Beyond the Shadow of War

by Diane Moody

  She watched the girl as she wailed, then turned back to Kate and Gigi.

  “We have to believe,” Kate said quietly. “And believe with all our hearts.”

  Gigi straightened. “Yes, and we need to go. Now.”

  It took a while for them to make their way to the deck with all the others heading the same direction. Anya noticed that many of them looked as haggard as she felt. Theirs had hardly been the luxury cruise they’d all dreamed of. Far from it. But now, so close to their destination, the sparkle had returned to their eyes, and their voices rang with joy again as they eagerly made their way outside to see the Statue of Liberty.

  “Fancy that‌—‌it’s snowing!” Gigi giggled. “Oh, isn’t it lovely?” She tilted her head back and tried to catch snowflakes on her tongue. “Oh, girls! It’s like we’ve been given another go at Christmas!”

  “I certainly hope it’s better than the one we just had,” Kate mused. “I shouldn’t like to see any Christmas trees burn down the house again.”

  “Kate, why did you have to bring that up now?” Gigi moaned. “Don’t spoil our fun! Nothing but happy days ahead now, so leave all that behind, will you?”

  “Yes, but I wish Sybil was here with us,” Anya said, shielding her eyes from the snowflakes dancing all around them.

  Kate sighed, holding Joss close. “Dear Sybil. I hope she’s well. We must all write to her as soon as we’re settled.”

  Gigi rubbed her hands together and stomped her feet to stay warm. “Yes, we must. I hope that handsome lieutenant is watching over her. Such a nice fellow, that one.”

  “Yes, he is,” Anya added, “and she deserves someone who’ll be good to her.”

  “Then let’s pretend they’re already in love,” Gigi said. “Remember, nothing but happy days ahead of us now. And that goes for Sybil, too.”

  “Gigi, you’re the eternal optimist, and I love that about you.” Kate reached for her hand and squeezed it. “Now please tell us where that statue is. Joss and I are shivering!”

  Ripples of conversation floated forward and aft as they all searched the early-morning waters for a glimpse of the famous statue. No sooner had they settled in than a noisy group of men spilled out of the doorways onto the deck. Photographers started snapping pictures as reporters huddled close vying for a chance to interview anyone who would look their way.

  Anya and Kate shared a laugh as they watched Gigi draw them in.

  “Hey, boys! What’s a girl got to do to get a little attention?”

  “Like moths to a flame,” Kate quipped. “They can’t help themselves, can they?”

  They surrounded Gigi as flashbulbs popped off in rapid succession and the eager reporters barked questions faster than she could answer.

  “So how does it feel, finally getting so close to America?”

  “What’s the first thing you’ll say to your husband?”

  “He’s a lucky one, your husband!”

  “Ain’t she a beauty!”

  “How long since you last saw your husband?”

  “Where did you meet?”

  “What’s your name and where are you headed?”

  Gigi raised her hands. “Boys, boys! Give a girl a chance, will you?”

  Their hearty laughter filled the deck.

  “How does it feel to finally reach American waters?” she repeated the question. “It feels wonderful, doesn’t it, girls?”

  All the girls cheered as they crowded in closer, jostling Anya and Kate as they joined in the fun.

  “First thing I’m going to say to my husband? Well, let’s see now. Let me think.” She gazed up into the snow-filled sky as she tapped a red-nailed finger on her chin. “First, I’ll ask him for a great big, juicy kiss‌—‌”

  Whistles and catcalls drowned her out.

  “‌—‌then I’ll ask him to take me to Saks Fifth Avenue! Time for some new clothes. Wouldn’t you agree, girls?” she asked, tossing the question their direction.

  The crowd of girls cheered again as the men guffawed. Anya and Kate shared another laugh.

  “Will you look at them?” Kate shouted. “They’re practically eating out of her hand!”

  “Tell us, doll, what’s your name?”

  Gigi turned toward a handsome reporter as he pushed the brim of his hat up off his forehead. “It’s MRS. Williams. And don’t you forget it!”

  “Where are you headed with Mr. Williams?” he asked, playing along.

  “Wouldn’t you like to know!”

  The banter continued as the reporters spread out to talk to others, the bulbs flashing one after another. Then, suddenly, a voice from the ship’s loudspeakers hushed them.

  “Ladies, this is Captain Masterson speaking. It seems we have almost completed our journey, and it is my distinct honor to invite you to take a look off the port bow, where you will see the Statue of Liberty welcoming you to your new home.”

  “That way!” someone shouted, pointing forward.

  They all turned to look, crowding the rails for a chance to see her.

  “LOOK!” someone else shouted. “There she is!”

  “Oh Anya, look!” Kate cried, pointing across the rail. “Have you ever seen anything so beautiful?”

  And there she was, aglow in the early-morning darkness, washed in spotlights from every direction. Lady Liberty, her torch raised high. Tears stung Anya’s eyes. She never expected such a reaction, but gladly let them fall. Gigi hooked her arms through Anya’s and Kate’s as the three stood in silence. All around them others whispered in hushed reverence as the cameras clicked away.

  “If you would allow me,” the captain continued, “I would like to read to you Lady Liberty’s greeting. These verses, from a poem called ‘The New Colossus,’ were penned by a Jewish Portuguese immigrant named Emma Lazarus in 1883. They are engraved on a bronze plaque on the base of the statue.

  “Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,

  With conquering limbs astride from land to land

  Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand

  A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame

  Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name

  Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand

  Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command

  The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.

  ‘Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!’ cries she

  With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,

  Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

  The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

  Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost, to me

  I lift my lamp beside the golden door.’”

  Anya knitted her brow and turned to find Kate and Gigi’s expressions reflecting her own.

  “Did he just call us ‘a wretched refuse?’” Gigi whispered.

  “I have no idea,” Kate answered, “but we’ve certainly been ‘tempest-tossed’‌—‌”

  “And now, ladies, if you’ll listen closely as we draw closer, you should be able to hear a grand welcome by members of the United States Army Band, who wish to serenade you from the base of Lady Liberty.”

  Smiles and laughter broke out as the brides recognized the melody of “Here Comes the Bride,” followed by “Sentimental Journey.”

  “Oh, isn’t it wonderful!” Gigi cried. “We made it! We’re finally here!”

  46

  New York City

  After a hot breakfast, Danny and his mother took a cab to the New York Harbor, arriving just before 7:00 that morning. The Red Cross worker had said the Wisteria would arrive mid-morning, but he wanted to be there early. Even before they rounded the corner to the piers, they could hear a band playing John Phillip Sousa’s famous march, “Stars and Stripes Forever.”

  “I don’t believe it! Mom, look‌—‌she’s already docked! The Wisteria is already here!”

  Danny broke free and raced in the direction of the ship’s pier. He was twenty paces away before h
e remembered her and sprinted back to find her laughing.

  “Sorry!” He smothered her in a bear hug then tugged her along beside him. “Guess I got carried a little away‌—‌”

  “Oh Danny, isn’t it exciting?” she shouted over the music. “She’s here! Anya’s finally here!”

  They hurried along, weaving their way through the huge crowd. A long line had already formed at the entrance to the pier alongside the ship. They took their place at the end, but Danny kept his eyes on the ship’s rails above.

  The decks were lined with hundreds of young women, many with young children, all waving and cheering, though the music overpowered their voices. He scanned the faces and wondered how he would ever spot Anya from where they stood. Unless she was standing on the port bow, he couldn’t possibly see her.

  “Can you tell if anyone’s come off the ship yet?” his mother asked.

  The young man in front of them turned around. “They haven’t let any of them disembark yet. Apparently the Public Health people went aboard to give them another physical.”

  “What?! Why? My wife said they had physicals back in England before they left. Several, in fact. Isn’t it kind of late to be doing that now?”

  “Someone said it’s a final check for lice, but who knows. I’m just telling you what I heard. The Immigration and Customs folks also boarded once they docked. Who knows how long all that might take.”

  An hour later, they were next in line to check in at the table beside the gangway. With that accomplished, they finally joined the growing group in a designated area. By 11:30, Danny was at his wit’s end. They’d been at the harbor for almost four hours. Four hours! The snow had stopped falling, but the blowing wind made the bone-chilling temperatures much too cold for his mother. She said she was fine, but seeing her teeth chatter, Danny insisted she go warm up in one of the coffee shops. When she returned half an hour later‌—‌and still no brides had come off the ship‌—‌Danny suggested she take a cab back to the hotel.

  “Absolutely not. I came along to welcome Anya, and I’ll not let you get rid of me just because there’s a nip in the air.”

  “I guess I know where I got my stubborn streak,” he teased. “All these years I assumed it came from Dad.”

  With a chuckle, she said, “Yes, and don’t you forget it.”

  The Red Cross folks continually made the rounds serving coffee and donuts, not unlike those offered by the Red Cross girls at the 390th in Framlingham. Now, as the lunch hour approached, they returned with wrapped sandwiches.

  “Please tell me we won’t still be here for dinner,” Danny growled.

  “Not a chance, son. We’ll be seated in a nice restaurant along with your bride. My treat.”

  He wasn’t so optimistic.

  Another hour and a half later, the first of the brides came down the ramp as a groundswell of cheers rose from those waiting. Others followed, each stopping at the table near the gangway to give their husband’s name which was then announced over the public address system. The band played quietly so the names could be heard, and with each one came a hearty shout from a waiting husband. The squeals and kisses of their reunions played much to the delight of the crowd.

  The initial excitement began to taper off as the process crawled along at a snail’s pace. Danny realized this could take all day and into the night.

  “Stop that.”

  He looked at his mother. “Stop what?”

  She touched a gloved finger to his jaw. “You’re grinding your teeth. I can tell by the twitching of your jaw‌—‌”

  “Mrs. Anya McClain. Wife of Daniel McClain.”

  “ANYA?!” He bolted from the crowd and rushed toward her.

  “DANNY!”

  “ANYA!”

  And suddenly she dropped her bags and flew into his arms, kissing him and crying tears of joy. “Oh, Danny! You’re here! You’re here!”

  “Oh sweetheart, I can’t believe it! You’re here!”

  They kissed and laughed and cried, then kissed again.

  She clung to him, her arms around his neck. “I thought they’d never let us off! I kept searching for you in the crowd, and couldn’t see you and then I worried that perhaps you didn’t‌—‌”

  He silenced her with a kiss as he lifted her off the ground. “Oh Anya, it doesn’t matter now. None of it matters. You’re here in my arms, and I will never, never let you go.”

  “Move along now,” one of the Red Cross workers said. He picked up the bags Anya had dropped and nudged them away from the congested desk area. “Here you go. Welcome to America,” he said with a smile before disappearing into the crowd again.

  Danny gathered her back in his arms. “I honestly can’t believe it. You’re finally home. Well, almost, anyway.”

  “I was beginning to think this day would never come. And yet, here you are‌—‌”

  “Yes, here I am with you in my arms.” He kissed her again, oblivious to everyone else around them.

  “Anya?”

  Danny pulled back, allowing his mother to join them. “Oh, I almost forgot you, Mom! Anya, this is my‌—‌”

  “Mrs. McClain? You came too?”

  “Oh, Anya, dear, dear Anya.” Betty gathered her into her arms. “We’ve waited so long, and now you’re here. My dear sweet child, you’re finally home. I can’t possibly tell you how thrilled I am to finally meet you.”

  Her eyes pooled with tears, Anya tried but couldn’t speak. Danny thought his heart would burst with joy. He wrapped his arms around both of them and couldn’t have stopped his own tears if he tried.

  When Anya pulled back, his mother held her face in her gloved hands, brushing aside the tears on her cheeks. “Anya, there are a thousand things I want to ask you and say to you, but for now, I first and foremost want to thank God for bringing you through your long journey home. Welcome to America, sweetheart. Welcome home.”

  Anya clung to her mother-in-law with such a profound sense of gratitude, she couldn’t speak. From the moment Betty embraced her, she felt something so familiar and safe, it nearly overwhelmed her. As if she’d met a long-lost friend ... but no, it was more than that. Something similar, but at the same time different.

  And then she knew.

  A mother’s love.

  Familiar. Safe.

  Oh, how I’ve missed it.

  She couldn’t fully comprehend the depth of such thoughts, and now wasn’t the time. She pushed those emotions aside, and simply grasped the essence of meeting the woman who had prayed for her and loved her before they’d ever met. Without a word, Anya hugged her again, not quite ready to let go just yet.

  “Anya!”

  At the sound of her name, she dashed away her tears and turned.

  “Here you are!” Gigi cried, pushing her way into Anya’s embrace.” Oh Anya, isn’t it wonderful? Isn’t it all glorious?!” She giggled and hugged her again before stepping back. “Anya, I want you to meet my husband, Paul.”

  He leaned in for a hug then stood back, his arm wrapped around Gigi’s tiny waist. He was just as Anya imagined him from Gigi’s photograph. Tall and handsome with the bluest eyes she’d ever seen. They exchanged the introductions, sharing hugs and handshakes all around.

  Kate joined them too, her husband Joe carrying little Jocelyn. The introductions were repeated, including quite a fuss about little Joss. At times, they were all talking at once, so excited to finally be reunited.

  When the time came to part company, Anya was surprised at the ache in her heart as they said their goodbyes. They’d already exchanged addresses and telephone numbers, but it would never be the same. That was as it should be, of course. But Anya was surprised by the bittersweet longing already seeping through her heart. A moment later, they were gone.

  Danny pulled her to his side, wrapping her snug against him. “Are you okay?”

  “Yes.” She turned to look up at him. “I’m so glad you got to meet them, Danny.”

  “I am too, sweetheart. You ready to go?”<
br />
  She stood on her tiptoes and kissed his lips. “I’ve never been so ready in all my life. Let’s go home.”

  47

  The snow was falling again as they left the hotel in a yellow taxi. Anya watched out the window as they passed block after block of high-rise buildings, masses of people walking the sidewalks, and seas of yellow cabs just like theirs. When it all started to blur, she turned to Danny, smitten by the smile on his face.

  “It’s a lot to take in, isn’t it? The city?”

  “All these buildings and all these people. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

  “Well, yes, New York is big, any way you look at it. And the population is something like seven and a half million, or thereabouts.”

  “Is all of America like this?” She turned to look up at the skyscrapers rushing by them. “I can’t even grasp it.”

  “Oh, don’t let it carry you away,” Betty said. “The rest of the country, for the most part, is nothing like this.”

  She turned toward her. “Is Chicago as big as New York?”

  “Heavens, no. Thank goodness!”

  The taxi delivered them to a lovely restaurant where the three of them dined by candlelight just around the corner from Central Park. After dinner, they sipped steaming cups of coffee before the waiter brought their dessert. Danny and his mother chuckled as Anya savored her first bite of New York cheesecake. She closed her eyes, savoring the heavenly blend of flavors.

  It was the strangest thing. She supposed others might begrudge the presence of a mother-in-law at a time like this, but Anya felt only gratitude. Through the handful of letters they’d exchanged, she knew Betty‌—‌as she insisted Anya call her‌—‌to be a godly woman who loved her family. Even now, sitting across from her in the cozy restaurant, Anya knew that without Betty’s faithful prayers, she probably wouldn’t be here.