Chapter 2

Mrs. Howell, Ginger, and Mary Ann had left for their third shopping day in a row. Mr. Howell, Skipper, Gilligan, and the professor sat drinking coffee on the hotel patio. Typical of most men, they had only needed one morning of shopping. They went straight for the items they needed with no unnecessary stopping along the way.

Mr. Howell stood up to leave, "Gentlemen, I hate to break this up but I have several meetings with various section heads at Howell Industries."

"I'm going too," Skipper said. "I'll be at the pier. I hope I'll be getting my insurance payment for the SS Minnow soon, and I want to see what they have available."

"What are you doing today, professor," Gilligan asked as he reached for his eighth doughnut.

"I've decided to walk to the bookstore. It has been too long since I had any new reading materiel. I have five years of scientific research to catch up on."

"Can I go with you? I want some new Mad Magazines."

"Sure, Gilligan. If you're ready we can go now."

Gilligan popped out of his chair, holding one doughnut in his teeth, he grabbed as many more as could hold in each hand.

The professor closed his eyes and took a deep breath as soon as he stepped inside the bookstore. Opening his eyes he slowly looked around the store. There were thousands of books. The professor wanted to look at everything at once but he took his time strolling up and down each aisle. Gilligan had found the comic books and sat on the floor with a stack of various titles.

The professor loved being around books. When Mary Ann and I purchase a house we must have a library, he thought. After three hours, the professor had decided on only two books and several scientific magazines and journals. He also picked up a handful of women's magazines for Mary Ann. I'm sure she'll like something to read on the plane.

The professor and Gilligan made their purchases and headed back to the hotel. Gilligan had been so entranced by the latest adventures of Flash Gordon that the professor had to stop him from walking into traffic at every crosswalk.

Back on the hotel patio, the professor positioned a chair where he would be able to see Mary Ann coming into the lobby. He picked up one of his recent purchases and waited. The professor had laughed in the bookstore when he found a book titled "How to Repair Your Boat on a Deserted Island". We could have used this while we were on the island.

As he turned a page he looked up to see Mrs. Howell and Ginger strolling into the lobby talking non-stop.

After three full days of shopping, Mrs. Howell and Ginger still appear quite lively. Too bad they didn't have this much stamina while we were on the island, but it's good to see them so happy. The professor thought.

Mary Ann looked tired as she followed several paces behind. She changed directions once she spotted the professor. Mary Ann fell into the chair beside the professor and kicked off her shoes.

"Are you all right, dear?" the professor asked.

"I have never been so exhausted." Mary Ann said as she made circles with her feet to stretch her tired ankles. "Shopping with Mrs. Howell is like running a marathon. I don't know where she gets all the energy, and Ginger isn't any better."

The professor chuckled. "Just a few more days and it will be over."

The professor waved down the passing waitress and asked for fresh coffee and a cup for Mary Ann.

"I know I'm drinking too much coffee, but after not having any for five years, I can't help myself." the professor confessed.

"Me too. I'm sure after we've been back for a while, we won't have it as often, but for now, I'm enjoying it. It'll be a while before I'll want to drink pineapple juice again," Mary Ann laughed.

The waitress sat a cup in front of Mary Ann with a carafe of coffee. She also laid a plate of cookies down on the table. They were in the shape of flowers, pineapples, and palm trees.

"Ginger wanted me to try on some crazy-looking clothes, but I wouldn't have the nerve to wear them." She poured coffee for both of them. "The styles have certainly changed."

"Yes, I've seen a couple of women wearing some peculiar-looking dresses." The professor picked up a pineapple-shaped cookie. "Don't let Ginger influence you. She may prefer the latest fashions but I like your taste in clothes much better."

"Thank you, Roy." Mary Ann reached over and gently squeezed his hand. "Mrs. Howell insisted on a whole trousseau. I have more clothes now than I've had in my entire life. Casual, semi-formal, formal, sportswear, church dresses, sun dresses, shoes, and boots for every occasion. Hats, gloves, scarves, nightwear, a raincoat, light jackets, and a winter coat. I don't know if I'll ever wear it all. When I told her it was too much, she told me, nonsense, and that she was having too much fun being the mother of the bride. I could hardly say no. But, I did finally convince her I didn't need a mink coat."

"You'll need several more suitcases to get it all home." the professor chuckled.

"Oh no, she bought us a set of luggage. They'll be delivered tomorrow, so you can come by my room sometime and take one or two for yourself."

"Mrs. Howell seems to have thought of everything. Do you need to go out again tomorrow?"

"Thankfully, no. All I have left is to pick up my wedding dress after it's been altered."

"Good, then we'll be able to spend more time together. I've hardly seen you since our rescue." The professor glanced at his watch. "Of course, my parents should be arriving here at the hotel within the hour so you'll have to share me for a few days," the professor joked.

"An hour?" Mary Ann's eyes grew big. "Oh, Roy. I'm so nervous about meeting your parents. I hope they like me."

"Don't worry." He leaned over and kissed her cheek. "They are going to love you."

Mary Ann slipped her feet back into her shoes. "I need to freshen up before I meet them. Just give me 30 minutes."

"I'll wait for you, right here."

The professor and Mary Ann stood outside the hotel where the taxis dropped off the hotel guests. His parents would be arriving any minute. The professor was wearing a blue Hawaiian shirt that the Skipper had insisted that he needed. Skipper said after wearing the same colored shirt for five years, he needed something different while in Hawaii. Mary Ann looked beautiful in a dark pink flowered sundress that Ginger had said was perfect for her.

With each passing minute, Mary Ann grew more nervous.

"Relax, Mary Ann." The professor brushed back Mary Ann's hair that had blown across her face in the breeze. "My parents are very nice people and they are going to love you."

"But what if they don't, Roy? What if I make a bad impression?"

"Mary Ann, you could never—".

"What if... what if they wanted you to marry someone else."

The professor took both of her hands. "Mary Ann, they didn't—"

"What if they think I'm not smart enough for a professor with six degrees."

The professor rubbed up and down Mary Ann's arms trying to soothe her. "Mary Ann you are—"

"I didn't even go to college." Mary Ann's hands started shaking.

The professor took Mary Ann's face in his hands so that she would look into his eyes. "Mary Ann, you need to calm down. You have nothing to worry about. I promise. Now take a couple of deep breaths. Everything is going to be fine."

Mary Ann inhaled deeply and slowly let it out. "I'm sorry Roy. You're right, I need to calm down." reaching up she kissed him. "Thank you."

A taxi drew up to the hotel and an older couple got out. "Roy!" they called.

The professor quickly turned to see a couple rushing to him. Throwing their arms around him they held him tight.

"We thought we'd never see you again," the woman cried.

"It's so great to have you back son," the man said.

"Great to be back, Dad."

His mother leaned back. "Let me look at you." She held his face between her hands. "I was so scared I would find you looking sickly and skinny, but I can't believe how wonderful you look."

"That's because Mary Ann cooked us healthy meals on the island." The professor took a step back from his parents. Smiling, he placed his arm around Mary Ann giving her waist a small squeeze for encouragement. "Mary Ann, let me introduce you to my parents, Russell and Ruth Hinkley. Mom, Dad, I'd like to introduce Mary Ann. She was one of the castaways on the island and now... my fiance."

"Your what?" the Hinkleys exclaimed in unison.

"Surprise." The professor smiled.

Mary Ann held out a shaky hand. "I'm very pleased to meet you. I know this is unexpected—"

"Unexpected?" Russell ignored Mary Ann's outstretched hand as he gave her a hug and a kiss on her cheek. "I'll say it is, but the best surprise we could have asked for, besides Roy coming home."

"All I can say is, it's about time. I thought I'd never become a grandmother," Ruth said to Roy before she wrapped Mary Ann in a hug. "Welcome to the family, dear."

"Thank you very much, Mr. and Mrs. Hinkley."

"None of that Mr. and Mrs. nonsense. It's Mom and Dad or if you're not comfortable calling us that, Russell and Ruth," Ruth said.

"I would love to call you mom and dad." Mary Ann said with a shaky smile.

"I'm so happy," Ruth said as tears started falling, "I think my heart is going to burst. First, our boy finally being rescued and now we have a new daughter."

Russell handed his wife a handkerchief and wrapped an arm around her. "I think we should check into our room and let your mother have a moment for her happy tears."

"Good idea, Dad. I think Mary Ann needs a few minutes too." Roy said as he wrapped an arm around Mary Ann.

"Come down as soon as you can. We'll be out on the patio waiting for you." Roy said as they all walked into the hotel. "We'll have a little time to talk before we meet everyone for dinner."

Roy turned to Mary Ann and gently wiped the tears from her cheeks. "Feel better?"

"Yes. You were right. I think your parents are going to be wonderful in-laws."