“To the beach we go,” Emma Lynn chanted while she twirled around the sewing room.

“Watch out, Emma Lynn! You’re going to knock over Mama’s mannequin.”

Emma Lynn stopped. “I’m not.” She couldn’t help herself and twirled around the room one more time. “I just wish Kyle would pop the question!”

“I wish he would too for your sake.” Darby looked at Emma Lynn with sympathetic eyes. “I know he cares for you.”

“We’re finished. Come on, Jorden. Let’s get you out of this dress. It’s time for you girls to head to the beach,” Mrs. Simms said.

A furrow nestled between Darby’s eyebrows. “I hope my favorite spot is still there. Hurricane Camille came crashing through here last summer. I remember the day Camille was classified a Category 5 hurricane—the worst level. It was August 16, 1969.”

Jorden remembered the Mississippi coastline got hit the hardest. Winds, as high as two hundred miles per hour, were reported. The destruction was unbelievable, especially at Long Beach, Gulfport, and Biloxi. “What happened here?” Jorden asked.

“We got twenty-seven foot tidal surges but nothing compared to the damages to the Mississippi coastline.”

As Darby drove closer to the coast she exhaled. “What a relief; it looks much the same.”

Jorden could see there was a lot of driftwood blown in by the hurricane, but otherwise it probably wasn’t much different. It was too cold for swimming but they had a picnic and walked on the beach.

Supper was at six, just as Mrs. Simms had announced earlier. Jorden joined the others as they sat in the dining room around a large sturdy oak table. This time Darby’s father joined them. Before he sat down, he gave his daughter a big bear hug. “How’s my best girl?”

“Oh, Daddy! You’re embarrassing me!” Darby laughed affectionately.

Like Darby he was tall, a strapping man, with angular features and a commanding presence. His bronzed complexion must have come from running a farm and being outside so much. Mrs. Simms served a delicious spaghetti dinner with meat sauce, followed by pound cake and sliced strawberries. They finished by seven and gathered in the living room to watch Lawrence Welk on the television. Jorden smiled as Darby’s father raved about his favorite show.

They departed after breakfast the next morning. Mrs. Simms turned to Jorden before they left. “I’ll have your dress ready when Darby comes home for Easter. Two more weeks and it will be yours!”

“Thank you.” Jorden beamed while she gave Mrs. Simms a check for fifty dollars.

Darby’s mother gave them all hugs. She waved as Darby backed up, calling out, “Y’all come back with Darby anytime. We enjoyed having you.”