“I can’t tell you over the phone. We’re all going to celebrate tomorrow night. You and I, Chip and Darby, Lyon and, I hope, Emma Lynn. We’ll have dinner and then go dancing at the Chattahoochee Club in downtown Columbus. It’s bohemian, literally it is down under the street level. You won’t believe it. You can come—can’t you?”

“I wouldn’t miss it, but what’s up?”

“I’ll tell you tomorrow. Six thirty? Okay?”

“I guess.” Jorden sounded perturbed. “Why can’t you tell me now?”

“I will. Tomorrow. See you then.”

Jorden slapped the counter top when she realized he had hung up. Reaching for the phone to call Matt back, she spotted Alex’s letter on the floor. What was she doing? She had just written Alex about their wedding plans. Was she a bumbling idiot? Alex was her future—Matt was not. But, she knew, hoped, and prayed she had the situation under control. Matt would soon be part of her past.

Darby stuck her head into the kitchen. “Emma Lynn just told me she can go tomorrow night. What’s the occasion? Matt sounded upbeat!”

“He wouldn’t tell me—he ticks me off.”

“I’ll get to see Chip. It’s been a while.” Darby had been dating Matt’s roommate off and on since January.

Friday evening brought a welcome change. The girls dressed up for the occasion. Chip and his other roommate Lyon pulled in ahead of Matt. Chip was in rare form, full of wisecracks. His light blue eyes danced under his thick, bushy brows. He set the mood for the night’s adventure. Lyon and Emma Lynn were a mismatch, but they didn’t seem to mind.

“Meet you at the Officers’ Club. I made reservations for six under my name,” Chip announced.

“We’ll be right behind you,” Matt replied.

Jorden rode with Matt while the other two couples went in Chip’s car. “Well? I’m waiting.”

“You’ll hear it at the Officers’ Club.”

“You’re going back on your word?” Jorden asked.

“Can’t you wait?”

“No! I’d like to hear it before everyone else.”

“Okay. I don’t know where to begin. I got my orders yesterday. Of course there were other names on the list, but—mine was different. My destination, APO address, had been crossed out.”

“And? What do you mean?”

“A new APO address replaced it.” Matt slowed down for a traffic light. “At first I wasn’t sure. But . . . later in the day . . . I found out.” Matt stepped on the brake and came to a stop for a red light.

“Found out what?”

“Korea! . . . I’m . . . I’m going to Korea—Not Vietnam!” A huge grin exploded on his face.