Rose of Anzio - Jalousie (Volume 2): A WWII Epic Love Story

by Alexa Kang

  Before he could answer, Wesley Sharpe appeared. "Ardley?"

  "Lieutenant," Anthony said, equally surprised to see him. "Merry Christmas."

  "What are you doing here?"

  "Lieutenant, this is my girlfriend, Tessa Graham. She's working tonight. I came to see her." He turned to Tessa. "Our First Lieutenant, Wesley Sharpe."

  "Can we help you with anything, Lieutenant?" Tessa asked.

  "Nah. I came to visit the boys to wish them a Merry Christmas. I thought it'd be a good time to do that with everyone else away at the party."

  "You didn't go to the party?" she asked.

  "Parties aren't my thing. If you don't mind, I'll go around and look for the familiar faces."

  "Actually, Lieutenant," Ellie said, "we're talking about going through the wards to sing Christmas carols for the patients. Would you like to join us?"

  "That's a wonderful idea. I would love to."

  "You would?" Anthony asked. "You sing?"

  "Why's that such a surprise? I was a choirboy. I used to be in an a cappella group back in West Point too."

  "No kidding!"

  "Now we are a real choir with four people," Ellie said.

  "Wait!" Anthony said. "Tessa's a fantastic piano player. What if we get a piano here? We can have a concert right here in the lobby."

  "Get a piano here? From where?" Tessa asked.

  "The one over at the club where the army band plays. It's only ten minutes' drive from here." He looked at Wesley. "What do you think? We can use one of the transport trucks outside and bring the piano over here?"

  "There's no one to tune it," Tessa said.

  "I know how to tune a piano," Wesley winked at her.

  "I didn't know you're musical," Anthony said to him as they took off.

  "This is wonderful," Ellie said to Tessa. "Tonight's turning into a fun one after all."

  Tessa agreed. "Let's tell all the patients to gather in the lobby. And the ones who can't walk, let's see if we can find help and bring them there too, or at least some place closer so they can listen."

  The announcement of an impromptu Christmas concert roused everyone into excitement. By the time Anthony and Wesley returned with the piano, hundreds had already gathered in the main lobby. What's more, Anthony had brought with him a stack of sheet music of Christmas songs the army band had left behind.

  They set the piano in the middle of the lobby and gathered around to sing as Tessa began to play "Angels We Have Heard on High." Soon, the patients too joined in and Anthony sat down next to her.

  Between songs, she glanced at him. Sometimes, she almost felt as if she must check again and again to make sure he was still with her.

  In her mind, the struggle against the dark unknown forces out there oppressing them continued. Don't take him away from me, she warned them in her thoughts. She had fought her way to get here. She wanted him by her side like he was now, always.

  Don't take him from me.

  Aaron Haley returned to the hospital to find the lobby full of people singing Christmas carols. He had gone to the party at the count's villa earlier with the hope of seeing Ellie there. All evening, he tried to think of the right way he should conduct himself when he saw her at the party. He couldn't very well approach her like an ardent suitor and ask her to dance. No matter what Tessa Graham said, he still felt he was too old for Ellie. Besides, it had been years since he had even thought about approaching a woman. Everything felt awkward and laughable.

  Maybe he could just give her a little Christmas present.

  At the party, he looked everywhere for her but couldn't find her. He couldn't find Tessa either. He waited and waited for Ellie to show up. She was a conscientious worker. Maybe she got held up. He had no idea why Ellie and Tessa were both absent until he found Alice and she told him what happened. His entire trip and all the waiting had been for nothing. Disappointed, he decided to return to the hospital, hoping to catch Ellie and to wish her a Merry Christmas before the evening ended.

  It came upon a midnight clear

  That glorious song of old…

  The welcoming sound of everyone singing was a pleasant surprise.

  He walked into the lobby. Right away, he saw her. She was standing by the piano and leading the singing. She looked so serene, such a calming and pretty sight among all the wounded. He walked toward her, but stopped when he saw Wesley Sharpe standing next to her. Wesley showed her something on a sheet of music, then leaned in and said something to her ear. She smiled in response. The two then looked at the music sheet they shared and started singing again.

  …Beneath the angel strain have rolled

  Two thousand years of wrong

  And man at war with man hears not

  The tidings which they bring…

  Watching Ellie and Wesley sing, Aaron reached into his pocket where he carried the hand-carved dove he had made for her and closed his hand around the ornament.

  She should be with someone like him, he thought, looking at Wesley. A vigorous young man like that would be better for her.

  He stood at the spot and pondered whether he should stay or leave. He was still making up his mind when the next song, "I'll Be Home for Christmas," began. A patient in a cot near him started crying. He knew the patient, Buddy Muller. Buddy got thrown out of a truck in a mine explosion two weeks ago. His injuries were serious, but worse was the loss of his three closest friends in the army in that incident. Buddy was the only survivor. As the song continued, tears flooded down his face.

  Aaron looked at Buddy, then at Ellie and Wesley again. Dejected, he put his hand on Buddy's shoulder and gave him the dove in his pocket. Buddy stared back at him, his eyes wet.

  "Merry Christmas," Aaron said to him.

  Buddy took the dove. "Thank you, Doctor." He held the dove in both of his hands like he was trying to hold on to hope.

  When the song was over, Ellie spotted Aaron in the crowd. Surprised and happy to see him, she walked over to him. "Won't you join us, Doctor?"

  He followed her toward the piano. Wesley gave him a sheet of lyrics and they began singing along to the music of "What Child is This." Hesitant at first, Aaron whispered the words until Ellie put her hand lightly on his arm. The feel of her touch sent a wave of warmth to his heart. He glanced sideways at her. Her head was down and she was concentrating on the singing, but her hand still rested on his arm. Reassured, he joined in the singing with a full heart.

  The evening of Christmas carols closed with "Silent Night." Sitting beside Tessa, Anthony said a silent prayer. He hoped the angels and the Lord on high would hear him. He hoped they would hear the voices of all the wounded soldiers right now in this building, all of them singing their wishes for peace.

  How many more men must be harmed like those who surrounded them tonight before the war was over? He prayed he would do right by the ones who fate had entrusted him to protect. He prayed the Almighty would guide him along the way.

  He prayed that all the atrocities would end, and he and Tessa could leave all this behind.

  May all things change for the world when the next year began, and when next Christmas came, the two of them would be sitting together by the piano at home.

  — To be continued.

  Rose of Anzio Book Three - Desire

  Available on Amazon

  Rose of Anzio Book Three - Desire

  ROSE OF ANZIO

  Book Three ~ Desire

  “We have so much ahead of us, Tessa…

  What we have ahead is this sea. It’ll be the same sea we’re looking at now, vast and beautiful. It’s already here, waiting for us.

  It won’t change. The war can’t take it away.”

  _________

  Anzio Beach, 1944

  An army pushed to the verge of defeat

  A battle of stealth crumbles into disaster

  In its wake

  A soldier, forced to take a stand

  A young nurse, tested to her limit

  A swindler, disa
rmed by the first taste of love.

  Will they survive?

  Will love carry them through?

  The Rose of Anzio Series

  Available on Amazon

  Get your copy now!

  Rose of Anzio Book 1 - Moonlight

  Rose of Anzio Book 2- Jalousie

  Rose of Anzio Book 3 - Desire

  Rose of Anzio Book 4 - Remembrance

  Rose of Anzio is available in Kindle Unlimited

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  After Rose of Anzio, my next novel, Eternal Flame, has been submitted to Amazon’s Kindle Scout program. From April 8 - May 8, you can nominate Eternal Flame for publication by Kindle Press. If this book is selected, you will receive a free advance review copy before the book is officially released.

  Click on the image below to vote and find out more.

  “Last night, I loved you a lifetime and more.”

  Eternal Flame Synopsis

  16-year-old Julia Olsen’s world is falling apart. Her quarterback boyfriend broke up with her. Her family’s new home under renovation is a mess. Her high school counselor won't stop harping on about her grades. A time-traveling WW2 soldier crashing into her room is the last thing she needs.

  In 1944, 18-year-old Edmond Ferris answered the draft and headed to war in France. A chance discovery brought him home to Chicago . . . in 1989! He's back in his own room, except a strange girl is living in it. She drives a Japanese car and she listens to Milli Vanilli, a German band.

  Is their encounter an error in time or a will of fate?

  Find out in this timeless tale of two young people whose love for each other knows no bounds.

  * Edmond Ferris first appeared in the WWII novel series Rose of Anzio Book 4 - Remembrance. Eternal Flame is a standalone novel, but contains minor spoilers of the Rose of Anzio Book 4.

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  Citations

  The following parts of Rose of Anzio – Jalousie are either inspired by or based on factual accounts contained in Bob Gallagher's WWII Stories. Mr. Gallagher was a GI during WWII and had written a wonderful and fascinating memoir of this time served as a new recruit at training camp and a corporal of the Third Army's 815 Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion. Mr. Gallagher passed away on January 23, 2013. His story can be read online at: http://www.gallagherstory.com/ww2/index.html

  My sincere gratitude to Mr. Mark Gallagher, son of Mr. Bob Gallagher, for authorizing me to use his father's story as a primary resource for the historical background and inspiration for Rose of Anzio – Jalousie.

  1. From Bob Gallagher's WWII Stories Chapter 2 – "Drafted"

  Jalousie: Chapter Four

  Camp Grant as the first destination of army recruits from Chicago

  Procedures for receiving uniforms and other army issued items upon arrival

  Description of barracks

  Anthony's Letter dated January 29, 1943: experience at County Draft Board as to branch assignment procedures and related rumors; initial drills and training at Camp Grant; recruits' duties at camps; subsequent transport to California for additional training; training at camp in California; quality of food at camp

  2. From Bob Gallagher's WWII Stories Chapter 3 – "Camp Haan - California"

  Jalousie: Chapter Eight

  Army recruits hiking and the loads they carried during the hikes

  Randomness of training activities; penalty for asking questions

  Sergeant Hinkle

  Requirements for dress code

  Latrine duties

  Army training encouraged mediocrity

  3. From Bob Gallagher's WWII Stories Chapter 6 – "Camp Irwin and the Mojave Desert"

  Jalousie: Chapter Nine

  Target practice at California desert

  4. From Bob Gallagher's WWII Stories Chapter 4 – "Hooray for Hollywood"

  Jalousie: Chapter Twelve

  Anthony's Letter dated April 5, 1943: weekend pass to visit L.A.; visit to dance club in L.A.; presence of U.S. and foreign servicemen in clubs

  About the Author

  Alexa Kang's writing career began in 2014. She grew up in New York City and is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania. She has travelled to more than 123 cities, and she loves to explore new places and different cultures. When not at work, she lives a secret second life as a novelist. She loves epic loves stories and hopes to bring you many more.

  I would love to hear from you. Contact me or follow me at:

  @Alexa_Kang

  roseofanzio

  www.alexakang.com

  alexa@alexakang.com

  Acknowledgments

  Rose of Anzio began as a personal challenge for me, but over the course of last year, I discovered that writing a full-length novel (four novels, in fact) is a group project. Words alone cannot express my gratitude to everyone who had encouraged me and helped me bring this series to its completion. I am still amazed at the time and efforts of those who volunteered to help me make this story stronger and better.

  Thanks to Anneth White, who first encouraged me to write this story and continuing to inspire me by following it faithfully throughout. Thank you to Pamela Ann Savoy, who gave me great feedback on story ideas and development along the way, and took time out of her super busy schedule to proofread my work as I wrote. Thanks to Eleanna Sakka, whose shoulder was always available for me to lean on every time I hit the wall. My utmost gratitude to Brandon Bjorklund, a fellow writer and good friend who reached out to teach me the ropes of self-publishing, and gave me valuable advice and support throughout the process. Also, a very special thank you to Ms. CandyTerry, who gave me a huge amount of moral support, as well as the first platform for me to introduce this story. Thank you also to Mr. Mark Gallagher, for authorizing my use of his father's story for some of the historical facts retold in this book.

  My heartfelt thank you to both Kristen Tate, my content editor, whose suggestions and insights helped me improve my story significantly, and Geoff Byers, for his tremendous help and advice on how to create and construct my battle scenes throughout the entire series so I could keep the story as realistic as possible. Thanks to Stephen Reid, for making sure Tessa speaks proper British English. Thanks also to my copy editor Fiona Hallowell, and proofreaders T.J. Moore and Patrick Cunningham, for making my story a truly polished piece of work.

  Last but not least, thanks to my husband, Dan, for his unending amount of patience and support.

  Copyright © 2016 by Alexa Kang

  All rights reserved.

  ISBN-10: 1532771908

  ISBN-13: 978-1532771908

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

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