I ended up taking Howard Stark's love advice, which are eight words I never thought I'd say in a million years. After we finished working that day, I went home and slept on it, getting some much needed rest. When I woke up, I realized that Howard was right, another six words that I'd hoped to never admit. I saw Frank that day and we went on our fifth date. He asked me to go steady again that night.
That time, I said yes.
_
November 9, 1942 – Central Park, New York City, New York
The entire family was in New York City for George's marriage to Sally, the God awful cook. Sam and Eileen had come up with Dougie and little Lauren Grace, who was just fourteen weeks old. Westley flew in from the Pacific coast. We'd received a letter from him back in mid-January to assure us that he was okay. Charlie and Henry carpooled with me and Frank, who I decided to take as my plus one.
Central Park was gorgeous that day. It wasn't as cold as it could have been and I opted to wear one of my lighter coats over my lilac purple dress. The wedding was sparsely crowded, only a small family gathering like George wanted. I sat near the front with Frank as the procession droned on, trying to stay interested.
It wasn't going so well.
I'd never been a huge fan of weddings. I tended to get bored easily and weddings were extremely tedious in my opinion. That viewpoint was not shared by either of my friends, Jane nor Lydia, who had each gotten an invitation of their own. They sat to my left, staring wide-eyed at the ceremony and paying extensive attention to every little detail going on. To my right, though, Frank looked just as bored as I was.
His lithe and muscular arm was wrapped around my shoulders, playing aimlessly with my curly hair. He hadn't been himself lately, but I didn't blame him. He was being shipped out within the month and he was noticeably nervous. Wearing his army formal attire, he looked very sophisticated and handsome. The only thing I didn't like about Frank's look was that he insisted on getting his hair cut short before he was deployed. It was too short, but I let it go. He didn't need me adding stress to his life.
I found myself thinking about Frank and me for the remainder of the service. Things had been going remarkably well between us over the past few months and Howard took every chance he got to rub it in my face. He'd started calling himself the Mustachioed Cupid. I hit him every time he referred to himself that way.
On the other hand, I wondered how things were actually going. After all, this was my first legitimate relationship. I was twenty-four for crying out loud! Still though, the dreaded question nagged in the back of my mind. Was this actually love, or just affection? I wasn't sure.
I frowned at the thought. I hated not being sure. That was one reason I loved science. With science, there was a sure reason and answer for everything I did. There was no in between, no maybe. But with life, there were always those questions. Love was one of the world's great mysteries that only a few had figured out, and I sure as heck was not one of them.
When the service was finally over, that confused frown was still plastered on my face. Someone had started up a record player, and everywhere around me, couples danced. Jane and Lydia had even found themselves a couple of partners, who I assumed were a couple of George's friends.
I found Frank's fingers as they tucked under my chin and he turned my head to face him, a curious expression lighting up his features. "You've had that same frown on your face for the past half hour of the service," he said. "Something on your mind?"
Without really thinking about it, I shook my head. I didn't want Frank to know I was having second thoughts, especially considering things were going so well. I didn't want him to blame himself. I didn't want him to go off to North Africa thinking that I didn't feel anything for him at all, because I did. I just wasn't quite sure what it was yet.
"I'm fine, Frank," I said, a grin spreading across my lips. When he didn't look entirely convinced, I shed off my jacket and stood up, taking Frank's hand in mine and tugging him towards where everyone was dancing. "C'mon."
At that, Frank smiled at me and swept me over to the little area where people danced around us. Frank took one of my hands and I put the other around his neck. George's favorite type of swing music was playing, so the dancing was upbeat, more so than Frank was used to, I could tell. Frank certainly wasn't the most coordinated dancer, but he didn't step on my feet, and that was enough for me.
I forgot about all my worries, the question of love shoved back to the back of my mind as I let
Frank sweep me away with the music. After a few tracks, the tune slowed down to a slower song. I locked my fingers behind Frank's neck and his own hands hovered over my waist carefully.
I raised an eyebrow with him, a small smirk playing along my lips. "You know, we've been going steady for almost nine months. You're allowed to touch me. We've been dancing before."
"I know," murmured Frank, his husky voice low in my ear. "But it's never been in front of your parents or five brothers..."
I laughed and shook my head. "Mom likes you. All my brothers like you. Dad tolerates you, though I think 'tolerate' is the only word he'll ever use when it comes to suitable guys for me. It's okay, Frank."
He let loose a defeated sigh and his warm hands settled on my hips. "Fine. But if I get in trouble, I'm telling your dad it was your idea."
I rolled my eyes. "You're over exaggerating."
"Really? Am I?" Frank's eyes diverted from mine for a second, looking past me, before he looked at me again. "Because good old Mr. Frost is heading this way right now."
As if on cue, Dad appeared, raising an eyebrow as he looked between Frank and I. "You don't mind if I cut in for a dance with my only daughter, do you, Frank?"
Frank laughed, though it was a bit forced, and shook his head, taking a step back from me. "Not at all, sir." He looked at me. "I'll grab some wedding cake?"
"Yeah, I'll be over in a second," I said. Frank looked at my dad once before kissing the top of my head and heading over to where the food was set out.
I rested one arm around Dad's neck and the let him take my other hand as he narrowed his eyes after Frank. "Kissing your head with me around? The kid has guts."
"Leave him alone, Dad," I said good-naturedly. "He's probably the nicest guy that I could have found. He met the standards."
"Yeah, well, he doesn't meet my standards," grumbled my dad.
"Your standards are to 'not join the military', which is kind of difficult considering we're at war right now, Daddy," I pointed out. "Your standards are actually impossible to meet."
"No they aren't," he argued. "Look at Sam, George, and Charlie! They didn't enlist!"
"You wouldn't let them enlist," I deadpanned.
"Yeah, and West shouldn't have enlisted either. The kid always did have a rebellious streak," he said, fondness breaking through the hard tone in his voice.
I looked at my second-oldest brother. He was smiling and talking to Frank by the cake. He looked happier than I'd seen him in a long time.
"So, uh, Addie, I wanted to talk to you about something."
I turned my head at my dad's voice, which sounded decidedly uncomfortable. He looked just as nervous as George while he was saying vows only forty minutes ago. "About what?"
"About Frank."
I raised an eyebrow. "Oh-kay...what about him?"
"I just...I wanted to let you know...even though he doesn't meet my standards...if he's the one, I'm okay with it," he finished.
I stared at my dad. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. The one? Frank was the first. I barely knew how I felt about Frank, much less whether or not he was 'the one'. I opened my mouth to say something snarky, but I closed it when I saw my dad's face. Were those...tears? And then it hit me. I was my dad's only daughter. The only one he'd ever have to give away. And he was offering to, if I wanted it. I couldn't imagine how hard it was for him to say those words to me.
Instead of laughing or reassuring my dad that I didn't even know where Frank and I were going, I hugged him tightly. "Thank you, Daddy," I whispered. "I love you."
"You're welcome, Addie," he said, squeezing me tightly. "I love you, too."
_
December 3, 1942 – The New York Port of Embarkation, New York City, New York
It was the day after Frank and I's ten-month anniversary. He was being shipped out. I stood on the port with Frank, our fingers tangled together. We stared at the large ocean liner before us, the Monarco.
Frank turned to me and took my other hand. "So I guess this is goodbye."
I couldn't help the tears that threatened to fall down my cheeks. "Only temporarily," I said.
"Hey, don't cry," Frank whispered. He brushed the tears from my cheeks and smiled at me. "I'll come back for you. Okay?"
I gave him a watery smile. "Promise?"
"I promise I'll come back for you, Adelyn Juliet. But now you promise me something."
"Anything."
"Marry me."
My mind went blank. The ocean breeze blew across the port, drying my salty tears to my face. I said the only thing that came to mind. "What?"
"Marry me," Frank said again, his voice a bit desperate. "When I get back. You said it yourself, this is only temporary. And things have been going so well. I already asked your dad, back at George's wedding. He said he was okay with it. I don't have the rings yet, but I'll get them as soon as I get home. So what do you say, huh?" He pulled his silver cross necklace out from under his shirt and gently turned me around. "It would be great. We'd be amazing together, you and me," he said. His fingers brushed my hair out of the way as he lowered the necklace around my neck and locked it together. "So, Adelyn? Whaddya say?"
I'm not exactly sure what happened next. The words kind of tumbled out of my mouth without warning or any thought. In the rational part of my mind, they made sense. I wasn't convinced when he first asked me and after all of his begging, I still wasn't convinced. Yeah, the last ten months had been great, but I still didn't know if I was in love with him or not, and marriage was a thing of love. I thought I was ready to see Frank's reaction.
Boy was I wrong. Nothing, absolutely nothing, could have prepared me for the heartbreak that was evident on Frank's face.
"I can't, Frank," I said, my voice cracking in the slightest as I turned my head to look at him over my shoulder. "I don't know if I'm ready. I know that it's been ten months, but...but I've never been in a relationship before and this is my first one and I don't know if I can do it! It's not your fault, I promise, it's me, not you. You're amazing, Frank, and any girl would be lucky to have you—I mean, I'm lucky to have you, but you deserve someone who knows what she's feeling, who fully has a grasp on relationships and love and who's ready—"
"Hey, hey, hey," Frank's voice silenced my nervous rambling and his hands settled on shoulders as he spun me around. The heartbreak that had been there a moment ago was gone and replaced with a light smile. His silver necklace still hung around my neck. "To be honest, I kinda figured you'd say no. You're kind of a hard shell to crack, AJ." He took a deep breath. "One that I'm willing to wait for, if you'll do the same for me. Can you at least do that? I mean, I know it's selfish, but—"
"Yes," I said, cutting him off. "I'll wait for you. You know what they say." Upon Frank's confused look, I continued. "Absence makes the heart grow fonder. I'll wait. And if you get back and I'm ready...we'll go from there."
A wide grin broke out across Frank's face, but it was broken by a nurse yelling first call throughout the soldiers around us on the port. "I think that's my cue," he said.
I stood up on my tiptoes, kissing him softly. "Be careful, Frank."
"I will," he said.
"Promise?"
"Promise," he affirmed, before pulling back and giving me a quick peck on the forehead. "I'll see ya later, Adelyn Juliet."
"Bye, Frank Thomas."
I watched his back the entire way to the ocean liner, my fingers closed around the silver cross around my neck. He didn't turn around once.
