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

was looking forward to actually going home to start cooking, not heading off to some dance or whatever it is you're dragging me to."

"I promise this will be totally worth it," Jo replied, doing her best to keep her voice civil while paying the taxi driver.

"Perhaps I'd be a bit more trusting if you'd tell me what 'it' is," Patricia replied archly as the two women turned towards the massive pink façade of the Royal Hawaiian.

I could strangle you sometimes, Patricia.

Jo thanked the doorman as the two of them walked in. She glanced over at Patricia and felt a mild pang of guilt.

Okay, fine, the fact that your brother and the man you love could both be dead as we speak means I should give some allowances.

"Blame your brothers," Jo said, looking once more at the message a runner had brought her. "They're the ones who said dinner plans have been changed and we were to meet them here."

More correctly, it was Nick who told me that the wedding had been moved up two hours. He's lucky that I got the message.

Agnes and Nick’s plan for notification had apparently started going awry as soon as she’d gotten into the office. Which had led to Nick having to hot foot it out to Ewa and the three brothers getting invited to a higher priority gathering.

I really hope Agnes is right and Rear Admiral Graham will smooth things over for Nick.

Jo almost smacked herself at that thought.

Then again, Nick is a submariner. What is Admiral Dunlap going to do, send him someplace he might get shot at?

A passing contingent of submariners leered at Jo and Patricia as they walked past. Jo looked back over her shoulder and gave the pair of ensigns fixated on Patricia's backside a withering glare. Both junior officers colored and immediately swept their eyes forward to the amusement of the lieutenant (j.g.) that was shepherding them.

Men. Or more correctly, men who need to understand there's a difference between a lady and 'lady of the evening.'

Jo was certain the majority of the local women present were just doing what they considered their patriotic duty to entertain men who might be dead within a month. She was also quite confident that a large number of pros were actually working the establishment.

I know Vice Admiral Halsey has bigger fish to fry, but one would think the last thing he'd want was submariners with the clap on patrol.

Jo stopped at an intersection to look at the hallway signs. Reading quickly, she turned and headed off towards to their destination.

"Why are we headed away from the restaurant, Jo?" Patricia asked, suspicion hanging off every word. They rounded the corner before Jo could answer, and Patricia's surprised yelp told Jo the vision before them had answered her question.

Oh my god, Agnes, you are beautiful.

The bride-to-be stood in a resplendent white gown, her face covered in a pale veil that was obviously a family heirloom of some age. Standing beside her in his dress whites, Rear Admiral Graham had a slightly bemused smile on his face.

"I take it this would be the Maid of Honor and your future sister-in-law?" he said, seeing the smile crossing Agnes' face.

"Yes, sir, it is," Agnes replied, her smile growing warmer as Jo stepped forward to take the ring from her. Jo turned back around to see a stricken Patricia still standing with her mouth open, color rising in her cheeks.

"You've got about five minutes to make a scene, breathe, or get inside, Toots," Sam said, coming up behind them in what was obviously a borrowed dress uniform.

He looks like some Banana Republic dictator who gets sewn into his uniform. But hail to the chief indeed…

"You…you…you knew?" Patricia said, looking at her older brother. She was about to say something else, then closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

Oh shit.

Patricia, to Jo’s surprised, opened her eyes and gave a gracious smile.

"Agnes, let me apologize for my brothers' behavior," Patricia said slowly, her drawl deep as she stepped forward. "This is no proper way to throw you a wedding."

Rear Admiral Graham, looking confused, stepped to the side as Patricia continued to embrace Agnes.

"Welcome to the family," Patricia continued. "I assure you, this is not how we usually do things in the Cobbs."

"These are not normal times," Agnes replied, holding the embrace. "Thank you, and I am sorry for the short notice."

Patricia nodded, stepping back to glare first at Sam, and then David, who had stepped out of the ballroom in a set of dress whites a half size too small.

"Mother clearly didn't spend any time training these idiots, as you can see," Patricia stated. "You're marrying the best of the lot, and I look forward to not being as outnumbered. I hope that we will have more time to talk after your vows."

"I look forward to it," Agnes replied.

That…that went better than I expected. Not sure they're not both lying through their teeth, but either way that was polished all around.

"Thank you, Rear Admiral Graham, for doing this," Patricia said, her tone deferential. Jo was shocked to see her roommate's eyes glistening. "I'm going to go take a seat before I make a mess of myself or the bride."

With that, Patricia walked inside, leaving Sam and David looking at each other, then at their receding sister.

"I see that her reputation for throwing curveballs is well deserved," Agnes said quietly.

"You have no idea," Jo stated, then looked at Sam. The eldest Cobb looked like a man who was expecting the tornado to double back and hit his house any second.

Yep, that tells me we haven't heard the last of this, she's just not going to ruin her brother's wedding day, Jo thought.

"Let's get this started, gentlemen," Rear Admiral Graham said, smiling. "I think the bride and groom deserve to have as much time as possible together."

That sounded ominous. I'll have to ask Nick what happened during the maid of honor and groom dance.

"Aye aye, sir," Sam said, stepping in and making