Chapter 20
When the two ladies had left the house AJ took a quick shower and changed into a suit then drove to the local florist shop to purchase two bouquets. He asked for a dozen cream colored roses for Jessy's boutuet and for Danika's he chose a half a dozen yellow roses. Then he was on his way to his old stomping grounds to get married.
Last night while he had been on the phone with Bud he'd asked him if he could stay just a little late at work. AJ hadn't told him why and Bud didn't even ask, he just agreed to do it. AJ said he would explain when he arrived Bud was confused as to why the Admiral was returning to a place he no longer worked but figured he could wasn't one day to find out the answer.
Arriving at JAG Headquarters AJ went up to the second floor even though he had told Jessy and Danika to meet him on the third. Finding Bud in his office AJ greeted the younger man and asked Bud to go with him upstairs. They took the stairs and got there just as the door of the elevator opened and out came Jessy and Danika in their new dresses, AJ smiled and handed them their flowers. Both ladies were very happy with the gift.
AJ intorduced Bud to his fiancee' Jessy Roth and then to the girl they wanted to adopt Danika Elkins. Bud shook both their hands and told them he was honored to meet them. The four of them then went into Judge Morris' chamber where AJ again intorduced Jessy and Danika.
It took only a few minutes for Judge Morris to perform the ceremony. He congradulated the happy couple. They invited Bud to go to dinner with them when they got out to the hall. Bud unfortunately had to say no. Harriett was expecting him home for dinner. And AJ teased that he couldn't wait to get home and tell her what had just happened. Bud blushed and said that AJ was right. He then asked if they wanted him not to tell.
Jessy tried hard not to giggle at the desperately pleading look on Bud's face while AJ patted him on the shoulder and told Bud he could tell Harriett bent to please refrain from telling the rest of the staff. He promised that he would do that and make sure that harriett did also.
When AJ asked where his new wife and Danika wanted to go for dinner with Danika was first to answer with, "Pizza! Real pizza not the stuff they serve at school!"
"Is that okay with you Jessy?"
Danika suddenly realized that she might have been too quick to jump in when it was to be their wedding dinner, "I'm sorry! I should have let mom pick!"
With a grin Jessy told her, "Pizza is fine darling."
"But it is your guys' wedding dinner! You guys should choose! I mean we can do pizza anytime right?"
"Well if you about sure about that Danika we could go somewhere fancier tonight and do pizza Friday or Saturday."
"What about tomorrow?" the girl wanted to know.
"Tomorrow we are having dinner with the Roberts'," AJ answered.
"Oh okay."
"How about the three of us go to the Willard tonight? After all we are all dressed up."
"That sounds wonderful," Jessy said.
"Yeah that would be cool!" Danika added.
Dinner was wonderful and even Danika had to admit that it was almost as good as pizza. Both adults laughed.
They went by Jessy's place when they left the Willard. She and Danika packed a bag, for Danika it was all she had but Jessy just packed enough for a few days. They plan was to move the rest of her things to AJ's over the weekend.
Danika hurried into the house when they pulled up. AJ had shown her around whtn they had been there the other night for dinner. She threw her bag into the guest room then ran over to the laundry room. She had just let Dammit out when she saw AJ carry Jessy into the house. Dammit woofed and ran over to them trying to wrap herself around AJ's legs.
To be continued…..