Against the Tide Imperial: The Struggle for Ceylon (The Usurper's War: An Alternative World War II B by James Young (story reading txt) 📕

the Marines had come in civilian clothes, with David opting for a dark red button-up shirt that matched his wife’s burgundy cocktail dress.

Well, Sam wasn’t lying when he always ribbed David about marrying a beautiful woman, Adam observed as introductions were made. He took the covered dish from Sadie’s hands as Norah came forward to greet the newlyweds.

“I have heard so much about you,” Norah said, taking Sadie’s hands. The brown-haired, slender woman looked mildly concerned for a moment, glancing between Norah and her husband.

“All of it good,” Adam said, smiling at David’s momentary discomfiture.

“Oh thank goodness,” Sadie said with a laugh. “I was afraid Sam had been going on and on about how mean I was.”

“Having known Sam for only two months, I cannot say that he definitely deserved whatever you did to him,” Norah said. “I will say I’m very predisposed to believe Sam deserved it.”

“Speaking of Sam, where is he?” David asked, looking around. “He sent a telegram saying he was going to be here by…”

As if summoned, a black taxi drove up to the end of their driveway, a familiar hulking form in the rear passenger side. Hopping out before the vehicle had even stopped moving, Sam Cobb drew the flaps of his raincoat tighter. Reaching inside the garment, Sam produced a long black umbrella, then opened it and walked around to the driver’s side rear door.

Okay, who is she? Adam wondered, seeing a tall, Asian woman standing beside Sam. He handed off his umbrella to the woman, then moved around to the passenger’s side door. It was opened, and another umbrella passed out to Sam. The large man opened the umbrella as the passenger turned and gave the driver money. It was obvious the taxi driver was pleased, as he nodded vigorously at something the passenger said before waving at Sam.

All right, I should have known Sam would bring two women.

“Holy shit, that’s Beverly Bowden,” David said. Everyone but Sadie looked at him.

“Who?” Norah asked, then realized there was no time for David to answer. She pushed the screen door open and waved at the approaching trio.

“Come in, come in!” she said, her Missouri twang deepening.

Why Miss Hedglin, I’d never realize you were in full “Who the fuck are these people?”-mode, Adam marveled, also smiling as Sam held the door open for the two women behind him. The short brunette in the lead was barely through the door before David threw his arms around her, ignoring the rain beaded on her black coat.

“Beverly!”

“Hello David,” the woman replied, her voice deep with emotion as she hugged David back. Letting him go, she turned to Sadie. The younger woman threw her arms around the brunette as well, her eyes wet.

“Sadie, you’ll soak your dress,” Beverly said.

“I don’t care,” Sadie replied. “It’s so good to see you again.”

I feel like I’m missing something here, Adam thought.

“Hello, my name is Myla,” the Asian woman said, her accent causing Adam to smile. “Myla Ferguson.” She reached inside of her oversized bag and brought out two large bottles of wine.

“Norah Hedglin, and you are certainly welcome here with those!” Norah said with a smile, taking both bottles from her and handing them to Adam. Adam looked down at them and nearly dropped both.

“I see that you are familiar with wine, Mr...?” Myla said with a smile as she shrugged out of her coat to reveal a dark blue, knee-length dress.

“Haynes,” Adam said. “Adam Haynes. It may surprise you, but I allegedly own this place.”

“Well, at least until he finally bows to the inevitable and asks Norah to marry him,” Sam said in the middle of embracing his sister-in-law.

Adam’s face warmed as Norah’s colored almost to match her hair.

“You know, Sam, you talk a great deal about marriage for someone who has never been close to the altar,” David observed.

“Common refrain with fighter pilots,” Beverly stated. Adam saw a shadow of pain and sadness cross the woman’s face.

Wait a second. Wasn’t Bowden their former squadron commander’s name?

“Do you have a washroom?” Beverly asked lightly. Norah, having picked up on the same expression reading as Adam had, quickly stepped past him.

“I’ll show you,” she said, leading Beverly away. There was an awkward silence afterward that was finally broken by Myla.

“Yes, those are Chateau Lafite,” she said to Adam. “My husband secured them when we were leaving Hong Kong, and my son has nearly broken them at least a dozen times. From what Sam has said about you the last two days, this seemed like appropriate company to drink it with.”

It was Sam’s turn to blush as everyone turned to look at him.

“You know, it’s nothing I wouldn’t say to any of you,” he said thickly. “But thanks, Myla.”

“You bought my son a slingshot, Sam,” Myla replied. “Now my child who you have known for less than forty-eight hours won’t stop talking about wanting to be a fighter pilot and has already killed two squirrels. Which is a big deal when you’re eight.”

Sadie turned and looked at Sam in horror.

“Samuel Michael Cobb!” she exclaimed.

“Look, it’s not like they don’t kill tree rats in Kansas,” Sam said, spreading his hands plaintively.

Sadie glared at her brother-in-law.

“Not for fun, and not at eight,” she said.

Adam saw David giving his wife a sideways glance, worry a little plain on his face. With the sixth sense most spouses have, Sadie whirled to look at her husband.

“I can hear you thinking back there, David,” she said, her tone reproachful. “Our son does not get a slingshot before he’s ten.”

Adam looked sideways at Myla, who was also looking at him. The Englishwoman smiled slightly with a twinkle in her eye.

Okay, so I’m not the only one who heard it, he thought. After a brief moment of consideration, he gave in to his impish side.

“Coca-cola for you, Sadie?” he asked. Sadie turned to look at him, shock on her face.

“How did you kn…” she started, then stopped as she realized what she had just done.

“Major Haynes, I have just met you,