Chapter 2 - The Uniform My Father Never Wanted to See
Olivia's hand remained on the door.
Behind her, Admiral Bennett said nothing.
Richard spoke again.
“Open the door.”
Olivia did.
Her father stood in the hallway wearing a dark polo shirt beneath a gray sport coat.
At sixty-three, Richard Carter still possessed the polished confidence that had made him successful in commercial real estate.
Salt-and-pepper hair.
Expensive watch.
Perfect posture.
A man who always looked as though he belonged wherever he walked.
Until he saw Admiral Bennett.
The confidence flickered.
“Thomas.”
Bennett's face revealed nothing.
“Richard.”
Olivia looked between them.
“You two know each other?”
Richard answered too quickly.
“We've met.”
Bennett corrected him.
“More than once.”
Olivia felt something shift beneath her feet.
“When?”
Richard ignored the question.
His eyes were on the folder.
“Give me that.”
Bennett didn't move.
“It isn't yours.”
“It concerns my family.”
“It concerns Olivia.”
“She's my daughter.”
Olivia's voice hardened.
“Then maybe try talking to me.”
Richard looked at her.
“Tomorrow is Andrew's wedding.”
“I know.”
“I don't want family drama following us into that ballroom.”
Olivia almost laughed.
“You texted me that no one gives a damn about my career.”
“And I shouldn't have.”
For half a second, hope appeared before she could stop it.
Then Richard continued.
“But you knew exactly what I meant.”
There it was.
Not an apology.
A correction of technique.
“You mean I embarrass you.”
“I mean you make everything about the Navy.”
Olivia stared at him.
“My cousin is having a military wedding.”
“You know what I'm talking about.”
“No. Actually, I don't.”
Richard gestured toward her uniform.
“You walk into family events wearing a chest full of ribbons none of us understand, and everyone is supposed to stop and admire you.”
Bennett's expression changed almost imperceptibly.
Olivia caught it.
“Dad, when was the last family event where I wore my uniform?”
Richard opened his mouth.
Nothing came out.
“I'll help you. Andrew's commissioning ceremony. Nine years ago.”
“That isn't the point.”
“It seems relevant.”
“You've always needed people to know you're special.”
The words struck harder than Olivia expected.
Bennett stepped forward.
“Richard.”
Olivia lifted one hand.
“No, sir.”
Bennett stopped.
She looked at her father.
“You think I joined the Navy to feel special?”
“I think your mother praised everything you did until you became convinced the entire family had to organize itself around your career.”
“My mother supported me.”
“She worshiped you.”
Olivia flinched.
Richard saw it.
For one moment, regret crossed his face.
Then disappeared.
She asked, “Why are you afraid of that folder?”
“I am not afraid of anything.”
“Then why did you come upstairs?”
“I saw Bennett get into the elevator.”
“And?”
“I knew this would happen eventually.”
“What would?”
Richard looked at Bennett.
“You telling her things that should have stayed buried.”
Olivia's pulse quickened.
“Things about what?”
No answer.
She moved toward the folder.
Richard reached for it.
Bennett stepped between them.
The change in the admiral was immediate.
Not dramatic.
Not loud.
But unmistakable.
“Don't.”
Richard stopped.
For several seconds, three people stood inside that hotel room carrying eleven years of history Olivia did not understand.
Finally Richard said, “Susan wanted it gone.”
Olivia's breath caught at her mother's name.
Bennett's eyes narrowed.
“No, she didn't.”
“You weren't married to her.”
“No. But I spoke to her.”
Olivia looked at him.
“When?”
“Eleven years ago.”
“About me?”
“Yes.”
Richard turned toward the door.
Olivia blocked him.
“Don't leave.”
“I have nothing else to say tonight.”
“You've apparently had eleven years to say it.”
“Move.”
“No.”
“Olivia.”
“What letter?”
Richard's jaw tightened.
“Ask your mother.”
The room went silent.
Olivia stared at him.
Her voice became barely audible.
“She's dead.”
Regret hit his face immediately.
He looked older.
For once, Richard Carter did not have the next sentence prepared.
Olivia stepped backward.
“Get out.”
“Liv—”
“Get out.”
“That's not what I meant.”
“You used Mom because you didn't want to answer me.”
“I said the wrong thing.”
“You've been saying the wrong thing for twenty years.”
Richard looked at Bennett.
“This is exactly why I didn't want you involved.”
Bennett spoke calmly.
“I became involved the day your daughter saved people under my command.”
Olivia turned.
Richard's face lost color.
Bennett had said too much.
Or exactly enough.
“What?” Olivia asked.
Bennett looked at her.
“We'll discuss the letter tomorrow.”
“No. Tonight.”
“Tomorrow.”
“Why?”
“Because this is Andrew's weekend, and you're exhausted.”
Olivia almost objected.
Then she noticed the time.
9:26.
She felt exhausted.
Richard moved toward the doorway.
Before leaving, he looked at her uniform.
“Please don't wear that tomorrow.”
Olivia stared at him.
“Why?”
“Wear a dress.”
“It's a military formal reception.”
“You're also family.”
“I can be both.”
Richard's expression tightened.
“Once. Just once. Walk into a room as my daughter instead of Commander Carter.”
Olivia's answer came quietly.
“I've been trying to walk into rooms as your daughter my entire life.”
Richard looked as if she had struck him.
She closed the door.
The next afternoon, Olivia dressed slowly.
White shirt.
Black necktie.
Dark Navy jacket.
Insignia.
Ribbons.
Each movement steadied her.
She pinned her hair into a precise low bun.
No dramatic makeup.
No attempt to impress anyone.
When she looked in the mirror, Commander Olivia Carter looked back.
The woman her father resented.
The officer her mother had loved.
The person Olivia had fought to become.
At 3:15, Natalie knocked.
She entered wearing a deep green formal dress and immediately stopped.
“Wow.”
Olivia raised an eyebrow.
“Good wow or family-war wow?”
“Both.”
Natalie walked closer.
Her eyes moved across Olivia's uniform.
“I've never really looked at all of these.”
Olivia smiled sadly.
“You're not the only one.”
“What does this one mean?”
Natalie pointed toward a ribbon.
Olivia explained.
Then another.
And another.
Halfway through, Natalie looked stunned.
“You were there?”
“Yes.”
“You never told us.”
“I did.”
Natalie's expression fell.
“You did?”
“At Thanksgiving. Eight years ago.”
Natalie remembered.
Richard had interrupted Olivia halfway through the story to ask Andrew about law school.
“Oh.”
Olivia adjusted her sleeve.
“It's okay.”
“No, it isn't.”
“It was a long time ago.”
“That doesn't make it okay.”
They rode downstairs together.
The Grand Atlantic's ballroom level buzzed with wedding guests.
Uniforms.
Tuxedos.
Formal dresses.
White floral arrangements.
American and Navy flags near the entrance.
Olivia immediately recognized several people.
Some she had served beside.
Some she had briefed.
Some she had not seen in years.
A captain from San Diego hugged her.
A retired rear admiral shook her hand.
A former intelligence director smiled broadly.
“Carter. Didn't know you'd be here.”
“My cousin's the groom.”
“You're related to Andrew?”
“Unfortunately.”
They laughed.
Across the foyer, Richard watched.
His face was unreadable.
Olivia noticed but kept moving.
The ceremony passed beautifully.
Andrew cried when Melissa walked down the aisle.
Melissa laughed through her vows.
For ninety minutes, Olivia forgot her father.
Then came the reception.
Hundreds of guests entered the ballroom beneath crystal chandeliers.
Olivia stood near the edge, speaking to an old colleague, Captain Leah Morales.
Richard was ten yards away telling someone a story.
Olivia heard her own name.
She didn't intend to listen.
Then Richard said loudly, “She's always taken this Navy thing very seriously.”
A man laughed.
“Commander is pretty serious, Richard.”
Richard shrugged.
“It's mostly administrative at that point, isn't it?”
Leah Morales stopped speaking.
Olivia closed her eyes.
Not here.
Not today.
Leah looked toward Richard.
“Does he really not know?”
“Please don't.”
“Olivia—”
“It's Andrew's wedding.”
Leah nodded reluctantly.
Then the ballroom doors opened.
Admiral Thomas Bennett entered.
He wore full dress uniform.
Aides followed several steps behind.
The room subtly changed.
Senior officers noticed.
Conversations shifted.
Olivia looked toward him.
Bennett spotted her immediately.
Then his gaze moved beyond Olivia.
To Richard.
Richard was still talking.
Still smiling.
Still telling someone that his daughter's work was mostly administrative.
Bennett handed his program to an aide.
Straightened.
And began walking directly toward Olivia.
Halfway across the ballroom, another admiral noticed where he was heading.
Then another.
One by one, conversations stopped.
Richard finally turned.
Admiral Bennett was twenty feet away.
Ten.
Five.
He stopped.
His eyes fixed on Olivia.
Then he drew himself to full height.
Richard's smile disappeared.
Bennett inhaled.
May you like
And shouted one word across the ballroom.
“ATTENTION!”
