Winter marched forward. It was the end of February, with rainy days and cold nights. Jorden listened to the wind howl through the trees behind her apartment. She thought about Matt. She’d been seeing him since she had gone with him to the Episcopal Church service. Now, she imagined how miserable he must be leading patrols of soldiers on training details through the swamps of Georgia over the last four nights. She laughed at his description of how he wrapped his poncho around him to stay warm and dry. She wondered if the poncho really worked. Just thinking about it made her shiver. Bending her knees, she pulled her blanket up and gathered it around her neck.

Jorden kept telling herself she and Matt were just friends. Rationalizing, she kept Alex and Matt in separate compartments. Alex was her future. Matt? Matt was fun. No complications—made seeing him easier.

The last few nights had been dedicated to writing Alex. Yesterday Jorden had mailed him a care package—easing guilt from seeing Matt. Alex’s tour of duty would be over at the end of May, and they would finally be together. She finished grading papers and concentrated on Alex’s latest letter.

I’ll be happy to leave in May and be with you. I know it will be beautiful. The army put me in Columbus, Georgia which was good. Meeting you makes being in Vietnam worth it. Soon we’ll be married—well, some months off. I think about it a lot. Marriage is a big step, but it’s so right. I love you. You love me. It’s a good feeling. You have such an effect on me. You make me happier than anyone ever has. The first year of marriage is so important—a good chance to start off right. The short week in Hawaii was heaven. Our marriage will be the same.

Jorden sat back and remembered their five days in tropical paradise. “Heavenly” did describe their time together.

That same night, Jorden talked on the phone with her mother to discuss the wedding invitations. Jorden had already placed an order to have them printed and delivered to her home in New Jersey. August seemed a long way off but in reality it really wasn’t.

A knock on Jorden’s door startled her. “Come on in.”

Darby popped her head in. “Mama wants to know if you’re interested in the wedding dress she made for me. You know—for me and Nate. She’ll sell it to you at the cost of the materials. Of course she’ll also make adjustments for nothing. It’s a beautiful dress. For fifty dollars it’s yours!”

Emma Lynn pushed Darby further into Jorden’s bedroom. “If you don’t go for it, I will!”

Jorden smiled. “Are you keeping something from us? Did Kyle pop the magic question?”

“No. But I hope he will. I’m patiently waiting, but no hint so far.”