Chapter 53
"Half dozen, huh? Each or total?" she grinned at his startled look.
"Whichever you want, Darlin'!"
The visit to Adam's parents home went well-after they got over the surprise at Shelia's age. His mother told Shelia that she did not know what their sleeping arrangements were in Hawaii, but for that weekend, at least, Shelia would be in Adam's sisters' room. Adam would be in the boys' room.
Shelia smiled gently and told Mrs. Cummens that was perfectly fine, while Adam protested at his mother's comment. He was not protesting the sleeping arrangements, just the fact that his mother needed to announce them. Mother and future daughter-in-law exchanged amused glances, and were fast friends from that moment on.
Adam's brothers and sisters also liked her, but Shelia was a bit disconcerted when his father tried to flirt with her. She was not sure if he meant it or was joking until Mrs. Cummens swatted him and told him to leave Shelia alone.
Mrs. Cummens was an incredible cook, and Shelia won even more points when she asked for the recipes for any thing that she saw Adam take seconds of. All in all, it was a pleasant weekend, and everyone was sorry to see it end. They all went to the airport to see Shelia and Adam off after church on Sunday morning. No one had any idea that in just a week, the whole world would change forever.
During the next week, they spent every moment they could together. Much of it was making wedding plans. They did find time to sneak away to their cove to make love as well.
By Friday, they had most of the details settled for the wedding. Because they had just seen his family, Adam understood that they could not afford the trip to be there. Since he and Shelia had Thanksgiving off, they would both have to work Christmas. So their honeymoon would have to wait also. They reasoned that they were where most couples went for a honeymoon, so they were ahead of the game. Adam's friend Randy would be his best man, in the place of one of his brothers, and because Shelia had no family, she asked her friend Kris to be her maid of honor.
Because they had the past weekend off, they were both on duty that weekend. Friday night, they were able to sneak away to their cove and make love all night long. They hurried to their quarters to change clothes for their Saturday shifts.
Saturday, 6 December 1941
Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
As much as they wanted to be back at their cove Saturday night, Shelia had to reluctantly tell Adam that the nurses were holding a bridal shower for her that evening. So they had a quick meal at the diner and promised to have an extra special night on Sunday because they both had Monday off.
The gifts from the other nurses were thoughtful and fun. Some were practical-and some were outright shocking! She got a toaster and towels and sheets, as well as some sexy lingerie. They all had a wonderful evening, and the beer that was passed around might have had something to do with the level of giggling that increased as the evening went on.
After packing away all of the gifts she had received, Shelia sat down to write in her diary, as she did every night. The girls had brought up something that she and Adam had not really discussed yet, and that was, where would they live after they got married. There was a waiting list for married housing, so they might have to look for a place off-base, but that would cut into the money that Adam sent home every month. Shelia had suggested that she be allowed to add to that amount, but he would not hear of it. Maybe she could convince him to let the rent for an off-base apartment come out of her pay, but she doubted it, his pride was almost as strong as his honor.
Closing her diary, Shelia went to bed, but sleep was slow in coming. She had an uneasy feeling-it was almost dread-about tomorrow. She had no idea why she would have such a feeling, it seemed out of place to the talk she wanted to have with him about pay the rent, but she could not shake it, and because of that it was long after midnight before she finally drifted off.
To be continued…
