Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Shaun Grecken (Doctor) in Midday Confessions - A Lifetime of Memories

Posted by Lieutenant Kate O’Neill (Chief of Security) in Midday Confessions - A Lifetime of Memories

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Shaun Grecken (Doctor) in Midday Confessions - A Lifetime of Memories
Posted by… suppressed (3) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Snip

*** Twenty Minutes Later ***

“Come on you two, the dock is just a few feet away, we can get in the boat and make it across far faster than walking around the lake,” Shaun said, growing impatient of trying to keep the two girls from killing each other. He had gotten to a point of just ignoring them, taking either side ended up with him get side glares, and then the bickering continued. With the dock in sight, the two finally had a moment to focus on something else.

“Come on Katie bug, you have more experience in a boat so hop in… and before you ask, no this lake doesn’t have any beavers,” he said with a slightly roll of his eyes as he knew that would be one of the points she would hesitate on.

“You think vicious aquatic mammals are something to toy with,” Kate put her hands on her hips. “While they don’t have rabies here you know we do back home.” She looked around as if on the look out for anything that had fur and was swimming.

“She’s scared of beavers,” Dillon raised an eyebrow. “Those harmless things that build damns?” The more she met the magnificent Kate the more she doubted how brave, amazing and fun this chick was.

“Old joke, she…” Shaun said as he looked over at Kate he was already shaking her head no as he felt a slight shift in his stance.

“I was left on a platform in the middle of Lake Champlain while the rest of the family high tailed it the second they came squawking out of no where. Besides if I remember it correctly you were crying too big man.” If Shaun was going to act like it didn’t scare the bejesus out of him too, Kate was going to set the story straight. “If I remember correctly you told me that if we were going to die I was always going to be your best friend.” A smile started to spread across her face. They were so little when it happened and while it was a terrifying experience for a couple of kindergarten and Pre-K kids.

“Wait you were crying Over an animal the size of a house cat,” Liam started to feel a belly laugh start. His shoulders began to shake the more he held the laugh back. The idea Shaun who was almost as tall as most grown up men at 14 was scared of a critter an eighth of his height was almost too hysterical to contain.

“Anyway, get in and then we can help Dillon get in. It’s much faster and Liam can then push us off as he hops in.” Shaun said, trying to wrangle everyone but feeling more and more like this was getting out of hand.

“Come on girls… just one foot at a time,” Liam said, hoping that the silence could continue for just a moment. He was used to this behavior when they went to visit Shaun’s family in Dublin. It seemed like every girl on every corner was always coming to see Shaun’s visit. Right now though, so far away from the big lights he was feeling a little irritated at the yammering.

Grecken, Doctor

“Thank you,” Dillon reached out taking Shaun’s hand before Kate could step into the boat.

She watched at Dillon moved to the bench next to where Shaun was standing. With only two real seats in the boat this meant Kate was stuck sitting by Liam or was she. Reaching out she took Shaun’s hand but stopped him before he could speak or act. “Sit,” she said in a firm tone giving Shaun the don’t test me look. Stepping into the boat, Kate did not take the seat next to Liam as he pushed them off. Instead she plopped down in between the two seats propping her feet up on the bench next to Liam. Wiggling her shoulders she wedged her body between Shaun’s legs and propped her elbows up on his knees. As she suspected the place to sit was not next to Shaun this round. He had to row and with each rotation of his arm, he would be banging Dillon in the back. Kate’s seat gave her all the comfort and none of the inconvienence.

“God look at this lake,” she let out a huge exhale as she settled back resting against Shaun. “WIth the threat of aquatic critters looming, this would be amazing to play hockey in the winter.”

“You play hockey,” Liam looked at Shaun. “I thought your gig was football but not the soccer kind.”

“He is the freaking best and each time he gets a hat trick when I am not playing with him or against him he gets a treat from the O’Neill leg warmers.” Kate’s tone was neutral but the expression on both Liam’s and Dillon’s face was priceless. Kate knew how it sounded. She wanted it to sound exactly like it did.

Letting the moment last a few seconds longer than necessary she nudged Liam with her toe smiling. “Okay get your head out of the gutter. I’m talking about hot chocolate. We play outside on the small pond between our properties or in the rink. Either way its freezing so if I am not playing I buy several cups of hot chocolate and hold them with my legs. Keeps me warm which is why Shaun doesn’t get any unless he is a God on the ice. If he drinks them, I loose my heat packs,” she laughed.

“I didn’t know you played that much hockey,” Dillon said letting out a small grunt as she tried to shift positions to get out of Shaun’s rowing.

“Oh he is the best. Our families have tournaments all the time. When we are on the same team we are unstoppable. My brother’s can flatten anyone. Shaun’s sisters tend to only play when we have the family matches but as the only O’Neill girl I had to learn to hold my own whether I am on Team O’Neill or Team O’Grecken. That is what we call our team when the families combine. I am still trying to convince Shaun that would be a cool last name one day.”

“You are planning on getting married to Shaun,” Liam’s eyes grew wide. Kate seemed to be planning things like all stupid girls did all the time. Why did girls always want to steal your future before you were old enough to have one.

Kate shrugged. “Somebody in our family will one day. I have four brothers. Shaun has four sisters. Between all of us someone will get hitched. My guess is it will be Dave and Elspeth.”

Kate O’Neill.