But it was the steaks more than the view that brought Carter outside. He’d wanted to spend some alone time with Mel, but she was inside talking with Lana and a few other women. And, his youngest daughter hadn’t been willing to leave his side from the moment she saw him. Nilo had left a gift basket with new toys and books in every child’s room, but the little one didn’t care. She just held Carter’s arm, his hand, his leg with one hand and made a toy horse prance alongside her with the other.
He had no idea where the eldest was. She’s disappeared in some corner with her datapad. Carter noted that there were no boys her age in any of the extended friends and family flown in for the vacation reunion. That let him rest a little easier. He’d need to find her eventually. And then convince her that, yes, she did have to spend time with everyone else once the food was ready. And she’d have to go on the hike he and Mel had planned for the next day.
After so much fighting on Kublar, the one he knew would come just trying to get his eldest daughter to be a part of the family seemed the hardest. Because Carter knew what she’d throw back at him.
“If you can come and go from this family whenever you want, then so can I!”
Never mind jobs, responsibilities, duty. That’s what she’d say. Because it’s what he would have said when he was her age.
And the only thing he could think of in reply was the same thing his old man would’ve told him. “Life is hard. A man does what he needs to do to survive and provide for his family. You’re going on the hike. Suck it up, buttercup.”
And then time… time would tell if those were the right words. He hoped they would be. Felt like he turned out okay, though the Legion played a big role in that to be sure.
Lash was standing next to an Endurian chef working a barbecue grill. The man’s white chef’s uniform was somehow spotless despite the smorgasbord of meat, sauce, and char.
The Endurian chef focused intently on the steaks he was cooking. Lash was wearing a big grin, a smile Carter had never seen before, and was giving the professional chef tips.
“Don’t overcook it now, Chef Prince. I want it as pink as that skin o’ yours. And the other one, just a little bit pinker for my man, a’ight?”
The chef turned over what had to be a forty-ounce steak with a pair of tongs. “Of course, sir.” One of the volatile celebrity chefs from the entertainments, this Endurian prince was not.
The meat sizzled and was soon joined by the second steak, which was equally large.
“Nice of you to think of me like that,” Carter said, joining the grill side vigil, his daughter playing distractedly nearby. “Or are both those steaks for you?”
“Sorry, Carter. Buddy from the Legion is here. One for me, one for him. You can get your own damn steak. This ain’t Kublar anymore. I’m a free man.”
Carter laughed. “Doesn’t look like there’s much room on the grill left. So I’ll wait.” He called over to his daughter. “Sweetie, you want a big, juicy steak to eat?”
The girl paused from her playing long enough to look up and contort her face to make it clear that, no, she didn’t. Because steaks were gross. She’d probably chow down on some mac and cheese or a hot dog like the other kids.
Carter smiled inwardly. All those credits spent on some of the best chefs in the sector and they’re forced to make mac and cheese and seamball food.
“So who’s your buddy?” Carter asked Lash.
Lash nodded at a big, bearded man as he pushed open the glass cabin doors, rubbing his hands dry and then flicking the excess water onto the deck. He joined the powwow, eyed the steaks, and said, “You guys see the fresher off the kitchen in there? It’s like decked out like the damn House of Reason. Felt like I was defiling the place.”
“Carter,” Lash said, “this is Rolly Ursartic.”
The big, bearded man, who was even taller than Lash, put a massive arm around Carter’s squad mate. “We’re married.”
Lash smacked aside his arm. “Man, get your ass away from me.”
Rolly roared in laughter. Carter and Lash joined in.
“Looks like your marriage is on the rocks, Rolly,” Carter said, taking a sip from a bottle of beer.
“Told you on Kublar,” Lash said, “marriage just gets in the way.”
Carter smiled. “Yeah. You did say that.”
Lash rolled his eyes. “We ain’t a thing, either, man.”
Rolly boomed out another laugh. “We were in the Legion together. Closest thing either of us has to a family, you know?”
“I knew it!” Carter said, snapping his fingers. “I knew you were Legion. Damn. We could’ve had much more interesting conversations on Kublar.”
Lash shrugged. “Wasn’t on Kublar to talk.”
“He only talks on leave,” Rolly said, nodding in agreement at Lash’s words. “Then he won’t shut up.”
The Endurian chef plattered the two steaks and handed them to Lash and Rolly. He turned to Carter. “What would you like, sir?”
“Ribs. And a steak. Medium rare.”
Carter looked to his daughter, who was making her horse run along the top of the railing, moving through distant evergreens and atop mountainous peaks. This was how it all should be. This was worth fighting for. Everyone… everyone should have this.
“Hey, Carter,” Lash said. “We gonna go talk and eat these steaks before they get cold. Let’s talk deployments tonight, though. I served under a point captain that you wouldn’t believe, bruh.”
“Yeah, man. Sounds good. But
