Chapter 25

Knocking on Liiani's door, Mac was surprised when Admiral Chegwidden answered the door. He was wearing a T-shirt, faded jeans, and nothing on his feet. She had never seen him quite that casual before. He invited her in and asked what she wanted to drink as he headed back to the kitchen.

Liiani was there pulling something that smelled fantastic out of the oven when AJ and Mac entered the room. She greeted Mac and asked her to set the table while she instructed AJ to get the salad and dressings out of the fridge and take them to the table too.

"What else can I do to help Admiral?" Mac asked when she was done setting the table.

"Oh no you don't! You can clearly see that I am not in uniform, and in just a few weeks you will be my sister-in-law, Mac. So anytime we are out of the office you can call me AJ."

"I will try and remember that, AJ," she said with a smile.

Just then Liiani came into the dining room with the chicken and noodle casserole. "That smells amazing!" Mac told her as she filled the plates with the food.

They ate quickly and then the ladies said good-bye to AJ to go shopping.

Mac found her dress quickly, it was only the second one she tried on, but she knew it was perfect the moment she put it on. The ivory dress was backless with short sleeves and a scoop neckline in front. It was form fitting to her hips and then flared out in a tulip skirt. Mac decided on a short veil that only went down to her mid back in the same ivory as her dress.

Liiani had just about given up hope that she would find a veil that night. They were in the second store and had been looking there for almost an hour and it was just about time for the store to close, Liiani was really disappointed that she wasn't finding that was just right. Finally she decided that she didn't want a veil after all, instead she was going to have her hair braided with fresh flowers.

Mac left her dress at the shop because she would need to find the shoes she was going to wear and then have the alterations to the hemline of her dress.

She went back to Liiani's place, she had left her car there and they had taken Liiani's to go shopping. She couldn't turn down her future sister-in-law when she invited Mac in for desert, especially when she was told it was chocolate.

They walked in to find AJ reclining on the couch with a beer in hand watching John Wayne in Hellfighters. He got up when they came in, kissed Akaliiani and smiled at Mac, asking how their shopping went.

As the three of them headed into the kitchen, both women reported that Mac had found the perfect dress. Liiani served up the brownies as AJ added a scoop of Mississippi Mud ice cream on top.

In the living room they told AJ about Mac's dress and how Liiani had decided not to have a veil but both were happy with their choices. Mac finally said good night and headed home to give Trevor a call.

"I was hoping to hear your sexy voice tonight, Sarah," Trevor told her when she got through to him.

"I had a very productive evening with your sister. We went shopping and I found my dress tonight!"

"That's great news! Did you find things you could help out with?"

"Yes, I'm going to hire a caterer for a dinner after the ceremony and a band for dancing. We are also having a cake tasting on Saturday, both Liiani and I are wanting chocolate."

"Sounds good to me, I like chocolate too. I should be there Friday night. Can you pick me up at the airport, or should I get a rental car?"

"Of course I can pick you up! But I thought you weren't going to be here until the next weekend."

"Ummm when there is cake tasting this weekend?" he laughed.

Mac sighed, "I guess that means less for the rest of us," she teased.

"You have such a tough life!"

"I know!" she replied, and they both laughed.

"What do you think about keeping the fact that we are getting married with AJ and your sister?"

"AJ? You're calling the Admiral, AJ now?"

"Yeah, he told me too as long as we weren't in the office, but what do you think of my idea?"

"I'm fine with it. I think it will be a fine surprise for everyone."

"Good, I'll tell Liiani and AJ that we want to keep our involvement a secret."

To be continued…..