Engaged two weeks …
Hank wasn't one to be nervous about anything, but meeting his future father-in-law … He supposed there was a first time for everything. He actually had butterflies in his stomach. He was approaching 50, and he was slightly on edge about the pending introduction.
He never felt that when he met Camille's folks. In fact, he had respectfully approached Les and Marie Janu for Camille's hand in marriage. Her parents were honest, hardworking Christian people who had raised Camille and her brothers in the midwestern neighborhood they still lived in.
Meeting Patrick and Catherine McDermott after he was already sleeping with their daughter and now planning to marry her in another month … well, he hoped the retired military commander wouldn't kill him where he stood.
Cali gave a side glance at Hank, who was gritting his jaw and fiddling with his seatbelt as the plane started to taxi.
"You okay there, Sarge?" she joked, laying her hand on his thigh.
Hank gave her a half-smile and grasped her hand. Cali sombered and studied him for a second.
"Nervous about the long flight or nervous about meeting the parents?" she asked.
"Maybe both," he said, working his jaw and biting his lip.
Cali bit the inside of her cheek so as not to smile and squeezed his hand.
"Aloha!" Catherine McDermott greeted them as they exited the terminal into the Hawaiian sunshine. Hank noted Cali was a younger version of Catherine as they neared her.
He accepted his lei and ensuing hug before Catherine lovingly placed a lei around her daughter and embraced her with ferocity.
"It's been too long!" she commented, releasing Cali and turning to Hank.
"Thanks to you, she finally decided to have pity and visit her aging parents," she sarcastically said, ignoring Cali's eye roll and snort.
"Mom, I was just here for Christmas, remember?" She looped her arm around her mother's waist. "Besides, it's not my fault you and Dad decided to escape the mainland for keeps. This wasn't supposed to become a permanent change in station," she kidded.
"Who can resist this?" Catherine replied, sweeping her arm in the air. "Your father asked me which base was my favorite, and the rest is history."
She looked over her shoulder at Hank with a smile that reminded him of Cali once again.
"What about you, Hank? Have you ever been to Pearl Harbor?"
"No, ma'am," he replied. "This is my first time to Hawaii."
"Well, then! Once we expose you to the aloha spirit, you'll never want to leave," Catherine said, winking at Cali, who just shook her head and sighed.
"Hi Papa Bear," Cali said as she hugged her father upon entering their house. A tall burly man, Patrick nearly engulfed her in a bear hug, hence Hank could see where her nickname for him originated.
When he finally released her, Cali stepped back and laid a hand on Hank's forearm.
"Dad, this is Hank," she introduced.
Patrick stoically studied Hank with an intensity that rivaled Hank's when he interrogated suspects.
"So you plan to make an honest woman of my oldest?" Patrick grilled.
"Yes, sir," Hank said, maintaining eye contact, "With your permission, of course."
Patrick raised an eyebrow and then glanced at Cali.
"And you want to marry him?" he asked. Cali nodded.
"I love him, Dad," she replied, sliding her hand into Hank's and interlocking their fingers.
Patrick returned his focus to Hank once again and was silent for another moment. Hank continued to stand straight under the scrutiny with Cali at his side.
"Permission granted," Patrick conceded with a grin, extending a hand to Hank. Cali internally breathed a sigh of relief as Hank shook her father's hand.
"So tell me about this squadron you lead," Patrick said as the four of them sat on the lanai watching the sun set over Pearl Harbor in the distance.
"The Intelligence Unit investigates and combats the worst of Chicago's offenses, such as organized crime, drug trafficking, and high-profile murders," Hank replied. "I've been its squad commander for about three years. Fifteen years prior to that I served in the gang unit."
"And you've always wanted to be in law enforcement?" Catherine asked.
"Yes, ma'am. My father was a police officer and I wanted to follow his footsteps," Hank said, cradling the bottle of beer in his hands.
"Where is your father now?" Patrick asked, setting his own bottle aside.
"Actually, he died in the line of duty when I was 8," Hank sadly said.
"Sorry to hear that," Patrick responded. "And your mother?"
"She passed not long after I joined the police academy," he answered. Cali leaned into him, offering her silent support. "My late wife's parents took me under their wing, but I lost touch with them after she died."
Catherine reached across the patio table and patted his hand.
"I know we can't replace those you've lost, but we're happy to have you join our little clan," she kindly said.
Hank and Cali remained on the lanai after her parents turned in for the evening, watching as the lights of Oahu lit up around them.
"Still think it's a good idea to marry me?" Hank gruffly inquired from his seat on the lounger. He stared out into the dark as he pondered the night's conversation. Cali climbed into his lap and curled against his chest. He automatically wrapped his arms around her.
"You were interrogated by my dad and survived," Cali said, trying to lighten his mood. "It only gets easier from this point on. I think I will keep you."
They were awakened (thankfully wearing the appropriate sleepwear) by her mother in the wee hours of the morning and encouraged to hurry to the office.
"Catina's on the comlink!" Catherine excitedly said, leaving the bedroom door ajar.
Cali practically leapt from the bed while Hank tried to adjust his eyes in the dim light and carefully eased out of the covers.
Hank followed Cali down the stairs and into Patrick's office off the landing. Patrick, already dressed for the day, sat in his office chair with a cup of coffee in hand, and Catherine sat in a folding chair next to him, both staring and smiling at his computer screen.
Cali's twin sister chatted with them from somewhere overseas, an obvious delay in the video not deterring her parents. Cati refrained from squealing when Cali appeared on her own monitor, instead smiling and doing hand motions like she was dancing in her seat. Cali mirrored her actions, temporarily forgetting her parents and fiance were present.
"Hank there with you?" Cati asked, having heard all about him and saddened her tour would keep her from being stateside for at least another year. They had always dreamed about being each other's maid of honor, maybe even having a double wedding.
Cali yanked Hank into the camera's view, and Cati nodded her approval, adding two thumbs up.
"Nice to meet you, brother," her voice warbled as the connection began to break up.
Hank nodded back at her, giving a thumbs up.
"Love you!" Catherine said before the screen went completely static.