With Ivan at Harry's for dinner, Tag ran the shop after Ivan picked up the trash and got the morning going good. Tag didn't need to work every day, but he liked being at the shop, and with few campsites open for long. By mid-August the waiting list disappeared. With school starting soon, a last minute camping trip needed to be undertaken immediately.

The bell tinkled and Tag looked up to see two rather large men in cut offs and tank tops. He put the Rolling Stone aside.

"Can I help you gentlemen?" Tag asked.

"John Carl. We talked yesterday. Carl and Alexander for one of the wilderness sites."

"I have two wilderness sites open. I can show you where they are, or I can tell you and you can explore on your own," Tag said.

"We've seen them already," John Carl said. "We'll take the middle site of the three wilderness sites. We're parked just above there so we could reconnoiter. The middle one is the one we like."

"Do I know you?" Tag asked.

"We were both here before we left to get Ivan. John didn't come in and I came once to talk to the senator. I needed to talk to Clay," Bob Alexander explained. "I told John Carl we needed to come here to camp, once the job was completed. I've been too busy to get away until now, but I have the rest of the month to myself, and here we are."

"You and the senator belong to the same club?" Tag asked.

"No. We circulate in the same circles, but he's a chief, we're the Indians," Bob Alexander said. "I mean no disrespect to the people who lived here when we discovered it and decided to take up residence."

Tag laughed.

"That's considerate of you, and generous. The story I heard said you had a lot more to do with Ivan coming home than you're saying," Tag said.

"We actually didn't do anything but fly there and fly back with Ivan. The general had his own plans, and he was nice enough to let us in on it. We stood by and watched a professional soldier work."

"I know nothing. I say nothing," Bob said. "My partner does the heavy lifting. I didn't know you'd remember me. I wasn't here long."

"You impressed Clay. That's a wholehearted endorsement in my book. I don't mean to keep you from enjoying our facilities. If there is anything I can do for you, let me know. I take out the Gulf Tour boat once a day, weather permitting. We have a deep sea fishing boat that goes Monday, Wednesday, and Friday If you're really lucky, Clay will take out divers once or twice while you're here. Most people don't dive, but for those who do, Clay is a marine biologist and he knows the places that he likes to dive on."

"I'd enjoy that," John Carl said. "I like diving. I bet Clay knows the best places to go diving in the Gulf."

"We'll need to talk to Clay about it. He is the man who knows the Gulf of Mexico," Bob said.

"If you don't need my assistance, you're on your own. Anything you need or want, let me know. I'm at your service. JK's Kitchen is across the road a few hundred feet down that way," Tag pointed. "Don't miss their fried clams. I practically live on those suckers. All their seafood comes from across the road at the Fish Warehouse. Best seafood on this section of the Gulf."

"Thank you. We were going to do burgers and franks this afternoon, but seafood sounds about right," Bob said, signing the registration book. "We'll let you know what we think. John Carl, you ready to set up camp?"

Tag watched the two men leave the shop.

"Nice guys," he said to no one.

It was later in the afternoon when Ivan came to wilderness two.

"Hello, John Carl," Ivan said. "Fancy meeting you here."

"Funny thing about that. We just passed through when we were here before, but we knew we'd be back. I really like this campsite, Ivan. Just isolated enough and water, water everywhere."

"Here's your money back. Your money is no good here," Ivan said. "I owe you big time, John."

"Well, don't do anything without Bob's say so. Bob, this is Ivan."

"Glad to meet the subject of one of our missions," Bob said. "Here, take my seat."

Bob moved from a deck chair to a handy log between the tent and the fire pit.

"I don't want to interrupt your enjoyment and most people who take wilderness sites want privacy," Ivan said.

As Ivan watched John and Bob, he smiled, realizing another reason why the wilderness site was appropriate for these two.

"What is it, Ivan? You seem amused," John Carl said.

"That. I don't see that anywhere but when Clay and I do it. Not a lot of male couples in this neck of the woods," Ivan said.

"Love of my life," Bob said, kissing the back of John Carl's hand as they held hands.

"Wilderness sites allows us to let down our hair," Bob said. "Which brings us to another reason we came. We ski in Aspen about this time of year. I met Clay while I was here and Carl and I would like to invite you along at the end of the month. It's only six days, but we have a chalet. It's private and very secluded. From Tampa it's two hours in the Learjet, if I air it out," Bob said.

"I'm not much on skiing, but I suspect Clay would absolutely love it. We can take you to dinner tomorrow evening, and we'll discuss it," Ivan said.

"That's a date if we're eating at JK's Kitchen. I got their seafood platter earlier. Amazing food. Tag told us the seafood comes from across the street, and I understand Popov is in the cove. I do want to meet Popov," Bob said. "I hear amazing war stories from John Carl about the remarkable people he meets, but this is the first time I get to rub shoulders with them. I mostly stay in the office and push paper around. This time I'm getting to meet the players."

"I'm not much of a player. I run a little campground and I do my best to see people enjoy themselves. In the greater scheme of things, it's small potatoes."

"You're mixed up with a Cambodian general who knows his way around ambushes and tea houses, and you managed to get yourself into the middle of Company business. Sounds like a bit more to the tale than you're letting on. While John Carl and Clay hit the slopes, you and I can chat and you can tell me all about it."

"Started out as a stupid kid thinking he could go to a war zone and find my MIA brother. I didn't know enough to stay out of trouble," Ivan said. "You were there? Vietnam?"

"I still have pieces of shrapnel in my back. I left on a hospital ship. John Carl carried me from where I was wounded in an ambush to an LZ nearly two miles away. How could I not love a guy who would risk his own life to save mine," Bob said, leaning to kiss John Carl.

"It was nothing," John Carl said.

"You two are from the same modesty club. I don't do a lot of physical things any longer, but I have good people around me. I run the show and they do the work."

"Like I said, we don't get much of an opportunity to spend time with other male couples. Clay would love to have friends who are more like us. We met as kids and fell in love. We do have a son, Dylan. He's diving in the Pacific and I don't know when I'll see him again, but he comes with us when we go places. Since he's been gone for most of the summer, Clay won't want to leave him."

"I've heard he's quite some kid," Bob said.

"Harry's like an uncle to him. He thinks highly of Dylan, but of course, he has to, it's Clay's kid and Clay runs the show, although he lets the senator think he's the boss."

"I can't imagine it, but if you say so," Bob said. "I don't confess to knowing anything about politics or senators. I'm a humble businessman who does what he can to help those in trouble."

"Well, I wanted to stop by and say hello and thank John Carl for taking care of that little matter over there, and to return your money. Tag takes out the tour boat on the Gulf after lunch, I'll schedule the two of you tomorrow if that's convenient? You'll need to talk to Clay about going diving with him. He'll want to take you two on a special tour of some of his favorite sites to dive on. Tell Tag when, if I'm not in the shop," Ivan said.

*****

It was later in the week when Clay and Ivan were invited to Harry's for a second time in a week. He was taking them to the Gulf Club after he flew home from Orlando, where Lucy and the senator met with his campaign staff and decided on future campaign stops.

Harry had been after Lucy to run for his old congressional seat since she first ran for a seat in the Florida house. Lucy had been involved in politics since she closed the high school down with a speech to her classmates after the Kent State massacre.

The incident got her suspended from school and put her name in all the papers. There was no riot, no violence, just a few hundred students walking away from school and not returning until September. While Harry couldn't approve of the action publicly, he'd understood that Lucy was someone who knew where she stood.

Finally, Lucy ran for Harry's old seat and won it without difficulty, because Harry stood with her on the campaign trail and he was behind her career in politics. It was campaign season again, and it gave Harry a chance to talk to his man in the Gulf and Ivan. With all the fancy restaurants in DC, Harry still liked the Gulf Club best, especially when they flew lobster in for him.

Clay and Ivan brought Lucy with them and arrived at one. First they had drinks in the library to chat. Lucy had flown back from Orlando with the senator the night before, once the campaign was discussed.

The senator brought his drink back to his desk after he got Clay a Coke and Ivan root beer. It was ginger ale for Lucy today.

"We can talk at the Gulf Club. Nothing paramount, but Clayton needs to know what we are planning for him. I'll use you at the major stops, but when we barnstorm the state, I'll leave you home to take care of the Conservancy. We'll be making three or four stops a day."

"Glad I don't need to attend to that kind of business," Ivan said.

"No, you attend to me. I'll attend to it," Clay said.

"I like the way you attend to business, Babe," Ivan said, flirting with his lover.

"OK, you two. Knock it off. Consider this a business lunch. None of that lovey dovey stuff," Harry said.

"The world could use a little more love," Lucy said.

"I could use a little love in the senate," Harry said.

Algie knocked twice and swung the doors open to address the assemblage.

"Car's ready when you are, Harry," Algie announced.

"We'll be out in a minute, Algie. Thank you."

"When did you come back from Orlando?" Clay asked.

"Last night. I had a hotel room up there, but when Lucy said she'd go, it was less complicated to come back after the meeting. I wanted to come home and meet with you today. You know I don't do anything on days I fly. I need time to adapt to being on terra firma. Lunch seemed like a good idea."

"I can rearrange my schedule around yours, Harry," Clay said.

"Let's let it rest for the time being. We'll go over to the Gulf Club and I'll give you the details while we wait for lunch. By this time the lunch crowd will be leaving and it's fairly quiet by two."

The four of them went out to get into the back of Harry's limo.

"I took the liberty to order enough lobsters for all of us, unless one of you is foolish enough to want something else," Harry said, as he sat facing the three of them in the back seat.

"Lobster? I can do lobster," Ivan said. "I'll force myself."

"I think we all are fond of lobster," Lucy said. "Ivan will eat lobster if Clay tells him to."

"How long are you home for this time, Harry?" Clay asked.

"August recess, Clayton. Until the second Monday in September. I'm actually going to take time off. I'm not working the entire month. I'll fly back on a Monday and we'll go back into session Tuesday at noon or one. Then, we'll break for lunch."

"You've got it rough, Harry," Ivan said.

"You put up with 99 other senators for ten months a year and see how you like it," Harry said.

"Don't have the time, Harry. I work for a living," Ivan said.

Twenty minutes later they were going into the Gulf Club.

Harry could hold court at his usual table and there were few people who would hear anything that was said. From time to time, someone would come to the table to thank the environmental senator.

It didn't happen that often these days, and when someone did dare approach, it was to thank Clay or Lucy as often as they thanked Harry, which wasn't quite as much fun as it once was for the senator.

Harry wasn't accustomed to sharing the spotlight until the last few years, and times were a changing. He knew to change with them.

"Lobster all around. She gets fries, Ivan gets fries, Clay and I will have your delightful baked potato loaded with sour cream and chives."

"My sour cream and chives on the side," Clay said.

"Maine lobster, our most requested meal," the maître d' said.

"Let me make sure. This is Maine lobster, Marcel?"

"Yes, sir. We fly in our lobster from Maine each morning."

"That's it, Marcel. Thank you," Harry said.

"Harry, aren't you the Florida senator?"

"Aleksa, I know you. You spread it around I eat Maine lobster and I'll deny I eat any seafood that doesn't come out of the Gulf," Harry said.

Everyone laughed.

"I did want to take this opportunity to thank you for arranging to have me brought safely home, Senator McCallister," Ivan said.

"You must have your signals crossed, Aleksa. I had nothing to do with anyone operating outside of this country on your behalf, but thanks for the thought in any event."

"What am I doing here? I certainly have no interest in campaigning or politics," Ivan said. "I came to be sociable."

"Check that, tall handsome one. Where I go you go, stud. Don't you forget it," Clay said.

"As I was saying, Senator, I'd love going along on campaign events, according to the man of my dreams," Ivan said.

Harry laughed.

"We know who wears the pants in that family," Lucy said.

Ivan laughed.

"Did I mention Bob and John Carl are camping at Cove Campgrounds?" Ivan asked. "They checked in this morning."

"Did I mention the Minute Men swept the house and my offices at the Conservancy last night? They already do my DC offices. Bob said your lab is clean as a hound's tooth. He recommended you keep Ortiz doing the lab, he won't charge as much as Bob does."

"You have a legitimate relationship with Bob Alexander then," Ivan rationalized.

"I guess I do, but the Minute Men might come up in relationship to you, and it's a conversation I don't wish to have. By the way, Ivan, there was an extremely large young man sleeping in a car outside of your shop last night when they swept your shop. He says he's yours."

"Roland," Ivan said. "He needed to look in on his mother. I told him I'd find work for him."

"You failed to mention this to me?" Clay said.

"We haven't been out of bed long enough for me to do any serious explaining, dear," Ivan said. "Roland is the guy at the place they kept me in Tampa."

"Oh, Roland," Clay said. "You took him with you?"

"See. I don't need to tell you. You already know," Ivan said.

"Well, he's working for me. I will be using him on the campaign trail and if I'm making appearances in DC where I'm not sure about the security. I hope you don't mind. Just the size of him intimidated me. They brought him to the house after he said he worked for you."

"John Carl knows Roland. Wasn't he there?"

"John Carl is Bob's right hand man. They don't do the sweeps for electronics themselves. A couple of their men brought him to the house, once I asked to see who it was."

"What time was that?" Clay asked. "What time did you fly back?"

"The rumors I sleep are strongly exaggerated, Clayton. I've got a country to run, you know?"

"Right," Clay said. "He passed muster then?"

"I hired him, didn't I," Harry replied.

**********

After lunch with Harry, Lucy, and Clay, Ivan asked to be dropped off at the shop, after telling Clay they have a date with Bob and John Carl for dinner at JK's.

"You guys can get all your political conversations out of the way, after I go to work," Ivan said, getting out of the limo.

When Ivan stepped into the shop, Tag leaned on the counter from behind, and Roland leaned on the front of the counter. Tag was reading one of Ivan's Time Magazines and Roland was reading an issue of the Rolling Stone. Both looked up when the bell tinkled.

"Can I help you, sir?" Tag asked.

"I doubt you could be any more help than you've been, Tag,"

"Thank you, Boss. I really did know it was you, you know?"

"I know, Tag. I see you've met Roland."

"Hard to miss Roland."

"He's the only person that gives my gigantic mahogany desk a run for its money. There's big and then there's Roland."

"I never planned on getting this big. I seem to remember I was rather small as a little boy," Roland said.

Ivan went to the coffee pot and poured himself a cup.

"Anyone need coffee?"

"I've made the switch to sodas, Boss."

"I'm fine," Roland said.

"Hey, Boss, this dude says he's working for you. Do you know anything about it, and if you do, why haven't you told me about it?"

"Roland is my right hand man. I can't go anywhere without him, Tag," Ivan explained.

Ivan watched Roland stick out his right hand without looking up.

Tag put a five dollar bill in the open hand.

"Told you," Roland said, closing the paper he was reading. "By the way, I came to take you up on your offer to give me some work."

"I understand you met the senator last night. He hire you?"

"Says I work for you until he needs me. Then I work for him."

"Can we have some clarity here, Boss?"

"You know the trash buggy you hate to drive at six in the morning? Roland can help me, which means you get to sleep in."

"Welcome aboard, Roland. Where are you staying?" Tag asked.

"There's a cot in the back. I can sleep there," Roland said.

"You'll be sleeping at your house from now on?" Ivan asked.

"Absolutely. I was sleeping here to cut down on the running back and forth. I stayed open until nine and did the trash at dawn."

"I'll do whatever you say, Ivan. The senator said he'll be paying me and using me when he needs me. I'll be flying with him to Washington DC from time to time. The rest of the time I'm yours."

"I like the way you think, Roland. That's the plan. The senator just told me at lunch that he hired you for times when he wants to make sure people know he's well protected," Ivan said. "Tag, you teach Roland the ropes. Take him out on the Gulf Tour. When you need time off, Roland can fill in for you, and otherwise, he helps where he's needed. If that's OK by you, Tag?"

"I can do that. Welcome to the Cove, Dive, Surf, & Bait Shop, Roland," Tag said, shaking the meaty hand.

"That's cool. My best thing is helping out. It takes more time for my words to get out. They have further to travel than on smaller folks, my mother says."

"Your mother sounds like a smart woman," Ivan said.

"She told me, one day someone would come along who needed me. He'd see my value and make use of it. She said if I stick with him, I'd be OK. I figured to stick with you Ivan. I can help and no one is going to bother you while I'm here."

"I like the sounds of that," Tag said.

"I've never really had a place where I belonged before."

"You have a place where you belong now, Roland," Ivan said. "I have a boat I just bought from the salvage man. I'm going to fix it up for you to live in on the water. You'll be right here when Harry doesn't have you in Washington with him."

"I'm going to live on a boat? Rich folks live on boats," he said.

"You won't be alone either. There are some really nice people living on boats at my marina. They'll like you and you can make sure no one bothers them. It will be part of your job," Ivan explained.

"I'll be like a guard," Roland said.

"You'll be like a friend. They'll like you and you'll like them."

"Kewl," Roland said.

"Since when do you have two right hands, Boss?" Tag asked.

"I have two right hands?"

"I'm your right hand man. You said he was your right hand man."