Mom’s New Colonel Boyfriend Yelled At Me. “In This House, I Give The Orders.” “I Am The Man Of The House.” I Turned Around In My Chair. I Was Holding My Admiral’s Stars. “Actually, Colonel… You Are Dismissed.” HE STOOD AT ATTENTION SHAKING.

Colonel Mark Hensley stood in her living room like he owned it, shoulders back, chin level, measuring me with eyes that had evaluated subordinates for decades.

“Samantha,” my mother said, her hand fluttering near her throat. “This is Mark.”

He extended his hand. His grip was firm, calculated.

“Your mother’s told me a lot about you. Navy, right?”

“Yes, sir.”

“What ship do you work on?”

The assumption landed like a small stone. I’d spent twenty-eight years earning my way from ensign to flag officer, and he’d placed me somewhere around E-4.

“I don’t work on a ship currently. I’m stationed at—”

“Right, but I meant, what do you actually do? Like your job?”

My mother touched his arm lightly.

“Mark, Sam’s had a long flight. Let’s sit down.”

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