Chapter Fourteen
“How was Pearl Harbor?”a voice rang out from the hotel lobby, when Ray, Amy and his sister’s friends Josh and Jessica returned from a day of visiting war memorials.Courtney stood and greeted them.
Jessica uncurled her arm from around her husband’s waist and rebalanced the baby on her hip.“It was awesome.So worth getting up early for.”
“Very moving,” Amy agreed.Even with her hair coming loose from her ponytail and her eyes drained from a night of no sleep and a nearly full day of sightseeing, she still looked beautiful.
Jessica nuzzled her baby’s forehead.“On Wednesday, all the tickets for theArizonahad been sold out.”She turned to Ray.“Thanks so much for driving us.”
“Not a problem,” he said, stifling a yawn.He glanced at the woman who’d stolen his heart in just days.Last night, settling in on the beach, they’d continued talking.For two people so different, they had much in common.Shared the same values, the same ideas about marriage and children, the same love of family.Amy’s grandfather had served in World WarII, as had Ray’s grandfather and great-uncle.Their conversation had been so easy, they were both shocked to see the sun rising over the ocean.
“Amy!”Carrie breezed into the hotel, her groom in tow.She held up a piece of paper.“It’s official.Or almost official.We just got our marriage license.”
Courtney quirked a brow.“Why didn’t you just order it online?”
“I did.”Carrie stood next to Courtney’s chair.“But you still have to sign for it at the marriage bureau.”Her eyes widened.“You didn’t?”
Courtney’s face paled, accenting the red freckles on her cheeks.“Oh, my God.The wedding’s tomorrow.”She glanced at her watch.“Where’s the marriage bureau?”
“Near the Punchbowl.I’ll text you the address.”
Courtney took out her phone.“What time do they close?”
“Four o’clock.”
“Oh, lord.”
Ray checked his watch.Courtney and her future groom had little more than an hour.
“Drew!”Courtney called to her fiancé at the bar.“We have to go now.”She hurried to the reception desk.“Are there any cabs out front?”
“No, ma’am.But I can call Charlie’s for you.”
“How long will it take?”
“About—”
“I can drive you.”Ray looked out at the valet stand.“My rental car’s still out front.”
“Oh, bless you.”Courtney threw her arms around him, then craned her head back toward the bar.“Drew!Now!”
The navy man Ray had met briefly last night loped toward them.
Courtney grasped her fiancé’s arm.“We need to pick up, and sign our license in person.Ray offered to drive us.”
Ray turned to Amy.“Do you want to stay here and rest or—”
“I’ll go with you.”
Ray tucked her hand again in his.Even after just breaking apart his hold on her, he missed her touch.“Then let’s boogie.”
With the address in the GPS, and Ray deftly maneuvering around the crunch of traffic, they made the ride downtown in less time than expected for a Friday afternoon.In the backseat of the rental, Courtney and Drew cuddled, exchanging endearments and loud, sloppy kisses.
“Hey, you lovebirds,” Ray teased.“There’s so much heat back there the windows are fogging up.”
When the couple pulled apart, Courtney didn’t look in the least embarrassed, but Drew’s cheeks turned the color of his bride’s hair.“Sorry,” he said.“It’s just that we haven’t seen each other in three months.And my shore leave is only for a few days.”
“So you’re starting the honeymoon early.I get it.”Ray pulled in front of the Hawaii State Department of Health building.“But, if you don’t get that license, you’ll have to relabel that honeymoon as just a vacation.”
