The Mine by John A. Heldt Read Free Book Online Page A

is. Besides, I don't think I could compete with the sisterhood."
    She laughed.
    "You're probably right about that."
    Grace gazed at her dinner partner. She liked what she saw. Slender and sturdy at five-ten, Paul McEwan resembled a young Spencer Tracy. He had thick reddish-brown hair, hazel eyes, and a sprinkling of freckles on a boyish face.
    "You look handsome in that uniform. You should wear it more often."
    "It will be standard equipment soon."
    "When does your assignment start?"
    "Right after graduation. I leave for Boston on the fifteenth."
    With superior test scores and specialized training as a cadet, Paul had qualified to study at the new Navy Supply Corps School, located at the Harvard Business School. He would train to become an expert in supply, logistics, and combat support. Grace shook her head and smiled.
    "You'll be a Navy officer and a Harvard man. That's almost too much to bear."
    She took another sip of wine and thought of her parents. If they could see her now, they would surely send her to bed without supper. Alcohol had not been a staple in the many homes of Protestant missionaries William and Lucille Vandenberg. They certainly would oppose plans by Grace's Kappa Delta Alpha sisters to take her bar hopping in two days. But they would also be fiercely proud of their only child and the woman she had become.
    They would like Paul too.
    Paul and Grace had met at a Christmas party and dated for five months. He was a senior on the dean's list, a member of Zeta Alpha Rho fraternity, and a participant in the university's prestigious Naval ROTC program. He planned to make a career in the U.S. Navy. She was a junior who wanted to teach English and literature.
    Grace played with a short string of pearls around her neck. It was a gift from a doting aunt, as was the shimmering purple swing dress she had worn for the occasion. The outfit complemented gentle curves, milky skin, and platinum locks that came from God and not a bottle.
    The petite honors student did not go out often and generally preferred a quiet evening with a book to the chaos of parties and dances. But the sorority had brought her out of a shell. So had her man in white. He could not bear the thought of her staying at home on a Saturday night.
    Paul was as dashing as ever but also fidgety. From the moment they arrived at the restaurant, he had appeared distracted. He tapped his fingers on a glass of water.
    "Is something wrong?" Grace asked.
    "Not at all." He offered a nervous smile. "I'm fine."
    Gerard stopped at their table and took their orders. Grace requested halibut. Paul selected the New York steak and asked that it be "accessorized."
    Grace beamed. She loved the way he phrased things, just as she loved how he pampered her. She looked forward to getting to know him better over the next year and seeing whether they had enough in common to form a lasting relationship.
    When the waiter returned with their meals, Paul turned a pasty white. He pushed back his chair and straightened his tie.
    "Your halibut, madam. Your steak, sir."
    Grace assessed her meal and stuck a fork in the fish. She began to thank the server when she noticed that many eyes were focused on her table. She glanced at Paul. He had already dropped to one knee. Gerard handed Paul a small velvet box.
    "Your accessory, sir."
    "Thank you," Paul said.
    He looked up at Grace, opened the box, and offered it with both hands.
    "I know we haven't known each other all that long, but I can't imagine life without you. You're everything to me, Grace. You're all I could ever ask for and more. I want to be there for you. Forever. I love you. Will you marry me?"
    Grace felt her stomach drop. She stared blankly for several seconds before putting her fork on the table. She looked at the waiter. He offered only a non-committal smirk, as if to suggest that Paul's proposal was probably better than the catch of the day.
    She consulted the curious masses. A plump, middle-aged man holding a martini and a