Love, Which Way does Come


At her small apartment in Oxon Hill, Captain Sheri James gazed at her reflection in the antique full length mirror. Her long blonde hair was tied in a high pony tail. The ends of the pony tail were tucked under and pinned in place. She was pleased with the way that the formal had fit her 5 foot 11 inch frame It had been a long time since she wore this specific uniform. The long formal uniform was like any other Air Force uniform except that it had an ankle length skirt with a slit just up to the knee on the left side and a white cummerbund that was worn around the waist. Sheri continued to prepare for a formal dinner and reception at the Senator Thorn's home. A dinner, with a reception that she wasn't anxious to attend. The date that she didn't want would pick her up at 1900.

**********

Earlier the day before, her supervisor, Col. Cole Johnson, MD called Sheri into his office.
"Capt. James, reporting as ordered, sir." Sheri gave the Col. the proper salute.
"At ease, Capt. I have a favor to ask you." the middle-aged MD said with a smile.
"Yes sir."
"Capt. it seems that Senator Thorn is hosting a Washington weenie formal dinner and reception tomorrow night. I forgot about my wife having some opera tickets for tomorrow night and I need someone to represent the medical group"
"Sir, with all due respect, am I the right person to ask to be the group's representative?"
"Capt. Major Craig will be escorting you. Just mingle with the Washington brass and you will do fine. Dismissed.
"Yes, sir. Understood, sir." Sheri said as she saluted the Col. and left his office.
Sheri knew why the Col. had selected her to attend this formal dinner. She wished that her friends at work wouldn't pry into her personal life, especially her love life.

**********
A knock at the door yanked Sheri back to the present. As she finished donning her medical insignia on the collar of the formal uniform she glanced out of the window at Major Craig standing at her door. The Major was a nice enough guy, he just wasn't Sheri's idea of the kind of man she wanted in her life. At least, not permanently.
She went down to answer the door.
"Hello, Capt. You look very lovely tonight." the Major said as he opened a box and slid a flower corsage onto Sheri's wrist.
"Thank you, Major. Shell we get under way?"
The Major helped Sheri into the official Air Force car. Sheri thought to herself sarcastically, now this is style. The drive to the Senator's house was a quiet one. The car twisted and turned down many DC roads until it came to a stop at the Senator's house near Capitol Hill.

**********



The house was a huge Victorian style house with its' massive ceilings and large rooms. To the right of the entrance was a massive stair case with a golden banister.
"May I take your wraps?" a middle-aged gentleman asked Major Craig and Sheri. "Please feel free to roam around and mingle with the other guests. Dinner will be served presently."
Major Craig began to mix and mingle immediately with just about everyone present. Sheri went in the other direction looking for a glass of punch to provide the means for her to at least give the appearance that she was having a good time. At that point he caught her attention. A tall, slender man roughly 6 foot 4 inches tall, dark hair and the most beautiful gray-green eyes that Sheri had ever seen. He was a Navy commander. A naval aviator by the looks of the gold wings that he wore on his uniform above his ribbons. Sheri was disappointed when she saw a female Marine Lt Col. walks over to her new find.
"She must be his date." Sheri said without realizing that she spoke out loud.
The female Marine was dressed in a Marine formal uniform. She was of average size and build, with short black hair and brown eyes.

**********

Major Craig appeared once again by Sheri's side. She didn't hear his approach. She was mesmerized by the Naval officer.
"What do you see in that squid?" the major asked.
"A squid?" Sheri was shocked at the term.
"Yeah, you know a person in the navy, just like a Marine is a jarhead or a leatherneck."
Sheri was suddenly seeing a side of the major that she didn't like at all.
"May I have your attention please? Dinner will now be served in the main dining area.Please wait to be called." said the same gentleman who took the major's and Sheri's coats at the door.
As all of the guests lined up for dinner, Sheri was still appalled by the majors comment.
The same gentleman who announced diner began to call off names as the guests were seated for dinner.
"Lt. Col Sarah MacKenzie and Cmdr. Harmon Rabb representing the navy judge advocate general."
A lawyer and an avaitor. How wonderful. Sheri thought to herself.
Then it was their turn. "Major Tomas Craig and Capt. Sheri James representing the 244th medical wing at Andrews Air Force base."
Sheri and the major were seated. Dinner began.