"All aboard!"
Ginger stood with Jeff and Hank as the last call for passengers was announced.
"Take it easy, slugger. And let me know how you're doing." Hank told Jeff before he put his arms around his baby brother and hugged him.
"Thanks for everything Hank." Jeff smiled back. "If it hadn't been for you..."
"I wish you'd let us pay you for the roomette." Ginger told him.
"It's my wedding present to you." He answered. "I probably won't be there when you decide to have your reception and it was something that you deserved."
Jeff looked so disappointed and Ginger tucked her arm through his. "Won't be there? Hank, you have to be there. It wouldn't be the same without you."
"I'm sorry Jeff. But I'm pretty sure that Mom will want to have the reception at the house and it's where Sarah and I had ours. You understand?"
"Sure, I understand but..." His voice trailed off.
"If my mother has anything to say about it, it's going to be at our house and it won't be a problem." Ginger told him and for that she got a grateful smile from Jeff. "You have to come."
Hank shook his head in amusement and smiled. "I won't make any promises, but when you decide where you're going to have it and when, let me know."
Jeff stuck his hand out and Hank took it. "Thanks."
"All aboard!"
"You two better get a move on or someone else is going to get that roomette."
"Thank you." Ginger hugged him before Jeff shook his hand again before he helped her up the stairs.
The conductor closed the bottom half of the Dutch door and Ginger and Jeff waved at Hank who called back to him. "Good luck slugger!"
The train rumbled out of the station and Hank grew smaller and smaller until he finally disappeared. They turned and walked down the narrow corridor of the passenger car and tried to find a porter. When they found one Jeff requested their roomette. "You should have a reservation for Metcalf."
The porter looked at a clipboard that hung on the wall and nodded. "Yes, sir. Follow me please." He requested and lead them back the way they just came. He stopped and pulled a key out of his pocket and unlocked the door before he handed the key to Jeff. "Your room sir. And may I offer my congratulations."
Ginger and Jeff looked at each other and smiled because the wait was almost over. "Thank you." He replied. "Could you have someone let me know when we reach Wichita? That's our stop."
"Certainly sir. We're scheduled topull into Wichita by two o'clock this afternoon and a porter will knock on your door at noon. That will give you time to pack and have some lunchbefore we get there."
"Thank you very much for your help." Ginger smiled at him and wished that he would go away.
He seemed to read her mind because she could swear that he tried not to grin. "My name is Lawrence and if you need anything, you just call for me. I'll be on duty for another hour." And he tipped his hat before he walked down the corridor and disappeared around the corner.
"He's a very nice man."
"And I thought he'd never leave." Jeff said as he smiled at her before he picked her up and Ginger leaned over to open the door so he could carry her inside. It wasn't a big room as rooms went, but there was a bed and for that she was grateful. Jeff set her on her feet and as Hank had said they would be, their suitcases were there and sitting on the bed.
They stood in front of each other and she didn't know why it felt so awkward all of the sudden because it wasn't as though this would be the first time they would make love. He looked just as uncertain when she looked into his eyes. "For awhile, I didn't think this was going to happen." He told her with a sigh. "Everything seemed to be working against us, mostly us because I was seeing Caroline and you were with Arthur. But it didn't take long for me to realize that she could never hold a candle to you because she wasn't you. I love you Mrs. Metcalf."
She could feel the tears pool in her eyes and she reached up to brush the back of her fingers against his cheek. "You are sweet."
"Ginger." His voice had gotten husky with emotion and he pressed his cheek against her fingers. "We're married now."
"And don't you forget it buster." She smiled as he leaned down and kissed her. She put her arms around his neck to pull him close and she kissed him back. She could feel his arms move around her waist to pull her closer.
"Ginger." His voice was only a whisper before he let her go and pulled the suitcases off the bed and set them down on the floor. He came back and smiled at her. "I don't think we need those right now." And he leaned down to kiss her again.
She didn't know if it's because it had been so long or if it was being with a man when he was your husband, but Ginger couldn't remember when she'd felt more content. Being with Jeff without the worry of being caught or the guilt that had come with being with him when they hadn't been married made it all the more special. And it just made her even more certain that her decision to get Father Dreher to the train station so that he could marry them was the right thing to do.
Jeff picked her hand up off his chest and he smiled. "I need to get you a ring."
"We have time." She looked up at him and smiled back.
"I know it's only the minors, but I can afford to buy you a ring." His voice sounded defensive.
"And I didn't say you couldn't. All I said was that we have time." They were doing it again. An argument began to materialize out of an innocent comment and they both knew it.
"Ginger, we can't fight. It's our honeymoon." He sighed.
"Tell yourself." She said and pulled her hand out of his grasp.
"How about I tell you how much I love you?" His voice was low in her ear.
She smiled in spite of herself. "I can never stay mad at you."
He leaned over and kissed her. "What do say to finding a jewelry store before the game tonight and you pick out a ring?"
"Only if you help me." And she could feel her face warm because the lookJeff gave her a look that always made her heart beat faster.
"I agree to help you pick out a ring if you agree to stop talking and help me get back towork on those little shortstops."
"Oh my word." She said as Jeff leaned in for another kiss.