The Three of Us

Part 22 - The Sparrow and the Blue Jay

Lili got to the galley early the following morning with Susie, and downed two cups of coffee before she did anything else. So fortified, she was about ready to finally check her PADD when she thought better of it. Brian and Craig came in – they were both yawning and stretching. When Craig saw her, he looked the other way and busied himself with figuring out something on the replicator.

She shrugged and checked the posted orders. Will had not specified what they were to have for breakfast. "So, uh, how well can we make granola?" she asked Craig.

"Huh? Oh, uh I think we can get about two-thirds of the ingredients."

"Okay. So we'll chop dates and add raisins – I take it that's what's missing?"

"Hmm? Oh, uh, yeah."

"You seem distracted, Mister Willets," she mentioned playfully.

"I, uh, I just got things on my mind, is all."

"Anything you wanna talk about?" He reddened and shook his head. "Hmpf," she said to herself. PADD messages would have to wait even longer as they put together hot and cold cereals for the breakfast rush and Susie Money Lattimer stood guard nearby.

=/\=

Jeris stood on the chow line with everyone else, Jobiram right behind him. He saw Lili as he approached for his food. "We feared you were ill," he said.

"No, just kinda resting and trying to understand what happened."

"May we eat with you?"

"I don't really eat until everybody else is done," she explained.

"Then we will wait."

"Okay, then."

Nearby, Valleri Rostov ran around as her apologetic parents raced after her, and Travis bounced little Paul on his knee. Azar sat with Maryam and surreptitiously slipped a little more fresh fruit onto her plate. Hoshi and Sandra nursed their babies.

"Excuse me," it was Malcolm, "but I understand there was something sweet here."

She smiled at him. "Hang on a second." She disappeared into the back and got him a bowl of Scottish steel-cut oats and a small ramekin filled with chopped walnuts. "Here," she said, "don't say I never gave you anything."

"You have given me plenty already," he had a warm smile playing over his face. His hand made brief contact with hers as he took the bowl and little ramekin from her. He reddened just a touch when they made contact, and then went over to sit with Travis, Paul and Julie.

"Lili," it was Eddie Hamboyan, "I said I wanted some of the granola."

"Oh, sorry. Here ya go."

"How come Reed gets oatmeal and nuts?" he asked.

"It was a special order," she said.

"So, can I special order something from you?" Eddie asked.

Jay was standing right behind him and her face really flushed when she saw him. "Major! Glad to see you up and about!"

"You too, Ensign," he said, "Private," he addressed Eddie, "Ensign O'Day has enough, uh, on her plate without you giving her any sort of special orders or anything."

"I didn't mean anything by it," Eddie left with his bowl.

Lili found another small ramekin she had set aside. It contained blueberries. "And here ya go," she dumped its contents into Jay's bowl before he could say anything.