Lt. Commander Mollie Sanders
Page 19
Mollie saw Chief Harris step forward. “Some of us … made the wrong assumptions,” he said, “about why you were here, and how much you would contribute to the boat. I hope you can forgive us.”
Mollie didn’t know what to say.
“Plenty of young officers come to their first cruise a little rough around the edges, Commander,” Chief Walker said. “We can be a little tough on a new officer at times – it’s our job to smooth out those edges.”
Mollie still didn’t speak.
“It’s an honor to sail with you, ma’am,” Chief Harris said. He extended his hand to Mollie.
She looked at him as she wrestled with not showing any emotion. Then she grasped his hand and pumped it.
“It’s an honor for me to sail with you, gentlemen. Thank you.”
She held back tears as she shook the hands of each of the other chiefs.
**
Under the ocean
October 6
2000 hours
The sub was on its way back to the U.S. Degama was confined to his cabin. For the first time Mollie could feel confident that she wouldn’t be letting down other female Navy personnel hoping for a sub berth.
She paused outside the enlisted men’s mess to watch the XO in another arm-wrestling contest.
Then she stepped inside. The men immediately stopped and she smiled.
“C’mon, you guys think you’re so tough. It should be easy to beat a girrrl!”
The men laughed, then Brombard stepped forward.
He and Mollie sat across from each other.
At first it appeared as if Brombard would win. Then Mollie pinned his arm back! There was much cheering.
The XO came up to her. “It’s your turn to lose. Ready to go against the champ?”
Mollie nodded. The other men hooted and shouted that Mollie should go easy on the XO.
The XO and Mollie sat across from each other. Within moments Mollie had lost. She couldn’t remember the last time she had lost at anything except being thrown out in t’ai chi practice. She smiled at the XO.
“I’ll have to hit the weight machine a little harder.”
The XO smiled and shook her hand. “Not bad for a girrrl!”
CHAPTER XVIII – BACK IN PORT
Neptune’s stateside berth
October 21
1100 hours
Mollie joined the XO to watch as naval security men led Degama off the ship.
It was chilly in the late October wind. But on shore the men were swarmed by their loved ones.
“That’s the problem with breaking up before a patrol,” the XO said. “No one to come home to.”
Mollie smiled at him. “You’ll have no problem finding a replacement. Five minutes after you walk into the officers’ club you’ll have a new girlfriend.”
The XO smiled back. “I could save myself a trip. Why not start here?”
“Me? Don’t be ridiculous!”
“Neptune is unlikely to be your next assignment,” he said. “There’s no conflict of interest.”
“Maybe not, but still …”
The XO bobbed his head towards her. “Think it over. I’ll keep the offer open for a day or two.”
Mollie shook his hand and picked up her seabag waiting at her feet. She walked down the gangway attached to the sub. She turned and looked back at the XO but she did not wave nor did he.
At the end of the gangway a sailor who hadn’t been on the sub approached her. He saluted her and she returned the salute. “Commander Sanders, Admiral Dougherty would like to speak to you. This way, please.”
Oh shit! What now?
She followed the sailor to a nearby pier building.
Inside the building was cavernous and empty except for an official Navy car with four stars on the license plate and flags flying from the bumper. The sailor opened the back door of the car.
Her father climbed out and stood next to the car. He looked at Mollie. She looked at him. Then she saluted him, even though technically they were inside. He returned her salute.
“Welcome home, Mollie,” he said.
“Sir,” she said.
“I read the report about Degama.”
Mollie said nothing.
“Bravo Zulu, sailor,” he said.
Mollie smiled. “Thank you, sir. That’s the first compliment you’ve ever given me.”
“Not the first you’ve earned.”
She smiled again, then said, “I have a gift for you.”
“The first you’ve ever given me?”
She pulled out the bag of diamonds and opened it, pouring diamonds into the admiral’s hand.
“Evidence for Degama’s prosecution,” she said.
The admiral studied the diamonds. “He was willing to risk the lives of all his crew for these … rocks.”
“He definitely had issues,” she said.
The admiral stared at her. Then he shook his head, put the diamonds back in the bag, and put the bag in his pants pocket.
“Other than the problem with Captain Degama – how was your first cruise?”
“It was a good voyage,” she said. “I learned a lot – even some things about you.”
“Enough to finally forgive me?”
“Enough to open negotiations.”
The admiral nodded. “Can I give you a lift?”
Mollie shook her head. “I wouldn’t want to drive up to the BOQ with the Chief of Naval Operations. It would ruin my reputation.”
He smiled. “Then how about dinner sometime this week?”
“That would be nice … Dad.”
The admiral stared at her; she thought there might be tears in his eyes.
She saluted him and he returned her salute. Then she walked out of the building.
**
BOQ
October 22
1000 hours
Dressed in a sweatshirt and sweatpants, Mollie stood surrounded by the boxes from her storage space. The rags she’d used for dusting the boxes lay on the floor.
First she put the presentation gun back in its wooden box.
Then she picked up the rice paper box. She hesitated, then removed the lid and lifted out the Japanese doll. She held it for a few moments before placing the doll on her bookshelf.
There was a knock on the doorframe of the door that stood open to the hall. Lt. Commander Richard Stewart in sweatsuit and sneakers leaned into the room.
“Nice doll,” he said.
She smiled at the doll’s straight black hair and kimono. “Yes, it is.”
“Someone special give it to you?”
She hesitated for only a second. “My father. He sent it from Japan when I was eight – when my mother died.”
She took a deep breath – she was not going to show emotion in front of him!
“It’s okay to let go a little,” he said. “Isn’t that what t’ai chi teaches?”
Mollie laughed. “Care to go for a run, Commander?”
“It’s a little cold.”
“You’ll warm up as we run,” she said.
“Then let’s start slowly – I’m still stiff.”
“Too much welcome home drinking last night?”
He smiled. “I made you an offer.”
Mollie smiled back. “Let’s move out.”
“Aye, aye, ma’am!”
As they trotted out of the BOQ he asked, “What do you think will be your next assignment?”
“I’d like to help bring down the pirates in Somalia,” she said.
“Any chance that’s going to happen?”
“Who knows?”
They increased their speed.
“My offer is still open,” he yelled over to her.
Mollie laughed. “Maybe I’ll take you up on it,” she yelled back.
.