. My aunt got this blue and white medal — and a flag. He’s buried at Arlington — Virginia, not Texas.” As she gazed out to sea, her voice took on a wistful tone. “I never forgot that medal, almost as high as the Medal of Honor, I’m told. The Marine who gave it to her got down on one knee. He was hot.” She once again locked eyes with Wilson and twisted her hair. “Girls are suckas for guys in uniform.”
Intrigued by her cousin’s story, Wilson ignored her overtures and asked, “What was his name?”
“Rocky. Rocky Roberts. He was a Staff Sergeant.” Wilson was impressed Mary Martha knew that about her cousin. Most civilians would leave it at sergeant.
“How was he lost?” Even as he asked the question, Wilson couldn’t help but notice how the trades gently moved wisps of her hair about her face and shoulders.
Her face became pensive as she considered her answer. “He ran into the open to help some of his men and was gunned down in some filthy-ass raghead street. That’s all I know. Killed my aunt. Rocky was her pride and joy, and he had a wife and baby boy. Kyle is almost ten now.”
They both realized the conversation had taken a turn for the worse. Wilson glanced over her shoulder and saw that Billy and the others were sending amused looks in his direction. Oh great. He then locked eyes with Marvin, still in the middle of the group of men, and received a tight-lipped frown in return.
“Mary Martha, it has been a pleasure to meet you.”
“Where you going? The night is young,” Mary Martha purred, unloading a full broadside of sexual energy.
“I’m sure there are others you’d like to talk to.”
She shifted her body toward him. “I’m not interested in talking to them. I’m interested in talking to you.”
Wilson now knew he was in trouble. Get over here, Billy.
“Are you staying here tonight, or on that awful boat?”
“Neither. We’re going to the other side of the island.”
“You sure you don’t want to stay here? Daddy Warbucks is going to take me out of here soon so he can go beddy-by. Then I can come back out to play.”
Wilson gave her a slight smile. “My apologies, Mary Martha—”
Now spurned, her eyes flashed as she cut him off. “Okay, darlin’ Jim. Wifey should be proud of you.” She then quickly softened her tone.
“If you change your mind, I’ll be here tomorrow morning, sunning myself, wearing three band-aids and some fishin’ line… You need to get a good look. Everyone else does. Bye.” She turned and walked slowly across the pool deck to Marvin, who, along with the other men, watched her approach with approval. Billy appeared next to Wilson, and the two of them witnessed the beaming middle-aged men envelop