THE LAST SHIP

AT THE END OF A PERFECT DAY

Julia was in the living room with her father watching something on TV for a change while Jolene was in the kitchen making something light for lunch. They were both munching on some potato crisps from a bowl on the coffee table while Mike was having a bottle of beer and Julia was sipping on a glass of juice when there came a knock on the front door. "I've got that," Mike said and stood up to answer the door. He was surprised to see Connor Levine standing outside. "Connor?"

"Captain Slattery."

"How did you know where I live?"

"Julia invited me over."

"She did?" Mike gave a slight nod. "Come on inside."

"Thank you sir." He stepped inside and followed Mike to the living room.

Julia looked up at Connor. "You came over?"

"Yeah."

"I'll meet you outside on the patio." Julia left the living room for the patio while Connor remained behind in the living room with Mike.

"I understand Julia isn't enlisted in the navy anymore."

"No, unfortunately not," Mike replied with a pitiful expression on his face. "And she's pregnant anyway, so she won't be able to get enlisted again until after the baby is at least a few months old."

"I'm so sorry sir."

"About what I discussed with you when we arrived back in Norfolk."

"Yes sir?"

"You have my permission to be friends with my daughter."

"Thank you sir."

"But if you hurt her you can expect seven sorts of hell to break loose on you."

"I won't ever hurt her sir. I promise."

Jolene walked up to the living room with their lunch to find Connor there. "Connor, hello. I didn't expect you coming over. I can make you something to eat too."

"I'm alright thank you Miss Mitchell."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm certain thank you."

"You want a beer?" Mike asked Connor with a skewed smirk.

"Sure, but I'm not a big drinker."

"Neither am I. I'm just having one for today while spending some time with my daughter and Jolene."

Mike left for the kitchen and returned minutes later with an ice-cold beer in his hand. "Here you go."

"Thank you sir. If you'll excuse me, I'll join Julia outside on the porch."

"Certainly."

Mike sat down on the sofa with Jolene taking a seat next to him. "He's got really nice manners for today's generation. Most guys his age act like high school brats."

"I guess he was raised in a good home."

"He'll make a good son-in-law too," Jolene replied getting Mike a little worried.

"It's a little early for that." 

**********

A Few Months Later...

Julia was at the doctor's consulting rooms with Connor to give her the much needed support while she was having her sonar taken. Much to her relieve her doctor was a woman, a good-looking brunette in her mid to late twenties. She looked on the screen looking at the sonar of Julia's baby. "Your baby is looking really good and developing well. Would you like to know the gender?"