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this is a very special memorial. Being a naval man, it has a lot of meaning for me.’
    â€˜Of course.’ It was obvious that Bradley loved the navy, as had his father and grandfather.
    Catherine was silent as they parked near the visitors’ centre where the tenders departed to take visitors out to the odd-shaped white memorial floating in the harbour.
    It was late in the day and there were only two other couples boarding the tender. It was manned by smartly dressed naval personnel and cruised across the bay to the sunken remains of the USS Arizona .
    The six visitors clambered onto the memorial and as they went through to the midsection one of the men took a bunch of flowers from his wife, dropped it into the water and saluted. Bradley stood to attention, and everyone fell silent. After a few moments Bradley took Catherine’s hand and pointed out the remains of the sunken vessel below them.
    â€˜The memorial doesn’t touch the ship below . . . it’s where more than a thousand men are entombed,’ said Bradley. ‘If you look carefully, you can see oil from the Arizona still rising to the surface.’
    Catherine shivered. The thought she was standing on the grave of those young men was so sad.
    At the far end of the memorial, in the Shrine Room, they stood before the marble wall where the names of all those lost were carved. Everyone spoke in whispers.
    Catherine glanced at the solemn-faced Bradley. ‘Do you ever think about going to war?’
    He thought for a moment then said, ‘I think if you choose to serve your country, you accept whatever comes along.’
    â€˜Whether or not you agree with the reasons behind it?’ she asked, thinking of the protest demonstrations against the Vietnam War she’d seen on television at home and in London.
    â€˜Like I said, you choose to serve. I believe in what our government is doing. The public doesn’t always know what goes on behind the scenes.’ He took her arm. ‘Thanks for coming along. I thought it might give you a sense of the history that’s here.’
    â€˜Yes. Thanks for bringing me.’ The visit had given Catherine a sense of how important the navy was to Bradley. As the tender ferried them back to the visitors’ centre, Bradley put his arm around her.
    â€˜Are you up for another Hawaiian institution?’ he asked. ‘Something romantic.’
    â€˜Of course. Where’re we going?’
    â€˜It’s a show – Don Ho at the Beachcomber Lounge. But I thought we’d have a cocktail under the banyan tree first. You can change into something else for the show as it doesn’t start till later. Or you can go as you are of course. You look lovely whatever you wear.’
    â€˜I bought some things today including a dress, so I’d like to wear it tonight. That’s thoughtful of you.’ She was learning Bradley was thoughtful – and a planner.
    They took their regular spot under the banyan tree and a waiter appeared and Bradley ordered a mai tai for Catherine and a Tom Collins for himself. She wondered what that was and would have preferred something other than the sweet and sneaky mai tai but she didn’t want to hurt Bradley’s feelings.
    â€˜And bring us a platter of pupus as well, please,’ added Bradley.
    Catherine lifted an eyebrow.
    â€˜Little snacks, Hawaiian hors d’oeuvres,’ he explained.
    They picked at the tasty food, Catherine had a second mai tai, which she sipped slowly as she was already feeling somewhat mellow from the first one and they talked and talked. She found Bradley immensely entertaining and interesting. Their conversation always flowed easily and fluently without her having to think of a subject to discuss or wonder what to say next.
    Bradley glanced at his watch. ‘Do you want to slip upstairs and change?’ Catherine would have preferred to stay where they were as the sun had set and it was cool, the