Chapter 20

"That will be fine, just lead the way Lieutenant," she picked up her coffee and followed the strange little man. Then she noticed he had a limp.

"Here you go, Commander. If there's anything you need, just let someone know. The Admiral hasn't been himself lately," explained Bud. "He's been worried about your sister."

"Thank you, at least he was worried about someone's feeling," replied Krystal. "You may go now."

Shutting and locking the door and pulling the blinds she sat down at her desk. All she wanted to do was cry. She had never been so humiliated in her life. And she had admitted to being a virgin to a roomful of strangers. Now to have found Krista after all these years and the Admiral wouldn't let her go with him to her. Tom, she needed to hear his voice. Wiping the tears from her face she dialed his cell phone.

"Boone here," Tom said as he read through the file on his desk.

"Tom, darling, I'm putting in for a transfer. I hate it here. And I hate Admiral Chegwidden!" she spat out. "He is a tyrant and I may have the man brought up on charges."

"Sweetheart! Are we talking about AJ Chegwidden? He is the most honorable man I know...what the hell happened today?"

"The man grabbed me, and tried to drag me into his office, while announcing to all his staff that I shouldn't have aborted his child," sniffed Krystal. "It was good in a way since he meant Krista. But he humiliated me in front of the whole staff. Then in the office, it wasn't much better. If the man had only taken time to read my transfer he would've known he had the wrong sister."

"I'm sorry that happened, darling. I'm sure AJ had no idea that there was a mix up like that. Did you say your sister aborted his child? I had no idea he was seeing anyone after his engagement was broken off!"

"Tom, the man didn't know her last name let alone where she lived until that Lieutenant with the limp checked it out on his computer a few minutes ago. Why, didn't I think of using a computer?" she berated herself. "I've been grabbed and screamed at for aborting his baby. I would never do that. He didn't know anything about Krista, except for her first name. Fine upstanding Admiral you got for a friend, Tom."

"Darling, I am sure that you wouldn't! I believe what you are saying, but I find it hard to equate that to the man that I know! Something is very wrong here. Do you want me to try and talk to him for you?"

"No, he's gone to talk to Krista, and he wouldn't let me go. He didn't even know her address until a few minutes ago, while I've been looking for her for years and he wouldn't let me go," she sobbed. "I don't think I'll ever be able to work here. I'll have to find another opening and put in a transfer. I'm sorry, Tom. I'm so sorry."

"Krystal, please calm down, darling. Can we meet for lunch? Let me see what I can find out before you go and transfer. AJ really is a wonderful man. I'm sure that you just got off on the wrong foot with him but give him a chance...for me?"

"Only if he apologizes in public will I even consider staying," she said wiping her tears. "Think how you would feel Tom, coming into a new place and having all those things said about you. No one will look me in the eye and they're all talking about me."

"I'm sure he will, Krystal, he's a fair man and willing to admit when he is wrong. Darling, please don't cry. I wish I could be there to hold you! Please say that you will meet me for lunch? Let me comfort you..."

"I don't have a car and I'm not even sure that Lieutenant Roberts will even let me leave. It appears that I'm being watched," she announced. "If it weren't for being with you again, I'd be better off back at Pearl."

"Darling, you out rank Roberts and I can come and pick you up. Tell you what, I'll come into the office and if he has any problems with you leaving he can tell me about it!" Tom offered.

"I'm be waiting. Please hurry. Just promise me you won't announce to the whole staff that I'm carrying your child," she pleaded nervously.

To be continued…