Chapter 100

Hannah chose the soft pink dress Riley had given her for Christmas to wear to Cheryl and Steve's for cards a week later. With a patience she hadn't expected, Riley had spent the better part of two evenings going over the fundamentals of pinochle with her. She'd never played cards much, but she was willing to learn, and Riley was tolerant with her lack of skill.

"You look… beautiful," he said, coming out of the bedroom. He stopped as though he couldn't take his eyes off her; but if that was the case, then he shouldn't be able to keep his hands off her, either. That certainly didn't seem to be a problem of late. They might as well not be married for all the good it did them. Riley was scheduled to ship out sometime early the following week, and they'd yet to make love.

Not from lack of trying, at least on Hannah's part.

Sometimes Hannah suspected he was playing a cruel game with her, but if that was the case, he was the one who was suffering.

Not once in the week since she'd moved into his bedroom had they managed to go to bed at the same time. Inevitably Riley came up with some nonsensical excuse to linger several minutes, and oftentimes hours after she was already in bed. Although she tried to wait up for him, she almost always fell asleep.

She found it uncanny that he would know just when she would be sleeping before he'd join her. Only once had he woken her, but when she'd tried to talk to him, he'd pretended to be exhausted, had rolled away from her and gone directly to sleep.

Pretended. Hannah was sure he was as wide-awake as she was.

In every other way, other than the physical aspect of their marriage, he was a model husband. With the exception of the first night she'd moved into his bedroom, they hadn't so much as cuddled, at least not that Hannah was aware.

"I'm going out to start the car," Riley said, turning away from her. He'd taken to doing that lately – making sure it was warm and cozy inside before he came for her, not wanting to chance her catching a chill.

Hannah had been looking forward to this evening with Cheryl and Steve, even if it did involve playing cards. She was grateful for the friendship of the other Navy wives she'd met through Steve's wife.

Riley's hand was on her shoulder as they stood at the front door and rang the Morgans' doorbell.

"They must be making this a round-robin," he murmured.

"Round robin?" Hannah asked.

"That's Lenny's car across the street. And I noticed Floyd's one block over."

The door opened just then and Cheryl stepped forward, grinning from ear to ear. Standing between them, she took Riley's arm and then Hannah's, leading them into the living room.

Pink and blue strands of crepe paper were draped across the ceiling and the table was set with a large lace tablecloth and a pretty bouquet of pink and blue carnations.

"Surprise!" Cheryl cried, laughing and throwing her arms into the air.

Immediately people started popping out from every corner. Four jumped up from behind the davenport. Three came from the kitchen and as many more from the coat closet.

"What's going on here?" Riley asked, clearly perplexed.

"Don't you recognize a baby shower when you see one?" Cheryl chided.

"A baby what?" Riley asked again, scratching his head. He looked to Hannah for an explanation.

"It's a party for the baby," Hannah told him, smiling. She recognized several of the wives and a couple of the husbands.

"Here, 'ol buddy," Steve said, handing Riley a cold can of soda. "Sit down and we'll explain everything." Riley cast a dumbfounded look over his shoulder as Steve led him toward the front of the room and sat him down. Next, Riley's friend escorted Hannah to the second chair and then placed a paper crown from a fast-food restaurant on top of each of their heads.

"I thought only women had parties for babies," Riley muttered under his breath.

"I did, too," she whispered back.

Cheryl dragged out a card table stacked high with gifts.