On the first day of summer that year, Vickie and Clifford began to court publically. One of their earliest dates was a short walk in the park. They spent hours talking, getting to know one another and making one another laugh.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49497696183_b8b7d38fbe_c.jpgBy the end of the date, they learned that they were not only a match on a physical level but an intelligent one at that. They closed out the afternoon with an intense chess match against one another and though the match was close Vickie ended up being the Victor.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49498419047_39e7b37bc1_c.jpg If pressed, especially by his father or Henry, Clifford would tell them that he went easy on her to hold onto his pride, but the truth was it made him fall even harder for her. Early summer was full of golden moments like that. Vickie and Clifford's happiness rubbed off on the rest of the town too, to the point where even his dear brother, Henry, barely thirteen at the time was making bets on when he and Vickie would tie the knot.
By early July he and Vickie started to discuss things like when he would propose and when they would have their wedding.
One day they were talking and Vickie mentioned that she'd always wanted an outdoor wedding preferably in the spring. Once he heard that he put a plan into action.
Around the middle of July, he invited Vickie to the nicest restaurant in all of Salmon Woods and ordered Lobster Termidor for the both of them since he knew it was one of Vickie's favorite foods. After dinner, they split a dessert she chose and after that invited her for an evening walk around town. Vickie agreed, but they only barely made it out of the front door of the restaurant when Clifford dropped down on one knee and proposed. Vickie said yes without a second's hesitation.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49498192026_04d1a926fe_c.jpgIt was one of the shortest courtships in history, but neither one of them regretted it. Clifford promised her a wedding the following spring.
The next week or so was a buzz of activity full of hearty congratulations in regards to Clifford and Vickie's engagement, but otherwise, the citizens of Salmon Woods continued to go about their sheltered, safe lives, desperately trying to ignore the winds of war drawing ever closer to the tiny town.
Eventually the inevitable closed in around the small town and war was declared. James Nolan himself was recruited for the war effort on a day that seemed like any other. It was a cooler day than usual and he was teaching Thelma to walk outside when he was approached by military personnel
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49497696073_a09488ff42_c.jpgJames picked up the toddler and approached the man.
"Can I help you, Sir?" James asked although he knew what the answer would be, everyone in Salmon Woods did.
"The war needs as many able-bodied men it can get. For the sake of this country, the military needs your help," the officer said.
James knew he couldn't say no, but he wasn't ready to ship out just yet. "You gotta give me some time to get my affairs in order and say goodbye to my family just in case the worst happens," James said.
The military official agreed. After he left James asked Maggie-May to step inside their room to talk. She agreed although she feared what he was about to say.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49498600962_f9c1cc0061_c.jpgWhen her fears were confirmed she wasn't surprised, but still begged him to say no to the officer.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49498191921_03bcb035d0_c.jpg"It will devastate the children. What about Thelma's upcoming birthday or Clifford's wedding?" she said.
James sighed. "You know as well as I do that I have no choice in the matter,"
"You're right," she said as her shoulders sank. "When do you leave?"
"I have a week or two to get my affairs in order and then I have to go," James said.
James's wife shook with heavy emotion, but miraculously she remained steady on her feet and held her tears at bay.
"You will be back," she said, he guessed as much to assure herself that he would return as she was trying to comfort him. "However, I understand the precautions. I just hope you stay at least long enough to see Thelma's age up in a couple of days. "
"That I can guarantee," he said.
They told their children what was about to happen and Maggie-May made sure to remind them to stay strong, for their father's sake. They did their best to do so, but the weather reflected their inner turmoil and it rained all the remaining days their father was home. They even tried to throw Thelma a party on the seashore, as if that would defy the weather, but of course, it got rained out.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49498191961_0f3f4b34c8_c.jpgHowever, a party was still thrown in Thelma's honor at their home and all their extended family was invited. The fact that the party also existed to say goodbye to all the men leaving for war remained unspoken and everyone tried their best to focus on celebrating Thelma becoming a child.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49498191951_cac8f1f9ed_c.jpghttps://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49497695978_4e7dba09e5_c.jpgStories were told, homemade meals were eaten and good times were had. At the end of the night, shortly before everyone went home, Clifford and Vickie announced that they would move their wedding up to the next day. Most people agreed that that was a brilliant idea, the reason it was a good idea also remained unspoken.
The night didn't end for the Nolans when everyone went to bed though; since Mrs. Hilton was one of the few people who disapproved of the hasty marriage Vickie and Maggie-May had to work long into the night to put together a wedding. Despite the late-night, both of them woke the next morning excited about the wedding. Because they had to rush the preparations, Vickie didn't even have a proper wedding dress, but somehow they still managed to put together a beautiful wedding with the help of their fellow Salmon Woods residents.
The local church offered to lend them a wedding arch for the Nolans' yard and one of the ministers volunteered to lead the ceremony. The guests brought their own chairs and some even brought extras for the guests who didn't. Just as the sun started to set, Clifford stepped under the arch to wait for his bride. Her father walked her down the aisle and the two of them exchanged both their vows and rings.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49498191866_db56ac88d3_c.jpgOnce that was finished they shared a tender kiss sealing their marriage under God's eyes.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49498418842_88bda1d018_c.jpgAfter the wedding ceremony, James disappeared in his bedroom to work on paperwork like his will and as a result, missed the wedding reception. It was a solemn affair since the war hung over everyone like storm clouds, though they tried to pretend everything was fine.
Clifford and Vickie couldn't even enjoy the wonderful room James for their wedding night. Instead of consummating their marriage they talked about their own uncertain future since it wasn't long until Clifford turned eighteen and he would have to join the war effort himself.
Clifford offered assurance to Vickie that the war would end before he had to go, but such a statement rang hollow to the both of them.
"The best we can do is pray," Vickie said.
"Then prayer we shall," said Clifford and they did.
The next morning James was gone, a pile of cold documents in his place.
Author's Note: Thanks again to lillka for the dress Thelma wore after her age-up.
