"It's a little bit to get used to, women typically use their first names, but before JR it had been close to twenty years since anyone had used it, he's the only exception. This coming October, it will be twenty years. For me anyway. I've known quite a few ranks since then but one thing stayed the same. Shepard." She looked down into her glass, and holding it tipped so that the amber liquid stretched to the rim. She gave a little humorless one note bark of laughter. "I still take a second to realize it's me that JR is talking to, when he uses my first name." That was enough of that, she lifted the tumbler and took a healthy bit in her mouth.
Shepard leaned her elbows onto the table top. After all was said and done. But, what he said had her mind reeling. What did he mean. There were a million and one reasons why Ashley might be expecting a proposal so soon. And she stopped herself before blurting something out. Really it was far to early to know whether she was pregnant or not anyway. Her eyes narrowed at him for a moment and she swished back the remaining bit of whiskey. Better to get her head on before throwing accusations. That could mean anything.
"What exactly do you mean? Why would she be expecting one already?" She set her now empty glass down on the table top. Reaching for the decanter again, she decided against more and pushed it away. It wasn't as if it were making her feel anything, her fingertips didn't even feel fuzzy. There was simply the warm path the drink had made.