A Love For Always by Victoria Paige

Author:Victoria Paige [Paige, Victoria]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Victoria Paige Books
Published: 2015-09-08T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER ELEVEN

“What was that you were saying about a healthy lifestyle?”

Nate’s cheeky question made Sylvie laugh. There was nothing exactly healthy about fried chicken cooked in Crisco.

“You need your comfort eats,” Sylvie declared.

They were all sitting around the dining table at the main house. Not much unpacking had happened after her shocking revelations to Nana. It was fortuitous that dinner preparation took precedence, because her grandma needed cooking therapy to calm her nerves. Conversation around the table had been stilted and polite, and Sylvie was thankful for Nate’s attempt to break the ice.

“Whatever you say, chef,” Nate replied as he took a bite off a chicken thigh. His face turned red as he held his mouth open. “Hooot!”

The women laughed, the admiral chuckled.

“All the steam is trapped inside, dummy,” Sylvie chided. “Don’t be fooled by the calm looking exterior. That’s why proper temperature of the oil is important. You create a crust around the chicken, preventing the oil from seeping inside the flesh, keeping the moisture of the chicken trapped so it creates steam to cook it from inside. You get non-oily, juicy fried chicken.”

“Well, I know that now. I found out the hard way,” Nate grumbled as he blew on the still steaming chicken and took another bite. “You’re right. Tasty and not greasy. Excellent fried chicken, Nana.” He shot her grandma his charming smile.

Her grandma nodded, pleased at the compliment.

“Ben,” Nana called the admiral’s attention. “Any family around here?”

“A daughter,” Porter responded as he forked a piece of chicken onto his plate. “She’s a security consultant, works with Reece, actually.”

“Married?”

“Engaged.”

“Ah . . . I’m assuming you’re divorced since there’s no mention of a wife,” Nana stated shrewdly. Sylvie resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Nana was fishing for information since it was evident the admiral was interested in her mother. Sylvie’s gaze fell on Mom who did roll her eyes.

“That is correct,” the admiral answered without missing a beat.

“Did you divorce because of your job?” Nana smiled sweetly at Porter. “Nate, be a dear and hand Ben these cheesy grits.”

“Ma, that’s too personal,” Mom chided.

Nate snorted in an attempt to subdue his chuckle as he handed Porter the platter. The admiral scowled at him momentarily before schooling his features in a bland mask and faced her grandma.

“I guess it was my job,” Porter shrugged. “My deployments took its toll. My ex-wife deserved better. She divorced me when Beatrice—that’s my daughter—was about to start college.”

“So are you saying you pursued your career while you left your wife to take care of your child,” Nana concluded.

“Ma!” This time her mom was mortified. “I’m really sorry, Ben.”

Porter’s smile was undecipherable. It wasn’t one of sadness, embarrassment, or candor. It was a smile with no emotion.

“Career is hardly the word,” Porter said stoically. “Sacrifices had to be made in service to our great nation. Your freedoms,” the admiral said pointedly, “come at a price. Unfortunately, my family paid it.”

There was a lengthy silence that followed the admiral’s words. Silverware stopped tinkling against plates and movements ceased.

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