Chapter 13

Chapter Thirteen

October 31, 1941

With only a few weeks remaining until Paul left for flight training, we spent as much time together as possible. We had several more dates after our drive down the coast with Millie and Don. Paul even chartered a boat that took us out to one of the islands off the coast for a picnic so we could be alone.

The day before Paul was to ship out seemed to drag by, making the anticipation of our goodbye even more daunting. Preoccupied with thoughts of Paul, Mr. Palmer tried once again to gain my attention.

“Miss Thorpe?”

Jumping at the sound of his voice, I apologize, “Mr. Palmer, I’m sorry. What can I do for you?”

“Can I see you in my office please?”

“Yes sir,” I reply rising form my seat and making my way into his office.

“Miss Thorpe,” Mr. Palmer begins before stopping and giving me a sympathetic smile before he continues. “Ruby, it seems you’ve had a few things on your mind lately and I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”

Embarrassed that my personal life has affected work, I begin to apologize. “Mr. Palmer, I am so sorry. I promise I’ll be more focused…”

Holding up his hand to stop me, he says, “Miss Thorpe, I didn’t call you in here to reprimand you, I am merely concerned about you.”

Breathing a sigh of relief, I smile and reassure Mr. Palmer. “Thank you Mr. Palmer for your concern. Again, I apologize for letting personal matters interfere with my work.”

Sitting up and leaning forward he says, “Ruby you are one of the hardest working people I’ve ever met. Your work is stellar and far from affected by whatever is going on. I just wanted to offer an ear if you needed to talk.”

“Thank you, Mr. Palmer, I appreciate that. I may take you up on that while Paul is gone.”

Shock evident on his face, Mr. Palmer asks, “Wait, Paul is leaving?”

“Yes sir. He’s in the Navy and leaves in the morning for flight training.”

“Tomorrow? Then what are you doing here?”

“Paul had some things to take care of today, and working helps keep my mind off him leaving. He’s picking me up after work tonight.” Hesitantly I continue, “I’m not supposed to date men under my father’s command, so I stay quiet about our relationship. Our best friends are the only ones that know.”

Confused, Mr. Palmer asks, “Your father’s command?”

“Yes, my father is Admiral Thorpe, who happens to be in charge of the naval base. Something else I tend to stay quiet about,” I say with a shy smile.

“I’ll say. I had no idea. So your parents don’t know you are dating Paul?”

I shake my head, “No, not unless someone else has told them. And I assume they haven’t or they would have confronted me.”

“That’s impressive. Your secret is safe with me.”

“I appreciate that, and thank you for allowing me to speak freely, I feel much better now.”

“Good,” he says smiling kindly at me. “Remember, my door is always open for you, and if there is anything we can do for you while he’s gone, let me know.”

Rising from my seat, I make my way back to my desk to finish out the day.

* * *

At precisely five o’clock,Mr. Palmer locks the doors of the bank as the tellers begin balancing their cash drawers. “Miss Thorpe,” he says from his position by the door. “It looks like your ride is here and you don’t want to keep him waiting.”

Smiling, my heart does a little leap in my chest at the thought of seeing Paul. Quickly gathering my things, I walk to the door where Paul and Mr. Palmer are conversing. Opening the door wider so I can step through, Mr. Palmer shakes Paul’s hand. “Good luck to you Paul.”

“Thank you sir,” Paul replies as he wraps his arm around me drawing me into his side.

“You two enjoy your evening,” he says before locking the door behind us.

Walking me to the car, Paul opens the door for me, stopping me before I get inside. Smiling down at me he says, “Hi. You look beautiful.”

“Thank you,” is all I manage before he kisses me.

Pulling away Paul says, “We better get going.”

Sliding into the front seat, Paul closes the door before moving to the driver’s side and climbing in behind the wheel.

“Where are we going?”

“You’ll see,” he says giving me a quick smile before pulling out into the street.

A few minutes later, we pull into the parking lot of the diner, where we had dinner the night after we met.

Laughing I say, “I haven’t been here since…”

Paul’s smile is infectious as he finishes my thought, “Since our first date?”

“Yes,” I reply confirming that he indeed can read my thoughts.

“Me either, come on let’s grab a bite to eat so we can get to the rest of what I have planned.”

Finding a table in the back of the diner, our waitress is there within minutes to take our order. Ordering a burger with fries and a vanilla shake for both of us, Paul sends the waitress on her way.

“You remembered what we had that first night.”

“I remember everything when it comes to you Ruby. Where we’ve been, what we’ve done, what you were wearing the first night I saw you.”

Smiling I shyly look down at my fidgeting fingers. “When you turned around and smiled at me from across the room, I thought I’d faint dead away.”

Returning my smile, he says, “Well I’m certainly glad you didn’t,” Paul says as he leans in to kiss me.

“So am I,” I reply as I our lips part. “Oh I almost forgot.” I scramble to retrieve my handbag. “I have something for you.” Taking an envelope out, I hand it to Paul trying in vain to control the blush I feel creeping up my neck.

“What’s this?” he asks as he begins to open it. A slow smile begins to spread across his face as he sees what’s inside. “Wow, Ruby… These are… Wow.”

“Do you like them?”

“Like them? Ruby, these are incredible. When did you take these?”

Shrugging I shyly confess as he continues to look at the photos, “You had mentioned having a picture to pin up in the cockpit, so I asked Millie if she would take them for me, so I could surprise you.”

“Rita Hayworth’s got nothing on my girl,” he says as his smile widens and he shakes his head. “I can’t believe you did these for me.”

“Well, I couldn’t have you going off to Hawaii and falling for an island girl. I had to remind you what you have to come home to,” I tease.

“Ruby,” Paul says taking my hand and looking straight into my eyes. “There is nothing or no one that would ever make me forget you.”

* * *

After dinner Paul says,“I have one more surprise for you,” as he ushers me back to the car.

Making the short drive down the street, Paul pulls into the parking lot of the dance hall. “I thought we would spend our last night together where we first met.”

Throwing my arms around his neck, while trying to keep my tears at bay, I whisper, “It’s perfect.”

Stepping inside the dance hall, Paul leads me out to the crowded dancefloor, and begins to spin me around the floor to the lively Tommy Dorsey tune the band is playing. The song ends just as Paul pulls me back in and dips me back over his arm. Lifting me back up and against his chest, now breathless from the up-tempo song, the band slows things down playing the very song we first danced to, all those months ago.

Pulling me back into his arms Paul whispers, “They’re playing our song.”

There are no words spoken as we sway to the familiar tune, eyes locked on one another. None are needed. There on the crowed dancefloor, as the song ends, Paul leans in and captures my mouth with his. Everything and everyone around us fades into the background, leaving nothing but the two of us caught up in this moment of time, neither of us will ever forget.

When the kiss ends, Paul whispers, “That was the best night of my life.”

“Mine too,” I whisper back.

“Come on. Let’s get something to drink.”

Accepting two glasses of punch from the attendant, Paul leads us over to an empty table. After a short break, Paul excuses himself to go and speak to the bandleader. The band begins to play Big Crosby’s I’ll Be Seeing You, as Paul makes his way back to me. When he reaches the table, Paul holds out his hand and asks, “May I have this dance?”

Smiling I place my hand in his, “I’d love to.”

Curious I ask, “Did you ask them to play this song?”

Paul shakes his head, “No, but it’s fitting, because no matter where I am I’ll be thinking of you.”

“Oh Paul, that’s the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard.”

As the song ends, the band begins to play Yours by Jimmy Dorsey.

“This is the song I requested,” Paul says gaining my attention. “Ruby, these last few months spent with you have been better than I could have imagined. I love you Ruby Thorpe. I’m done hiding our relationship, and when I get back, I want to tell your parents that I’m in love with you. Because now and forever, Ruby, I’ll be yours.”

“Oh Paul, I love you too,” I exclaim, “and I’ll be yours for as long as you’ll have me.”

Taking my face in his hands, Paul kisses me thoroughly, before pulling away and whispering, “Let’s get out of here.”