The G.I. Bride

by Eileen Ramsay

  Finally they were seated, and a corporal came to tell them that there would be steak accompanied by mashed potatoes and vegetables. It sounded delicious to April, but then Crawford asked him to bring a bottle of wine.

  April was surprised. ‘I’ve never had wine before. My father didn’t drink, and apart from communion, it’s not something anyone ever had in Camberwell. Mrs Teague certainly never has any.’

  ‘Well, I’m delighted to introduce you to your very first bottle.’ He poured a glass of rich, red liquid, and when both their glasses were full, he tapped his glass to hers.

  ‘To you, April. And to getting to know each other.’ He smiled straight into her eyes.

  April smiled back. ‘To us, Crawford. And thank you very much for inviting me.’

  Over the excellent dinner, April finally got to know the man behind the movie-star looks. Crawford entertained her with stories about his home and his family – his father owned a plantation in North Carolina, while his mother filled their house with rescued animals – and how he had come to know A.J., who had apparently grown up on the plantation where his father worked with the horses.

  She asked then about the attitude of the white soldiers to their coloured comrades, and Crawford looked grave for a moment. ‘I wish I could understand it better. Let’s just say it has its roots way, way back. Our country even fought a civil war over it, but attitudes haven’t changed in the hundred years since. But who knows? Maybe this war will change things. Something good has to come out of this carnage, don’t you think? But I’ve been talking about myself for too long. I want to hear all about you.’

  So April told him about her mother and father. ‘You know about the air raid, of course – you saw my embarrassing reaction to the bombs.’ She looked down.

  Crawford took her hand. ‘There is nothing to be embarrassed about. It’s entirely normal, honey, and you shouldn’t be ashamed. What happened after that?’

  April told him about the Osbornes, and how she had left London in the hope of finding her family. But she left out all the other reasons she had wanted to get away, and didn’t mention Theo. She didn’t want him to think badly of her for having dinner with him, when Theo was lying injured thousands of miles away. Still, she felt guilty, and feared Crawford would see her in a different light if he knew.

  After she’d finished telling him about her visit to her mother’s grave, Crawford shook his head sadly. ‘There seems no end to the damage we humans inflict on each other. I’m sorry you didn’t find any family. I can’t imagine being without mine. The Dunbar clan is pretty huge. Perhaps . . .’ He paused and looked at her meaningfully. ‘I probably shouldn’t say this yet, but perhaps one day I could take you there, and you could look on my family as your own.’

  April stared at him in surprise. What was he saying? They’d only just met, and he was talking about introducing her to his family? The thought made her feel dizzy. Was it possible, she wondered, to feel so strongly about someone so soon after meeting? She thought back to how she’d felt with Theo. Because she’d grown up with him, it was hard to say, but she knew her feelings hadn’t been as intense. She’d never felt so completely wrapped up in Theo that the rest of the world disappeared. She’d loved his company and they’d spent many happy hours together, but the way she felt with Crawford – as if her blood was zinging through her veins – was new to her.

  ‘I’d like that, Crawford,’ she whispered. ‘I think I’d like that very much.’

  He grinned at her, and the moment passed as they went on to talk about other things, laughing about some of her more recalcitrant patients, and his life as a lawyer before the war.

  As they were leaving, a man wearing a smart dark uniform jacket passed them at the door. They exchanged salutes.

  ‘Major Dunbar, who do we have here? I hope you weren’t thinking of leaving before you introduced me to this lovely lady.’

  ‘Colonel Rivers, sir, may I introduce you to April Harvey, the young nurse you’ve heard so much about.’

  The colonel took April’s hand and raised it to his lips. ‘It’s a real pleasure, ma’am.’ April smiled uncertainly. ‘Major Dunbar, I hope you’ll be bringing Miss Harvey to the Thanksgiving dinner in November?’

  ‘I fully intend to, if she’ll agree.’ He looked at April questioningly.

  April’s heart lifted. He wanted to see her again! Tonight had been one of the most magical of her life, and nothing short of an air raid would keep her from seeing him again.

  ‘Well, if that’s an invitation, then I accept.’ She smiled with delight.

  ‘Good, then I’ll look forward to getting to know you better then.’ The colonel winked at her and walked away.

  ‘Your commanding officer?’

  ‘Yup. And I was going to ask you to the dinner anyway, April. It’s not for a while, but it’ll be a real treat.’

  ‘I’d love to come. And you can tell me all about what Thanksgiving actually is on the way home.’ She couldn’t help the yawn that escaped her lips. ‘But I better be going. I’m on early again tomorrow and Mrs Teague will be waiting.’

  ‘Your carriage awaits, ma’am.’ Crawford bowed and gestured to the door, making April laugh.

  Conversation flowed easily as they drove back to Mrs Teague’s cottage. Crawford stopped and got out to open April’s door. He helped her out and kept hold of her hand as they stood by the gate.

  ‘It has truly been the most wonderful evening, and I hope we can do it again very soon.’ Crawford stroked her cheek. ‘I feel like I’ve known you forever, April Harvey. And though we met only a few weeks ago, I hope I will know you forever.’

  ‘Do you mean that?’ Everything was moving so fast that April suddenly felt uncertain. Could he be playing with her? Maybe there was a girl back home, someone his mother approved of, and he was just using her to pass the time.

  ‘Every word. Trust me; I’ve never felt like this before. Do you trust me, April?’

  His voice was so tender and his eyes so sincere, that April found her doubts disappearing. ‘Yes, I think I do.’

  ‘Enough to let me kiss you?’

  He did not wait for an answer but put his arms around her, pulled her close to him and bent his head and kissed her, at first a mere soft meeting of lips and then, as she raised her arms and wound them around his neck, the kiss became more fierce and his hold stronger.

  ‘Wow,’ he said when he finally drew back. ‘That is definitely the best kiss I’ve ever had. And you are a lady in a million. I don’t think I ever want to let you go.’

  ‘Then don’t,’ she whispered, pulling his head down and kissing him again. Finally, reluctantly, she drew back. ‘I must go. Can I see you again soon?’

  ‘You can count on it. How about Sunday?’

  April thought for a moment. She had a day off on Sunday, but she was seeing Eunice and she couldn’t let her down. ‘I’m going to church in St Agnes on Sunday with my friend Eunice,’ she said sadly.

  ‘How about I come too? Maybe I can take you both to lunch. I’d love to meet her properly.’

  ‘Let me ask her.’

  ‘I could drive you both there. I’m sure I can get a vehicle, and I don’t mind going to church with you.’

  ‘Like I’ve told you before, you certainly are persistent, major. I’ll speak to her and get a message to you.’

  He leaned his forehead against hers. ‘I just know what I want, darlin’. But if you really need to see your friend alone, how about later? I could come round here and we could go for a walk?’

  ‘How about this? You come and meet us in St Agnes after church – there’s only one, you can’t miss it. Eunice has some things she needs to talk to me about, and that will give us a chance to talk. Then you can take us to lunch and drive us home?’

  ‘I’ll be there.’ He kissed her, lightly this time, then jogged back to the jeep. Waving his hand out of the window, he drove off into the night.

  April stared after him. Her lips were tingling, and she li
ghtly stroked her mouth. That kiss had been nothing like the kisses she’d shared with Theo. Those had been pleasant, and she’d enjoyed them, but Crawford made her whole body tingle and her skin come out in goose bumps. Really, she knew nothing of love, it seemed. But it looked like she was about to learn. Humming softly to herself, she entered the house.

  Chapter 20

  The next morning, despite the early hour, a very relaxed April was awake before Mrs Teague. She put the kettle on and began to set the table for breakfast, listening all the time for sounds from her landlady’s bedroom. Mrs Teague prided herself on being the first to rise every morning, no matter what time she started work, and tea was always ready when April came into the kitchen.

  She was just pouring the tea into a pretty china cup decorated with the ubiquitous flowers, when Mrs Teague, in her dressing gown and with her hair still in curlers, hurried into the kitchen.

  ‘I’m so sorry, April. I don’t know what . . .’ she began and then she looked at April and at the cup in her hand. ‘Is that for me? Oh, I’m sorry,’ she said again. ‘I don’t know why I overslept.’

  ‘You were tired. Here, sit down and have your tea. I’m perfectly capable of making toast, you know.’ April patted her landlady in an attempt to make her feel better. ‘What’s wrong, Mrs Teague? Are you ill? Is that why you overslept?’

  She was surprised to see a blush rise up Mrs Teague’s cheeks. ‘Well . . . you know I watch out for you every evening if you’re due home before midnight, and, well, I was so eager to see you after your dinner, that I stayed up even later than normal, and when I heard the car, I watched from the window.’

  ‘So you saw me come home?’ Now April was feeling a little embarrassed.

  ‘I closed my eyes when he kissed you, honestly I did. But, oh, what a handsome man! If I was thirty years younger, I’d be giving you a run for your money, I can tell you.’

  April laughed. ‘Then I shall have to keep you away from him – already he thinks you’re wonderful, and I’m not sure I could match up to you in his eyes.’

  Mrs Teague giggled and waved her away. ‘What nonsense you speak. Anyway, if I were younger my heart would belong to Red, you know. I got a letter from his mother yesterday. Such a lovely letter full of American news. And she invited me to come and stay when the war is over.’

  ‘How marvellous. You must go if you can.’

  ‘Tsk. An old woman like me travelling all that way.’ She looked into the distance. ‘But then . . . it would be wonderful to see a real ranch. Maybe Red could teach me to ride, if my old bones could take it. Ah well, we’ll see. First this beastly war has to finish. And please God all our lovely new friends get through it safely.’

  The thought of anything happening to Crawford dampened April’s mood slightly, and made her think of Theo. Her heart sank and she felt guilty again. While she’d been kissing Crawford, poor Theo was lying injured somewhere, thinking of her. Maybe she should write and tell him not to hope that they could be together again. But the thought of him receiving such a letter when he wasn’t well made her feel terrible. No, she would take some leave and visit him when he returned, but she wasn’t looking forward to it, because she would have to be honest and she hated to hurt him.

  *

  Over the next couple of days, April couldn’t get Theo’s face out of her mind, so finally, on Saturday night after a long day at the hospital, she decided she had to write to him. She didn’t want anything to ruin her day with Crawford on Sunday, so she needed her conscience to be clear. It took her several attempts, but finally, she had something she was relatively happy with.

  My dearest Theo,

  I was shocked to hear that you’d been injured, but so relieved to know that you will be home soon. Of course I will visit you. You are one of the last connections to my childhood, and so very dear to me. I hope that by now you have returned home safely and if so, I am sure your mother is looking after you well and that you will soon be back on your feet and playing your cello once again.

  I think of you often, Theo, and I pray for your recovery. I am enjoying life in Cornwall still, and Mrs Teague takes care of me so well. It’s strange, you know, having a woman take care of me. I’m not used to it, but I find I like it very much.

  I’m not sure if you heard but the hospital was bombed the other week. It brought back such terrible memories. I’d managed to forget the sheer terror of an air raid, but it was only one night and it made me realise how lucky I am to be in this relatively peaceful place. I hope you, too, find your peace.

  Write to me when you are back, and I will do my very best to get up to London to see you.

  Love from April

  April reread the letter. Was it too affectionate? Not affectionate enough? Oh, she didn’t know. On the one hand she didn’t want to hurt him, but on the other, she didn’t want him to have any expectations of her. This would have to do. Addressing the envelope to the vicarage, she rushed out to the post box. She needed to post it straightaway, before she tried to rewrite it yet again.

  *

  April opened her eyes on Sunday morning, feeling tired and a little unhappy. What was wrong with her? She was going to the beautiful village of St Agnes with Eunice today, and Crawford was going to meet them there. The thought of seeing him again lifted her spirits briefly. He’d sent a note to the hospital the day before.

  Looking forward to seeing the most beautiful girl in the world tomorrow. I’ve missed you these past two days. I hope you’ve missed me too.

  She smiled as she remembered, but the feeling of melancholy remained. Had she dreamed last night? She hadn’t had a nightmare, as those left her sweaty and crying, and that wasn’t how she felt this morning. She lay quietly for a moment, searching her memory. Theo. She had dreamed of Theo. He was trying to get to her, but just as he reached his hand out to her, he’d slipped back again.

  ‘Oh Theo, I hope you’re safe,’ she whispered to herself. ‘And I hope you find another girl to love very soon.’

  Leaping out of bed in an effort to chase away her gloomy thoughts, she ran to the window and stared out. It was a beautiful early September morning and Mrs Teague was in the garden tending to her vegetable plot. Goodness, it must be late. But when she looked at her watch she saw it was only eight. She just had time to get ready, have breakfast and cycle to Truro, where she was meeting Eunice. She washed and dressed hurriedly, then ran to the kitchen.

  ‘Good morning, Mrs Teague. Why didn’t you call me? I’m running a bit late.’

  ‘You needed the rest, April. All this running around and working so hard. I was getting the last of the tomatoes in. Aren’t they beautiful? I’m going to make a nice salad for my guests today. Maybe you and Crawford can join us when you get back?’

  ‘Don’t worry about feeding us. Crawford says he’s going to take us to lunch, so I’ll probably be stuffed. I haven’t eaten so well in years. Two meals out in the same week! I haven’t had two meals out in the same year before!’

  ‘You deserve it, dear. I’ve got some porridge for you here, and a little bit of honey from Mr Morcambe’s hives. Delicious, it is.’

  April ate her porridge at double speed before leaping up from the table, grabbing her old blue cardigan and throwing it around her shoulders. As she was going to church, she’d chosen to wear her red skirt and white blouse, and she thrust her feet into her sandals.

  ‘I’ll be off then. See you later. Who have you got coming to lunch today?’

  ‘Oh, just the usual people – Mrs Beetie and her husband, and then Mr Morcambe from next door. His wife’s had to go and visit her sister, who’s not well, so I said I’d cook for him.’

  ‘Well, have a lovely time. See you later.’

  She ran out and collected Mrs Teague’s old bike from its place next to the house, then whizzed down the hill into Truro, where Eunice was waiting for her by the cathedral.

  She looked tired and strained, and April’s stomach sank. Clearly nothing had been resolved for her fr
iend, and she wondered what had happened.

  ‘There you are. I was worried you weren’t coming.’

  ‘Sorry I’m late, I overslept. Come on, let’s go.’

  They cycled off and April felt her mood lighten as the beauty of a sunny Cornwall day washed over her. The moors were bright green in the distance, and as they drew closer to St Agnes, she could hear the sea. Finally, after close to an hour of cycling, Eunice stopped at the top of a cliff overlooking the sea. April slowed and dismounted beside her.

  ‘We’ve still got some time before church starts. Would you mind if we talked for a moment?’ Eunice paused and looked out across the ocean. The sky was a bright blue, and the sunlight made it look as if it was covered with tiny diamonds. Seagulls flew overhead, cawing loudly. Far below, the beach was deserted – out of bounds to everyone now.

  ‘We used to walk down there, me and Norm,’ Eunice said reflectively. ‘Before the war. Norm was going to take over his father’s hardware shop – did I tell you how clever he is at mending things? If it’s broken, Norm can fix it. And we were going to have two boys and two girls. Jack, David, Iris and Rose. He chose the boys’ names and I chose the girls’ names.’ She sighed. ‘It would have been a good life, you know, April. Before this bloody war ripped it all away from us.’

  ‘Does this mean you’ve decided to marry him after all?’

  Eunice shook her head. ‘It’s too late for that now.’

  ‘Have you spoken to your mother?’

  ‘How can I? She’s so excited about the wedding, although we haven’t even set a date. She’s talking about us getting a special licence and marrying while Norm’s on leave. She says there’s no way of knowing what might happen so we should “seize the day”. Those were her very words.’