The Three of Us

Part 14 - A Clutch of Rebounds

Captain Archer sat at a table in the cafeteria. In front of him were two other tables. Mara Brodsky Slater sat at one. Her baby was in a basket on a chair beside her. Robert Slater sat at the other. Standing in the back was Walter Woods. Jay, his boss, was with him. Mara's boss – Tripp – and Robert's boss – Malcolm – were also standing in the back. Lili and Brian cleaned off the tables and mainly tried to stay out of the way, as it was the morning, between breakfast and lunch.

"I suppose I knew – or at least I unconsciously suspected – that with all of the weddings, I would eventually be presiding over a divorce," the captain began.

The baby fussed a little. Mara did her best to shush him. "Now," Jonathan said, "there are no ceremonies, not really, that center around the breakup of a marriage. There are no magical words for me to say. And we don't have a judge – except, I suppose, for me. There are no lawyers and no law books."

Robert sighed a little. Jonathan continued, "And we also all know that fault is no longer required for the dissolution of a marriage. Hence we won't be pointing fingers today."

Mara breathed a little easier.

Jonathan added, "My first question is – is there any property in common? That is, are there any things that you jointly own?"

"No," Mara said.

"Only, sort of, the cabin," Robert said.

"Very well," Jonathan said. "And you," he addressed Robert, "you've been living apart?"

"Yes, sir. I've been bunking with Eddie Hamboyan."

"Mister Slater, I have the doctor's report," Jonathan said.

"Yes, sir?"

"And his findings are that you have no biological connection to the child. Do you understand that?"

"I do, sir."

"Despite the doctor's findings," the captain added, "do you wish any custody or any sort of a relationship with the child?"

The door swished open. "Oh, sorry," said Victoria, "I thought you'd be done."

"Almost," whispered Tripp.

Robert glanced over at the baby. "No, sir; I desire nothing beyond friendship and the usual camaraderie of shipmates."

"According to the doctor's findings," Jonathan said, "the child's biological father is Walter Woods. Private Woods, do you acknowledge the paternity of this child?"

"I do, sir."

"Does this child have a name?" Jonathan asked.

"Yes," Mara said, "Jeffrey Woods."

"Do you agree?" Jonathan asked Walter.

"I do, sir."

"Do you have a bunk, Private?"

"Sir, I've been rooming with Mara and our, our baby."

Victoria raised an eyebrow.

"I see," said Captain Archer. "Does, uh, does anyone wish to say anything?"

"I do," Mara said.

"Proceed."

"Rob, I, uh, I never meant to hurt you. I'm, I'm sorry."

"I wanna say something, too," said Robert. Malcolm blanched, wondering if Slater would say anything untoward and if it would somehow reflect on him in any way.

"Go ahead," said Jonathan.

"I'm covered," Rob said, "Mara, I'm covered. Captain Archer, I'd like to formally ask permission to move in with Victoria Dietrich."