She began to stir.
He hoped he hadn’t awakened her. Seeing her smile up at him made him happy in ways he had never felt before.
“I can’t believe I did that with you last night, but glad I did,” she said.
“Which part? The lecture you gave the President of the United States about how to basically use all the military forces at his disposal, or the part where you invited me up here for a ‘drink’ that turned out to be one of the best nights of my life,” he said.
She blushed slightly, “One of the best?” she teased him.
“Ok top two. The night I met you might stand slightly higher on the list,” he corrected.
“Nice recovery, soldier boy. Either you know exactly what to say, or have told that to so many women it’s just second nature,” she winked at him.
It was his turn to be embarrassed, “On my life, I swear I have never said anything like that before. I even thought it would be so corny that you would just laugh at me.”
“Oh don’t worry, it was corny. But after last night I guess I just have to trust ya, after all you did tell me it will be a good location for dinner and you were not wrong. As far as surprises go, I must say that one was pretty damn good,” she said.
“Ok, well trust me on this then, I am starving and I really want to hit the breakfast buffet this place has on the second floor. Then we can figure out what to do with our day,” he said.
“Oh,” she seemed genuinely surprised. “I hadn’t really thought about today with all the rush to get here. I guess I just assumed you would have to work. I didn’t plan anything but are you sure you can spend the day with me?” she asked.
“Well, I do have to report in, which I can do by telephone, but as we were leaving last night The Chairman of The Joint Chiefs of Staff told me, and my Commander, that he wanted me to spend today being your official tour guide anywhere in town you want to go. So, I think he is high ranking enough that all of my other official duties can wait,” he smiled.
“Alright, breakfast it is, but I need a shower first,” she said.
After both of them grabbed a quick shower they went down to the Hyatt’s second floor restaurant. They found a very predictable, yet satisfying hotel breakfast buffet. That was fine with him. It was her company he cared about.
“While you were in the shower I called in, and I am all officially yours for the day. I am on call, but that is always true. So assuming no emergencies today, I am free,” he smiled.
“I guess I just thought that with us being at war, I sort of assumed you would never really have much time off,” she said.
“Well we aren’t in the middle of active conflict with ground forces yet. Everything so far is essentially an air campaign, although our conventional ground forces are getting ready to move. But I am Special Forces, this conflict is large unit stuff, not my kind of warfare. At least at the moment. It may turn into my type of job, but right now it isn’t. Even if we were involved in something that Spec Ops was actively working I am in the DC area so I have some time off. Today is one of those days,” he said.
“I am glad you want to spend it with me,” she said.
“I want to tell you some things. I don’t want our lives to be awkward with things left unsaid, so I am just going to put them out there,” he said while finishing his second helping of pancakes. He wasn’t entirely sure where he was going with this conversation yet.
“I have never had dinner there before, and probably never will again. It is back to my normal job which, I assure you, is far less glamorous. I am also very glad I got to take you. However, unless I get invited to have dinner with the Queen of England, no second date will ever come close to last night. For that I am sorry,” he said.
“I was just teasing you about that,” she said while sipping coffee.
“Oh, I know that,” he winked. “It is just nice to hear you admit it. On top of that, I woke up with you in my arms and it just felt right. I know it seems juvenile to say, but it was like you belonged there. Just like all of our late night conversations, it just all feels right. I have never felt anything like this.”
She was looking at him wordlessly, affectionately, “I can think of nothing in this world that would make me happier than waking up next to you every day for the rest of my life,” he said.
She was now sitting up much straighter and holding his hand across the table, “Frank, what are you saying?”
“What I am saying is that I think the President had a pretty good idea. You are everything I have ever wanted in a woman. I know I love you, which I have never said to anyone this quickly, and I would be eternally happy if you would agree to marry me,” he proposed wishing he was down on one knee, as corny as that felt.
She leaned over and kissed him, “I agree on all counts, but want to add that we are both nuts. If you agree to that, then I say yes. But, I mean engaged to be married, after one date?”
“Well yes but what a date it was! I don’t mean get married today, I mean like after we figure a few things out we get married. For starters, I don’t live in Dallas and they won’t move Fort Bragg to North Texas. But the time for that is tomorrow, or next week, but I am in, and I want to be in with you. Besides I told you it would have to be one and done for us.”
“Ok now really no one will believe me about this trip,” she said with a smile.
“First off don’t mention who our host was and you are fine. Just mention the Chairman, everyone knows him and it is probably much more believable, and is certainly a great deal safer. Second, I think top of our list today is an engagement ring for you, and then maybe people will believe you,” he said. He knew it was impulsive but didn’t want to waste time.
“You really are serious. Thank God! If you said this was to stay our secret for the moment I wouldn’t know what to do. I think I’ll call my sister right now,” she laughed, but made no move for her phone.
“Have American Express will shop! Let’s go to Georgetown. I know they have a few things over there, lots of good shopping, some jewelry stores, and a University of some renown,” he said, hoping that decent jewelry stores would be in the mix, he had never thought about those kinds of places.
AP NEWS FLASH: Protests are popping up in several cities. The protestors say that President Press should stop the illegal war and that he has no legal claim to the office of President. They say he should resign immediately and allow the former President to retake his office, although Constitutional Scholars all agree that there is no mechanism in the law for this to happen. To make things worse for the ex-President the largest such protest reportedly had a mere 100 people in attendance. Their group appears to be the very vocal minority in America. Public support for the protests is currently at 7 %. The President’s job approval rose slightly today to 57 %. When he took office just a short time ago he was polling at 35 %. In additional polling data 60 % of Americans now feel that the use of nuclear weapons would be justified. The President still maintains that these weapons are to be used as a last resort and there is currently no discussion of their use in the conflict. Many military experts agree if he were to use them he would not inform the press first. As a result speculation as to his real intention is running wild.
AP ECONOMIC NEWS FLASH: Retailers are due to report sales results in the coming week. Nationwide sales are predicted to be down dramatically since the attack. This report will be somewhat less revealing than the next report will be as the attacks happened in the time since the previous report. This report had some period of time prior to the nuclear strike included. Consumer confidence is at a five year low and these retail numbers are not expected to raise the confidence level in any way. The economy appears to be in for an extended period of difficulty.