Disclaimers: This story belongs to me so I don't give permission for it to be posted somewhere else under a different title, change in names or storyline.

Sex: But of course! J

Note: There will likely be somewhat graphic violence in this story, as part of it takes place during war times.

If you'd like to tell me what a wonderful writer I am or that I royally suck, feel free at: XenaNut@hotmail.com .

Zero Ward

by

Kim Pritekel

Part 9

Chapter 23

San Diego, CA 1945

Kate sat in the formal living room of her parents' house, feeling as though she were sitting in front of a firing squad. In fact, she'd rather be sitting in front of a firing squad instead of her parents.

"We've called you here today, Katherine because I'm unhappy," Beth Adams said, arms crossed over her lap and lips tight. "And so is your father."

Kate looked back and forth between the two. "Why are you unhappy?"

"Because it would seem you have no interest in your future," Percy explained, lighting his pipe, fragrant smoke swirling around him. "You've finished two years of schooling, yet have not brought home a single young man for us to meet."

"I haven't met any, Dad. I'm trying to concentrate on my studies." Again, she looked between the two of them. "I thought you'd be happy about how well I'm doing. I don't understand."

"What's to understand?" Beth asked, getting angry. "We sent you to school to find a future for yourself."

"That's what I'm doing, Mom. With a degree, I can take care of-"

"A husband will take care of you!" Percy roared. "I will not be humiliated by a daughter who works like some common girl with no better sense!"

Kate was floored and devastated. "What do you want me to do?" she asked, resigned.

"You have until the end of this year to be engaged, or I will pull the plug on your schooling. If after you marry you wish to finish your degree for the sake of finishing, fine, as long as your husband permits it. But, beyond that Kate, your future is to be a wife and mother, and to make your mother and I proud."

Kate nodded, trying to keep her tears in. "Yes, Father," she whispered, feeling as though her world had just fallen out from underneath her. She wanted her career so bad, and she was fighting hard for it. As it was, being the only girl in most of her classes, and certainly in her major in history, was extremely challenging. She knew there was far more pressure on her from her professors, as many of them didn't want her there. And now this.

Not wanting her parents to see her cry, Kate pushed up from her chair and left the room. As she drove home, the tears began to flow. She swiped angrily at them, but they kept coming. A bitter laugh escaped as she wondered what her parents would say if they knew she was already married.

*****

Helen refilled their cups with coffee before sitting down next to Kate on Kate's bed again. She studied Kate's profile, her friend staring blankly out the window into the darkness beyond. "What are you going to do, sweetie?" she asked softly.

"I don't know," Kate admitted, wrapping her hands around the mug.

"How can you marry again when you're already married to Danni?"

Kate was silent for a long time, as she had been wondering the same thing all afternoon. She then realized that their marriage wasn't legal, anyway because not only was Danni a woman, but Daniel Felts, who signed the marriage license, doesn't even exist. She couldn't tell Helen that, though. Nobody knew the truth about Danni, and she just didn't know who she could trust.

"Maybe I can divorce him on grounds of desertion." She looked at her friend to get her thoughts. "What do you think? I mean, I don't even know where he is to even ask for a divorce."

"Wow," Helen blew out, sipping from her coffee. "What a mess." She was quiet for a long moment before she turned to her friend again. "What about George?"

Kate's eyes slid closed, dread gripping her heart. "I don't love him, Helen."

"But he's awfully fond of you. Besides, anyone you marry right now is going to be someone that you aren't necessarily in love with, Kate." She waited until Kate met her gaze. "At least you know him and you know that he'd marry you in a heartbeat."

"That's so unfair to do to him, though."

Helen shrugged. "It's going to be unfair no matter who you do it to, because in the end, you will be essentially using the guy."

"I guess I could divorce him once I finish with school," she reasoned. "God!" she cried out, raising her face to the heavens. "Why do they have to be this way, Helen? All I want to do is finish school and move on with my life. I'd really rather be doing that with Danni, but I guess it just showed me what kind of person he really is." She let out a heavy sigh. "I guess I did only know him for a little while."

"I've heard of this kind of thing happening a lot, Kate. These boys were so desperate for that connection while they were away from home, and then when they came back…" she cut her finger across her throat, accompanied by a sound effect to emphasize her meaning.

Kate picked at the comforter beneath her. "I thought it was so much more than that, Helen. I really did." She set her coffee mug aside on the bedside table and plopped back onto the pillow. "I thought Danni was different, you know?" She looked at her friend, seeing the sympathy reflected in her eyes. "I thought he loved me."

"I'm sure he did, Kate." Helen set her own drink aside then lay beside Kate, on her side with her head cradled in an upturned palm. "Maybe something happened, I don't know. I hope someday he'll find the courage to contact you again and you can find out. But for now, if you want to finish school, I really think George is your best bet."

Kate squeezed her eyes shut and nodded. "I think so, too," she whispered.

*****

San Jose, CA 1968

Kate sat on her bed, legs crossed and the cardboard box in front of her. She'd been sitting there staring at it for ten minutes, trying to decide what to do. Like a wad of cash, the box and its contents had burned a hole in her pocket since the night Danni had given it to her. Even so, she knew that likely to read all those letters Danni had written her that she'd never received would be bitter/sweet at best. In all reality, it no longer mattered what was in those letters: it was done. As Danni had said, that ship has sailed.

Kate reached out and ran a finger over the smooth cardboard flap at the top of the box, wondering if Danni had touched it in the same place. She wondered why Danni had never contacted her to let her know. Why? Why had she let Kate go on, thinking that Danni had abandoned her, when in fact, Danni had been as heartbroken as she was?

Anger filled Kate as she slammed a fist into the bed. "Dammit!" she yelled, the echo bouncing around the walls of the small bedroom. "Dammit, dammit, dammit!"

She sent a foot out, sending the box of letters flying across the room and hitting the wall. The letters spilled out across the floor, a fan of memories. She began to pace back and forth next to the bed, her gaze straying to the letters often.

"My life could have been so different," she muttered. "So fucking different!" Angry tears spilled down her cheeks. "Why, George?" she demanded, staring up to the heavens. "Why? Why couldn't you just leave well enough alone? We were happy, goddamn you. Happy!"

Kate threw herself down on the bed, her body trembling with the sobs that tore through her. She'd never known such acute devastation, realizing that her life was a lie. It had been altered out of pure malice and jealousy, and now she'd never know what it could have been. What would it have been like to share a lifetime with the one person who always truly understood her? The one person who was the absolute love of her life and the one person who she craved like a drowning man craves a life jacket.

*****

Burbank, CA 1968

Carol sat with Frank, watching the evening news when the phone rang. "I'll get it," she announced, pushing up from the couch and heading into the kitchen to grab the connected attached to the wall. "Hello?"

"That bastard did this!" Kate cried on the other end. "He knew, Carol. He fucking knew!"

*****

San Jose, CA 1968

Carol rang Kate's doorbell, and within seconds the door was yanked open, startling her with the ferocity of the action as well as the look in Kate's eyes. "He knew all along," she growled, storming away from the door and leaving it open for Carol to follow, which she did.

Carol had no idea what had happened, as before Kate called her with those few words at her house, she hadn't spoken to her since that first night in Maine. They ended up in the kitchen, where Carol spotted an open bottle of wine and a half-empty glass. "What's going on here, Kate?"

Kate was quiet for a moment. She reached for her wine glass and took a sip. With a sigh, she got herself under control and turned to Carol. "George did this on purpose, Carol," she said, her voice low and dead. "He orchestrated everything in my life, like a puppeteer and me on his string." She drained her glass and refilled it, raising the bottle in offer to Carol.

"No, thank you." Carol plopped down in one of the chairs at the kitchen table. "But I'd really it if you'd sit down and talk to me."

Kate did just that, setting her glass down in front of her and running a hand through her hair. "Seven years ago a box of letters were mailed to Danni with a letter from the Navy explaining that they'd been found in a storage room. Carol, they were all the letters that Danni and I had sent, but neither of us received: nearly a year's worth."

Carol could only stare for a long moment, stunned. "And, you think George arranged this?"

"Yes. Well, Danni does. She believes he used his rank to make it happen. It makes perfect sense, Carol: about a month after I got my first letter from George, all letters stopped from Danni. Danni told me about a time in the post office there on base where George saw the letter Danni was sending to me. I don't believe in coincidence."

"Wow." Carol pushed away from the table and grabbed the wine bottle, uncorking it and pouring herself a glass. Sitting down across from Kate again, she sipped. "This is terrible, Kate. Absolutely terrible." She met her friend's tormented and angry gaze. "All this aside, how did it go?"

Kate smiled, despite her pain. "She's amazing, Carol. Just like I always knew she was. She's unbelievably beautiful."

"I know. To see her last year, an actual woman, wow. Very beautiful indeed. Did you two get along?"

"Yes," Kate said quickly, but then put some thought into it. "Yes, but it was strained at times, to be sure. I mean, it's been almost twenty years since the last time we saw each other, and you know that story." She studied her friend for a long moment, trying to decide how much to disclose to her. Finally, she decided she needed, really needed to be able to tell someone the entire truth. "It's over, Carol."

Carol could hear the profound sadness in Kate's voice. "Why? What happened? And, did it ever even start again?"

"I wanted it to. I think." Kate sighed, sipping more wine, fully feeling it go to her head and fuzz her judgment. "I kissed her. I didn't mean to, it just sort of happened." She looked down into the golden depths of her glass and said again, "I kissed her."

"It didn't go well? What, is she not a good kisser anymore? I certainly remember enough stories about Danni from you back when."

Kate gave a weak smile at Carol's attempt at humor. "No, she simply backed away and told me that our time was past and it would be no more." She downed the rest of her wine, slamming the glass to the table top. "'That ship has sailed', she said," Kate recited bitterly.

"Ouch," Carol muttered, sipping her wine. She studied her friend. "Maybe it's for the best, Kate. Maybe it's just time to move on. You're a free woman now that George is gone. You've got a home, a career that you love and are free. Hell, sometimes I wish I was in your shoes." She smirked. "But, let me ask you this: now, with all this crazy stuff these kids are doing, and 'free love' and all that b.s., where do you stand? You were with George for over twenty years. You know damn well that Danni is a woman, and now she even looks like a woman, yet you still have a thing. So… ? Where does that leave you?"

Kate grinned, quite tipsy. "Are you asking me if I'm a lesbian, Carol?"

"Is that what they're calling Danni's type these days?"

"Yep. Work in a university and you hear it all. And, in response to your question: hell if I know. Want some more wine?"

"No, I can't stay, Kate."

Kate nodded, understanding. "I'm sorry to drag you out so late."

"Don't be." Carol got to her feet and took her friend in a tight hug. "It's going to be okay," she said into it. "Truly, it'll all work itself out."

Kate returned the hug, grateful Carol was back in her life. "Thanks."

Kate walked Carol to the door, accepting one more hug before turning back to her glass of wine, downing it and glancing at the bottle. After only a slight pause, she poured herself another glass and grabbed it and the bottle and padded to the living room. Setting them down on the coffee table, she made her slightly-staggering way upstairs to her bedroom and gathered the letters that had fallen on the floor, putting them back in the box and carrying it downstairs.

Making herself comfortable on the floor next to the coffee table - and her wine - Kate once again found herself staring at the box, looking at it as though it would bit her. Chewing on her lower lip, she contemplated the contents, and tried to decide if she should even delve into it or just let it go. She absently reached for her wine glass, taking a sip before setting it back down again and taking a deep breath.

Kate gathered the thick stack of letters in her hands and began to sort them out by postmarked date: one pile for Danni's letters and one pile for her own. Her own letters and cards that she'd sent to Danni had all been opened, and Kate assumed, read. All of Danni's letters, however, sat sealed, unread for nearly twenty-five years. She took the top letter, which had the oldest date, and stared at Danni's handwriting: bold, simple lettering, very straightforward, just like her.

Suddenly, Kate set the letter down and pushed to her feet, nearly going ass over appetite in her haste to get to the stairs and her bedroom. She pulled the wooden box from the closet and set it on the bed, opening it and looking down at the unopened letter.

*****

San Jose, CA 1954

"Come on, Megan," Kate called out to her 7 year old, who was taking her sweet time climbing out of the car, her favorite stuffed dog tugged by the ear behind her.

"Can I get the mail, Mamma?" the girl begged.

"Sure, honey."

Kate was actually glad for the help, as she was juggling two bags of groceries, her books from school and Megan's jacket. Kate got the door unlocked and dropped some of her load on the couch that immediately inside the front door, then headed into the kitchen to put groceries away and start dinner.

"Mamma!" Megan called out, little feet thudding on the floor as she ran into the house and into the kitchen. She presented her mother with six pieces of mail, proud of her achievement.

"Thank you, sweetie." Kate gave her a daughter a kiss on the cheek and took the mail. "Go change out of your school clothes, honey."

"Okay!"

Kate heard the girl storm up the stairs as she sifted through the mail she'd been given. The letter on the bottom of the small stack made her breath catch. She stared down at Danni's name and Wayne, Nebraska address, unable to move. She was startled by the sound of the front door opening.

"Hey, honey," George called out. "What's for dinner? I'm starving."

Panicked, Kate shoved the letter into the pocket in her dress, knowing that George would have a fit if he caught her with it. "Hi," she said, shaky as she quickly pulled out pans and random items, her brain too stunned to even think clearly about what she was doing. She accepted George's kiss, though her mind was fully on the letter that seemed to almost burn her skin through the material of her dress.

Later that night, Kate lay in bed next to a snoring George. She glanced over at him, making sure he was sound asleep. He was, so she carefully pushed out of bed and pulled on a robe. She grabbed the letter out of her dress pocket and snuck out of the room, heading into the guest bedroom, where she closed the door with a soft click before heading over to the closet. Inside on the top shelf was the wooden box Danni had made for her graduation present. She brought it down and set it on the bed, opening it. Her heart was pounding at both the thought of seeing Danni's things again, as well as the fear of getting caught with them: George had no idea she had it.

She picked up Danni's shirt that she'd snagged from the motel room five years before. Bringing it to her face, she closed her eyes and inhaled, just barely able to still detect the slightest bit of Danni left on the material.

"Oh, Danni," she breathed.

She re-folded the shirt and placed it back in the box, but not before placing the letter under it. She decided it was best to leave it in Danni's box for now, and would go back and read it when she more time alone.

"Kate?" George called out from their bedroom.

Panicked, Kate shoved the lid onto the box and slide the box under the bed, hurrying to the bedroom door before George went looking for her. She scurried back to the bedroom she shared with him. He sat up in bed and looked at her through sleepy eyes.

"Sorry, honey," she whispered, "Megan had a bad dream." She hated lying to him, but knew she had no other way.

"Oh. Okay." George reached for Kate and pulled her to him, holding her against him as he fell back asleep.

Pinned by a strong arm, Kate lay awake for a long time, thinking about the box and the newly-arrived letter. She knew George watched her like a hawk under normal circumstances, but after Danni had arrived on their doorstep five years ago, he'd watched her even closer. Kate decided that it was for the best to just keep the letter buried where it was, under Danni's shirt and under Danni's memories.

The next day she hid the wooden box in the trunk in the attic, and intended to never dig it out again.

*****

San Jose, CA 1968

Kate stared down at the letter that she held in her hands, her chest heavy as a sense of dread overcame her. Her eyes fell closed and she swallowed her emotions down, the numbing effects of the wine temporarily lifting. Blowing out a breath, she opened her eyes and headed back downstairs, sliding the letter underneath the pile, saving it to read for last.

With a long swig of wine for courage, Kate took the first letter in hand again and tore it open. As she read through the words, a soft smile spread across her lips, memories of another time flooding her. Danni's mention of music and events of '43 and '44 made her think back to her own days in undergraduate school: the people she knew, that crazy house she lived in for three years.

Wine forgotten, hour after hour passed as Kate read, her eyes burning as sleep demanded her attention, but she pushed it away. As she lay on her stomach amidst a pile pages and envelopes, her eyes feasted on all that Danni had to say to her, tears coming sporadically at the confusion she could see in Danni's world.

... Where have you gone? ...

… What have I done? Did I do something wrong? I don't understand! ...

… Why don't you write anymore? …

… Do you not love me anymore? …

Kate set the letter down, Danni's final words in it cutting her to the core. It was the second to last letter in the stack, and Kate could feel Danni's anguish and rising anger. She buried her face in her hands, tears streaming between her fingers to dampen the carpet below. All of Danni's emotions and hurt had so very mirrored her own. She thought all the same things, as well as the fact that she was being fed lies by George that entire time.

"Dammit!" she exclaimed, pounding her fist into the floor beside her head, ignoring the jarring pain that spread throughout her hand. "Why did this have to happen?" she whispered.

Pushing to a sitting position, she grabbed the last of the war years letters, leaving only the one mailed to Kate's house. Grabbing yet another tissue from the box, Kate wiped at her eyes and face, which felt tight from the stream of salty tears. Looking at the date, she knew this one was written after the attack on their base, and after Mike had died.

February, 1945

Dear Kate.

I can see that you no longer wish to hear from me, so I'm sorry to bother you with this letter now. I so desperately need a friend to talk to, and right now, you're the only person I can really write this to who can understand. I hope.

Mike's dead. God, it hurts so bad to even write those words. Were attacked just before Christmas, and it was a doozy. I won't go into the bloody details or bore you with military talk, but just know that it was bad. A lot of good men lost their lives that day. They say the war is almost over, but I guess not soon enough for Mike. When they brought us into the hospital together, I heard a doctor declare Mike be taken to the Zero Ward: that's where all the bodies go that are gone and soon will be gone. I tell you, I wish I could have gone there right along with him. I don't feel like I have much to live for anymore, so they really might as well just toss me in.

I did find one act of kindness from a doctor here, real good fella. He found out about me while picking out all the shrapnel that was lodged in my back. When I asked him why he hadn't turned me in, he smiled and said: "You're a brave soldier and I'm not going to let anyone take that from you." I was real surprised and touched by that.

Ah hell, Kate: what was all this for? So many people are dead or dying. You and me… well, I'm still not sure what happened there, but I guess what's done is done. Maybe I'll see you when we come home. I don't know if you've heard, but we're scheduled to leave here in about six months. Will you be there? I really would like to see you, even if it's just so we can say goodbye.

Take care of yourself, Kate, and I hope your studies are going good.

Danni

Kate wiped at the silent tears that had fallen during the entire read of the letter, her vision blurring sometimes to the point where she could no longer see the inked words. She set the letter down and ran her hands through her hair. With loving fingers, she refolded the page and slipped it back into its envelope then set it aside. With a deep, sad breath, she grabbed the final letter, her heart pounding as she opened it.

September, 1954

Kate,

Hello. I'm sure you're pretty shocked to hear from me, and I would be, too if I were in your shoes right now. I again want to apologize for my actions the last time we saw each other. No matter what I was feeling or how angry I was, I had no right to attack you like that, and it's always weighed heavily on me.

I'm not really sure how to say this, so I'm just going to say it: I love you. More than anything I want us to have a chance together. I know so much has happened and there is a whole lot of water under that bridge, but I can't stop thinking about you. I want us to be together, Kate. You, me and Megan. Allison Hughes (remember her?) and I have begun a business together that I think will do really well. I can take care of you. The only hitch is, you'd have to leave California.

Oh, Kate, can't you see it? The three of us together? We could get that house we always talked about, and even a dog! I've always had my eye on huskies, personally, so I'm sure one day I'll have one. I'd really like that someday to be with you, though. Please give this some thought. I know it's sudden and certainly out of the blue, but we loved each other enough once to get married, and I have to believe in my heart we can love each other that much again.

Please think about it and let me know. My phone number is below. I'll wait to hear from you, either way. No matter what happens, know that I love you with all my heart and always will.

Danni

Chapter 24

Megan pulled her yellow Volkswagen bug into the driveway of her childhood home. Cutting the engine, she hurried up the walkway to the front door, anxious to see her mother after her week-long trip. They'd never been separated for that long before, and she had missed her mother dearly.

"Mom?" she called out, letting herself in. The house was quiet, which was unusual, considering it was already after ten in the morning, and her mother was always up by a most un-groovy time. "Hello? Are you home?" She looked in the kitchen, seeing an empty wine glass on the table as well as an empty wine bottle on the counter. "Whoa," she muttered, concern gnawing at her gut now. Her mother was not a drinker.

Megan made her way into the living room, surprised to see her mother lying on the floor with a pillow from the couch under her head. She was surrounded by what looked to be letters and their envelopes. Another empty wine glass and bottle sat on the coffee table.

"Mom?" she hurried over to the prone woman and knelt down beside her. She was relieved when she found her arm warm. "Hey? Mom?"

Kate started, pulled from a very deep sleep. Immediately a pounding headache joined the morning sun. "Oh, god," she groaned, squeezing her eyes tightly shut and bringing a hand up to her forehead.

"What happened?" Megan asked, brushing some hair back from her mother's tear-stained face. "God, you look awful! What happened?" She looked at all the letters. "What is all this?"

Kate sat up with the help of her daughter, immediately regretting the action as her head began to pound even harder. "Ugh."

Quirking a small smile, Megan jumped up and ran from the room, returning with two Aspirin and a glass of water. "Take these. It'll help."

"How would you know that?" Kate grumbled, irritated by her daughter's most amused grin. "God. Help me up, honey."

Megan got her mother to her feet then pulled her into a hug. "I really missed you. I'm sorry I didn't get here last night, which was the plan." She pulled out of the hug, studying her mother's red-rimmed eyes. "The concert went late."

"It's okay, sweetie. I missed you, too." Kate made her slow way towards the kitchen. "Want some breakfast?"

"Yeah, but let me make it. You, Mommy dear, take a load off."

Kate did as she was asked, watching as her daughter flew around the kitchen, whipping up some breakfast for them. "Did you have fun?"

"Oh my god, yes! Janis Joplin is like the best singer ever!"

Kate was happy for her daughter's excitement, even if it did hurt her head. "Well, somehow I doubt that, Megan."

"Here, drink this." Megan slid a mug of strong coffee in front of her mother. "And, she may not be Billie Holiday or those other old people you listen to, but she's the grooviest thing I've ever seen." Megan sat across from her mother with her own cup of coffee, keeping an eye on the sizzling sausage. "So, you have a lot to answer for, missy. Where did you go, who did you see, and what's up with all the letters? And, why on earth were you crying? Were you thinking about dad, or something?"

Kate cringed at the very mention of George. "I went to see a friend in Maine, and the letters are from her-" she cut herself off, letting out a heavy sigh. She studied her daughter, with her big, open and trusting eyes. She saw so much of herself as a young girl in her daughter, and it made her wistful for a time that could never come again. She felt like she owed it to Megan to be honest with her. Besides, maybe she could offer up some advice. "Do you remember that box you found that day in the attic, when we were looking for Grandma's dress?"

"Yeah, that Danni Felts guy." Megan popped up and turned the sausage, cursing softly when she was popped by the grease.

"Yes, Danni Felts." Kate was silent for a long moment, sipping her coffee and brain spinning. "Honey," she began, once her daughter had taken her seat again. "I loved Danni very much, as you saw in that picture."

Megan's eyes burned with curiosity. "You went and found Danni!" she crowed.

Kate stared at her for a long moment, then finally nodded.

"Whoa! Far out! Is he married and shit?"

"No, but does have a girlfriend. And, I have to tell you something about Danni." Ignoring her headache, Kate got to her feet, needing to busy herself with the normalcy of life as she dished up food for both of them. "Danni is a woman, Megan."

Megan was silent for so long that her mother actually turned to look at her. "You found that out when you went to Maine?" she breathed, utterly intrigued. "Does the girlfriend know?"

Kate set their plates down and sat across from Megan. She stared at her food then met her daughter's unwavering gaze. "I knew it back when we were together," she said, her voice soft.

Megan was stunned, and could see her mother was terrified of her response and reaction. She carefully wiped any expression off her face. Of course she had friends that dabbled in digging the same sex: heck, it had even been rumored that Janis was into women sometimes. "So," she began, her voice calm and conversational. "When you and Danni were all lovey dovey back a million years ago, you knew he was actually a she?"

Kate nodded. "Yes. I didn't at first, but I found out."

"Is that what broke you two up?" Megan asked, beginning to prepare her breakfast.

Kate shook her head, also preparing her breakfast, though she didn't have much of an appetite. "No. That's a very long, complicated story that I'm just now beginning to find answers to."

"Whoa," Megan said again, sitting back in her chair. "So, does she still look like a guy now?"

Kate shook her head, an involuntary smile curling her lips at the mental image of Danni that she saw before her mind's eye. "No, she's a very beautiful woman, Megan. She only did what she did so she could fight in battle. They would never let a woman do that."

"Of course not," Megan muttered. "The Man would never let that happen. Probably never will."

Kate knew better than to let this become a debate on modern culture, as she wasn't a huge fan of a lot of what was happening nowadays. "Either way, she did what she did and it happened the way it did."

Megan studied her mother for a long moment, Kate's eyes fixed on her plate though Megan suspected two sausage links wasn't what had her so enthralled. "You still love her. Don't you?" she asked softly.

Kate blew out a breath, not sure how to answer that question for her daughter. She didn't want Megan to know just how much her father had done to hurt Kate and Danni, and didn't feel she should ever know. Why muddle the image of a man who may have been a real bastard in a lot of ways, but was truly a good and loving father?

"Our time is long gone, Megan," she said carefully. "I made my choices."

"Did dad know about Danni?"

"The ironic thing was, your father was Danni's direct officer. So yes, he knew her."

"Did he knew about you two? And, did he know about Danni?"

Kate nodded. "He knew Danni and I were in love, yes. And, no. He never knew about Danni's true identity."

"So, Danni was in the Navy too, then, right?" Megan asked. At her mother's nod, she grinned. "Well, then I guess my old man has two legacies to live up to."

Kate looked at her daughter with adoring eyes. "None of this bothers you?"

Megan shrugged. "I'm not real sure how I feel about it, to be honest. Am I gonna flail you and call you names? No way. But, it's not every day you find out your mom has banged another woman."

"Megan!"

Continued...

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