It makes me happy you haven’t dated, but it is okay to go out. I know it won’t mean anything. It gets old for you to sit around and just watch TV. I’m sure you’ll go to parties. If you go out I want to know, but at the same time, I don’t want to know. We have something unbelievably wonderful. I get nostalgic just thinking about the apartment—it brings back fantastic memories. We have memories we haven’t even made yet . . .

Jorden stared into space. Alex’s reaction wasn’t what she expected. After reading the passage a zillion times, she began to realize he was simply giving her space. She hoped he really meant it. As she thought about her recent outing, she knew it was of no consequence, most likely she wouldn’t see Matt again.

Later that night, Darby returned to the apartment glowing. “Come see what Nate just gave me.”

“What is it?” Emma Lynn stepped out of the bathroom with cleansing cream smeared all over her face. Jorden had been writing to Alex and carried her pen and paper to see what the commotion was about.

Darby stood at the entrance of the hallway and stretched out her left hand. The glitter of the diamond ring on her finger reflected off the light from the lamp in the living room. Emma Lynn rushed forward to get a closer look. “Wow! What a rock!”

“He asked you tonight?” Jorden gasped.

“Yes! I can’t believe it. We’ll have a Christmas wedding! I have to call Mama and Daddy.”

“Slow down. Tell us more,” Emma Lynn insisted. “It’s beautiful!”

Jorden looked down at her own ring-less left hand. Alex wanted to wait—wait until he came back from Vietnam. He didn’t want to rush into marriage, and she didn’t want an engagement ring until he returned from this war. She didn’t plan on dating, but she didn’t want to feel completely restricted at twenty-two.

“I’ve got to call home first. I hope Mama will make my wedding gown—you two have to be in the wedding! Oh, save Friday night for us. Nate and I are planning a gathering at the Officers’ Club around five thirty to celebrate our engagement.” Darby hugged both girls before she closed off the kitchen to make her call home.

***

Friday evening, Nate arrived a little before five still wearing his Army greens. Jorden opened the door after his first ring. “Don’t you look nice!”

“Thank you. It’s the uniform,” Nate replied. “I should wear it more often.”

Jorden gave him a gentle hug. “Hey, congratulations to you and Darby.”

Emma Lynn looked like she couldn’t contain herself; she jumped up and gave Nate a hug and a kiss.

“Hey there, watch out you’re hugging my guy,” Darby replied while laughing. Her teaching attire had been replaced by an elegant black sheath dress.