Brian and Luke followed Jean and Ray out of the house. Susie was already sitting on the porch.
“I'm taking the truck,” Luke said.
“We'll meet you there.” Jean headed for Ray's car.
“Can I ride with Luke?” Brian asked.
“Me too.” Susie ran for the truck.
“Fine by me,” Ray said.
“Come on, you two.” Luke strode to the pickup. While his brother and sister settled on the worn front seat, he turned the key and pumped the gas. The old truck groaned, then fired. Luke's mind filled with memories of earlier days when his father had been the one who'd driven this pickup and he'd sat beside him. Fighting melancholy and no longer feeling like attending a dance, he followed Ray and his mother down the driveway.
When they arrived at the community hall, light and music radiated from inside. Susie and Brian ran ahead, hurrying up the stairs and disappearing through the front double doors. Luke stood at the bottom of the steps and waited for his mother.
He hoped Mattie would be here. Although she lived in Anchorage, maybe she'd be home visiting for the weekend. Does she ever think of me? he wondered, smoothing the jacket of his dress blues and closing his pea coat. He was considered quite a catch by some of the ladies on Oahu.
He scanned the parking lot, hoping he might see Mattie. His heart hurried when he spotted her walking toward the building.
She caught his eyes and waved. When she reached her old friend, Mattie took his hands in hers. “Why, Luke Hasper. What are you doing here? It's wonderful to see you!”
Luke smiled. “It's been too long,” he said, enveloped in Mattie's affection.
“I didn't know you were in town. Why didn't you tell me you were coming?”
“Didn't know you were interested,” Luke teased.
“Of course I am.”
Ray and Jean stopped at the bottom of the steps. “How good to see you,” Jean said, hugging the young native woman.
“It's good to see you.”
“How are your mother and grandmother?”
“Fine. Although Grandma's slowing down. She's not quite herself these days.” Mattie's brown eyes were momentarily touched by sadness.
“We better get inside and check on the children,” Ray said, guiding Jean up the steps. “Nice to see you, Mattie.”
“So, how've you been?” Luke asked as they moved up the stairway.
“Good. I'm living in Anchorage now—working at a photography store.”
“That sounds great.”
“I'm still in Alaska,” she said dryly.
“And…that's bad?”
“Yes. I don't want to live here,” she said, stepping inside. The song “Ferryboat Serenade” swirled around them. “I want to see the world.” She gazed across the room of twirling, swaying couples. “Lively crowd.”
Luke nodded, thinking about how good it would feel to hold Mattie in his arms. He studied her. She was more beautiful than he remembered. She'd gathered her black hair up on her head, exposing a slender neck, and left soft bangs to frame dark eyes.
“Hello there, Luke. I heard you were going to be here,” Jessie said, approaching the couple. She stood directly in front of Luke and rested her hands on his arms. Her body was slightly stooped and her face lined, but her eyes were still bright. “You've grown up.” She winked at Mattie. “He's a fine-looking man, don't you think?”
Mattie blushed.
Undaunted, Jessie continued, “I'd say he probably has to carry a bat to keep the women away.”
Luke ran a hand through his dark hair. “Never had that kind of trouble, Mrs. Harrison.”
“It's just plain Jessie to you.”
“Sorry. Jessie, then.”
“It's good to have you back in town. You staying long?”
“No, ma'am. I have to be back on the ship in three days.”
Her voice serious, Jessie said, “I've been praying for you, and I'll continue.”
“Thanks. I could sure use it.”
The song ended, and “Fools Rush In” began. Luke turned to Mattie, hoping to have a dance, but she was already heading for the dance floor with someone else. Feeling discarded, Luke stood and watched. I knew it was no use believing we had a chance, he thought, his mood wilting further when she laughed at something her partner said.
When the music ended, he hurried to Mattie and tapped her on the shoulder, determined not to miss another opportunity. “You want to dance?” he asked as another tune began.
It was a fast song, and he struggled to keep from looking like a fool as he tried to swing dance. He'd hoped for something slower. However, it didn't take him long to find the rhythm, and he laughed as he twirled Mattie away from him, then spun her back into his arms. When the song ended, the two crossed the room to a punch bowl and quenched their thirst.
