Denise fell back in the dining room chair letting out a loud sigh of relief. "Thank-God that's over," lauded Roxy from the kitchen. Claudia- Joy let out a slight chuckle as she carted a tray of dishes from the dining room to Roxy at the sink. "It was a lot of work Rox, but I think it turned out great. Denise, you got some really great stuff for the baby and that's what is most important." Claudia Joy, Roxy, Pamela, Roland and even Joan had all worked and planned for days to host Denise's baby shower. They all knew how much she missed Frank and how disappointed she was that he would miss the birth of baby Molly. Her friends decided that they would throw her the shower to end all showers with plenty of food, friends, and gifts. The afternoon of the shower arrived quicker than they had anticipated. The day started at a scorching 88 degrees and only got hotter as the sun rose in the sky. The party was to be held in Claudia Joy's garden in the late afternoon. By the time the guest started to arrive, the temperature had risen to a scorching 99 degrees. Lenore arrived fashionably late and instantly began ruining everyone's afternoon. "Claudia – Joy, you certainly know how to throw an outdoor party. How nice of you to pick a day where no one would get too cool. Colonel Burton, I'm surprised to see you here . I assumed you were hospitalized since you didn't deploy with my husband and the other senior command. Pamela, I was so sorry to hear about your divorce. I guess you having other people's babies just got too much for your husband to handle. Denise, it is so wonderful that you are having a baby at your age." The friends all smiled and accepted Lenore's sugary acidic compliments graciously. Everyone that is except Roxy, her hot temper mixed with the hot temperature forced her to comment. "Lenore, so surprised to see you here," in a feigned whisper, "don't worry it's safe; Claudia Joy doesn't keep any hidden microphones out here." All of her friends laughed and Lenore marched off in a huff. "That was not nice Roxy," Claudia Joy said with a laugh. "It may not have been nice, but it sure was funny," remarked Pamela while giving Roxy a high- five.
Lenore annoyed at being upstaged thankfully left early. The shower went on without further incident. The gang and their guests played games, ate food, and oohed and ahhed as Denise opened and displayed all the baby loot. By early evening, all the guests were gone, and the friends found themselves helping Claudia Joy clean and enjoying each other's company. "Look at all of these leftovers! I don't think you have enough space in the fridge for all of this Claudia Joy," sighed Pamela shaking her head. "Hey, I'll take some of those off your hand – thank – you," offered Roland as he relieved Pamela of a tray of finger sandwiches. "Roland, you cannot possibly be hungry again," scolded Joan playfully. "Joan, you know I'm always hungry," replied Roland as he made himself a plate. "Well help yourself to as much as you like," encouraged Claudia Joy "Emmalin won't eat half of this stuff and I can't." Denise, who had been relaxing suddenly became alert. "Claudia Joy don't forget to take your blood sugar. I promised Emmalin that I would look out for you this weekend." "Where is Emmalin Claudia Joy?" asked Roxy. "She went on a college tour with her friend Vicky to VMA." Claudia Joy had settled herself at the breakfast bar. She began preparing her lancet and alcohol swabs to take her blood sugar. Joan spoke up. " I didn't know Emmalin was interested in a military career. VMA is a good school not as good as The Citadel, but still decent." Claudia Joy laughed. "You sound like Michael. I'm not sure Emmalin is sold on the idea of a military career, but she's keeping her options open." "You know what suprises me Claudia Joy?" asked Pamela, "the fact that you would let Emmalin tour any college without you." "Well, I thought about that, and it was hard for me, but I knew we had Denise's shower today. Emmalin and Vicky are only getting this tour because Vicky's grandfather is a distinguished alumni. He and his wife are hosting the girls for the weekend. I figured she'd be safe." Pamela smiled and playfully gushed. "Look at you- letting go. Our little Claudia – Joy is growing up." Denise spoke up from the dining room. "Don't get too cocky Pamela. Katie and Lucas will be there before you know it. You're going to need Claudia –Joy to talk you off the ledge when Katie starts dating and Lucas joins a rock band.
"Denise, I'm a cool and happening mom. I'll be able to take it." Roxy turned and wiped her hands on a dish towel. Adding the detergent and firmly closing the dishwasher door, she walked from the kitchen and joined the group that had congregated at the dining table. "It must have been another Pamela Moran then who called me all panicked when she discovered that her little girl had a 6th grade romance going on." " Correction Rox, there is no romance. Katie is only eleven. She's too young to date," retorted Pamela defensively. "Yeah, you are the cool mom Pamela," giggled Roxy. "Hey, I agree with Pamela," said Roland "that's why Sara- Elizabeth's not dating till she's thirty. " Joan glanced at Roland and rolled her eyes. "Thank- God our daughter has me. If she were left to you, she would die a virgin." "Virginity is highly under – rated in this country. I'm o.k. with our daughter being one for as long as possible," said Roland as he gently kissed Joan on the cheek. "Roland you sound like my daddy," said Denise with a smile. " I think he would have made me wear a chasity belt if he could have found one. When he met Frank, it caused his blood pressure to instantly go up. He took one look at Frank Sherwood and decided he was not suitable for his daughter. It didn't matter to daddy that Frank was Army. All he could see was a wild, hot- headed, arrogant, SOB who was trying to deflower his little girl." "Frank – wild and hot- headed," I can't imagine that said a shocked Roxy.
" In his day, Frank was exciting and a little bit dangerous. I have to admit that was what attracted me to him in the first place. My parents raised me very sheltered. Frank was far from their ideal of what my husband should be. I thought my mother would die the first time he showed up on our doorstep to take me out." "Denise I never knew that," Claudia Joy commented. "I thought your parents loved Frank." "Well, they love him now, but back when we first started dating, I think my daddy tried to get him court martialed. I could never prove daddy was involved, but I had my suspicions." The talk of military justice intrigued Joan who had been pretty much bored to this point. "I can't see Colonel Sherwood getting a court martial. He's so disciplined and a fine distinguished soldier." Denise let out a laugh. "That's the Colonel Sherwood that you know, but I have known Frank since he was a specialist trying to work his way up the ranks. Mostly, he was trying to work his way from under his father's shadow. Frank's father was career soldier. He graduated with honors from West Pointe, and was very disappointed when Frank couldn't get in. Frank was always trying so hard to please his father, but he still liked to party and have a good time on his days off. That partying almost got him discharged from the army." Everyone had assembled around the dining room table. The clean-up had been abandoned. The tale Denise was weaving about a wild- child Frank was too tempting to be ignored.
" Denise, you have to tell us this story," Roxy chided, " I have a good thirty-minutes before that dishwasher stops and I have to put another load in so spill it sister." "I don't know," Denise said hesitating. " Frank may not appreciate me telling it. It all happened before we knew any of you. It was before we got married or had Jeremy. Frank's not very proud of what he did. He may not want me to repeat it." "An ethical dilemma, now you have to tell us," encouraged Claudia Joy, " we all swear that whatever you say will never leave this room." "Promise?", asked Denise. "Hold on a second Denise, said Pamela." She jumped up from the table and began looking under tables, books and lamps in a suspicious manner. " Pamela, what on earth are you doing?" asked Roxy. "Just making sure Lenore didn't plant any bugs or hidden microphones when she was here earlier. This is Claudia – Joy's house you know." The group laughed before settling. All eyes turned towards Denise as she began her story. I first met Frank while I was interning at the post medical center on Fort Jackson in Missouri. It was my father's last post before he retired and my mother liked the area so my parents purchased a home and we settled there. Roxy growing impatient interrupted. "Come on Denise. Skip all that and get to the good stuff – Frank and the court martial." "I'm getting there Roxy, but you have to let me tell the whole story."