I didn’t react immediately. After thirty years in the Marine Corps, that particular attitude wasn’t exactly new territory. Daniel rushed to continue.
“He’s not a bad man, Elaine. He’s just from a different time. Proud, opinionated. The Corps meant everything to him.”
“I understand that.”
“And he doesn’t know your rank.”
That made me raise an eyebrow.
“What does he think I do?”
Daniel gave a small, embarrassed laugh.
“I might have told him you’re a consultant working on logistics systems.”
I stared at him.
“You told your father I was basically a contractor.”
“I panicked,” he admitted.
“You panicked for three years?”
He winced.
“Okay. Maybe I kept panicking.”
I couldn’t help smiling a little.
“Why?”
Daniel looked genuinely sheepish.
“Because I knew the second he heard ‘Marine general,’ the conversation would stop being about you and start being about rank, and I wanted him to meet you first.”
That answer softened me more than he probably realized. Still, I asked the practical question.
“And now?”
“Well, he invited us to Sunday dinner.”
I sipped my coffee and thought about it. In the Marine Corps, I’d spent my entire career being introduced by rank first. Sometimes it was necessary. Sometimes it was exhausting. Meeting Daniel’s family as just Elaine sounded almost refreshing. Finally, I nodded.
“All right.”
Daniel blinked.
“All right?”
“I’ll come to dinner.”
“You’re sure?”
“Daniel,” I said with a small smile, “I’ve briefed combat commanders and testified before congressional committees. I think I can survive Sunday dinner.”
He laughed with relief. But before the evening ended, he said something that lingered with me.
“Just one thing,” he added carefully. “My dad likes to talk about the Marine Corps.”
“I’d expect that.”
“And he can be a little intense.”
