The Admiral's Daughter

Chapter 2: Old and New Friends

After a short car ride to the ice cream parlor with Rooster, Magnolia felt that this man would be the absolute death of her. She learned that he had an affinity for playing the piano and flying planes. Hearing him talk about his work impressed Magnolia with his passion, and she realized he wasn't just an airheaded, arrogant pilot like some of the men she had previously encountered. 

They were the next up in line and Rooster pulled his wallet out ready to pay, wow, old-fashioned gentlemen she thought and smiled as she motioned for him to put his wallet away. 

"Please let me," she said pulling out her own wallet and Rooster shook his head. 

"I insist," he said with a very charming smile and Magnolia nodded smiling back as they reached the counter. 

"Hi, can I get a vanilla-chocolate crunch cone and-" he stopped looking at Magnolia for what she wanted. 

"The same" she responded with a smile and Rooster grinned as the lady at the window said she'd bring them out to the both of them as they walked toward a picnic table and sat down. Rooster's hair was golden in the sunlight, his sunkissed muscles slightly flexed as he sat down in front of Magnolia, his shades on to keep the sun out of his eyes. 

"So what made you want to go FBI?" he asked propping his face up on his elbow. 

"Well, mostly my parents. My mom was a Texas Ranger and my dad, as you know is an Admiral. I looked up to them, and liked the idea of putting the bad guys away and making the world a better place" she explained and Bradley sat across from her listening intently as if he was hanging on every word.

"I really admire that, you and your dad seem to have a great relationship" 

"Thank you, we do, he's one of my favorite people, and after my mom passed a bit ago, he wanted to come back to Top Gun, so I came with, I didn't want him to be alone out here" she said as the waitress came with their ice cream. 

"I understand what you mean, after I lost my dad when I was young, I was attached to my mom at the hip.

Magnolia nodded, "my dad told me the story about your father, he sounded like a great man" 

"He was one of the best, he's the reason I decided to become a pilot in the first place," Bradley added, Magnolia sensed he was a very sincere man and the way he talked about his parents showed he cared for them as much as Magnolia cared for hers.

"So you're a Lieutenant now, is that where you want to stay or would you want to move up to Admiral someday?" Magnolia asked as Bradley got a little ice cream in his mustache causing her to smile.

Bradley furrowed his brows like he was trying really hard to think of an answer, like a little kid trying to figure out a math problem. 

"Honestly, I'm not sure. Maybe an admiral someday, but I do really like working at Top Gun and I don't want to get restationed. Mav says I should try to keep climbing the ranks but then I remind him he's been captain since the first time he was employed at Top Gun" 

Magnolia could hardly take him seriously with the ice cream in his mustache and she slipped a napkin out of the holder as he looked at her quizzically. 

"You've got somethin'," she said, her southern drawl peeking out as she wiped the ice cream from the top of his lip. His face went red as can be at Magnolia's gentle touch. 

"Thanks" he chuckled before continuing. "So in all honesty, how are you liking Miramar?" he asked and Magnolia's face slightly fell. 

She hesitated a moment before answering. "Well, it's a lot different than back home, I think I need a little more time to get used to this place, the ocean makes things feel pretty homey. In all honesty, I'm just glad I know someone my own age now. I love my dad, but I could use someone my age" Magnolia laughed as she took a bite out of the waffle cone.