“I cannot do that,” I said.

“You will do it,” he said, his voice rising. “I will not have our family name dragged through the mud because of your petty jealousy.”

“Jealousy of what, Father?” I asked quietly.

“Caroline has built a life,” he said. “She has social standing. Nathan was going to be an admiral one day.”

“Nathan will never be an admiral,” I said. “He is currently preparing for his relocation to Alaska.”

“Evelyn—”

“I have spent twenty-five years serving this country,” I said, cutting him off.

“You never asked about my deployments. You never came to my promotion ceremonies.”

“You were just a midshipman when you started,” he said, his tone softening slightly but remaining defensive. “We didn’t think it would amount to this.”

“You didn’t care,” I said.

“And now, my rank is the only thing you want from me.”

“That is not true,” he said.

“It is,” I said. “But my authority does not belong to you. It belongs to the Navy.”

“We are your family,” he said.

“My family is currently on the USS *Donald Cook*,” I said.