Sunday, December 30, 1945

“C’mon, Waggie.” Andy was begging one of his shipmates to trade leave so he could spend New Year’s with Liz. “There’s this girl at Connecticut Women’s that I have to see. I’d do the same for you.”

“You barely know this chick.” Walt Wagner pretended to be straightening the blanket on his bunk.

“I do know her. I know all about her. I know her name. I know she’s from Scarsdale—which is just up the road from Sleepyside. What kind of coincidence is that? She lives near me and we’re both up here in New London together. It’s fate, Waggie. I know it is.”

“I’ve seen some of those girls that gravitate to you, Belden. It ain’t fate. It’s...”

“This is different. She’s a nice girl. She’s studying English Lit. She’s intelligent, and she smells like...well, I don’t know what kind, but it’s flowers. And she’s cute as a button. I know she lives with her mother and step-father in Scarsdale and her father lives in Iowa.”

“Iowa? She’s a farm girl?”

“She doesn’t live on the farm. Her father raises sheep or something out there, but she barely knows him.”

“So she comes from a broken home. Doesn’t know who her father is? Doesn’t sound like someone to take home to Mama.”

“Oh, I plan to take her home as soon as I can. This girl’s a keeper.”

“Are you sure about this? Randy Andy Belden is dating someone respectable enough to meet Mama?”

“She’s special.” Andy struggled to come up with a way to convince his friend. “She’s...she’s different. Hey! I know her birthday is December 20^th. She says December is extra special for her, but she likes to celebrate her birthday separately from Christmas—separate party, gifts and all. I want to celebrate that with her, too.”

“I certainly don’t think that’s so special, Belden. My birthday is December 24^th, and not only do I have to settle for a single gift for both birthday and Christmas, I have to share it with my twin brother!” Walt Wagner laughed loudly. “Hey! That clinches it. You have to marry this girl and marry her tonight! That way you’d only have to buy her one gift a year. Just one gift for birthday, Christmas and anniversary.”

“C’mon. Cover for me!” Andy’s voice sounded desperate.

“Sorry, Belden.” Wagner’s tone turned serious. “But she’ll have to wait. I already made plans with a girl I met while you were home over Christmas. Why don’t you ask Cash?”

“I’d have to pay him. I’m...” Andy’s shoulders slumped as he watched the other young man turn and walk away. He wondered if Liz would wait until later that week to celebrate New Year’s with him.

“I told you. She’s a keeper. C’mon...I can’t wait until...” he called out in desperation.

Thursday, January 3, 1946

“I’m sorry we couldn’t spend New Years together.” Andy sat down on the sled behind Liz and scooted forward, stretching one leg out on either side of her and placing his feet on the red metal guides.

“I don’t know.” Liz leaned back and snuggled close. “I kinda’ like playing in the snow with you.” She giggled as another sailor pushed them and they flew down the packed snow on the hill.

The sled gained speed on the icy slope and began heading directly towards a thick hedge. “Stop! Make it stop, Andy!”

“You’re in front.” Andy tried steering with his feet and when it became obvious they were going into the hedge, he leaned sharply and they both fell off into the snow. Andy quickly rolled over on top of Liz.

“Get off me, Andy!”

Oomph! He straddled her. “I...I can’t. I’m...I’m...” Andy leaned down to kiss her.

Liz turned her head and tried to push him away. “Get off, Andy.”

He kissed her again. “I know you’re a good girl, Liz. But can’t you be just a little bit bad? Let me...Please?”

“Get off me, Andy!” Liz began struggling. Andy lifted up and she took advantage of the opportunity, kneeing him in the groin.

“Ugh.” Andy rolled over in pain. “Ugh...Oh...Uh...Damnation, Liz,” he gasped out. He tried to sit up. “Ugh. Can’t you see? I’m...I can’t help myself.”

Liz slapped him soundly across the face. “How dare you!” She managed to get up and trudged off through the snow. Andy got up, apologizing, and tried to keep up with her, but he was still in pain.

“I’m sorry, Liz. I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have done that, but you’re just so...I am crazy, you know. Crazy about you! Dammit! Can’t you tell I’m falling in love with you?” he yelled.

She turned around. “I’m not that kind of girl, Andy. Don’t you ever...”

Andy caught up to her. “I’m sorry. Please don’t...”

“I’ve never...You’re the first boy I’ve ever kissed and I wanted it to be...” She turned and continued to walk through the deep snow. “It was supposed to be special! You made it cheap!”

“I...Stop, dammit! So I can...”

“What? Tackle me again?”

“I didn’t tackle you. We fell and I...I’m so sorry, Liz. Please stop and let me...let me make it special.”

“It’s not my first kiss anymore.”

Andy grabbed her shoulder. “That wasn’t a real kiss. It was more a...I took advantage of an opportunity and blew it. Here.” He pulled her close just as the bells of the nearby church began ringing. “Listen to the bells. It’s a sign for you to let me kiss you. It’ll be a real kiss. Not with a stupid boy trying to grope you, but your first kiss with a man. A man who respects you. And I do, Liz. I do.”

Thursday, February 14, 1946

Andy Belden paced back and forth across the formal parlor, sweating in his woolen dress blues. It had been eight weeks since he had met Liz on the train and he had spent every possible free moment with her. His interest in every other girl he’d dated had waned by the second or third date, but his affection for Liz continued to grow more powerful each time he saw her.

Hal had mentioned on a few occasions that he’d had “intense feelings” for Isabel from the moment he’d met her, and Pete had made no secret about how quickly he had fallen in love with Helen, so Andy wasn’t surprised by how quickly he’d fallen in love, but he was astounded by the intensity of his feelings, especially since they’d shared only the occasional kiss. Liz was the first thing he thought of when he woke up in the morning and the last thing at night before falling asleep.

He could barely breathe when she walked into a room. And those eyes...those icy blue eyes pierced right through his heart every time she looked at him.

He turned at the sound of high heels clicking on the hardwood floor to see the possessor of those icy blue eyes headed towards him. Her hair was pulled up, and she was wearing a black satin dress with a wide green sash worn as a belt. She stopped when he turned around and then spun so that the full skirt billowed out, offering a slight peek of the garters holding up her stockings.

Andy gasped, and then headed towards her, offering the long white box he was carrying. “For you, my Valentine,” he managed to choke out.

“What’s this?” Liz smiled coyly. Of course she knew, since a florist’s name was printed prominently on the top of the box.

Andy waited as she untied the pink ribbon and took off the top.

“Roses? Long stems?” She leaned down and inhaled. “They’re beautiful. I’ve never...A boy sent me a carnation corsage last year for a dance, but these...these are my first roses.”

Andy felt as if he’d burst with pride, hearing that they were her first roses—especially since the evening would cost half of a month’s pay.

“Pink. I know the color of roses is supposed to have meaning, but I’m not sure about pink.” Liz inhaled their perfume again.

“I don’t know about sending messages. The color reminded me of the coat you were wearing...that first...the day in Penn Station...” He took her hand and led her over to a settee. “I’d never seen anything so...so...I want to kiss you, Liz.”

Liz usually giggled when Andy said that. And he said it a lot since even holding hands wasn’t allowed in the parlor of her dorm. But she didn’t laugh this time.

“I want you to...” She looked around. There were a few other couples sitting around the large room, but no one was paying attention, so she leaned close and offered a quick buss on his lips. Andy pulled her head closer and offered a long, deep kiss, only pulling away when he needed air.

“So you like the flowers?”

“Silly goose. I love them.”

“I made reservations.” Andy glanced at his wristwatch. “We should...”

“Let me take these up to my room.”

Liz returned just a few minutes later, carrying her pink wool coat instead of the black one she’d had earlier. She handed it to Andy and turned so he could help slip it on.

“So you like this coat? Is it the color?”

“It was a cold winter’s day. The snow was falling and the wind was blowing. A real Nor’easter. I just happened to run into this incredibly beautiful girl...a pixie with big blue eyes and thick brown hair flowing over the shoulders of this bright pink coat that made everything around her seem dark and dull. When I offered to help with her heavy luggage, she initially refused, but I guess she couldn’t resist my manly charms because she allowed me to help her and then sit with her on the train.

“Lizzie,” Andy’s voice deepened as he turned her to face him. “My life hasn’t been the same since. Every time I see you, I can’t believe someone as...as exquisite as you...that you’ve allowed me to be your first kiss, your first giver of roses...there are so many other firsts I want to be.”

Liz’s face turned deep red. Andy watched and waited for a response. Finally she laughed.

“You’ll be my first missed Valentine’s Dinner if we don’t... Are Bill and Sharon joining us?” She referred to another sailor who was dating a girl on her hall. He had a car and often gave Andy rides.

“You must be kidding. I’m not sharing you with anyone on Valentine’s.” She looked down to button her coat and Andy nuzzled her neck.

“Andy!” She warned as she stepped away. “Do you want me to get campused and we never see each other?”

“I know. I couldn’t resist.” He offered her his arm and led her through the parlor, knowing that he had to be patient, but one day, he would be her first, and if he were lucky, her last lover.

“I’m going to marry you.”

Liz and Andy were finishing their dinner at a popular but expensive restaurant in downtown New London.

“You certainly are sure of yourself, Andy.” Liz took a sip of water.

“Belden men are decisive. And I’ve decided.” Andy tried to smile, but he was serious. Dead serious. He wanted to marry the beautiful woman sitting across from him.

“Do I have a say?” Liz usually laughed when he talked about his feelings for her, but she had tilted her head down and was looking up at him shyly.

“Of course. But Isabel and Helen capitulated to the Belden charm—and quite quickly I might add.”

Liz choked on the water she was sipping. “You have the Navy. I’m in school. Nothing’s going to happen for...”

“I’m an E-5; a Second Class Petty Officer. That’s not how I plan to spend my life. I’m not going to be in the Navy much longer. I was accepted at Cornell before I enlisted and I plan to use the GI Bill to go back to school. We can...”

“We barely know each other. It’s been less than two months.”

“Hal may be an old fuddy-duddy but it was love at first sight for him. He proposed to Isabel the day after they met and they were married as soon as they could arrange it. He was in the Air Corps.

“Pete proposed to Helen less than three months after they met. He was in the Navy and she was at Swarthmore. Didn’t stop them. He told me she was the one less than one week after he met her. Two months is an eternity compared to them.”

“What if I’m not quite as impulsive as Isabel or Helen?”

Andy grabbed her hand. “We’ll be shopping for that ring before the end of the semester.”

“You have one mighty big ego, Andy Belden.”

“It’s not ego, Lizzie.” He kissed her hand. “Don’t you get it? It’s love. I’m in love with you, Elizabeth Opperman.”

Liz reached across the table and touched his cheek. “I know. I’m in love with you, too, Andrew Belden.”

After asking the receptionist to page Liz, Andy walked over to the settee where they had stolen kisses just one week earlier. He plopped down and waited for her. He hadn’t called, but he hoped she’d be able to get away for at least a few minutes.

He had something important to share.

He slumped down and spread his legs out straight in front of him. He knew that nothing would change how he felt about the beautiful brunette, but he wasn’t as sure about her.

He’d told her it was fate that brought them together and he knew he had to trust that fate would keep them together.

He sat up straight when he heard the distinctive sound of her heels on the hardwood floors. As always, he gasped when she came into the parlor.

“Andy? This is...”

He jumped up and went over to her, pulled her close and kissed her before she could say anything more.

“Is something wrong?” Liz pulled away. “You usually call and...”

“I’m...” He led her over to where he’d been sitting. “I’m...Dammit Liz. I’m shipping out. Ninety days. Ninety days and...”

“You’ll be at sea? We won’t...”

Seeing the look of shock and disappointment on Liz’s face, Andy’s fears were assuaged. He almost felt relief realizing that she would miss him—maybe as much as he’d miss her.

“When?” she finally asked.

“We pull out...pull out tomorrow. It’ll be late May, maybe even June before...Ninety days.” Andy put his arm across her shoulders and pulled her close. The hell with rules about public affection.

“Will you be here for my graduation?”

“Maybe, it’ll be close.”

They sat together silently, each waiting for the other to say something.

“I told you I love you, Liz. I meant it. That’s not going to change.” Andy finally broke the silence. He began to feel panicky when she didn’t immediately respond.

“I...I...Oh, Andy. I love you, too. It’s...Ninety days is less than three months. I’ll...I’ll be here studying and you’ll be busy and...You won’t be chasing after a girl in every port will you?”

Andy scooted over and pulled her to him. “One girl. One port,” he murmured between kisses.

Thursday, June 20, 1946

Andy stopped the car before pulling into the driveway and checked the numbers on the heavy iron gates. Yes this was the correct address. This was where Liz lived with her mother and step-father. Scarsdale was known as an enclave for wealthy professionals, but he hadn’t expected this type of money. He unconsciously smoothed his hair and jacket before turning and heading up the long drive.

Even though he only received mail when they pulled into port, there was always a huge pile of lightly scented letters waiting for him. Just as she’d promised, she had written him every day. While his own letters were infrequent, they were long epistles, revealing more of himself than he’d shared with anyone before. His ship had returned to New London ten days after her graduation and return to Scarsdale and they’d continued to write. They also talked on the phone every Sunday, but he hadn’t seen her, held her in his arms, or heard her laugh, since February. His feelings remained as strong as they were then and he hoped and prayed that she felt the same way.

Andy received his discharge papers shortly after his sub had returned to New London and he had spent the past two weeks completing paperwork, enrolling at New York University and looking for an apartment. If his plans for this day went as he hoped, he and Liz would be sharing an apartment in the city before his classes started in September. Thanks to the G.I. Bill, he’d have sufficient income for them to live on—if frugally—for the next four years.

He pulled his parents’ sedan behind the Cadillac parked in front of the spacious house and took some parcels from the back seat before heading up to the front entrance.

He was surprised when a uniformed maid opened the door. Many of the homes near Crabapple Farm were more luxurious than this one and had large household staffs. He’d been in quite a few of them, but he wasn’t prepared to see that Liz came from such comfort. Would she be willing to make the monetary sacrifices of living on his GI Benefits?

“Andrew Belden,” he offered as he stepped in.

“Miss Opperman is expecting you. She is on the terrace with her mother.” The maid led him through several well-appointed rooms and a set of French doors that led back outside.

The maid started to announce him when Liz jumped up, ran over and hugged him, almost crushing his packages. Andy felt a rush of relief. Whether she still loved him or not, there was no question that she was happy to see him.

“Mother.” She turned to the older woman who had been sitting with her. “This is Andy...Andrew Belden.”

Andy set his packages on a white iron table and stepped over to Liz’s mother. She took his offered hand, but said nothing. He knew he was being appraised as future son-in-law material.

“Mrs. Harris. I...It...” Andy wasn’t sure what he should say. “It’s a pleasure, Ma’am.”

“Andrew.” She nodded. “I’m glad we finally get to meet you. Liz speaks highly...” She smiled. “Liz speaks incessantly about you.”

Andy smiled meekly. “I...I hope it’s good.”

Mrs. Harris laughed. “It certainly is.” She looked over at the packages on the table. “She says you’re home for good?”

“Yes, ma’am. I received an early discharge due to reduction in forces. I’ve already...Liz might have mentioned that I’ve already enrolled at NYU for the fall.”

“She said something about Cornell?”

“I received a scholarship from Cornell when I graduated high school. To study Agriculture. But I decided I want to study Business and NYU...It’s a better program and...” He glanced over at Liz. They already had talked about her desire to work in publishing. There would be much better opportunities for her in New York than Ithaca.

“Herman should be joining us soon. We thought we’d have lunch at The Club, if that’s agreeable to you.”

“Of course.” Andy stepped over to the table, hoping he was dressed appropriately for The Club. He grabbed a small nosegay of flowers that his mother had selected from her garden that morning. He’d thought they were beautiful when she’d shown them to him, but they now seemed shoddy in comparison to the formal gardens of the Harris home. He stood straight and offered them to Mrs. Harris.

“From my mother’s garden. It’s not as...” He motioned to the manicured lawns. “We have a small place near Sleepyside and my mother is quite proud of her flowers.”

“Thank you, Andrew. They are beautiful.”

Andy picked up a wrapped package and handed it to Liz. “Happy half....ah...half-Bird-day.”

“Bird-day?” Liz laughed. Andy almost had forgotten just how light and joyful her laugh could be. Almost.

Andy blushed. “Birthday. You said you want to celebrate your birthday independently of Christmas and I thought...today is halfway to your next birthday so why not a half-birthday?”

“Well I like the idea of a bird-day, too. Should I open it, now?” Without waiting for his reply, she sat down in a chair and began unwrapping the gift. “You didn’t have to...”

“No, I didn’t, but...” Andy prayed she would like his gift.

Liz dropped the wrapping on the ground and lifted the lid off the box. She squealed when she saw what it contained. “Andy! Is this? She lifted out a dainty pink and white porcelain dish. It’s...”

“I got it in Hamilton. Hamilton, Bermuda. It’s Wedgwood. England’s exporting china again and the pink...The sales clerk said you could use it for a lot of things.”

Liz smiled. “Yes, pink.” She handed the small dish to her mother. “Andy liked my pink wool coat. You know, Mother, the one with the fur collar.”

“That thing? That color is hideous! I tried to convince Liz not to buy it, but she... This is lovely, Andrew.” She handed the dish back to her daughter.

Andy was just reaching for the third box when she called out, “Oh, here’s Herman!” He looked over to see a tall, distinguished gentleman who was obviously much older than Liz’s mother coming towards them. He stepped over and offered his hand.

Andy enjoyed a very tense afternoon with Liz, her mother and step-father, but after a long lunch and their enjoying the cake baked by his mother that was in the third box, the older couple left Liz and him alone. Andy assumed that meant he had passed their inspection.

He and Liz sat side by side on a divan on the terrace, holding hands, totally unaware of the lengthening shadows and eventual darkness until someone flipped on the lights surrounding the patio.

“I...it’s getting late,” Andy said quietly.

Liz rested her head against his shoulder. “I know.” She sighed.

“I’m home for good. It’s not that far to Sleepyside.”

“I know.” She sighed again.

“And, come September...”

“I know.”

“I don’t have much money, Liz.”

“I know. I don’t care.”

“I love you now.”

“I know.”

“I always will.”

“Always? I will too.”

“I can’t promise much except...”

“Will you take me on sleigh rides?”

Andy chuckled. “I did promise that, didn’t I?”

“I’m still waiting.”

Andy looked around. “It’s a little warm right now. We might go to Canada, but I don’t think it’s cold enough there, either.”

“Come winter?”

“First snowfall, I’ll find a sleigh...that is...if...” Andy stood up and turned towards her. “I’ve been looking at apartments.”

Liz looked up at him. “You...have?”

“Near NYU.”

“You’ll need a place to live when you start school.” She nodded understanding.

“I don’t need a whole apartment. I was hoping...” He cleared his throat.

“Hoping?”

Andy dropped down on one knee and took something from his shirt pocket. “I wasn’t sure...I mean I am sure...but I wasn’t sure if I should do this today or wait. I wasn’t sure if I should ask your dad, or your step-dad or you, first. But I can’t wait, Liz. I can’t wait another minute or hour or...I...I...Will you...”

Liz sat with her hands clasped in front of her mouth, tears streaming down her face for what seemed an eternity to Andy. “I will. Oh, yes, I will,” she finally said, holding out her left hand so that he could slip the ring on her finger.

Thursday, July 4, 1946

Andy stood to the side of the terrace of the Harris home, observing all the guests at their annual Independence Day party and eavesdropping on the conversations about the surprise announcement of his engagement to Liz. He had spent most of the hot muggy afternoon shaking hands with drunken executive-types and enduring hugs from tipsy middle-aged matrons. He’d overheard a few people speculating about the reason for the “rushed” wedding, so he made certain he told everyone who’d listen that he’d just returned from a long cruise, courtesy of the U.S. Navy, and they wanted to get settled before he started classes in the fall. He chuckled at the thought of people counting off weeks once he and Liz were married and wondered how long it would be until...imagine his being a father. But first he had to survive the engagement, the lavish wedding his mother-in-law was planning, and getting his college degree.

After Andy had slipped the diamond solitaire on Liz’s hand two weeks earlier, they had rushed into the house to share the news with her mother and step-father. Herman was obviously pleased and immediately went down into the “wine cellar” to find a bottle of champagne. Her mother was less excited, but she quickly began talking about the wedding—a positive sign, Andy knew.

Mr. Harris opened the bottle of wine and the cork popped loudly and flew across the room... Taking that as a sign of good luck, they all were in good spirits when he offered a toast to the young couple. They laughed and joked until Liz announced that they wanted to get married before the end of the summer. Mrs. Harris insisted that it would be impossible to arrange the kind of wedding that their “position” demanded, but Liz prevailed. They agreed on a marriage in early September. Mrs. Harris would call the church the next day to set a date before Andy started classes on September twenty-third.

Andy’s parents had suspected the reason for his trip to Scarsdale and were waiting up for him when he returned home that evening. Since they had been unable to attend either Hal’s or Peter’s wedding, they were delighted to know that they would not be missing their third son’s nuptials.

In the past two weeks, Andy had traveled back and forth between Sleepyside and Scarsdale several times to visit with Liz. The two had spent one day in the city looking at apartments, but everything they saw was too expensive and too small.

The Harris’ hosted a party every year on Independence Day, and they had decided to make the official engagement announcement on this occasion, rather than try to arrange another party before the wedding in September. Andy would have been happy to slip away quietly to a Justice of the Peace, and he believed Liz would, too, but her mother was insistent. Liz had reminded him several times that getting her mother to agree to a wedding with such short notice was a major coup, so he agreed to “make the sacrifice”.

Liz walked up and joined him just as a quartet of men began singing patriotic songs. They laughed at Mr. Harris attempts to herd guests into the patio area to watch the elaborate, and Andy was certain very expensive, fireworks display. Mrs. Harris walked over and put her hand around her husband’s waist when the fireworks began, so Andy pulled Liz into the shadows on the edge of the lawn.

Pop! Pop! BANG! Oooooooh! They could hear the explosions and the guests’ reactions, but Andy couldn’t see any of the display. He didn’t care. He pulled Liz close and molded his body into hers, kissing her with each explosion. After one exceptionally loud bang, he whispered into her ear, “By the time you hear the popping of chestnuts this Christmas, you’ll be my wife. And we won’t be stealing kisses in the...

“Excuse me. Miss Opperman?” A maid stepped up to them. “You have a telephone call. Long distance. They said...they insisted that you take it.”

Liz looked up at Andy, clearly worried and confused, and then ran towards the house. Andy ran behind her and waited while she took the call on a phone in the kitchen.

“This is Liz Opperman.” She waited as the caller apologized for interrupting her holiday and explained the reason for calling. “Yes. He’s my father. He’s...I...Oh, my!” She looked over at Andy and then slumped against the wall.

He stepped up and grabbed her. She handed him the phone. “This is Andrew Belden, Miss Opperman’s fee...Yes.” He listened as the caller repeated his sad news. "Of course. Of course.” He pulled Liz to him as he hung up the phone.

“I’m so sorry, Lizzie. So sorry. So, so sorry.” He kissed her forehead, her cheeks, and her lips. Consoling her the only way he knew how.

“My father...” she sobbed. “He was so excited when I called him. He wanted to come out for the wedding. He...” Her body shook violently with her sobs. “How can he be dead?”

Thursday, July 11, 1946

“Can you believe that we’re married?” Elizabeth Opperman Belden asked her husband of a few hours.

“Oh, yes. We’re an old married couple.” Andy pounded a flat pillow and put it behind his head, then pulled his wife on top of him. He reached down and took two chocolates from the box on the floor then popped one in his wife’s mouth and the other in his.

“Do you think the people on the train will know?” She rested her head on his shoulder as she chewed the candy.

“Know what?”

“That we’ve only been married a few hours and we’ve spent almost all of that time...”

“Only if we start moaning too loudly.”

“Andy! Do you think people can hear us?” She was sincerely shocked.

Andy pulled Liz closer. “I’m going do my best to make sure they do.” He waited for her to giggle.

”I know my mother behaved dreadfully,” she offered instead.

“I think she handled it all very well. We did deny her the big wedding she was planning.” He paused. “Are you...are you disappointed?”

“After the past few hours? I am so glad we...I can’t imagine waiting another day for...for this. I don’t regret anything.” Liz kissed her husband.

“I am glad you didn’t let me stop your step-father from upgrading our coach tickets. I would have preferred spending our wedding night in a large bed in some luxurious hotel suite, but this is certainly better than sitting in coach seats for two or three days.” Andy was stretched out as much as he could on the narrow bed of their private stateroom. “And there’s something to be said about making love on a swaying train.” He chuckled.

Liz giggled and kissed her husband. “The upgraded tickets were certainly cheaper than the wedding would have...”

“Your mother still wants to have a lavish reception.” He kissed her, and then rolled over, taking her with him.

“Not until after a respectable mourning period.”

“Yes. Respectable. But we’re not going to think about mourning. For now...” He lifted up so that she could straddle him. “The only thing I want to do or think about is...” Andy grabbed her arms and pinned them above her head. “Pleasure.”

The call for Liz on Independence Day had been from the local Sheriff in Iowa. A neighbor had found her father earlier that day pinned under a tractor and he had succumbed to his injuries shortly after. It was considered an accident, but still required an investigation, so the Sheriff had been called.

Liz’s parents’ were both from prominent Chicago families and their marriage had been more a business arrangement than one of love. Her mother had moved back in with her parents only weeks after the ceremony, unaware that she was already pregnant. Her father had tried to reconcile when he learned of the pregnancy, but her mother had been insistent and he moved to Des Moines, where his family had extensive land holdings, allowing gossips to assume he had abandoned his wife and child. Her mother had married Herman Harris when Liz was three years old.

While Charles Opperman had maintained support and contact with his daughter by mail, she had only met her father on three occasions. He was a virtual stranger to her. Unable to return to Chicago after the “scandal” he’d found solace living on a large farm just outside of Des Moines, breeding prize-winning sheep. He’d never remarried. A local attorney was Executor of her father’s estate, but Liz was his sole heir, and the only family who could take responsibility for the funeral and other arrangements.

Andy had immediately offered to travel with her, but her mother was insistent that it wouldn’t be proper for them to make such a long journey together, no matter what the reason.

“You can’t travel to Iowa with her, even if you are engaged. It won’t look right.” Mrs. Harris was insistent.

“Then we’ll get married, first. We’ll go down to the courthouse right now.”

“It’s a holiday. The courthouse is closed. And there’s the waiting period.”

“What is it? Five days? Three days? We’ll drive to Maryland.” Andy was just as determined as his future mother-in-law.

“There’s a waiting period in Maryland, too,” Liz offered.

“I won’t have it. We were planning a beautiful ceremony this fall at St. James, followed by a lovely reception here. This can’t...”

“You’re the one who wants the big wedding, Mother. Andy and I...” Liz turned to Andy. “Are you serious? You want to do this now? I can travel to Iowa alone, Andy, but if we can pull off a marriage right now...”

Andy pulled her to him. “If we get the license tomorrow, we can be married by mid-week and on a train the same day. We’d be in Des Moines before next weekend. You’ll need that much time to make funeral and travel arrangements.

“Mrs. Harris, Mr. Harris.” He turned to the older couple. “I mean no disrespect to either of you. But Liz needs me now; much more than she needs the beautiful wedding you’re planning. I’m not letting her go to Des Moines without me.”

After several more arguments that lasted all that night and well into the next day, it was agreed that Andy and Liz would marry as soon as possible so that he could travel with her, providing assistance and support during her ordeal.

They had immediately gotten their blood tests and marriage license and spent the requisite waiting period packing and making travel arrangements. After a quick ceremony in the St James Parsonage, witnessed by the Harris’ and Andy’s parents, they boarded a train and headed west.

They spent most of the three-day journey in their private stateroom, only leaving for occasional meals and to change trains in Chicago. If any of the other passengers thought that odd, Andy and Liz never noticed.

They arrived in Osceola on Saturday evening, where they were met by a young man who introduced himself as a clerk from Mr. Clark’s office. Henry Clark was Liz’s father’s attorney.

Shortly after dusk they crossed a bridge over a wide, twisting river that was unlike anything the young couple had seen on the east coast. Their driver indicated that it was the Raccoon River and they were almost to Happy Valley Farm as they headed up a slight incline and around a sharp curve.

“Happy Valley? That’s the name of the...my...my father’s home?”

“My understanding was that he loved the farm and the entire valley. I assume he was happy there.” They crested a hill and the young man pulled the car over and stopped. “This is it. Happy Valley.”

Andy looked at the scenic vista in awe. It was just like a Currier and Ives drawing. At the bottom of the hill was a large modern house set among rolling fields that were criss-crossed with dark-stained wooden fences. Several barns and other outbuildings were just behind the house. Groups of sheep were grazing in the fields. You could just make out the river through the woods on the other side of the road.

“It’s...”

Liz squeezed him around the waste. “It is. It’s beautiful.”

The driver pulled away and headed down the hill.

There were lights on in the farm house, but Andy thought they had been left on in anticipation of their late arrival. He was surprised when the front door flew open and a young woman stepped onto the front porch, followed by a tall broad-shouldered man.

“Welcome home, Lizzie.” They both ran over to help Andy and Liz from the car. “I’m so sorry...it’s been so long and then to reunite under these circumstances.”

Liz hugged the woman and then the man, before turning to her new husband. “Andy, please meet my cousin and her husband, Delores and Dan Schultz.” She then turned to the Schultz’s. “And this is my...my husband, Andy Belden.”

“I wish we were meeting under happier circumstances,” Andrew started to say as the young woman pulled him into a hug.

“Welcome home, Andrew and Liz. Welcome home.”

Thursday, December 26, 1946

Liz bent over the table and signed a document, took another one from Mr. Clark and signed it, then looked up at the elderly attorney. “Is that the last one? I hope!”

“Mr. Belden needs to finish signing.”

Liz handed the stack of documents to her husband and waited while he read through them for the third time.

“I still think everything should go to any children and...” Andy started to protest.

“No, Andy. I want it this way. It’s much simpler, especially if something... Mr. Clark explained it all to you.” Liz handed him a pen.

Andy shook his head and began signing. He’d fallen in love with a beautiful college student. He’d married an aspiring literary editor. He had never intended to marry an heiress. But Liz was an heiress—a very wealthy heiress determined to put all of her property in their names jointly. He wanted none of it. All he’d ever wanted was her heart.

“Is that all?” He handed the papers to the attorney.

“I’ll be filing the appropriate papers in the courthouse tomorrow, but this should be all I need from either of you.”

They all stood up. “I can’t thank you enough for all your assistance. We never...” Liz offered.

“Your father knew you’d need help, Mrs. Belden, but he had great faith in you ability to make the right decisions...regarding his extensive investments, land holdings and, of course, Happy Valley. Will you be returning to New York or staying...”

“I’m starting classes at Drake in January,” Andrew responded.

“May I ask what do you plan to do with the farm? Happy Valley.”

“Despite the circumstances that brought us here, we love the farm. We’ll be staying there for now. Long term? I’m not sure,” Liz responded.

“I’ve thought about taking over the breeding operation myself. It is fascinating. But there’s a lot to learn. For now the Gormans will manage it for us. We’re definitely not selling it until we decide for certain.” Andy helped his wife with her coat. “We don’t need the money...from a sale or leasing. Liz’s father took care of that. But I can’t just live off her inheritance.”

“What do you plan to study, Andrew?” Mr. Clark handed Liz her gloves.

“I originally wanted to study Agriculture at Cornell, but went into the Navy instead. I was planning to start at NYU this fall to study Business and Finance when... Looks like fate has brought me to a place and a school that has opportunities in both. It all depends on what we decide to do with Happy Valley.” Andy offered his hand to Mr. Clark again.

“Good luck with whatever you decide.” Mr. Clark shook Andrew’s hand firmly.

Andrew grabbed Liz’s hand and led her through the door before she could respond.

“Ready?” he asked as they stepped outside. “I hear sleigh bells jingling.”

“As ready as I can be.” Liz stepped on tiptoes and kissed him. “It’s freezing out here. I hope you remembered a blanket.”

“Of course. For snuggling.” Andrew pulled her close. “We could tell the driver we changed our minds and go home. I’d love to peel that beautiful pink coat off to see what’s hiding underneath.”

“No way! You promised me a sleigh ride a year ago, and you’re going to make good on that promise, Mr. Belden.”

“Haven’t the past twelve months been a sleigh ride of sorts? Snuggling together like birds of a feather? Gliding along, singing a song, holding my hand?” Andy tried to kiss his wife.

“You are as corny as whatever’s in that silo in our barnyard, Andrew Belden!” She slapped his shoulder playfully. “I was expecting a sleigh ride through the snow. You went to all this trouble to get a real sleigh...and don’t forget. It’s Thursday! Everything important to us has occurred on a Thursday.”

“And this is important?”

“It is to me!”

“Then your wish is my command, Mrs. Belden.” Andrew kissed her cheek and took the young woman’s arm. “Your carriage—I mean sleigh—awaits.”

Just hear those sleigh bells jingling
Ring ting tingling too.
Come on, it's lovely weather
For a sleigh ride together with you.

 

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