She didn't expect to get the news like she did. In fact, she didn't expect to hear the news at all. She didn't even know much about him or who he really was. All she knew was that his name was Ben Randall, and the love of his life was the United States Coast Guard Academy. She knew he was a Senior Chief, and she assumed it was a pretty high ranking.
Her mother never let them see each other. Her mother and Ben Randall were college loves. Then one day he went into the Coast Guard, and their relationship ended due to the distance. He had married a new woman by the name of Helen Rad.
Her mother always had her under the impression that he was a womanizer, and was manipulative.
But once she got wind of her father's day on the morning news while she jogged past the video store, she ran home and questioned her mother. Her mother had lied to her in so many ways. Ben was a kind and gentle soul, and her mother confessed that it was her that broke his heart by having an affair, and chased him away.
Then he had joined the coast guard. Her mother told her that the only reason she would never let her see him was for fear of her never wanting to come back. Her mother had every right to fear this.
As she sat in the backseat of the Taxi, listening to the driver mutter something about how they play 'too much damn beyonce' on the radio, she saw the United States Coast Guard base come into view.
She had decided to join the Coast Guard, mostly to learn more about her father. She had discovered he had last spend the most of his time here, teaching at 'A' school. Apparently, he was one hell of a tough teacher.
She smiled at this. Maybe that was where she got her stubbornness from.
Joining the Coast Guard didn't matter to her anyway. She was a 27-year old Communicatios Major. She hadn't really landed the perfect job anyway.
When she decided to go into the Coast Guard, she wanted to change who she was. She couldn't change her name, no…but she never really was the perfect role model daughter. She usually hung out with her friends and often kicked back a few drinks. She had also looked like her mother. An odd combination of a tan complexion, red hair, and brown eyes.
Since her mother's recent deception, she wanted to change herself. She dyed her hair blonde, the color her mother had despised the most.
As she stepped out of the taxi, she looked around. After tipping the driver, she walked inside the large building infront of her.
She spotted two men standing near an information desk. One of the men had dark brown hair, brown eyes, and a slight tan. He was standing next to a man with blonde hair and gray eyes.
They turned to look at her as they heard her approach, and they showed her a small smile.
"Hello, Jake Fischer. This is Billy Hodge. Anything we can help you with today?" Jake asked.
She adjusted her bag on her shoulder, uncomfortably.
"I'm here to enroll, actually…" she stated.
"Oh! Well, we can take you to the Captain's Office. Captain Larson…." Jake said, motioning for her to follow him.
"Yes…I believe that's who I was told to see. Apparently he's….well he was a friend of my fathers," she replied.
"Yea, he's a pretty friendly guy. He's the one who gave us our diploma's…" Jake said, turning to face her. She smiled slightly. "What's your name, anyway?" Jake inquired.
She looked at him. "July," she said.
"Oh…that's an…interesting name…" Billy commented. Jake shot Billy a look, and Billy turned away.
"Most people call me Jul. At least that sounds normal, you know? My mom had this really weird obsession with the month…" July replied.
"Oh, that's cool…" Jake stated. He knocked on the Captain's door, waited for the 'come in', before pushing it open. He motioned for her to walk in first, and he and Hodge followed.
Jake and Hodge saluted the Captain, who was sitting behind his desk. July noticed he had a fatherly look on his face. Soft blue eyes and gray-like hair.
He nodded for them to be at ease, and they did so.
"Hello, young lady. How may I be of assistance?" Captain Larson asked, with a friendly smile.
"Yes sir, I'm here to enlist…" July replied.
Captain Larson stood up, and extended his hand to her. "Welcome to the Coast Guard Academy. It's great to have you Miss…" he paused, unsure of her name.
"Um…July, sir. July Randall…." July replied.
The Captain's face changed slightly. It was a look of pure bone-chilling shock. She heard either Jake or Hodge let out a small squeak behind her, but she didn't turn around to see who it was.
Captain Larson continued to hold her hand, as he stared at her.
"Randall? As in…relation to…Ben Randall?" he asked, shaking slightly.
"I'm his daughter," July stated.
"I…I didn't even know he had a daughter," Captain Larson said, with a nervous smile.
"He didn't either. For twenty seven years…I was kept from him by my mother…" July responded.
Captain Larson finally let go of her hand, and turned to look at Jake and Hodge. They too both had equally surprised looks on their faces. July got the gist that this was going to be the reaction of just about everyone for about a week or so.
"Fisher…Hodge…I want you to round up all the officers. Especially Chief Skinner… I think we have someone they would really like to meet…" Captain Larson said, his eyes not leaving July's.
July smiled nervously, wondering if her decision was a mistake.