Chapter 7

Chapter Seven

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 chance 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.