Resuming my place beside Alana, I muse, “I bet you two got into all kinds of trouble.”
Grandma laughs, “Millie was something else. Like me, Millie had grown up in a military family. We both had older siblings and had learned a few tricks from them over the years. Of course, that also meant we had to be extra careful, because our parents had already dealt with most situations.”
Looking over Alana’s shoulder at the picture Grandma holds in her hand I ask, “How did you meet Paul?”
“We met at a dance. As I told you yesterday, my Father had been promoted to Admiral, so not only was he well known on base, so was I.” Grandma Ruby laughs, “Of course I was also off limits to any of the enlisted men, because I was the Admiral’s daughter, and no one wanted to face the wrath of Admiral Thorpe for attempting to court his daughter. Not to mention that I had just turned seventeen when we arrived in California.”
Confused Alana asks, “What’s court mean?”
Smiling I run my hand over her hair, “That’s what they used to call dating.”
“Oh,” she says before turning her attention back to Grandma Ruby.
“At the end of my first week in California, Millie decided that I needed to see more than just the base and dragged me to a dance in town. Of course, the most exciting thing about going to the dance was that there would be boys there, boys that I could actually talk to and dance with, without my father scaring them off.”
Grandma Ruby smiles, and then continues, “During the time my father was in the Navy, when a new commanding officer arrived on base there were ceremonies and dinners nonstop for a month. Millie and I spent almost every Friday and Saturday night at the dance in town. Our mothers used to tease that we were joined at the hip, because wherever you saw one of us you saw the other.”
Taking Zoey and Alana’s hand in each of hers, Grandma Ruby says, “I hope one day you both have a friend like I did in Millie.”
Alana lays her head against Grandma’s shoulder and reaches down and squeezes her hand, essentially melting my heart, and asks, “Do you still hear from Millie?”
“A few times a year. She moved to South Carolina with her son and his family after Don passed away.”
Having heard enough backstory, Zoey says, “Grandma Ruby, tell us about Paul. By the way it looks in those pictures, you two were pretty close. Was he your first love?”
Smiling she pats Zoey’s leg, “So much like your mother, she was never very patient either,” she half whispers to Zoey making me laugh. “And you’re right, Paul was my first love.”
Grandma picks up one of the photos of her and Paul and gently runs her finger across the picture of the two of them. Eyes shining with remembrance, she says, “This old mind might not remember what I had for breakfast most days, but I remember the night we met like it was yesterday.”
“We had been in California for a little over a year, and Millie and I attended the weekend dances in town whenever we could.” Laughing she says, “Having a dance partner was one thing neither Millie nor I had to worry about. We met and danced with a lot of nice, respectful boys, but no one special until that night.” Knowing Zoey is the future fashionista, Grandma leans her way and says, “You know, I still remember what I was wearing. A pink plaid dress with buttons down the front and a matching belt, with black patent leather shoes. I always like that dress, but it became my favorite after that night.”
Grandma Ruby smiles at the memory then again squeezes the girl’s hands, “It was just a few weeks before my eighteenth birthday.”
Chapter 6
Ruby – July 1941
Stopping to look in one of the car side mirrors, Millie asks once again, “Are you sure my hair looks okay?”
Last week, Millie spotted an absolute dreamboat, on our way out the door, and it’s all she has talked about this week. She even went so far as to assure me that she would have spoken to him, but we would have broken curfew, and neither of us were willing to do that. Our parents were sticklers for rules, and we knew there was a price to pay for breaking them.
“Yes, for the fifth time, your hair looks perfect,” I say in mock exasperation. Although Millie has probably asked more like ten times so my exasperation was warranted. “Come on,” I say, taking her hand and dragging her toward the door, “or that guy you’ve been fawning over all week is going to find someone else to dance with.”
Gasping Millie’s hand flies to her chest, “Bite your tongue Ruby Thorpe!”
Laughing at her response, I tug on her hand and continue to the entrance. The minute we step through the door, Millie’s eyes begin scanning the room. Grabbing my hand, she whisper squeals, “He’s here!”
Following her line of vision across the room to where the object of Millie’s affection stood speaking to someone. I watched as their eyes met and the smile on his face widened. Millie was right he was dreamy. Tall, with dark hair and a chiseled jaw, it was easy to see why Millie had been swooning over him all week.
Then it happened, the man he had been speaking with turned looking first at Millie and then locking his gaze on me. Unable to tear my gaze from his, I hear Millie mutter, “Well, well it looks like my dream guy brought a friend with him tonight.”
Swallowing to moisten my suddenly dry mouth, I finally manage to respond, “Looks like it.”
Not until Millie tightens her grip on my hand, do I look away and focus back on her. “They’re coming this way!”
Before I can comprehend what’s happening, they’re standing in front of us.
“Hello ladies, I’m Don and this is my buddy Paul,” he says as he introduces both of them.
“Hi,” Millie says while effectively batting her eyelashes at Don. “I’m Millie and this is Ruby.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you both,” Don says not taking his eyes off Millie. “So Millie, can I get you a drink?”
“That sounds like a wonderful idea,” Millie says as she threads her arm through Don’s and they walk toward the table holding a punch bowl.
Turning a dazzling smile my way, Paul says, “Well it looks like I’ve been left alone with the most beautiful girl here.”
Blushing, I shyly look down then back up through my lashes. “Thank you.”
As the music begins to slow, Paul turns to me. “Ruby, would you like to dance?”
I smile at his invitation. “I’d love to.”
Paul takes my hand in his and leads me to the dance floor, twirling me once before pulling me into his arms, causing me to giggle.
“Well that might be the best sound I’ve ever heard,” he says causing me to blush yet again.
“You may need to get out of the city more,” I tease.
Throwing his head back, Paul laughs, a rich deep sound I’m sure I could get used to hearing. “Beautiful and quick-witted, I could be in trouble.”
Smiling back into his sparkling blue eyes I reply, “As long as you mind your manners, you should be fine.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Paul’s voice was filled with laughter, joy even, but there was also the hint of an accent I couldn’t quite place. “What brings you to California Paul?”
“What makes you think I’m not from California?”
Raising a brow at him in question I ask, “Are you?”
Laughing he shakes his head, “No. What about you, are you a California girl?”
Shaking my head, I admit, “No, I’ve only been here a little over a year.”
“Still, it sounds like you are the perfect person to show me around this week while I’m here.”
I can’t stop the wave of disappointment that crashes over me. “So you’re just visiting?”
“No, I’ll be around, but I may not have as much free time after this week.”
“So more work and less dancing is that it?”
“Something like that. Although I would always make time for dancing with you.”
“You sir, are very charming.”
As the music begins to pick up, Pa
ul pulls me close and says, “Come on, let’s get something to drink and you can tell me more about yourself.”
Placing his hand on the small of my back, Paul guides us over to the drink table. “What would you like to drink?”
“Just punch please.”
Taking two cups of punch from the attendant, Paul leads us over to an empty table in the corner. Placing the cups on the table, he pulls out a chair for me before taking his own seat.
“You never told me where you’re from,” I say before taking a sip of my punch.
“Neither did you,” he challenges with a smile that makes his blue eyes sparkle.
“That’s true, I didn’t. My father is in the military so I’ve lived in a few places. All stateside. Before moving to California, we were in Illinois.”
“That must have been quite a change for you moving from the cold of the mid-west to sunshine.”
“It was, but a very nice change. I’ll take the warm sunny days anytime.” I take another sip of my punch before prodding him to tell me about himself. “Now you know where I’m from, tell me about you.”
He chuckles a bit before looking up from his cup. “I was born and raised in Nebraska. Grew up on my parents’ farm, where we raised cows and corn.”
“So what are you doing in California?”
“Getting ready to start a new adventure.”
“That sounds exciting.”
“I hope so. Of course, I have to admit,” Paul says as he reaches across the table and takes my hand in his, causing me to look up into his mesmerizing blue eyes. “It has been so far,” he replies causing me to blush.
Caught up in the moment, my voice barely above a whisper, I ask, “How’s that?”
Paul leans in close as if he’s about to relay a secret, so I do the same. “Because today I met the prettiest girl I’ve ever laid eyes on, and I’m hoping that I get to spend more time with her.”
Searching his blue eyes, I see nothing but sincerity in his words. “I have a feeling she would like to spend time with you too.”
“I’m glad to hear that, because I think it’s time for another dance.” Standing from his seat and extending his hand to me, Paul leads us back out to the dance floor, where I spend to the next three songs held within his arms.
When the last song ends, we make our way back to our table, only to be stopped by Millie and Don.
“Hi you two,” Millie says as they step up beside us. “Having a good time?”
“We are,” I readily reply while leaning into Paul’s side. “What about you?”
“It’s been a perfect night,” Millie dreamily replies while gazing up at Don, who matches her starry gaze with his own.
“We should be going soon Millie, we don’t want to be late.”
With a sigh and a slump of her shoulders, Millie agrees. “You’re right, we should or we won’t be able to come back tomorrow.”
Paul’s arm tightens around my waist, causing me to look up as he asks, “So we’ll get to see you tomorrow night too?”
“Yes, as far as I know,” I answer and watch the smile on Paul’s handsome face grow.
“Hey,” Don says gaining our attention. “Why don’t you girls meet up with us early, and we’ll grab a bite before the dance?”
Millie’s head snaps in my direction, “Oh can we Ruby?”
“I don’t see why not, we can get our chores completed in plenty of time.”
Don chuckles, “Chores? How old are you girls anyway?”
“Ruby turns eighteen in two weeks, and my birthday was last month.” Popping her hand on her hip Millie gives Don a stern look. “Is that a problem for you?”
Don laughs and raises his hands in surrender, “No, not at all. Just making sure we aren’t breaking any laws.”
Now that we are on the subject, and my curiosity has been piqued, I ask, “How old are you guys?”
“Twenty,” Paul says and then looks to me and says, “I hope that’s not a problem.”
I smile and shake my head, “No, it’s not a problem at all.”
Chapter 7
The next evening, Millie and I met the guys for dinner then went dancing. Walking through the door to the dance hall, with Paul by my side, it struck me that this was the first time Millie and I were attending the dance with dates. All the other times we had attended by ourselves and had our choice of dance partners. Last night all that changed. Paul spun me around the dance floor and all thoughts of any other dance partner fled. We fit together perfectly as we danced. It was as if we were specifically created for one another. The disappointment I thought I’d feel knowing I would only be dancing with one person all night never came. Instead, all I felt was pride that I was the one walking into the dancehall on Paul’s arm.
We had no sooner stepped inside; when the music slowed and began playing the same song that we first danced to the night before.
Leaning down to whisper in my ear Paul says, “They’re playing our song.” Looking up at him, I smile as he asks, “Dance with me?” Caught up in the moment I can only nod, as Paul’s smile grows wider. Taking my hand, he leads me out to the dance floor. As we begin to move to the music, Paul pulls me closer. “I’m not sure if I told you earlier, but you look beautiful tonight.”
“Thank you and thank you for dinner.”
“It was my pleasure. I really enjoy spending time with you Ruby,” Paul says as we continue to dance.
“I’ve had a great time too,” I reply shyly.
Paul and I, as well as Millie and Don stayed to ourselves, each enjoying the time we got to spend in their arms on the dance floor.
When it came time for the evening to end, Paul and Don walked us to our bus stop so we could return to the base.
As Paul and I walked arm in arm he said, “I had a great time tonight Ruby, I’d really like to see you again.”
“I’d like that too,” I admitted
“I won’t know when I’ll be free again until later this week. How can I get in touch with you?”
“Millie and I volunteer at the library in town on Tuesday afternoon, when you find out your schedule you can leave a message for me there. If I don’t hear from you, we’ll plan on meeting back here next weekend.”
“I like that plan,” Paul says as he caresses my cheek. “But I’ll find a way to see you before next weekend.”
Butterflies take flight in my stomach from both Paul’s gentle touch and the intense look in his eyes.
As the bus pulls up to the stop, Paul leans in close to my ear and whispers, “Thank you for giving me all your dances,” before brushing my cheek with a kiss.
Looking up at him I smile, “It was my pleasure, I had a wonderful time.” Before I step up into the bus, I look back and him and say, “Goodnight Paul.”
“Goodnight Ruby,” he replies.
Taking a seat by the window, behind Millie, Paul waves as the bus pulls away and I wave in return.
The minute the bus is on the road, Millie bounds into the seat next to me. “Tonight was amazing! Ruby we have to see them again! Don is just so nice and funny and, and just dreamy,” she says as she lets out a dramatic sigh.
“Paul said he wants to see me again. I told him we volunteered at the library on Tuesday, so he could leave a message there letting us know when.”
“Oh Ruby, you’re a genius! We certainly can’t have them showing up at the base looking for us. My father would have a fit and I can’t even imagine how the Admiral would react.”
“That’s definitely something I don’t want to think about.”
The next morning, I readied myself for church and went to the kitchen to have breakfast with my parents. I rarely saw Millie on Sundays, unless of course it was at church. We spent most of the week together, but always seemed to act, as if it had been a month since we last spoke. Growing up in a military family, there are seldom opportunities for everyone to gather at once. Unless of course you were a Thorpe. In the Thorpe household, Sundays were reserved for family time. If by chanc
e Dad couldn’t make it because of his assigned duties, we were still expected to carry on without him. It was also one of the few times Dad stepped out wearing something other than his Navy uniform.
“Good morning,” I greeted kissing both of my parents on the cheek before taking a seat at the table.
“Good morning sweetheart,” my mother said as I poured myself a glass of orange juice.
As I placed pancakes on my plate my father said, “Don’t forget we have the installation of new servicemen tomorrow morning at zero-nine-hundred with a lunch reception following.”
“Yes sir, I remember.”
“I’m sure I don’t have to remind you what is expected,” he said casting a glance my way before taking a bite of his pancakes.
“No sir, I’ll be sure to welcome each one and not hide in a corner talking to Millie.”
Smiling at me he said, “Thank you, that’s all I ask. But not too friendly young lady,” he continued with a teasing wink, “you are almost eighteen and you know my rule about dating men under my command.”
“Yes sir, I remember.”
My voice must have held more excitement than I realized, because I see my parents exchange a look.
I hadn’t told them about Paul yet in case it was just a chance encounter, which I really hoped it wasn’t. There were a lot of things that made Paul appealing. His charm, his smile, those blue eyes that seemed to look right into my soul and of course the fact that he wasn’t in my father’s command, may have been the most appealing of all.
Chapter 8
One thing you learn quickly about the military is that they stand on ceremony. Protocols must be followed and standards achieved at every one.
The installation of service members is always a special ceremony, but this particular one happened to fall on the 4th of July.
The celebration would begin on base and carry on into the evening as the fireworks displays lit the night sky. Millie and I had plans to watch from the beach, and with any luck, we would run into Don and Paul. As I checked my hair one last time, I heard my mother call.
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