"And I haven't heard yet. But we want to be married as soon as possible. We can't let anyone know, at least not right away. The whole thing has to be handled delicately."
"Of course. But once you're married, the Navy wouldn't separate a husband and wife, will it?"
"You're joking, Mom?" Catherine asked with a light laugh. "I thought you knew the military better than that. The Navy does what's most convenient for the Navy. Royce and I have no right falling in love in the first place."
"But he'll be in Virginia, and you might well end up stationed in Washington."
"We don't know that yet. Royce is pulling every string he can to make sure that doesn't happen. Even if worse comes to worse and I do have to stay here, it won't be forever. Eventually we'll be together."
"I don't like the sound of this, Catherine," her mother said in low, concerned tones.
"Trust me, it's essential for right now."
"Not necessarily. Sweetheart, don't you think you should consider resigning from the Navy?"
It was an argument Catherine had been having with herself for several days. She'd talked it over with Royce, and they'd batted the idea back and forth several times, but she'd been adamant and he hadn't pressured her. "I'm not leaving the Navy," she argued forcibly with her mother. "I'm not giving up my career just because I happened to fall in love."
"You'll always be an attorney, and frankly, I've never understood why you don't simply join a law firm, you'd do much better financially."
"That's an old argument and not one I'm going to get involved with now. I've come too far to resign now. Besides, of all the people in the world, I would have thought you'd understand my feelings about the Navy. Resigning isn't even up for consideration. Royce knows that and accepts it."
"But, Catherine, sweetheart, be reasonable, what man wants to be separated from his wife by thousands of miles?"
"You're making it sound like a foregone conclusion that I won't be transferred with him. In every likelihood I will, so quit worrying about it," Catherine stated heatedly. She immediately felt contrite. Her mother wasn't telling her something she hadn't already debated long and hard. The Navy was important to both her and Royce. Catherine noted, however, that no one suggested he resign his commission and become a civilian because he wanted to marry her.
"What about children?"
"Mom, I don't think we're gong to accomplish anything productive going over this now. I've got less than two weeks to make all the necessary arrangements. Royce is detaching from his command here, which helps. Can you send us whatever it is we need to file for a wedding license in California?"
"Of course."
"Good." But her mother was right. What about children? Catherine didn't know if she was being greedy to want it all. A career, a family and the Navy. That was a question she had yet to face.
The next few days passed in a whirlwind of frantic activity. Catherine barely saw Royce, barely talked to him. Late in the week he and Kelly flew to Virginia to make the necessary arrangements for housing.
Friday after work, Catherine returned to her apartment in a haze of concern. Over the next two days she spent hours on the phone with her mother, arranging for the florists, photographers and trying on every wedding dress within two counties.
Royce called her late Sunday evening. "Hello, beautiful," he greeted in a soft, sexy voice that curled her toes.
She was exhausted physically and mentally. "Hello yourself," she answered, fighting back a powerful need to have his arms around her. Instead she forced herself to ask all the right questions. "Did you and Kelly find a house?"
"Within the first day. It's perfect. Three bedrooms, nice family room, a large kitchen and all for a reasonable rent." Royce hadn't been able to obtain housing on the base, which made the move just a little more difficult. Kelly had considered it important to accompany him on this trip so she could scout out the schools and choose the right kind of neighborhood, which meant one with lots of girls her age.
"What did Kelly think of Virginia?"
"It was radical this and radical that. At least that's what I seem to remember her saying. Right now everything's new and fun. I don't think she's going to have any problems making the adjustment."
Catherine snuggled up on the sofa, the phone cord stretched as far as it would go from the kitchen wall. Her gaze rested on the photograph of her father, lingering there for several moments. "Kelly's going to be making a whole lot of adjustments in the next few weeks." It worried Catherine that Royce's daughter was suffering the brunt of the sacrifices they each were forced into making for this marriage.
"Kelly's resilient. Trust me, she would have willingly moved to the jungles of darkest Africa if it meant you were going to be part of our family."
"I love you." Catherine felt the need to say it. It suddenly seemed important for her to voice her feelings.
"I love you, too." After the hectic craziness that had surrounded them for what seemed like months on end, it was good to sit in the solitude of her home and cherish the words she'd longed to hear for so many weeks.
"I didn't want to love you, at least not at first," Royce admitted roughly. "God knows I tried to stay away from you."
"I tried, too."
"I'd give anything to have you in my arms right now."
"That's all going to change soon, and I'll be in your arms for the rest of our lives." She said it as a reminder to herself, wiping the moisture from her cheek. She should be the happiest woman in the world. Within a matter of days she and Royce would be man and wife. Yet the envelope sitting on the corner of her desk was a constant reminder of how quickly that happiness could be tarnished.