«That's fine with me,» Weston said.
«The rooms and the food come with a twenty-percent discount, but not the liquor.»
Of course. What self-respecting chaplain would be pushing discounted booze?
«Well, then, we'll have to go easy on the booze,» Jim said.
«Have you been drinking a lot, Jim?»
«Oh, I have a drink from time to time with Dr. Bolemann.»
No more than three or four beers at lunch,followed, at the cocktail hour, by as many martinis, to give us courage to face the really bad wine they offer in the dining room
?
There you go, you're lying to her!
«He's a really nice man,» Janice said. «My father told me he knows him. I'm glad you've become friends.» She went into her purse again and this time came out with a road map. «I marked the route,» she said. «I think the best way is to go into Philadelphia and take the Tacony-Palmyra bridge.»
«I'm Lieutenant Hardison,» Janice said to the desk clerk. «And this is Captain Weston. I believe Chaplain Nesbitt made reservations for us?»
The desk clerk checked. «Yes, ma'am,» he said. «Two rooms at the Chaplain's Program discount.» The desk clerk examined Weston carefully.
And I know what you're thinking, buddy
. «What's a nice girl like this one, a personal friend of the chaplain, doing with a guy like you?»
«What time does the dining room close?» Janice asked.
«You don't have much time before food service stops,» the desk clerk said. «But there will be dancing until two a.m.»
«Well, then,» Janice said. «Why don't we eat now, while we still can? Could you have our luggage taken to our rooms?»
«Yes, ma'am,» the desk clerk said, and handed them each a key.
«There's a Roman Catholic mass at six-thirty every morning,» the desk clerk said, and pointed to a sign announcing religious services. «And a Protestant non-denominational service at nine-thirty on Sunday morning.»
«Thank you,» Janice said. «We'll try to make the Sunday-morning service.»
«And I'm required to remind you not to open your window curtains or blinds at night,» the desk clerk said. «At least not while you're burning lights in your room.»
«What?» Weston asked.
«Submarines, sir,» the desk clerk said. «German submarines. They use lights ashore to locate ships.»
«Oh, of course,» Weston said.
They each had a cocktail before dinner, Janice a gin fizz, and Jim a bourbon on the rocks, there being no scotch. And with their «Shore Dinner,» they shared a bottle of New York State sparkling wine—made by the «champagne process,» according to the label.
Janice's first lobster had been with him at Bookbinder's in Philadelphia. This was her second. She really liked them, now that she'd found the courage to try one.
The band began to play while they were still eating; after their dessert, they danced. Jim very carefully maintained as much distance between their bodies as he could manage.
«I would really like to walk on the beach,» Janice said. «Could we do that before we go to bed?»
Our separate beds, of course.
«If there are no lights,» he said, practically, «how are we going to see?»
«By moonlight. It's a full moon.»
They walked perhaps half a mile down the wide boardwalk, and then Janice stepped over a chain barring access to stairs leading to the beach and motioned for him to follow her.
«The sign says, 'Access to the beach is forbidden during hours of darkness,' « Weston quoted.
«Oh, who'll know?» she said. «And we're in uniform.»
He followed her onto the beach.
She caught his hand.
«That's also against regulations,» she said. «They call it PDA.»
«They call what 'PDA'?»
«It stands for 'public display of affection,'» she said. «Officers will not show a PDA. Should we stop?»
«Hell, no.»
«I wasn't sure how you were going to answer that,» Janice said.
«Excuse me?»
«You've been,» she paused, considering her next words, «cool and distant, I guess—since I got in the car.»
«I thought the same thing about you,» he said.
«I thought maybe I scared you off when I told you I loved you,» Janice said.
«As I recall it—and the words are burned forever in my memory—you said, quote, I think I love you, unquote. I was afraid you'd had time to think it over and changed your mind.»
«I have had time to think it over, and when I saw you in the parking lot, I knew I could drop the 'I think.' «
«Jesus, Janice!»
He stopped and looked at her.
«Good evening, sir!» a male voice said, adding, «Ma'am.»
Weston turned and found himself looking at a Coast Guardsman. He was wearing a pea coat, puttees, and a web cartridge belt. A Springfield rifle was slung over his shoulder, and he was leading a very large German shepherd on a leash.
The Coast Guardsman saluted. Weston returned it in a reflex action, and saw, out of the corner of his eye, Janice doing the same thing.
She's adorable when she does thaT! And there's something somehow erotic about it, too!
«Sir, you're not supposed to be on the beach during hours of darkness,» the Coast Guardsman said.
What is this guy supposed to be doing? Repelling a landing party from a German submarine? Or is seeing him marching up and down with his rifle and killer dog supposed to remind people there's a war on!'
Janice dropped to her knees, made kissing sounds, and reached out to the dog, who was sitting on his haunches.
«Watch the goddamned dog, Janice!»
«Don't be silly, he's sweet!»
The killer dog nuzzled Janice's neck and sent sand flying with his tail.
«He's not as ferocious as he looks,» the Coast Guardsman said.
«Either that, or he's a very good judge of character,» Weston said, and then added: «Actually we have two very good reasons for being on the beach. One, I wanted to make sure for myself that no one has stolen the ocean, and two, this officer and I are trying very hard not to be seen engaged in a PDA.»
«PDA?»
«Public display of affection. The punishment for which, I'm told, is death by firing squad.»
The Coast Guardsman chuckled. «The thing is. Captain, the Chief rides along the beach in a jeep. If he sees you…«
«I'll sic the killer dog on him,» Weston said.
The Coast Guardsman laughed.
«No, you won't,» Janice said, standing up and brushing the sand off her uniform skirt. «We'll get off the beach. It's time we went to bed, anyhow.»
«Yes, ma'am,» the Coast Guardsman said, winking at Weston.
I
wish what you are thinking was true, but what the lady meant to say was, «It's time we went to our
separate
beds
.»
«I'll see you to your room,» Jim said, as they waited for the elevator.
«All right,» she said. She took her key from her purse, looked at it, and announced, «I'm on eight.»