Alex was scheduled to return to the States by the end of May. More than likely he would be discharged from the Army in California. Jorden couldn’t talk him into coming to Columbus first. He was determined to go home, get his Mustang, and then drive down. Their wedding plans for August were coming together. The good news, Alex had been accepted at Harvard Law School. A few of his undergraduate professors had given him good recommendations which helped. Jorden planned to look for work teaching in the Boston area. Everyone had new plans.

In spite of all this, Jorden and Matt continued to see each other on a daily basis, or whenever possible. They seemed to be in the eye of a hurricane, never touched by reality. She rarely got back to her apartment before midnight. Her wedding plans were never mentioned. She knew their relationship was escalating, but she refused to acknowledge it.

One night, Jorden and Matt stopped for ice cream cones at Columbus Square. Jorden spotted Nora, Eloise, and, with them, Major Hawkins.

Nora waved first. “Hi, Miss Marshall.”

“Hi!” Jorden called out.

Matt and Major Hawkins shook hands.

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen you. Rumor has it you’re going to Korea. Did I hear right?” Major Hawkins asked Matt.

“It’s a go! I head out in August. I’ll take a couple of weeks off in July to spend time at home in Alaska. It’ll be a nice break before I head to Seoul.”

Jorden’s throat constricted; she couldn’t catch her breath. Matt’s future plans hit her like a ton of bricks. He wouldn’t be a part of her life anymore. Stop it, she told herself. Accept it—you’re getting married in August.

Nora started asking Jorden all sorts of questions. At the same time, Major Hawkins and Eloise chatted with Matt. When Eloise spoke about their upcoming wedding, the word marriage caught both Jorden and Nora’s attention.

“So you and Eloise are getting married. Great. When?” Matt asked.

Jorden watched Eloise bubble over with joy talking about their wedding plans. “The ceremony is on base at the Main Chapel on Saturday, May 16 and the reception is at the Officers’ Club. We were fortunate to get the Club; they had a cancellation. You and Miss Marshall must come.”

“We wouldn’t miss it,” Matt replied.

Jorden looked at Nora, afraid of what her reaction might be. Instead of looking troubled, Nora’s eyes seemed to sparkle. She, surprisingly, was happy about her mother’s marriage. Three months earlier, this was not the case; she would have been very upset. But, from February to the present, the situation between Nora and Major Hawkins had begun to change.

***

Three months earlier, February 1970