Homecoming - Christie Golden [49]
Chapter 12
TODAY, Janeway and Carla Johnson were going to go to South Carolina. Workaholic Mark, engrossed in his latest project, had passed on the day at the beach, but had promised to join them for dinner at Spanish Moss, a Charleston institution that had been drawing rave reviews from people whose gastronomic preferences coincided with Kathryn’s. For now, the two women were lounging on the beach. Carla was, with a mother’s skill, carrying on a conversation with Kathryn while watching Kevin with an eagle’s eye. Janeway closed her eyes and turned her face up to receive the sun’s benediction.
“Pity you didn’t request more time off,” Carla said, sipping a mint julep. “I’ve really been enjoying our expeditions. Will your friend Chakotay be joining us when we go to Egypt?”
[145] “I certainly hope so,” Janeway replied. For the last several weeks, ever since she returned from the grim visit to Tevlik’s moon, Janeway had been spending a lot of time with Carla. It had been a long time since she permitted herself to have so much fun. She smiled to herself. She felt ... well ... playful lying on a beach in a swimsuit and a big floppy hat. She thought of Neelix and his holographic resort simulation, and knew he would approve. She’d have to call in some favors and have a chat with him soon. She missed the ebullient little Talaxian, and felt a brief pang that he wouldn’t be able to join them tonight. What he would have thought of collards, grits, and tasso ham, she couldn’t begin to have guessed. But she knew he’d love the pecan pie.
“Chakotay would be a wonderful person to take on such a trip,” Janeway continued. “He’s so well read about so many ancient civilizations, Earth’s and others. You’d like him.”
“I know I would,” Carla said. “Kevin, honey, don’t touch that.”
“What is it?” asked Janeway.
“I don’t know, but it’s always sound advice with a two-year-old,” Carla said so nonchalantly that Kathryn burst into laughter. Carla shot her a friendly grin under her own wide-brimmed hat.
Kevin had now turned his attention to a seashell and was picking it up. With great solemnity, he put the shell to his ear and listened.
“Do you hear the ocean?” Janeway called.
He looked at her as if she were a simpleton. “It’s wight dere,” he said scornfully, pointing at the large [146] blue-gray expanse that rushed ceaselessly onto the shore.
Both women laughed. “Ever thought about having kids?” Carla asked. “They’re a challenge, but as you can see they’re a lot of fun too.”
Janeway debated telling her about the cluster of lizardlike beings that she and Tom had produced, and then decided against it. That one was just too long a story for such an easygoing day.
“I think almost everyone thinks about it once they reach a certain age,” she said, dodging the question neatly. “I’ve just been so busy with my career. And, well, you know about Mark.”
It had long ceased being a touchy subject with the three of them, and Carla didn’t bat an eye.
“Wasn’t there anyone on Voyager who attracted you?” she pressed. “I don’t know about Starfleet rules and regs, but surely, seventy thousand light-years away, I bet you could have bent some rules.”
“Could have. Maybe even should have, but didn’t.” Kathryn sipped her piña colada. Another fun thing she didn’t do often enough. “I didn’t feel that it was the right thing to do. I felt more in charge of these people, more protective, than I would have on a regular mission. A relationship with one of them could have been a problem. If things went wrong, there was no way to ask for a transfer. We all had to live with each other.”
Kevin was now playing with the surf, racing back to shore as it chased him, running after it when it receded. His laughter was a joy to hear. He took a misstep, fell, got smacked with a wave, and started to cry. Just as [147] Carla rose, though, he stopped crying and began his game again.
“I’m glad you were able to take some time with me,” Janeway said. “How’s the experiment going?”
“Brilliantly, as you might expect with Mark as the head of the project,” Carla said. “The