Epilogue
ANNIE
The humidity in the DC area would be her death.
She thought that, with it being mid-May, she would be safe from it, but no such luck.
Annie felt every drop of the unseasonably warm, sticky weather and the way it clung to her like a second skin the minute she stepped out of her rental car.
She couldn’t help but blame global warming because what do you mean it was this humid in early May?
It was oppressive, and she couldn’t help but count down the hours until she was on a plane making her way back to Michigan and cooler days where oversized sweatshirts were still a must.
But her disdain for the humidity had to wait. Right now? Annie had more pressing matters to attend to.
She adjusted her skirt as she approached the unassuming front door of an address she had scribbled down on the phone two days ago when she had talked to Lynn.
She reached for the brass anchor-shaped knocker, tapped it firmly against the imposing wooden door, then stepped back.
A moment later, the door swung open, revealing a tall man with dark salt-and-pepper-streaked hair, clear blue eyes, and a square jaw standing before her.
Annie beamed. “Admiral Martin, hi. I’m Annie Dillinger—your daughter’s girlfriend. I’d like to apologize that it’s taken us this long to meet.” She smiled, holding out her hand, looking expectantly at Max’s dad.
The expression on the Admiral’s face was one of complete shock, but that didn’t stop him from taking Annie’s hand, shaking it firmly.
“Annie. Hello. Delighted to finally meet you—a little confused as to why we’re meeting now, but delighted nonetheless.
Please, come on in.” He dropped her hand, holding the door open as she breezed through it, setting her Prada sunglasses on top of her head.
She looked around the living room she had stepped into. It was minimal, definitely designed by a man, but still had an air of coziness.
“Can I get you something to drink?” Max’s dad asked her.
She grinned. “Water please, with ice.”
“Not a fan of the heat?” He smirked, leading her further into the small space at the back of the house, where the kitchen was situated along the back wall with windows overlooking the dramatic, sloping hill down to the edge of a river lined by towering trees.
“Not at all.”
“Max told me you were pretty charmed by your first midwest winter. Can’t say Michigan really holds a flame to Nebraska winters, but who’s comparing the two.”
“You, apparently.” Annie arched her brow.
The admiral handed her a glass, motioning to the small dining room table set under a lone pendant light, chartreuse vinyl-wrapped dining chairs calling their names.
“So, to what do I owe the honor of this surprise meeting?” he asked, sipping slowly from his cup.
Annie pressed her lips together, a wave of excited contentment washing over her.
She glanced at the purse she had set on the table when they had taken their seats.
“I was in town for business. I have a few clients in DC that I do some strategic finance work for, and I thought, since I was in the area, it would be nice for the two of us to finally meet.”
Max’s dad peered at her over the thin wire frames of his glasses. “Max didn’t mention anything to me when we talked yesterday.”
“Because she doesn’t know I’m here. And I’d like to keep it that way.”
The admiral chuckled. “So a top-secret mission then.”
“Highly classified, need-to-know. And lucky for you, you made the cut.”
She tapped her fingers nervously against the orange-stained oak table, reaching for her purse, slipping a hand inside, fingers wrapping around a small, square box—the very one she had picked up before leaving town this morning.
Annie retrieved the box, setting it on the table between herself and Max’s father, surprised by the lack of nervousness she had anticipated being there.
“Is that—”
“An engagement ring, yes,” Annie said matter-of-factly, clasping her hands together on top of the table.
“To be clear, this is not me asking for your daughter’s hand in marriage—that is such an antiquated, and frankly problematic tradition.
Consider this more of a conversation of intent.
I plan to ask Max to marry me.” She dropped the words between them, waiting to see what they would ignite, but the admiral only leaned back, eyes assessing her before speaking.
“I’m sure Max has either told you, or strongly alluded to this, but I’m a man of honor and very few words. That being said, Max is her own person. You have my full support. I hope she says yes.”
Annie shifted in her seat, tilting her head to the side, puzzled at the stunningly pragmatic response to such a big reveal. Max had told her that sometimes her father could be emotionally hands-off, but experiencing this polite yet distant wall firsthand made Annie’s heart hurt for her.
She offered the admiral a warm but disarming smile, taking a deep breath, pulling on her courage to deliver the words she needed to say next.
“In that case, I’m sure Max has told you that I’m a woman of many words, so if you’ll indulge me for a few minutes, I think you’ll like what I have to say.”
A small hint of a smile from the admiral told Annie she was safe to continue.
“I come from a big family, sir,” Annie started, fingers tapping the table.
“Growing up, I was told that family is everything—and I still stand by that no matter how challenging families can be sometimes. We’re all just people trying to figure out our place in this world, and having others to lean on makes that so much easier.
My dream has always been to build a family of my own, one that really exemplifies the values I hold.
And Max”—she swallowed the lump of pure emotion and adoration in her throat—“Max is an incredible woman. Her drive, her tenacity, the way she observes, how present she is—she’s unlike anyone I’ve ever known.
In my eyes, she’s perfect. I love your daughter so, so, so deeply in a way I didn’t know was even possible until we met.
As I said, family is important to me, and I wanted to let you know that Max being a part of my family means she will always be safe and always be cared for. ”
Max’s dad listened to her without interruption, nodding slightly as she spoke.
He glanced at the small square box sitting on the table between them.
Calloused thumbs from years of working with his hands twitched as if he wanted to reach for the box, but years of handling top-secret and classified information had given him one hell of a poker face that Annie couldn’t decipher, so she waited.
“My daughter isn’t someone who lets others in easily, but then again, neither was her mother.
” He laughed, low and melodic, a sound that surprised Annie.
“I see so much of my late wife in Max. Their looks, the way she approaches people, her view of the world, her desire to do things for herself is all so very Diane.” He sighed, his laugh fading into a small smile.
“But Max, she’s also like me. She’s hardworking and determined, and when she commits to something, boy, does she really commit to it.
” He glanced out the window, lost in thought, while Annie waited patiently.
“I know we haven’t been able to spend time together since you and Max moved to Michigan.
But I hope that changes. I can tell you are exactly the type of partner my daughter needs, and I’m glad she found someone like you.
While she hasn’t officially said yes or anything, I personally want to say, welcome to the family, Annie. ”
She couldn’t help her broad smile or the way it tugged at the corners of her mouth.
“I’m very excited to be a part of it and also to get to know you better.
We’re a little tight on space right now with the tiny apartment and whatnot, but once we’ve got parts of the house renovated and fixed up, I know it would mean the world to Max to have you come out and see the vineyard.
She’s put so much hard work into the place, and I’d love for you to get to see what she’s accomplished.
Plus, we’ve got some pretty cool birds I bet you haven’t seen yet. ”
Excitement flashed for a moment behind the achingly familiar pale blue eyes. “I’d like that.”
Another silence filled the small dining nook as Annie’s eyes drifted to the window and the river below, the surface of which reflected distorted refractions of sunbeams.
“How long are you in town for?” the admiral asked.
“A few more hours. I flew in last night for a quick trip, probably my first of many with this new client I’m working with.”
“Next time give me a heads up when you’re in town. I can move around my schedule to accommodate dinner with my favorite future daughter-in-law.”
Annie beamed, the feeling of pride at officially winning over Max’s dad coursing through her—not that it was about that, but it kind of was, and Annie always loved the feeling of winning.
“I’m your only future daughter-in-law,” she stated.
The admiral grinned. “Semantics.”
The pair finished their drinks, Annie taking full advantage of the opportunity to learn more about what Max had been like as a child, taking note of the way the admiral’s face lit up recounting story after story of Max and her shenanigans.
She particularly enjoyed the one about the series of elaborate care packages Max had mailed her dad during one particularly long deployment, each containing a clue to a puzzle he could only solve once home.
“She’s always had a very active imagination. ” The admiral laughed with fondness.
Annie glanced at her watch. “I should get going. I’ve got to drive all the way to Dulles.”
They rose, the admiral taking her glass as Annie collected her purse, tucking away the tiny box holding the engagement ring. Together they moved towards the front door.