"Merry Christmas, dear," Elizabeth Donovan said, eyeing her hair tussled granddaughter as she slumped into the kitchen. "Welcome to the land of the living." She sat calmly stirring her tea.

"It's only Christmas Eve," Teddi said through a yawn, shuffling over to the cupboard to pull out her own tea cup. "Let's save the celebration for tomorrow when Uncle Richard and that brain-dead wife of his get here."

"Don't be nasty, Theodora. We're lucky to have them. Last year was lonely without your grandfather. I expect a bit more life will be in order this year around."

Teddi was surprised to hear her grandmother mention her grandfather. She rarely brought him up. Rather, she fell into a quiet routine of gardening, volunteering at the women's aid relief, tea on Thursday afternoons with the ladies of the town, and walking on Sunday mornings with Mr. Baxter. She looked a little sad at the moment, so Teddi chose not to bring up the fact that Calvin had been with them last year, and there was no way in the world her Uncle Richard and Aunt Olive could fill the loneliness like he could. Instead, she said, "I'm sorry. I'm just not in the merry-making mood."

Teddi poured herself some tea but before she could take a seat next to her grandmother, someone rapped on the backdoor. "Send whomever it is away, grandmother. I'm not dressed for guests."

"Nonsense," said Mrs. Donovan, going to peek out of the thin curtain that covered the window on the door. "It's only Miranda Schroeder."

Teddi sighed. Mrs. Schroeder was all right. She always praised her mother, and she'd always liked Teddi. Of course, it mostly had to do with the fact that her grandmother placed her on such a pedestal in front of her friends, and they all seemed to believe it, which was why Mrs. Schroeder seemed to like telling her that she needed to find a suitable mate. As if Calvin wasn't suitable. Teddi decided long ago not to care, but there was something still plaguing her, something that she needed to clear in her mind if she were ever to move on with Calvin and live a happy life. He could pretend it away all he wanted, but the fact was that the people of Brookhurst had a reason for thinking they should be apart. No level of maturity Teddi and Calvin had developed over the past few years could change that.

"Theodora, go and get Mrs. Schroeder's gift. It's under the tree."

Teddi left the room, combing out her hair with her fingers then going to peruse the tree. She listened as her grandmother opened the back door and greeted one of the ladies from Thursday afternoon tea.

"Hello, Miranda."

"Hello, Elizabeth. I was just telling Clifford how much I miss hearing Theodora's beautiful playing on Christmas Eve. It's a shame we don't have your parties to look forward to anymore."

Teddi rolled her eyes. Her grandmother's friends were always the same, discussing the same topics, and pretending to worry about things that really weren't important.

"I just haven't had the energy," her grandmother was saying, causing Teddi to feel a pang for her for the second time that morning, but was quickly doused when she heard her add, "and I haven't heard Theodora stroke a note in over a year." She didn't have time to play the piano for her friends.

"Well, she's grown up now," Mrs. Schroeder said to Teddi's surprise. "Quite busy, I'm sure. It is too bad." There she went. "So much talent and beauty shouldn't be wasted. Like her mother in that way."

"Her mother was scarcely as talented as my Theodora," said Mrs. Donovan as Teddi pulled out the gift intended for both Mrs. Schroeder and her husband. "She's also very skilled as a writer."

"You never will admit that Aurora was a very talented artist."

"That is not entirely true, I—"

"Hello, Mrs. Schroeder," Teddi said, interrupting with a bright smile and handing her the gift congenially. "It's nice to see you. I'm sorry I'm such a mess."

"No need to get dressed for me. Thank you for the gift. I just came by to drop off the pair I got for you and your grandmother," she nodded toward the two small wrapped boxes that were now sitting on the kitchen table.

"Won't you stay for some tea?" said Mrs. Donovan.

"I suppose a spot of something warm would be nice before I head back out."

"It's already made," said Teddi. "I'll get you a cup."

"I'll do that, dear. You go and put the gifts away."

"Are you sure?"

"Perfectly."

As Teddi placed each gift carefully under the tree, they would be opened either that night or the next morning, the doorbell rang.

Sighing, Teddi frowned. It was probably another one of her grandmother's friends. Last year, it was expected that Elizabeth Donovan would not throw her annual Christmas Eve party. However, the society matrons had been pecking around for something to do, and apparently, either too lazy or too stuck in their ways to take over the tradition for her.

"Theodora, will you get that please? Oh, but you aren't dressed."

"I'll see who it is through the peep hole," she said loud enough so that her grandmother would hear. As soon as she saw who it was, her breath was snatched from her body but that did not stop her from throwing the door open. "Calvin!"

"Hey, dollface," he said, dropping his duffle just in time to catch Teddi leaping into his arms.

"Oh my God. What are you doing here?" she asked, still squeezing him tightly.

Calvin pressed her close and rocked her, dropping his lips into her hair. After a moment, he moved back, and looked down at her with mirth in his eyes. "I can always go. The Langford's on overhaul, but maybe they could use me down at the shipyards."

"Don't you dare," she said, studying his face then glancing down at his sailor blues. How she'd missed him. Tears pricked her eyes, and in an effort to stop them, she pressed her mouth to his. It didn't work. But by the time the salty water snaked down the sides of her face, she was focused on something completely different. She had forgotten how good it felt to kiss him.

"Finally. Finally," Calvin whispered through kisses. "I missed you."

"Me too," she said, stepping back and wiping her face and sniffling. "How long are you here?"

"Two weeks."

Teddi frowned, putting her arms back around his neck. "That's all?"

"Not enough for you?" he asked with a smirk. "Well, I have something planned that might make up for it. Go get dressed and put on your coat."

"I can't just leave."

Calvin chuckled, removed her arms from around his neck, and turned her toward the staircase. "Go on. We need to leave soon if we're going to make it on time."

Teddi turned right back around, this time with her hands firmly planted on her hips. "Make what? What's going on?"

"Would you stop asking so many questions, and just go on."

Finally, she gave up and left for her room, feeling lighter and happier than she had in a long time.

As Calvin stood in the foyer waiting for Teddi to return, he heard voices coming from another part of the house. Of course, Teddi's grandmother was at home. How stupid of him to have forgotten about her. Well, he hadn't actually forgotten. It was more like wishful thinking. Sure, the old lady had begun to accept him in her granddaughter's life, but he would never be her first choice for her.

Steeling himself for whatever kind of welcome he would get from Grandmother Donovan, Calvin stepped into the living room, intending on heading through the room towards the kitchen, but was surprised to find Mrs. Donovan standing beside a woman he'd met a handful of times in town.

"Hello, Calvin," said Mrs. Donovan, giving him a tiny smile.

"Hi, Mrs. Donovan. You're looking well."

"You know Mrs. Schroeder."

Mrs. Schroeder stepped forward and shook his hand warmly. "Hello, son."

"Why don't you take your coat off?" said Mrs. Donovan, gesturing toward the coat closet.

"Thank you, but Teddi and I have to get going soon."

"Do you?" Mrs. Donovan raised her eyebrows. "Well, I know you've been gone a while, but it is Christmas Eve."

"I thought that—"

"I'm sure you'll want to be off gallivanting around town today and tomorrow. Just be sure you two are here for dinner tomorrow night," she said before turning to her friend. "Miranda, you and Clifford should come by for dessert. My son will be here, you know."

"Will he? I haven't seen him in years."

"I'm sure he'll be fine with everything. It's been so long," Mrs. Donovan sort of muttered to herself, causing both Calvin and Mrs. Schroeder to look at her strangely. "Well, I just ask that you children be back soon," she said, finally using the clear strong voice Calvin was used to, but before he could answer, Teddi appeared, dressed in record time, much to his great relief.

"Yes, grandmother," she said as she handed Calvin her coat and he helped her into it. "We'll be back soon, right?"

"That depends on what you mean by soon," said Calvin.

"Maybe you should stay for a while first," said Mrs. Donovan, leaving Calvin to wonder why she was giving them such a hard time.

"Didn't you say we had to leave right away?" Teddi asked Calvin but instead of waiting for an answer, she grabbed his hand and led him to the door.

"Theodora," Mrs. Donovan said, warningly, as she followed close behind them.

Teddi turned and kissed her grandmother's cheek. "I'll be fine, grandmother. I'll talk to you later."

Calvin did not know how she'd done it, but she managed to escape her grandmother's clutches without so much as a blink.

"So, where are we going?" she said, smiling as they began down the walkway.

"To East Hampton," Calvin said, gesturing his free hand toward the car beside the curb.

"That looks like Harper's car."

"A lot of cars look alike," he said, opening the passenger door for her.

"What are you up to?"

"So many questions," he said, as she got in with a wary look on her face. Calvin closed the door then quickly went around the car and got in. She frowned and tried not to pout, but she hated secrets. He laughed. "I already told you where we are going. You're not going to get another word out of me, so just sit back and enjoy the ride."

*~*

Calvin and Teddi left Brookhurst and took to the coastal highway. Seeing the ships patrolling in the distance as they drove did different things to each of them. Teddi had mumbled a few minutes before that their presence brought the fear she tried to keep dormant inside everyday to attention. For Calvin, though his knowledge of the ships was more instinctual as he kept his eyes on the road, their presence meant a thousand things. Most of which, he could not or would not think about at the moment.

"How much did you miss me?" Teddi asked quietly, breaking through his thoughts.

"I don't think there's a word I could use that to explain how much. At least, there isn't one that wouldn't sound ridiculous or sappy."

"I miss your ridiculous and sappy gestures."

Calvin hoped that was honestly true, considering what he had planned for today.

"I get really scared for you out there, you know?" Her eyes were glued to the water.

"It's not so bad. Really. It's just a lot of guys bunking in and making sure things are all right for folks back at home and wherever else they need us."

Teddi wanted to ask him if he had to shoot anyone or be involved in combat. He never really wrote much about it in his letters. He mostly told her about the ports they stopped in and the places he got to see. He usually included a funny story or two about one of the guys on the ship. She always thought he was hiding things from her, even though she asked him time and time again not to, that she could handle it. She didn't really think he believed she could. Or maybe it wasn't that at all. Maybe he couldn't handle mixing his safe haven with his unpredictable life at sea where it really counted. But she wanted to know more about what was happening to him. She wanted to know so she could write him soothing responses, so she would know if he really was doing okay or if he wasn't.

At night the towns of Suffolk County would go dark for fear of the U-boats targeting them, and she knew he was out there, somewhere. It kept her fear for him constant. Not that she needed blackouts for that. But there was so much fear floating around. It was palpable. It was in the Hollidays' eyes and in Liza's phone calls. It was in the headlines of the Observer, and in the bipity bop of the songs on the radio. She wanted to cry all the time, but she never did.

Teddi turned to study Calvin's profile. He was here with her now. He would be with her for two weeks, and maybe for two weeks she could try and pretend everything away. They would have to. It was what people did. She slid her hand to his shoulder and squeezed it softly.

Calvin picked it up and brushed his lips across her knuckles. "I'm right here."

He was there. But for how long? A thick tension hung in the air, disappointing them both. Their reunion should not be like this. It didn't have to be like this.

Calvin was happy to just be with her, but he was also scared, so scared that he would have to leave her again, so scared that he might lose her one day.

They were both relieved when trees began to cover the view of the sea. Soon Calvin turned off the highway, and began traveling a path that was oddly familiar to the woman sitting next to him.

"Are we going to Laura's house?" 

Calvin smiled over at her, all thoughts of what lay beyond the next few hours disappearing from his mind. "Okay, so you got me. We're going to Laura's house."

Teddi frowned, looking out at the streets lined with trees that were quite similar to the ones they found in their own home town. "But it's closed up in the winter."

"This is true."

"Did they open it up for some sort of party? Are her parents giving a party?"

Pulling around the long circular driveway of the house that was quite familiar to Teddi, Calvin chose not to answer her question, thinking that it was better to keep her guessing. It would make the surprise that much better. Of course, she could hate the surprise. She could really hate it. She might hit him, or worse run out on him. She wouldn't run out on him would she?

"Is something wrong, Calvin?"

"No. I was just thinking."

"So, are we going to get out of the car? You have got me pretty intrigued I have to admit," she said, her earlier thoughts giving way to much lighter ones. There were cars around. Some in the drive way. Others across the street. This had to be a party of some kind.

Calvin chuckled, sliding an arm around her shoulders then kissing her cheek. "Really? I couldn't tell."

She hit him playfully before following him out of the car. She was getting a little giddy. This house, with its innumerable white-trimmed windows and green shutters, felt a little like home to her. Laura's parents had always treated her so graciously, welcomed her as if she were another one of their daughters. She was given every luxury that they were, though she generally refused the more grandiose gifts and gestures politely. A burst of energy and excitement caused her to rush up the front steps ahead of Calvin. Before he could stop her, she tried the door, something she would only do if she knew she was expected. And boy was she expected.

"Surprise!"

Teddi blinked several times, taking in all the faces all of a sudden before her.  Laura. Her sister, Jeanne. Harper. Hugh?  Pamela, her old roommate from Miss Carrington's School. As well as Mizzy Warner and Clara Botsfeld, two other girls from Miss Carrington's. Mr. Lockhart, Calvin's old boss. And, last but not least, a man holding a bible, standing in the center of a white rose-lined arch.

Teddi turned around to see Calvin smiling at her guiltily. "Happy wedding day, Teddi."

A sob stuck in her throat. He hadn't done this. Oh God, he hadn't done this. She slapped a hand over her mouth, bolted past Calvin, down the hall and into the bathroom.