CHAPTER 1

Startled, Janet Norton jumped and dropped a spoon as she heard the front door slammed shut. Windows rattled. The old frame house shuddered. Heavy footsteps pounded up the stairs to the apartment. Janet whirled from the stove where she was preparing dinner and dashed into the living room. Youre late! she angrily accused her husband as she met him at the head of the stairs, thinking Oh, I hope hes not drunk again! Brian brushed her cheek with a kiss, shrugged off his pea coat, and headed for the bedroom without a word of greeting. Janet followed him and sat down on the bed. Well, whats your excuse this time?

I got held up on the base, Brian answered in a tired voice as he removed his Navy uniform. He folded it neatly on the blue velvet boudoir chair, donned a pair of brown corduroy pants, and reached into the closet for a shirt. The yeoman called me into his office just as I was leaving. You wont believe what happened.

Well, dont keep me in suspense. What happened? What did he want?

Im being transferred.

Transferred! Oh, no! Not again! Janet gasped, her blue eyes wide with alarm.

Why are you so surprised? You knew this shore duty wouldnt last forever.

But I didnt expect it so soon! Youve only been here a year. I thought it was for at least two years. Janet was bewildered by this sudden announcement.

Dont you want to know where Im going?

Oh! Of course. I was just so stunned that I didnt think about where. Did you get the sea duty you wanted? Her heart skipped a beat. She thought, Ive been so happy here in Kansas. And Brian seemed to enjoy his duties at the Hutchinson Naval Air Station. Yet he loves the sea. Could I face having him on sea duty again? She remembered the many lonely days and nights she had spent when Brian had been assigned to a ship.

I dont know for sure. I have to report to the Navy Receiving Station in Jacksonville. He avoided looking at her, finished buttoning his red plaid flannel shirt, combed his dark wavy hair, then sat down beside her. You might as well know, he sighed. I cant lie to you. Im not exactly being transferred.

Janet stared at him as he bent to slip his feet into a pair of sneakers. He straightened up and looked at her with a sheepish grin. Well, Im waiting, Janet said.

Brian shrugged. The yeoman discovered a mix-up in my paperwork. You see, shore duty requires a minimum of two years remaining on an enlistment. Since I only had a year left when I was transferred her, I was supposed to ship over at that time. Somehow it was overlooked and now my enlistment is up next week. The yeoman gave me the option of reenlisting and staying here for another year or taking a discharge. I opted for the discharge!

Discharge! But why do you have to report to Jacksonville if youve been discharged? Janet was even more bewildered. That doesnt make sense.

Since I plan to make the Navy my career, and I want to go back to sea, the yeoman suggested that I reenlist in Jacksonville. That will get me back to the East Coast and the chances are good that Ill be assigned to a ship. I can keep my rank and pay if I reenlist within thirty days.

But what about me and the kids? Tears gathered in Janets eyes and her heart sank. She wondered, Is he planning to leave me again like last year when he wanted a divorce? We survived that crisis and I thought we now had a happy married life.

Well, I think you and the kids should stay here. The kids are in school and you can keep working. Ill leave in a few days. Ill send for you when I know where Ill be stationed--probably by the time the kids go on Christmas break. Okay? Brian looked at her anxiously. His brown eyes seemed to plead for understanding.

It sounds like you have it all planned out! I wish you had discussed it with me first. Janet did not know what to say. She was sure Brian was trying to control her life again even though he had promised to change his domineering ways.

Brian brushed a tear from her cheek and put his arm around her. Dont cry, honey. Well only be separated for a few weeks.

Janet slumped against him and buried her head on his broad shoulder. Her heart was breaking. Jumbled thoughts whirled in her mind. Im not ready to move again! I love my job at the employment office and the kids have been doing so well in school. Mickey really likes his junior high woodworking shop. Hes proud of being a Boy Scout, too. Melody is popular and making straight As in her sixth grade class. They will be upset when I tell them we are moving again. Janet raised her head, brushed a stray blond curl from her eye, and sat up straight. Aloud, she said, Did you say you would leave in a few days? Couldnt you wait until after Thanksgiving? Its only two weeks away. You said you have thirty days to reenlist.

Brian shrugged and stood up. I dont want to wait until the last minute. He sniffed the air. Is something burning?

My potatoes! Janet rushed to the kitchen. The potatoes had boiled dry and were starting to scorch. She quickly dumped them into another pan and ran cold water on them. When she mashed them with a little milk and butter, they tasted fine. She finished preparing their meal and called the kids who were studying in their bedrooms. Brian joked with the kids while they ate but did not mention anything about leaving.