My father’s hand froze mid-air.
His mouth opened, but no sound came out.
His eyes darted frantically from the three stars on General Davis’s shoulders to the two stars on mine.
“M-Major General?” Dad stammered, his voice cracking like a terrified child’s.
“Harold… there must be a mistake.”
“She’s an administrative clerk… she was discharged years ago!”
General Davis slowly turned his body, his eyes locking onto my father with cold, military disgust.
“Discharged?” General Davis said, his voice dropping into a razor-thin calm.
“Major General Cook is the Deputy Commander of Marine Corps Forces Central Command.”
“She holds a Distinguished Service Cross and a Bronze Star with Valor.”
“She is one of the most decorated officers in this entire service.”
My sister Lauren grabbed Dad’s arm, her face turning completely ghost white.
Andrew, her fiancé, stepped out from the main hall, his eyes widening in total shock as he recognized me.
“Sir!” Andrew shouted, instinctively stepping forward and executing a rigid, flawless salute toward me.
General Davis didn’t look back at Andrew.
He kept his eyes fixed directly on my father.
“You called her a nobody, didn’t you?” Davis asked softly.
“You crossed her name off the list.”
Dad swallowed hard, his face drained of all color as the entire wedding party watched in utter silence.
“I… I didn’t know…” Dad choked out.
“That is your greatest failure,” General Davis replied calmly.