cheering and yelling. It was so loud and crowded.”
“That’s what I’m trying to tell you. Even with all of those people lining the street, I found you. I saw only you.”
Josette blushed but lifted her gaze to Luke’s light brown eyes. “I wasn’t even supposed to be there, you know? I snuck out of the house against Papa’s wishes. He didn’t want me to see the parade or be anywhere near sailors. He always said they were no good for me.” The edges of her crimson lips formed a smile. “But he’s wrong. You. You’re good for me, my love.”
“I’m glad you didn’t listen to him. We never would have met. The day of the parade was the best day of my life. Until now.” He paused with a deep breath. “I know I’m going to Japan, but the efforts there won’t last forever. We’ll find a house, you can get everything ready for us, and I’ll come home to you soon.” He squeezed her tightly. “Josette, we can do this together; we can leave right now and start our life together. Please.” He wiped away a rolling tear on her cheek and kissed her on the mouth as she leaned into him.
“But Papa, he won’t give up. He will find us. He will come looking for me. How can I do that to you, Luke? Always running? We’ll never have peace.”
It seemed as if Luke was enchanted by her innocence and stubbornness. “I don’t care how powerful he is, even if he is the French consul. We love each other, Josette. And there’s nothing he can do about that, especially when you become my wife.”
“Wife?” The tears subsided from her pale blue eyes, and her lips formed a tiny, impish smile. How could he not be charmed by her? She was alluring, adorable, and headstrong all wrapped up in one petite bundle of temptation. “Yes, yes, I’ll go with you. I love you, Luke. I want to be with you and be your wife.”
Relief and happiness flooded the handsome man’s face. He urgently hugged and kissed her again. I had never seen a proposal unfold in person, but this one would be hard to beat. It was like something from a Cary Grant movie.
“But, Luke, where do we go? How do I hide until you come back?”
“I have a plan for us. My Aunt Frances lives in California. I’ve written to her and she’s expecting us. You can stay with her while I’m gone. She has a little place on the water—you’ll love it.”
“California? I’ve never been to California. But then what, Luke?” Josette was looking less certain of her lover’s plan.
“Well, when I get back, we can start our own life. I’ll leave the Navy. I’ve been saving up for this. What do you think about Mexico?” His eyes widened, waiting for her reaction.
“Hmm…I don’t know. Can Papa find us there?”
“I don’t think so. I was talking to some of the guys and I heard Acapulco is great. They’re building new wharfs and warehouses. I’ll have no trouble finding work. It’s right on the beach—it’s beautiful. Look, I brought you a picture.” He untangled himself from her grasp and dug into his front pocket.
She pulled at each of her fingertips until the fabric encasing each one was loose enough to free her hands from the gloves. Josette unfolded the colorful magazine clipping, and spread the page out in her lap. I leaned over to peek. The tattered corners of the page curled over palm trees and a picture of ships trolling in front of sandy beaches. Josette traced the rooflines of the houses dotting the cluster of streets spreading out from the water.
“Oui,” she whispered. “I can see it. We could live right over here.” She pointed to a green hill. “And every morning we will wake up to warm breezes from the sea. I can plant a little garden over here, and this spot right here is where you can have your workshop. And our children will grow up playing in the sand and climbing coconut trees. I can see it, Luke.”
“Really? You want to move to Acapulco with me?” He pulled her into a crushing embrace. Josette squealed with
“That’s what I’m trying to tell you. Even with all of those people lining the street, I found you. I saw only you.”
Josette blushed but lifted her gaze to Luke’s light brown eyes. “I wasn’t even supposed to be there, you know? I snuck out of the house against Papa’s wishes. He didn’t want me to see the parade or be anywhere near sailors. He always said they were no good for me.” The edges of her crimson lips formed a smile. “But he’s wrong. You. You’re good for me, my love.”
“I’m glad you didn’t listen to him. We never would have met. The day of the parade was the best day of my life. Until now.” He paused with a deep breath. “I know I’m going to Japan, but the efforts there won’t last forever. We’ll find a house, you can get everything ready for us, and I’ll come home to you soon.” He squeezed her tightly. “Josette, we can do this together; we can leave right now and start our life together. Please.” He wiped away a rolling tear on her cheek and kissed her on the mouth as she leaned into him.
“But Papa, he won’t give up. He will find us. He will come looking for me. How can I do that to you, Luke? Always running? We’ll never have peace.”
It seemed as if Luke was enchanted by her innocence and stubbornness. “I don’t care how powerful he is, even if he is the French consul. We love each other, Josette. And there’s nothing he can do about that, especially when you become my wife.”
“Wife?” The tears subsided from her pale blue eyes, and her lips formed a tiny, impish smile. How could he not be charmed by her? She was alluring, adorable, and headstrong all wrapped up in one petite bundle of temptation. “Yes, yes, I’ll go with you. I love you, Luke. I want to be with you and be your wife.”
Relief and happiness flooded the handsome man’s face. He urgently hugged and kissed her again. I had never seen a proposal unfold in person, but this one would be hard to beat. It was like something from a Cary Grant movie.
“But, Luke, where do we go? How do I hide until you come back?”
“I have a plan for us. My Aunt Frances lives in California. I’ve written to her and she’s expecting us. You can stay with her while I’m gone. She has a little place on the water—you’ll love it.”
“California? I’ve never been to California. But then what, Luke?” Josette was looking less certain of her lover’s plan.
“Well, when I get back, we can start our own life. I’ll leave the Navy. I’ve been saving up for this. What do you think about Mexico?” His eyes widened, waiting for her reaction.
“Hmm…I don’t know. Can Papa find us there?”
“I don’t think so. I was talking to some of the guys and I heard Acapulco is great. They’re building new wharfs and warehouses. I’ll have no trouble finding work. It’s right on the beach—it’s beautiful. Look, I brought you a picture.” He untangled himself from her grasp and dug into his front pocket.
She pulled at each of her fingertips until the fabric encasing each one was loose enough to free her hands from the gloves. Josette unfolded the colorful magazine clipping, and spread the page out in her lap. I leaned over to peek. The tattered corners of the page curled over palm trees and a picture of ships trolling in front of sandy beaches. Josette traced the rooflines of the houses dotting the cluster of streets spreading out from the water.
“Oui,” she whispered. “I can see it. We could live right over here.” She pointed to a green hill. “And every morning we will wake up to warm breezes from the sea. I can plant a little garden over here, and this spot right here is where you can have your workshop. And our children will grow up playing in the sand and climbing coconut trees. I can see it, Luke.”
“Really? You want to move to Acapulco with me?” He pulled her into a crushing embrace. Josette squealed with
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