Its two weeks since Jennifer and Major Johnson were at the ski resort. Jennifer contacted her instructors and got concessions on her exams. Since she had to report daily for duty at the Center, she could sit for the test with a member of her unit proctoring. She and a few other members finished their finals for the semester with the unit's Master Sargent glaring at them keeping time. One day she was called into the unit commander's office.
Jennifer was sitting in Col. Harvey's Office in the reserve center waiting for him to get off the phone. She gathered that the conversation was about transportation for the deployment. The Colonel put the phone down and looked at Jennifer.
"Major Connolly, someone at headquarters seems to like you."
"I am afraid that that doesn't sound good, sir," replied Jennifer.
"I have been asked to leave you at home for this deployment, and it solves two problems. Your current billet does not require a person at your rank, and I need someone to lead a small planning section that will remain at the center to handle logistics and family affairs. So Major you are back in school," said the Colonel.
The Colonel went on to explain the duties of the office and whom she will be leading. She could finish the last semester but she would need to fit school in with the office work. Jennifer was dismissed and she walked as if she had received a stay of execution. Before she got too excited she called a meeting with Lt. Cindy Osborn her deputy to inform her that she would be leading the headquarters company in the deployment.
There was a combination of happiness and envy for Jennifer as she moved from the headquarter company to the planning section. The unit would move over to Germany two days after Christmas so the families had the holiday together. The Major and Jennifer got on the road two days before Christmas and spent the night in Austin. It was Christmas Eve and Jennifer and the Major were on the road heading out of Austin
"She doesn't bite Major, and we will be in a B & B not at the house," said Jennifer who was driving. Jennifer looked over at the Major, who was folded in the front seat of her Prius. They were headed to the Texas Hill country above Austin where Jennifer's mother and stepfather lives.
"I think you and Dave will like each other," said Jennifer.
"Jennifer I am really glad that I am meeting your family; I am just nervous about spending the holiday with family since both of my folks are gone and I am estranged from my sister," said the Major.
"Now I am finding out things about you; you have a sister?" asked Jennifer.
"She is a stepsister, and is very anti-military, and told me that she did not want to have anything to do with a warrior," said the Major.
Two hours later Jennifer pulled in to a parking lot of an old Victorian house that was a bed and breakfast inn. The Major carried the two small bags into the house and Jennifer registered them and the host showed them to the room. The room was painted in shades of light blue. The room was dominated by a king size bed. Through a door was a bathroom. The host explained how the keys worked and that breakfast would be available at 7:00 in the morning. The host left and Jennifer and the Major embraced. The Major attempted to put his hand down Jennifer's pants. She gently pulled it out. "Dear, as much as I would like to jump on you, I don't want to meet my mother smelling like a cat house. Don't worry we will have time later." Jennifer kissed him.
Jennifer pulled her phone out and called her mother; "Mom, we just checked into the Hill Country Inn and we are heading over to your place. See you in a few minutes."
Jennifer pulled on the Major's arms "Come on Major, I am not trapping you but you need to meet the family,"
They got into Jennifer's car and she backed out and started heading to her mother's house. She turned up a small road and climbed a hill. The road ended at a one-story ranch house clad in the local fieldstone. There was a long porch that ran the length of the house. A door marked the center of the house. They got out of the car and Jennifer lead the way to the door. Just as they hit the porch the door flew open and a tall woman came out and hugged Jennifer.
"You are looking too thin dear, doesn't this man feed you?" said her mother.
"Major, this is my mother Betty Barns, mom meet Major Charles Chip Johnson, but he answers to Major."
Well Major Charles Chip it is a pleasure to meet you, but I think that you are not taking care of my daughter she is so thin, what do you feed her MRE's?"
"Ma'am, I have heard a lot about you, as to taking care of your daughter she is responsible for her own care and upkeep."
They all went inside and soon the smell of roasting meet filled their noses. "My husband is smoking half a cow so I hope that you are not some kind of vegan like my daughter."
"Ms. Barns I can assure you that I will eat anything you put in front of me, and I have never seen Jennifer stick up her nose at any meal that I provide," said the Major.
"I experimented eating vegan and ever since then mom thinks that a. I am too thin and b. I am a food freak," said Jennifer.
"Well come on you two let's go see what Dave it torturing. And Chip please call me Betty."
"Yes ma'am, uh Betty," said the Major.
They moved through the house and went outside to the patio. The weather was temperate so they only needed light jackets. There was an older man sitting between two large smokers. Jennifer walked over and kissed Dave and introduced him to the Major. Dave stood and saluted.
"Major this is former Command Master Chief Dave Barns," said Jennifer.
"Chief Barns it is a pleasure to meet you," said the Major.
The two warriors shook hands. Betty produced a tray with wine glassed filled with red wine. "It is from a winery from town."
Dave opened one of the smokers and showed the three briskets that were cooking, he opened the other and there were thee pork shoulders. "Your mother invited the whole neighborhood tomorrow so I needed to get started today," said Dave.
"It smell's good sir," said the Major.
"If I was still serving I would tell you not to call me sir as I use to work for a living. But it has been four years since I was on the Bush, my last ship," said Dave.
"So when will this be ready?" asked the Major.
"Some time Christmas afternoon, I have a crew that will come over this evening to monitor the cook through the evening.
Jennifer and her mother slipped away and now they returned, "We are having Tex-Mex for dinner and it is ready in the kitchen, everyone come in and grab some dinner."
The Major and the Chief followed Betty and Jennifer into the kitchen and loaded up their plates. They all went into the dinning room and sat down at the large circular table. Jennifer and the Major paused as Betty said a blessing. The Major raised his glass and toasted the hosts. The Chief asked how they got together. The Major explained that they knew each other in the Tenth Division but didn't date. When he arrived at the University to take over the ROTC unit he noticed Jennifer walking around campus. Her residence hall is near his apartment. "I don't think that she noticed me but I noticed her," said the Major.
