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“Are you happy?” he asked, as he took my hands and kissed the ring. “You are in this for the long haul, I guess you know.”

           He stared right into my eyes as he spoke. Our eyes connected — as if we had exchanged a telepathic message from his soul to mine — “we will love each other forever!”

           Dinner was almost a ritual — a ceremony — like a beautiful violin instrumental. We talked and laughed, making ourselves part of the symphony.  When we had finished our dinner and arose to leave, the song ended — but I knew that the melody would linger on in our hearts ‘til the end of time.

           The fireplace had been lit in our room and welcomed us with the warmth of a home away from home. The bed had been turned down, the drapes drawn and a gift basket delivered during our absence. A bottle of champagne cooled inside an ice bucket. Two champagne glasses set side by side on a silver tray.

           Bob was all smiles. “That Clayton is a great guy. How generous of him to do all this for us. His parents are in the oil business and wealthy as all get out, .but you would never know it. He is just a down-to-earth guy. Just one of the boys. I had no idea that he would give us such a great homecoming. You’d like him, Laurel. Someday you’ll have to meet him

           “I’d like that. But, right now I’d like to get into something comfortable and maybe take a shower?” I gave him a smile and a wink and he took the hint.

           It didn’t take me long to step out of my clothes. Bob took a little longer. I watched as he carefully hung up his uniform and rolled up his underwear and socks. At the sound of his dog tags hitting the top of the dresser, my heart skipped a few beats and a damp cloud seemed to pass through the room. “He will never belong to me until those dog tags and all reminders of the military are tucked away and out of sight forever,” I thought.

           It was exciting to step into the shower and to be close to Bob again. Perhaps we could wash away all thoughts of the war and our pending separation like the soap suds that were spiraling down the drain.

           “This is almost like being married,” I heard myself saying. “Why can’t this last forever? Why must there be a war? Let’s just run away to some strange land and never come back….”

           “What are you saying, Laurel? You’re  overlooking the consequences. There will be a time for us,” and he held me close to him, which calmed the trembling that was running from the top of my head to the tips of my toes. Once again I felt secure in knowing that he loved me.

           “I’m sorry, Bob,” I’m a bit sensitive tonight. It was immature of me to become unglued. I know I should be grateful for these precious moments we have together but, in my heart, I realize that the time will pass all too swiftly and you will be gone again….maybe for a very long time. Hold me in your arms tonight, dear soldier boy, and promise me you will be here in the morning. I couldn’t bear to awaken and find this all has been a dream.”

I awoke to the sound of the wood crackling in the fireplace. Bob was sound asleep. Moving closer, I tucked my head under his chin, intending to doze back to sleep again, when I felt his arm tighten around me.

           He smiled. “Did anyone ever tell you that you snore?” he whispered.

           “Did I keep you awake? You looked like you weren’t having any trouble sleeping when I awoke.”

            “I always carry ear plugs for just such occasions,” he said softly.

           I was embarrassed and blushing, but tried to laugh it off.

           “Just kidding,” he grinned. “I turned you over and the snoring stopped. Guess I’ll have to make a note by your name in my address book that you are a snorer.” He had a great laugh over that remark.

           “There goes the relationship,” I thought — but before I could complete my thought, he proved me totally wrong.

           Intoxicated with the freedom to lie together without restraint, we were both in a good mood.  The dreary weeks that I had spent without him vanished into pure joy. He ran his fingers through my hair and with lazy satisfaction in his voice asked if I could ever fall in love with him.

           “Could I ever fall in love with you? I fell in love with you the first time we met….no one could ever stop me from loving you. Remember how late I got home the day you left for camp? Well, my father was very, very unhappy….but I didn’t care how unhappy it made him. I’d do it all over again — and again — and again, if it were the only way we could be together…. no matter how miserable he reacted.”

           Bob’s expression had changed — it took on an air of concern. “Laurel, I had no idea your parents objected to our dating? Why didn’t you share it with me? No telling what the consequences may be after spending last night together. What could they possibly be planning now?”

More tomorrow… to confirm my virginity.”

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   Our room was beautiful. The bed and its pillows were heart-shaped. A fire blazed in the fireplace and a white fur rug embellished the hearth. A bottle of champagne and two glasses were on the night table and two terry cloth robes hung in the closet.

       “The couple who were supposed to spend their honeymoon here were unable to arrive today on account of the weather, — so I got a good deal on the room,” Bob boasted. “This is great, isn’t it?”

       “I prayed all the way up here that we would get snowed in,” I laughed.

       “That makes two of us,” I heard him say as he put another log on the fire.

       “Bob, come look at the bathroom! Have you ever seen anything like it? Even the tub is heart-shaped…. red roses are on the vanity and all kinds of cute little bottles of oils and bubble bath are on the tub. Even the soap is a pink heart… This room is just begging us to take a bath!”

       He turned around quickly with a look of disbelief at what he was hearing. “Say that again….”

       I took his hand and pulled him into the bathroom. “Did you ever see such a romantic trap?”

       “Think it’s a trap, huh? Well.…it just may be that. Why don’t you think over what you said before you regret your invitation.…you little tramp!” he laughed.

       We settled down on the rug before the fireplace. Bob popped the champagne cork and filled our goblets. The sandwiches, thick and tasty on home-made bread, went down easily with the champagne. The combination was just what we needed to get the chill from our snowbound bodies.

        We listened to the radio, danced to the romantic songs of the war era and, to keep our spirits high, laughed and joked about the “trap” in the next room.

           After a while, the laughter faded and there was a lull in the conversation. Something had happened between us.

           “Bob, let’s get into that beautiful tub and create some beautiful memories to remember when we are far apart .…”

           Our eyes met and made the decision, speaking a language that only lovers could understand — and, as the snow fell silently over the countryside, together, we slid into the hot bubbling bathwater.

more tomorrow - when I felt his arm tighten around me…

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