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

As she walked up the aisle arm and arm with Sam, Jo was pleasantly surprised at the Royal Hawaiian staff members playing of Beethoven. Standing at the front of the ballroom, Nick watched as Jo and his brother moved carefully up the aisle. The room was rather full with members of COMSUBPAC staff, the Plunger's wardroom, and several other officers, sailors, and Marines that Jo did not recognize.

"I'm about to split a seam," Sam muttered.

"I was going to ask if maybe you’d had a little too much milk this morning, Sam," Jo chided gently.

"Ha ha ha," Sam said, patting her arm as they separated.

It’s also his sense of sarcasm that I missed.

Jo nodded at the unfamiliar, older chaplain standing ready to perform the ceremony. In contrast to most everyone else present, the man was wearing the blue service dress uniform rather than whites. He gave Jo a small smile and looked as though he was about to speak right as the small brass ensemble started into the "Wedding March."

Oh, the look on Nick's face.

Her stomach was full of butterflies as the youngest Cobb was riveted staring toward the ballroom’s open doors. Turning to look herself, Jo watched a group of passing officers look on in awe as Agnes stepped into the room. Glancing over at Sam, Jo was also pleased to see the best man's awestruck expression.

Every woman deserves to be regarded as a goddess on her wedding day.

The exchange of vows was relatively quick. Jo recognized the standard Protestant ceremony from the Navy's manual. As the rings were exchanged, she looked past Sam and saw David wiping at his eyes for a brief moment. That started her own burning, as she thought about the last time the Cobb children had all been gathered.

At this point, Sadie would have been better off just staying here.

"You may kiss the bride."

The phrase jolted Jo back to the present, and she watched as Nick leaned in to give Agnes a rather chaste kiss. To the youngest Cobb's shock, his new bride was having none of that, and the room erupted in cheers and catcalls as she dragged him in for a proper kiss.

"That's just a downpayment for tonight, Mr. Cobb," Agnes whispered fiercely. Jo fought to keep a smirk off her face as Nick grew flush with embarrassment. That brought about a few catcalls from the Plunger’s gathered contingent. Scanning their faces, Jo realized something.

Where is Nick’s commander?

Even with the apparent bad blood from Plunger’s return, it seemed odd for Commander Emerson to be missing.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you Lieutenant and Mrs. Nicholas Cobb."

As the last of the guests finished moving through the receiving line and were ushered out of the room by Royal Hawaiian staff, Jo finally had a moment to turn and look sideways at the rest of the wedding party. Taking a last glance around the room to make sure no one was in ear shot, Jo waited until Patricia came back in the room to ask the question that was on everyone's mind.

"So, what gives on the time change?"

Nick and Agnes looked at each other, then back at them.

"I've got orders again," Nick said. "The Amberjack's XO came down with blood clots and word got to headquarters this afternoon. I leave via plane for Midway in three days."

"That sounds like a good reason," David said, eyes wide.

"Try not to break this submarine," Sam added.

"Thanks guys, I love you too,” Nick said, rolling his eyes. He glanced at his watch. "I'd love to stay and chat, but we have to be out of this room in ten minutes or they're going to fine Rear Admiral Graham."

"Wait, what?" Jo asked.

"He told them to treat him no different than they would anyone else asking to borrow the room," Agnes said with a laugh. "So they didn't remind him that it was his own Chief of Staff who had rented it for the next two weeks."

Jo saw Nick and Agnes share a moment's look.

I think someone is wanting to hurry up and get the wedding night started. I don't blame them.

"I guess we better get out of here also," Sam said, glancing at his watch as well. "We managed to beg out of dinner with a four star, but were told to arrive for an officer's call no later than twenty hundred."

"Wait, four-star?" Patricia asked, realizing that no one else seemed surprised. "What are you talking about?"

I am so freakin’ dead.

"We had the pleasure of making the new fleet commander's acquaintance this morning," David said. He quickly ran through what had transpired at Ewa field.

"That's where Major Haynes is right now," Sam finished.

"Well, if you'll excuse us," Nick said, squeezing Agnes' hand and gesturing at a tall, thin civilian standing in the doorway with a clip board. "I'm not going to be responsible for our boss losing $75, and I believe I owe my wife a dance."

Mattress dancing, maybe. Jo tried to ignore the slight bit of jealousy behind the thought.

The gathered group quickly moved out of the room, Patricia and Jo both giving Agnes and Nick one last embrace before the couple rushed off. Patricia then hugged both of the twins, the pair looking particularly nervous at how well their sister was taking things. Giving one last anxious look at Jo, the two men moved off to get changed back into their khakis.

"Am I really so terrible?" Patricia asked quietly as soon as her brothers were out of sight. Jo turned to look at her roommate. Before she could speak, Patricia continued. "I mean, it appears everyone knew that my brother was getting married except for me."

Jo's stomach flip flopped at the bitterness in Patricia's voice.

"Patricia, you are not terrible," she said simply. "I've only known since this morning."

As soon as the words left her mouth, Jo realized the mistake she had made.

"Oh. Just this morning," Patricia said quietly, lip quivering. "I think, Jo, I shall be going home to read."

"Patricia, I…"

"Don't wait up for me at the cab,"