't competition, if that's what you mean. He and Mac are like siblings."

"The question is, does Smitty believe it?" They both shook their heads and tried to find a different subject to discuss for the remainder of their meal.

Finding the Bride and Groom

 Month 14 Day 18

2314 Hours

Anna Hamara

 Harris came into the living room from the bedroom, now in her nightgown and robe. "I'm sorry, sir, I really don't know how late it might be before she gets home tonight. But it's usually—"

The living room door opened and Mac came in. Her hair was mussed, her uniform disheveled, and she seemed dazed. Anna stood up from the couch. "Mac, I need to speak to you."

The redhead blinked a couple of times, unconsciously twisted her uniform into something resembling its proper position. "Chef Hamara, what's the problem?"

"You haven't answered any of my messages asking what type of wedding cake you want."

"Messages?" Her face turned pink. "I don't seem to have any time for messages, any more. What were they about? A wedding cake?"

"It is traditional for there to be a wedding cake when there's a wedding ceremony. But before I can make it, I need to know what kind you want."

"Oh, I don't know. The traditional kind, I guess."

Anna ground her teeth in aggravation for a moment. Most brides aren't as feather-brained as this. "The tradition is for the cake to have tiers. There really isn't any tradition as to what type of cake or frosting is used."

"Oh." Now she seemed completely at a loss. "I guess I haven't given it much thought."

At least I have some idea what she might like, thanks to Bugalu. "Here's a suggestion. I can make a white cake with white frosting, and put a layer of pineapple puree atop each tier. How does that sound? I know how much you like pineapple."

The talk of pineapple finally seemed to soak through her dazedness, and her face lit up. "That sounds wonderful! And it will look beautiful, too! Oh, I can hardly wait! Getting married and having pineapple to celebrate! Thank you, Chef!"

"Good. I'm glad that's settled. Now, I'll leave and let you girls get some sleep." She walked out and made her way to the officers' quarters, where she buzzed the doorbell on a certain doorway. The door opened and she walked in far enough to let the door close.

Smitty appeared in the bedroom doorway, his uniform tunic missing, a glass of booze in his hand. "What are you doing here?"

Apparently, he hasn't had any time to check his messages, either. "I understand you're getting married next week."

"Ahh, yes. About that—"

He's defensive? With me? Thought we were better friends than that. "I just spoke to your bride, at long last, about what type of wedding cake she wants, and she settled for a white cake, white frosting, and a layer of pineapple atop each tier. I hope that's agreeable with you."

"What? Um, yes, that sounds fine. Whatever Colleen wants is fine."

"I assume you two have finished making all the rest of the arrangements, and that the selection of the cake was merely an oversight."

"Ah. Arrangements." He took a healthy gulp from his glass. "Well, the captain will perform the ceremony, of course."

He seems as feather-brained about this as she was. "It won't mean a thing if you don't have approval from Headquarters. Have you even submitted that request?"

"I..." His voice faded away, his face pale.

"Smitty, are you even serious about marrying this girl?"

"Of course I am!" he declared.

"Well, it hardly seems like it! You haven't submitted the formal request, made any of the normal arrangements, and you couldn't even be bothered to choose what type of cake to have at the ceremony! What have you two been doing with your time?"

Now his face went red. "Well, we've been... we've been... getting to know each other. In a manner of speaking."

She nodded in understanding. No, they wouldn't want to be interrupted during that. "You've been having sex."

His face turned even more red. "Not exactly."

"Then what have you been doing?"

He swallowed and tried several times before he got out, "Making out."

"That's a great way to get started, but it quickly turns to frustration, if that's all you do." At his continued discomfort, she asked, "She won't have sex with you?" That's an old-fashioned attitude, but Gaelund hasn't been colonized that long.

He sighed and drank the rest of his drink. "Not until we're married."

Now she got a little angry, sure she understood what was going on. Wouldn't have believed it of Smitty, but he's practically admitted it. "Or at least, until she thinks you're married. Have a nice little ceremony, have your way with her for a few days, and then, suddenly, you realize the approval never came through from Headquarters, so you aren't married after all!"

"No! Anna! It's not like that! I really want to marry her! But when I'm with her, she drives me to distraction, I can't think about anything but her! And then when I'm not with her, I can't think about anything but being with her! That's why the paperwork hasn't been submitted, or any of the decisions been made!" He sat down at his desk and called up some paperwork, began filling it out. "Here, I'm going to fill out the request to get married and get it mailed out tonight. But honestly, I don't care about any of the details of the wedding. Whatever she wants will be fine. Although, I would prefer a small ceremony, and not some grand event."

"Even a small ceremony, Smitty, should have a few guests, so people don't wonder what you're trying to hide. Not to mention she should have a maid of honor and you, of course, should have a best man. If you insist on going through a charade of a marriage, at least do it right, and not some cheap imitation!" She gave him a dark glare. "And I thought I knew you!" She marched for the door and out it, and had reached her own quarters almost before she took another breath. She was too upset to get much sleep that night.

Ignored Arrangements

 Month 14 Day 18

1809 Hours

Bugalu

 Bugalu was having a rough few days. And now, just like all the other types of entertainment he'd tried the last 3 days, a game of cards in the rec room wasn't keeping his mind from drifting. "Hey, Bugs!"

Realizing he'd been addressed by one of his friends, even if he wasn't sure which one, he turned his attention to Capac. "What?"

Surprised, and then exasperated, the navigator asked, "Are you in or out?"

He glanced at the cards in his hand, couldn't even remember what game they were playing. He had a decent hand for pinochle, a lousy hand for poker. He tossed his cards down. "I'm out. Completely out. My head's not into this tonight." He stood up.

"But you wanted to play!" Capac protested. "That's why we got a game started.

"Let him go," one of the others suggested. "His mind hasn't been into much of anything lately. I almost think he's in love."

He gave Kiley a sour look. "Just changed my mind," he answered, and walked away. There was an old game console in the corner that no one was playing, so he sat down and picked up the controls. Fizzle! No wonder it was available. Nobody plays this one anymore. Well, no one will care if I pretend to play it, I suppose. He started the game and let his hands make random movements as his mind started to drift again. He couldn't even say where his mind was drifting to.

"Well, I suppose you'll do, since I can't find her," someone said.

It took him a moment to realize they had said it to him. Another moment for him to grasp that they were apparently waiting for an answer. He paused the game and looked up, saw Lt Cmdr Hamara staring at him. "Hello, Chef. What can I do for you?"

Hamara sat down on the other side of the console. "Where's your sister?"

He almost asked which one she meant, but, considering where they were, there was only one she could mean. It was a little surprising that somebody actually accepted their relationship, but he wasn't going to question it. He gave a slight shake of his head. "No idea."

"Is that why you look so lost this evening?"

He frowned, wanting to deny it. He turned the game back on, tried to pay attention to it. "She's a grown woman, she can do what she wants, I guess."

"That's why I'm looking for her."

"Where have you looked for her?" And then he wondered why he had asked, because pretty much wherever she had looked, he wouldn't have any other suggestions to make.

"I think I've looked every place aboard ship but the swimming pool. I've heard she doesn't like zero-g."

This time he gave a slight nod. "Hates it."

"I really hoped you might have some idea where she is."

He glanced around the room, but nobody was paying any attention to them. His inattention meant he lost the game. "Probably with her fiancé."

"I suspected as much."

"In which case, they don't want to be interrupted."

"Sure, but how long can that take them?"

He started the game again. "You'd be surprised."

"Smitty doesn't have the stamina you young bucks have," she said quietly.

"You might be wrong about that," Bugsy stated. "If they never get to the finish."

She was quiet for a while, long enough for him to rack up some points in the game. Then, barely audibly, "He's not that patient."

He shot a quick glance her way, but he was not going to ask how she knew that. "Which probably explains their short engagement." He lost the game.

"Well, that leaves me in quite a pickle."

He glanced her way, confused as to how she could be in trouble. "How so?"

"I've been told to prepare a wedding cake for next Friday. But I can never find the happy couple to find out what kind."

"I would think a wedding cake is a wedding cake."

"The term 'wedding cake' simply means it has tiers. But the cake can be any flavor. So can the frosting. So maybe you can see my dilemma."

"I don't know what to tell you, Chef. Try sending them e-messages."

"I have. No response." She heaved a heavy sigh. "Well, I guess I'll keep looking for them, keep sending messages for them to ignore."

She turned to leave, and Bugsy took himself to task for being such a lousy brother. Maybe Mac is being pig-headed and stubborn and all the rest of it, but she's still my sister. "If nothing else—"

Hamara turned back around to face him.

"I think... she'd probably like a traditional type of wedding cake. You know, white cake, white frosting. But it would be nice if you can find a way to put some pineapple in it for her, too. Might help calm any wedding jitters she might have."

Hamara gave him a slow smile. "I think you may have a very good idea, there, Bugalu. I'll try to run it by her and see what she says."

"Yeah, well, don't let either of them know I made the suggestion."

"Feeling left out?" she asked.

He toyed with the idea of telling her how Smythe was doing his best to remove him from Mac's life. And succeeding, so far as he could figure out. But in the end, it was a personal problem, not one he could share with a higher officer he barely knew. "Something like that."