Guarding Hearts

by Jaycie Morrison

  Bett couldn’t imagine anything else her mother could have said that would have made her feel as good. That, and the release of tension from the past days, made her fight against tears. “I’m glad you’re here, Mother. And thank you. You don’t know how much it means to me to hear you say that.”

  Mother and daughter pulled back and surveyed each other. Then they spoke at the same time. Bett said, “You look fabulous,” just as her mother said, “You look tired.” They laughed and Ann took the lead. “Go change your clothes, darling. Gale has assured me that lounge wear is the order of the day here. In fact, she only got dressed to go get you.” Bett was shocked to realize her mother was wearing a patterned flannel gown under a thick robe, along with socks and slippers. “These were Gale’s Christmas presents to me.” Ann practically giggled. Bett wasn’t sure if her mother was amused or secretly pleased by the gift. “Did you like the scarf and hat I got for her?” Bett looked around at Rain, who was standing with her arms crossed, her chin lifted a bit, surveying the scene with great satisfaction. I can’t wait to hear this story, she thought.

  The kitchen table was only suitable for two, so they ate in the dining room, but everyone sat on one end of the bigger table there, Ann at the head, and Rain and Bett on either side. There was champagne and a kind of pâté first, followed by a salad and a roast chicken and rice, served with white wine and asparagus. Dessert was a chocolate torte, served with red wine. Rain didn’t drink, of course, but she served mother and daughter in the appropriate glassware. Even though the delicious meal was restorative, Bett went easy on the alcohol, not even finishing a full glass. Ann led the conversation, as Bett expected and Rain had clearly grown accustomed to, and she talked of people Bett vaguely remembered, New York in general, and herself. Bett also noticed Rain didn’t really meet her eyes, other than to flash her a shy smile here and there. Ann and Rain occasionally commented to each other about the food.

  “Where did all this come from?” Bett asked, as Rain was serving the dessert.

  Ann smiled. “I brought the pâté, and then Gale and I began composing the menu and comparing recipes. She has made four trips to the grocery store in the last twenty-four hours.”

  “And the last time, they were closed,” Rain reminded her. “Or we would have had a soup.”

  “Yes. I forgot we weren’t in New York, where there is always something open.”

  Bett was still trying to wrap her head around what was happening. “When did you get here, Mother?”

  “Christmas afternoon, about three, wasn’t it?”

  Rain nodded, standing to clear the dessert plates.

  “And where are you staying?” Bett asked.

  Her mother looked surprised. “Why, here, of course. Gale insisted. She says she is fine on her pallet in front of the fire and sleeps there half the time anyway. I’m in her room.”

  “I’ve put some of my clothes in your closet, though, Bett,” Rain added, “so I won’t disturb your mother when I get dressed for work.”

  Rain ducked out of the room as Bett thought, There is no way I’m not sleeping with Rain tonight. Not after being apart for four days…and five nights.

  “When do you have to go back to New York?” Bett tried to frame the question delicately, as opposed to When are you leaving?

  “I leave mid-afternoon on the twenty-ninth, so this will be a brief visit, I’m afraid. But Gale already told me you already have New Year’s plans here, and that was the latest flight time I could get.”

  Bett tried to figure out what was different about her mother. Maybe it was because she wasn’t on her home ground, but she seemed much more relaxed, much less the imperious, frequently overbearing woman Bett knew.

  Rain came back in and asked if they wanted coffee. Both declined, even as Bett yawned.

  “Bett, you should get ready for bed,” Rain said.

  The Carlton women stood and walked back into the den.

  “Yes, darling, please go on,” Ann Carlton agreed. “We’ll have plenty of time to talk tomorrow. I won’t be far behind you. Gale had me up early for a walk, and I suspect she might do the same again in the morning.”

  Rain smiled from the kitchen. “Only if you want to, ma’am.”

  Bett shook her head in wonder. “I can’t believe you’re really here, Mother.”

  They hugged again, both saying, “Good night.”

  There was murmured conversation from the den as Bett got into bed. She tried to make out the words, but somehow they turned into coded signals and then she was asleep. She was dreaming of a beach in California where they often went as children when a wave brought the feel of soft, warm skin slipping in beside her. Bett wrapped herself around the wave and it whispered, “I love you, Bett. Merry Christmas.” She floated happily away.

  * * *

  Rain was gone from her bed and bright winter light was pouring in when smells of food woke Bett. She looked at the clock: 9:30. She’d been asleep for almost twelve hours.

  “Well, good morning, sleepyhead,” her mother greeted her from the stove.

  Rain was standing beside her, saying, “Now watch the edges. That is the guide to the amount of heat.”

  Ann Carlton punched her spatula at the pan and looked back around at Bett. “Gale is teaching me to make eggs over easy.” Bett couldn’t remember ever seeing her mother in the kitchen, except to express displeasure to the help about some aspect of a meal, and certainly not wearing an apron with a cooking utensil in her hand.

  When Ann turned back to the pan, Rain looked around and smiled at Bett. “Did you sleep well?”

  “Yes, almost too well,” Bett answered, gesturing at the clock.

  Rain shook her head. “No, it’s good. You were very tired.”

  They ate breakfast and Rain changed into her uniform while Bett did the dishes. When her mother excused herself to change, Bett went over to adjust Rain’s tie as she always did. “I wish you didn’t have to work today.” She lowered her voice. “I’m a little afraid to be alone with this woman. I’m not sure who she is. She strongly resembles my mother in appearance, but not one bit in actions.”

  “I’m going in late as it is, but I wanted to entertain your mother until you woke up. Repair requests are slow right now, so I’ll try to leave a little early,” Rain said. “Surely it will be good for you to visit with your mother for a bit.” She lowered her voice too. “She’s been nothing but nice to me. I don’t think you need to worry.”

  Bett hugged Rain quickly, whispering. “I promise I won’t be as tired tonight.”

  Rain answered softly. “It felt so wonderful just to have you in my arms again, Beloved.”

  Bett pulled Rain into the dining room and kissed her soundly. “Oh, I’ve been missing that,” she murmured when the sound of the bedroom door opening startled them apart. Bett could tell by the way Rain was still leaning toward her that she wasn’t ready to stop either.

  “Bett?” They heard Ann’s voice and walked back into the den. She seemed concerned that they had been in the dining room. “You aren’t changing our dinner plans for tonight, are you?” she asked Rain.

  “Oh no, ma’am,” Rain answered.

  “We have dinner plans?” Bett asked.

  “I made reservations,” Rain said, standing a little taller. Bett covered her mouth to hide her smile. Her lover’s pride at having successfully accomplished something new was absolutely adorable.

  “Gale said we’re going somewhere special,” Ann added.

  “I’ll see you both tonight,” Rain said, opening the door.

  “Have a nice day at work, dear,” Ann Carlton called.

  “Thank you, ma’am.”

  As the sound of Rain’s motorcycle faded away, Ann turned to her daughter. “She’s a very nice girl, Bett. I’m glad you’ve found someone of such good character to live with.”

  Bett wasn’t sure what to say. Ann went on while Bett poured herself another cup of tea and sat at the kitchen table. “Apparently she has quite an interesting
background. Half Sioux, she told me. Do you remember meeting my godfather, Will Rogers? He was a quarter Cherokee. I see the resemblance in their straightforward, unpretentious manner.” Ann Carlton sighed. “Father produced several tours for him, and they remained close friends until his tragic plane crash.”

  “Of course,” Bett said, although she had forgotten about it until now. “I remember how sad everyone was when he died. It even made the news in England.” Ann didn’t say anything more for a moment. “So what else is going on with you, Mother? You seem different somehow.”

  Ann Carlton smiled. “You always were the perceptive one, Bett. The rest of us could never have any secrets from you.” She took Bett’s hands. “I’ve met someone. Someone special. I wanted to tell you myself before you met him. That’s why I wanted you to come to New York and why I was so delighted when Gale and I talked and she invited me to come here instead.”

  That’s it, Bett realized, my mother’s in love! “How wonderful, Mother. Tell me all about him.”

  Ann did. Davis Weatherton was his name. He was wealthy, of course, though not nearly in her father’s league. Even more surprisingly, he was a Roosevelt Democrat and quite attuned to social causes. They’d met at a fundraising dinner. He’d been widowed for almost three years, with two grown boys, of whom one was in the Navy in the Pacific and the other a Methodist minister stationed with the troops in Europe.

  “I’m beginning to feel a bit differently about spending my time at parties and society events,” Ann Carlton remarked, “when there is so much need in the world.”

  “I can’t wait to meet him,” Bett said sincerely.

  “And I can’t wait for him to meet you,” Ann replied. “After all, you are my only daughter. I—I’ve been trying to figure out a way for us to be closer, Bett. I had called here intending to finalize our Christmas plans, and Gale answered. She seemed a little reserved at first, but the longer we talked, the more I learned about your work and how well you’re doing here. She talked me into coming, came to get me at the airport, and has been entertaining me since I got here.” Ann smiled. “Gale is quite impressed by you, you know. In fact, I get the feeling she almost idolizes you. You are the one topic she’s been willing to talk freely about since I’ve been here. I feel like I appreciate you more by being around her.”

  “Did she tell you she was my drill instructor in basic training?” Bett asked. “I’d have to say I gave her a bit of a hard time.”

  “Well, yes, she told me you had some trouble adjusting to the military at first, but that you finished off in grand style.” Ann Carlton’s face changed. “Your father had called to tell me about that incident with the guard and how he came here after your graduation and tried to convince you to quit. I’m glad you didn’t listen to him. Surprisingly, the Army seems to have made you much more your own person. You seem happy.”

  “I am happy. And I really have Gale to thank for it. I’m not sure I would have made it through basic training without her help. I think the world of her too. I suppose you could say we have a mutual admiration society going on here.” A little voice inside Bett’s head was saying, You could tell her now…tell her you’re in love too…tell her you adore Gale Rain and—

  Ann took her daughter’s hands again. “Now tell me about Phillip. Gale said you were divorcing, is that true? Why didn’t you tell me? I’m sure I haven’t set a very good example, but I hate to see you giving up on marriage when it’s been such a short time.”

  “I’m not giving up on marriage, Mother. I’m just giving up on Phillip. Father practically forced me into that, you know. And please don’t tell him about my divorce. I’ll tell him myself in my own time.” She looked away briefly, trying to hide her anxiety. She had no idea how her father would react when he learned she had broken her end of their earlier bargain, but that was beyond her control. She only knew she was committed to honoring the promise she’d made to Rain.

  Her mother patted her arm. “Well, I will say I didn’t ever really understand what you saw in Phillip, darling, but he seemed quite smitten with you. I’m sorry it didn’t work out. Perhaps you will follow my current example and find someone else and be very happy.”

  “I believe I will, Mother. In fact, I’m quite sure of it.”

  Ann Carlton looked at her watch. “Well, this must be a new record for us. We’ve gone over thirty minutes without talking about shopping.”

  Bett laughed and hugged her mother. “Let me get dressed and I’ll show you what Des Moines has to offer.”

  * * *

  Kathleen Hartley’s unease started the moment she stepped onto the base that morning. Gone was the feeling of friendly camaraderie that had always been present at Fort Des Moines. Instead, a pervasive sense of tension filled the air. There was no friendly banter from the female MP at the gate. Kat’s ID was given only a cursory glance and she was waved through hurriedly, as if it would be more dangerous to spend too much time talking than it would be to let some unauthorized person enter. Most WACs walked alone on the base sidewalks, moving quickly with their heads lowered slightly. Her only greetings were the mandatory salutes, and no one made eye contact, not even her fellow officers. Everyone seemed to be almost cringing, as if anticipating a blow of some kind, and for once Kathleen hated being in the know about what was going on.

  She made her way to the PX, following Gale’s advice to avoid suspicion by not going directly to Boudreaux’s quarters. Even there, in place of the usual excited conversation over shopping and the happy exclamations over mailed messages received from loved ones, voices were subdued and no one lingered over their purchases. Kat wandered aimlessly for a bit, observing the behavior of women who were obviously apprehensive—possibly for themselves or for their friends or for Fort Des Moines in general. Her mood was wavering between despondent and angry when a soft voice startled her out of her reverie.

  “May I help you, Captain?”

  Kathleen looked around, realizing she’d stopped at the men’s underwear section of an aisle. Blushing, she faced the speaker, a slight PFC with a sweet face and dishwater blond hair, whose genuine expression held not even a hint of amusement, or thankfully, condemnation.

  “Uh…” She’d been about to say no when her eye fell on a package that showed a pair of boxer shorts in a size that seemed too small for any of the men on the base. Unexpectedly, her ever-active imagination supplied her a fantasy of Whit, her small round bottom encased in these underpants…and nothing else. Whit, who was the first and the only one to open her mind and body to the pleasures of touch, and who deserved so much more than she was getting from Kat at the moment. A rush of heat deepened her blush, and she put out a hand to steady herself, accidently touching the package. She knew Whit was growing frustrated at her detachment, but Kat hadn’t yet been able to find her way back to where they’d been. Perhaps a gift? “Uh…” she tried again, moving her hand away quickly. “Are these sizes…?” She ran out of courage before she could complete the question, but the little clerk brightened.

  After a quick glance to confirm they were alone, she whispered, “These we mostly sell to women.”

  For the first time since she’d arrived on the base that day, Kat felt a grin tugging at the corner of her mouth. “Really?” She made sure her voice held only interest and not disapproval.

  “Yes, ma’am.” The clerk nodded. “Especially those ones who work outside. They say these keep them warmer than the standard issue panties.”

  “I see.” Kathleen looked at the package again.

  Perhaps she hadn’t sounded enthusiastic enough, or maybe the girl had suddenly remembered things were a little different at Fort Des Moines right now. With a slight stutter, she began to backtrack. “I—I mean, that’s what someone told me once. I’m sure everyone is perfectly h-happy with the standard issue. No one has bought any of these for a l-long time now.”

  Kat wasn’t sure where her burst of daring came from, but she turned back to face the clerk with a smile. Glancing at her nameplate
, she said, “Don’t worry, Private Owens. I don’t wear standard issue either, though these are not quite my style.” She lifted the package. “But I know someone who would enjoy them. Thank you for the information.”

  She gave the girl’s arm a little pat and started away. “Um, Captain?” Private Owens’s voice stopped her. “Why don’t you let me ring you up over here?” Kat saw the girl was pointing to an empty cash register off to the side. “That way we can get you on your way more…quickly.”

  Kathleen wondered what the girl really meant. More safely, maybe? Was she being completely foolish? Trying not to show the ripple of nerves that had suddenly overtaken her earlier bravado, she nodded. “Good. Fine. Thank you.”

  Her purchase wrapped in a bag under her arm, she walked toward the mess hall, hoping some coffee would help settle her nerves. With each step, the idea of facing Miriam Boudreaux had seemed more daunting than it had the night before, and despite her pleasant interaction with the little private at the PX, the mood on the rest of the base was only adding to her anxiety.

  Breakfast was over and lunch wouldn’t start for another hour, so the mess was lightly populated. She stopped a few feet inside the door, looking for a friendly face. When she saw Gale Rains talking to one of the servers, her heart lifted in that way she knew it shouldn’t but that she couldn’t seem to control when Rains was in view. Whit had been in her thoughts only moments before, but now she was consumed by the need to be near Rains, to hear that low, sensuous voice and lose herself in those dark eyes…if only for a moment. Taking a steadying breath, she walked toward her, deliberately keeping the smile off her face. Don’t overdo it, she cautioned herself as she neared. People could be watching, and you need to be careful.

  She was opening her mouth to speak when the lieutenant turned, a small collection of tea bags in one hand. “Hello, Captain Hartley. How has your day been so far?”

  Her tone was reserved, but Kat recognized the true meaning of the question. Have you seen Boudreaux yet?