I have a brother who's 14 years younger than I am. Our parents had definitely slowed down by the time he reached high school. Of course, because he was the baby in the family, he got away with everything.
Because it's important to Owen, CJ agrees to a priest marrying them but won't compromise his core values. It's good Father Chance knew about him in advance and seems to have a good head on his shoulders. Someone else might have walked away.
Death's a part of life and I thought it was important I show dear one passing away. I had one great-grandmother alive when I was a kid; my nieces and nephews didn't have any. I'm at that age when my friends' parents are mostly gone.
The younger guy at the game, and his boss, are examples of the old boys' network that survives to this day. In many instances, it provides individuals with support and assistance, but in others, it's nothing more than a toxic's example of outdated masculinity.
I tried to balance CJ's reactions to Pam. She might be the antagonist in this story, but she's family. Had it been Brett or Cesar acting up, he would have blown up a heck of a lot sooner, but she got some leeway because of Owen and to a degree Liebe. From Flying Circus, we know the relationship is somewhat repaired but her attempts to force religion on her grandchildren aren't over. I bet you it's Liebe who eventually tells her off and at least temporarily refuses to deal with her.
The trip was partly based on my trip to Israel back in 1996 and a lot of research. What CJ experienced will one day color how he addresses growing anti-semitism in the US.
We are all the products of our upbringing. For someone like CJ, that means standing his ground when he's certain he's right. My goal was to show him fighting off anyone who might interfere in his relationship even if it's his fathers. It may take a while for things to calm down.
Brad's story arc was interesting to research and write. He had a distinct advantage over others in his position: CJ. Our man's loyal to the end and pushy enough to force Brad to seek additional help. I'm not done with our Army Ranger.
I remember Regan appointing Rehnquist as Chief Justice. Not a huge issue with that appointment, but Scalia being appointed as justice at the same time was the beginning of the end for a progressive court.
With CJ and Owen back in Washington, I'm trying to show them reconnecting with people. Next? Let's see what I come up with. I think I have one or two more CJ stories in me.
I don't understand why readers made such a big deal out of this chapter; it's only a little marriage proposal.
You realize I've been waiting to write this for even longer? Even since before I introduced Owen. Although I didn't have all the details worked out, I knew where it would happen and why there. I wanted the connection to Jack Kennedy.
@Anton_Cloche
Nah... that's a different one that makes everyone gay. Mine can kill everyone, but California creates a vaccine and doesn't share it with Florida or Texas. I'm moving before then.
CDMX had a spy, a kidnapper, and a shooting. It's gonna be tough to top that one.
I've repeatedly mentioned how much I enjoyed reading the Clancy books and that Jack Ryan inspired some of CDMX. CJ returning the bugs to the ambassador was a riff on Jack Ryan returning the firing key for a submarine in Cardinal of the Kremlin.