Chapter 10 - Saluting the Horizon
Six months later, the spring breeze off the Potomac River carried the crisp, clean scent of new beginnings.
I stood on the outdoor observation deck of the National War College in Washington, D.C., looking out over the sprawling monuments of the capital skyline. The sun was setting, casting a brilliant wash of gold and crimson across the sky, reflecting off the glass domes of government buildings that shaped the destiny of the free world.
A pair of polished black boots clicked softly on the concrete behind me.
"Captain Ellison," a familiar, warm voice spoke up.
I turned around. Admiral Henderson walked up beside me, holding two steaming paper cups of coffee from the base commissary. He handed one to me with a respectful nod.
"Thank you, Admiral," I said, taking the cup. "I didn't expect to see you inside the beltway today."
"I was attending a joint logistics committee review on the hill," Henderson said, looking out over the river. "And I wanted to check in on our best intelligence strategist. Word on the street is the Secretary of Defense is already eyeing you for a flag-rank nomination committee next cycle."
I smiled, taking a sip of the hot coffee. "I just focus on the mission, Admiral. One strategic plan at a time."
"That’s the exact right attitude," Henderson chuckled. Then his expression softened slightly. "You know, Claire... looking back at that gala in Norfolk six months ago, it’s amazing how fast things change. People who spend their whole lives trying to keep others in a box usually end up locking themselves out of the room entirely."
"True," I murmured, watching a Navy helicopter streak silently across the golden horizon. "Margaret is still down in Florida, I hear. She tried calling Owen last week to complain about her HOA fees."
"And Owen?"
"He’s finishing his MBA in Richmond, living on his own for the first time in his life," I answered evenly. "He sent me a text last month thanking me for showing him what strength actually looks like."
Admiral Henderson smiled warmly, raising his coffee cup in a silent toast. "Well, Captain... you certainly gave everyone in Norfolk a masterclass in command presence that night."
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"It wasn't a masterclass, Admiral," I replied, turning my gaze back toward the shining horizon where the river met the sky, feeling the crisp, perfect weight of the four gold stripes gleaming on my shoulders.
"It was just housekeeping."
