Chapter 22

"I like the sound of that, I would be glad to see where this can go with you. Were you aware of the name for the variety of violets that I received were?" Miranda asked.

"No I wasn't aware that there were different varieties, I just figured that they were all one kind in different colors. I'm afraid that I don't know much about African Violets."

"That particular variety is called 'Looker'…"

AJ's bark of laughter stopped what she was going to say next and he admitted, "He sure got it right then! I told the florist that they were for a gorgeous lady and he must have taken it from there."

"You think I'm pretty?" she asked amazed to find that just the idea made her blush.

"No, I think you're an amazingly beautiful woman, but even more than that, you're smart and loving. Plus you hold down an exacting career on top of all that!"

"That is the sweetest compliment I have gotten in a very long time, AJ Chegwidden. I'll bet you were a star litigator in your day with that silver tongue of yours."

"I held my own, but I didn't tell you anything that wasn't completely true."

"Thank you AJ, it's nice to know that at my age I can still inspire complements of any kind."

"Oh, yes, at the grand old age of what…38?…39?…"

"Sadly I reached the big four O last summer. In August I'll be forty-one…ancient!" she laughed.

"I guess that means I'm in my dotage then!" he sighed, wondering if she had any idea how old he was.

"Ah but it's different for men. Women just get older, while men become distinguished. Both you and Tom are better looking now than you were in your SEAL days."

"That's ridiculous! We were in our prime then, and we're all but put out to pasture these days!"

"AJ Chegwidden! That's a lie and we both know it! You're still in excellent physical condition and I dare anyone to say otherwise. I know that you took part in the big Jagathon race they had a few years ago and I bet you would have won it if you hadn't gotten that phone call taking you away from it."

"How did you hear about that?"

"Oh it was the talk of all the Officer's Clubs at the time. Everyone was so surprised that 'lawyers' would do something so strenuous."

"No, I meant how did you know about the phone call?"

"Like I said, everyone talks," she closed her eyes as she once again pictured him all manly and sweaty as he talked on the phone. "Someone had to chase you down in one of those little golf cart things."

"Yes," he chuckled, "That was Ensign Sims. We really miss her around the office."

"Did something happen to her?"

"Yes, twins happened to her and she already had two children at home, so she decided her place was at home raising all of them."

"Trading one taxing career for another. Motherhood doesn't pay as well as Uncle Sam, but I'm sure she'll find it as rewarding if not more so."

"She does. Her husband is Lieutenant Commander Bud Roberts, I'm sure you've had him in your courtroom a few times, he keeps us all up to date on Harriett and the 'fearsome foursome' as he calls them!"

"AJ, I know that we got off the subject, but I just want to make sure that you aren't still worried about how I feel about your age. I know that you and Tom are close in age and I have dated him on and off for some time now, so I hope that will reassure you."

"Our birthdays are a week apart in June, but we were born in different years," he told her.

"So he is either fifty one weeks younger than you or fifty three weeks older," she quickly calculated.

"How do you know that we aren't separated by more than one year?"

"Because, as I said, I have known Tom for some time and he talks about you often. You are either fifty eight or sixty, because he's fifty nine."

"I'm afraid that I hit the big six O. Does it bother you to think that I am old enough to be your…"

To Be Continued….