In A Starship's Wake

Chapter 15: Meeting The Carvers

"You folks still have quite the full day ahead of you don't you?" Mr. Carver set a bowl of rolls on the table, joining the place settings Joseph, Tyrone and Allison had helped with. "Lots of running around to do still, and you've been up longer than I have."

The ship was unloaded, and Mr. Carver had invited them to his home for lunch. Tyrone and Joseph knew from prior experience how good a cook Mrs. Carver was, and readily agreed. The couple had spacious living quarters attached to one of the agricultural domes they owned. In the past several children had occupied it with them, but all had moved out now.

"Yeah, there's a lot to get done," Tyrone agreed. "Good thing there's so many of us. I'll be going a few domes over to make sure our next load is ready. Joseph and Allison get to go job- and apartment-hunting."

"To a shooting range as well." Joseph made the addition to the list with a nod. "I have a pistol for her, but she'll need to practice with it."

"I'll need you to teach me to use it, too. I've used rifles before, but never a pistol."

"Don't worry, it's not hard to pick up."

They were interrupted by the arrival of Mrs. Carver, carrying what from the smell had to be a beef pot pie. "The main course is ready." She set the dish on the table, where it joined several sides that had already arrived. Mr. Carver assisted by pulling a chair out of her way.

"That smells delicious!" Allison said.

"Thank you." Mrs. Carver gave her husband a teasing grin. "Gordon sometimes gets tired of beef pot pie, because I make it too often."

Mr. Carver rolled his eyes. "I have never said any such thing." He held her chair as she sat down, then turned to his own.

"No, but you thought it very loudly when I made it every day for a week."

"I did, but that's different." Mr. Carver took his own seat, and the rest followed his lead. "Anyone will get tired of even the best food eating it for an entire week."

"I was a little worried Allison would have had this already, you boys have my recipe." Mrs. Carver looked around the table checking that everything was ready. "You have nothing but time on that ship, spending days in FTL the way you do."

"Not as much this time." Tyrone shook his head. "Those seedlings needed a lot more attention than most of our cargo, I don't think we scratch-made anything on this trip."

"Also we're lazy," Joseph added.

Tyrone laughed. "It's true." Despite having all the time in the world between stops, they never seemed to get a lot done. Actual cooking, as opposed to precooked lasagna and simple meals, didn't happen as often as it ought.

The friendly banter halted for a moment and the group bowed their heads in prayer. Allison didn't miss a beat; she had grown used to that ritual during the week in FTL. Tyrone wondered vaguely whether she would continue it on her own.

When they had finished, they passed their plates one by one to Mrs. Carver, who dished a slice of pie onto each. Tyrone's stomach growled as he reclaimed his plate and set it in front of him. Allison was right, it really did smell delicious. He and Joseph had attempted the recipe a few times, but it never came out as well as Mrs. Carver's. They weren't as practiced.

"Where will you be going to look for an apartment?" Mrs. Carver changed the subject as they began passing the sides around the table. "There are some nice places in Hickory Tower, which is by our biggest dome. A lot of our married workers live there." A smile stole across her face. "Usually because their wives wouldn't live in the tiny, dated, low-rent dormer places they kept when they were single."