Would this shade of lipstick get her attention or that one? Would she notice these earrings or those?It went on like this for some time. I was too s...y to do anything outright about my girl crush, but I wanted her. I knew it. Then everything seemed to crash in on me one day and I got more than I bargained for.Jade was always fun and ready with a joke, but she was very quiet about life outside of work. One Tuesday I had to go in and cover for a server who was ill. It was very slow and Jade. ?If y?all feel it?s asking too much, ma?am, we?ll go to plan...??No!? She shouted excitedly. ?No, please...don?t reconsider, Empress! Itwould be my honor to accompany you through the vast sea of time.??It?s not that dramatic, hun,? I rolled my eyes at her outburst. ?Wejoin hands, I think of the place and time, and we?re there- no fades,slides, breaks, or pain, we?re just there. Just don?t let go of my handuntil told its safe," I told her, hoping not to dissuade her.?Cap?s right, Commodore. The. Tommie French always had a place and an assignment for me. I had moved out of distribution and into production again, but this time as a line supervisor. I had the knowledge and the experience to do the job despite my age, and got very little grief from the old-timers. They knew their jobs and I respected that. I was there to facilitate, not to dictate. It was an important lesson I had learned early on in my previous life and I put it into practice at the brewery with good results.I knew Mr.. Oh, wait – there is one." Just one?" asked the suddenly nervous engineer."Yes, a big grouchy old bear, standing about a foot from me, wears lieutenant's bars ... you might want to watch out for him, he could be trouble." She looked at him."Cute, Little One. Very cute." As long as you're still thinking that I'm cute when I'm screaming your name on my birthday." They both looked to the corner of the display, where the countdown clock now read: Four Weeks, Six Days.Samantha, resplendent in dress.