Skeeter appeared in the doorway. “I told you that you don’t have to ask his permission,” she interrupted. She pulled Buck back and pointed in his face. “We’re grown enough that we don’t have to ask nobody nothing.”
Hatcher came to his feet and glared at her. “Just hold your horses there, missy.”
Buck quickly stepped between them and tried to keep the peace. “I know you’re not real family, but I still wanted to ask.”
“And I told you that you don’t have to.” Skeeter planted her hands on her hips and stared at Hatcher. “He’s not my dad.”
“What is this about?” Hatcher felt a knot forming in his stomach.
Buck whistled low and turned slowly to face him. “Leslie and I want to…room together.”
Hatcher’s eyes widened and it was Vicky who stepped between him and the wayward teenage girl. “Hold on, all of you.” She pointed to Skeeter. “You. With me.” She grabbed Skeeter and pulled her from the office while Hatcher glared at Buck.
Buck began to wither under his gaze then slowly squared his shoulders. “I’m eighteen. Skeeter is—”
“Just a kid!” Hatcher took a deep breath and forced himself to lower his voice. “She’s not old enough for—”
“We’ve already been together,” Buck interjected. He had to look away and swallowed hard. “We have been since you brought me back.” His voice was barely a whisper.
Hatcher shook his head and held a hand up. “I can’t know this!” He knew there was no taking it back. It was out there.
“Hatch, you’ve been like a surrogate dad to her. I just wanted your blessing.”
Hatcher shook his head. “Buck, you can’t know the pressures I’ve been under. I do NOT need this right now.”
Buck hung his head. “We’re going to live together anyway. I was just hoping you’d…”
“What? Give my permission?”
Buck turned and glared at him. “Understand.”
Hatcher’s mouth hung open and his brain couldn’t force his tongue to form any words.
“In case you haven’t noticed, there’s not a whole lot of girls my age running around out there. The world is destroying itself. People are an endangered species now.” Buck lowered his voice and stepped closer. “I really care about Leslie and she cares about me.”
“Buck, she’s just a kid.” Hatcher’s voice was softer now, his brain trying to comprehend what Buck told him.
“I know that.” Buck threw his hands in the air. “God knows, I know that. So does she. But it’s a whole new world out there.” He pointed out the window. “It’s a new world order. And we’re not at the head of the food chain. Hatch, we’re just looking for a little happiness.”
Hatcher sighed and sat down at the corner of his desk. “I hope you two have been…careful.”
Buck nodded slowly. “The last thing either of us wants is to bring a kid into this world. Not now.”
“Good.” Hatcher stepped behind his desk and rummaged through a box. He pulled out the bottle of cheap whisky that he’d kept hidden in his desk drawer and held it up. He’d have to find a better hiding spot as Candy and his sister had about drunk it all.
He pulled out two glasses and poured two fingers in each. He held one out to Buck and held the other up. “To a new world order.”
Buck took a sip and winced. “That’s horrible.”
Hatcher tossed his back and swallowed. “Yes. Yes it is. But it’s all I got.”
Buck tried tossing his back like Hatcher had and nearly choked. He set his glass down carefully and eyed the older man. “So is this your blessing?”
Hatcher shrugged. “Skeeter’s right. I’m not her dad. I’m not your dad. I can’t stop you no matter how big the mistake I think you’re making is.”
Buck nodded solemnly. “That’s about what I expected.”
“But you had to try.” Hatcher slapped the boy’s shoulder. “I will say that I respect you more; I don’t think I would have had the courage.”
Buck shrugged. “After what we’d been through, I felt I owed you an explanation if nothing else.”
For the briefest of moments, Shelly flashed through Hatcher’s mind and he quickly pushed her from his thoughts. “I don’t blame you two for pairing up.” He sighed heavily and rubbed at his eyes. “I guess if I were honest, I’d probably expect it. I just hoped…”
“That we’d wait.”
Hatcher nodded. “But like you said…it’s a whole new world out there.” He stood up and poured another drink. “You can’t be sure there’s even going to be a tomorrow.”
Buck nodded, knowing all too well the truth of the statement. He turned back to Hatcher. “Well, the cat’s out of the bag, regardless.”
“Appreciate your honesty, son.” Hatcher stood and walked him to the door. He glanced across the hall to the nurse’s station and grimaced. “I have no idea what Vic is doing, but you might want to steer clear for a while.”
The pair watched Skeeter hop off the table and wrap her arms around Vic. She was smiling as she exited the station and she sauntered toward Buck. “Come on. We have unpacking to do.”
Hatcher watched the pair walk away and he pushed open Vicky’s office door. “What did you do?”
Vicky sighed heavily and shook her head. “There’s no stopping them.”
“I know. Buck said as much.”
Vicky sat down heavily and shook her head. “I’m going to try to get her a reliable form of birth control.” She looked up and met Hatcher’s gaze. “They can’t be bringing a kid into this world. Not this world.”
Hatcher grunted. “Funny. Buck said the same thing.” He glanced at the people still carrying in boxes and sighed. “A new world order.”
Carol clutched the edge of the small craft and closed her eyes. “I think I’m gonna puke.”
Broussard took her hand and pulled her closer. “Open your eyes. Focus on the horizon. It makes it easier and the feeling will pass, I promise.”
She forced her eyes open and could just see the Navy ship ahead. “Is
