The truck came to an abrupt halt. In a flash, Ted was out. Madge pulled at her arm, and Kitty willed her frozen legs to move. When she got to the edge, Ted must have seen how weak she was because he reached up and lifted her down.
His strong, warm arms wrapped around her, and she leaned her head against his shoulder. She looked up into those beautiful eyes and thought she would melt.
He quickly set her on her feet.
Madge’s arm encircled her shoulder.
“Thanks,” she heard Madge whisper and knew she was talking to Ted.
Madge steered her inside the hut. Kitty heard the truck pull away.
She forced herself to put one foot in front of the other, and soon she was sitting on her cot. Madge helped her peel off her clothes while several other girls hovered around helping, asking questions. All she wanted to do was crawl into bed and get warm. She’d think about everything tomorrow.
****
Ted couldn’t sleep. Couldn’t get her out of his head. How was it possible? How could she be here? How could his angel be here, be real? He’d been so sure that he’d imagined her. The antithesis of his mother. An angel who was everything his mother wasn’t. Gentle, loving, kind.
All through his childhood he’d dreamed of having a real mother. Someone who cared for him, who wanted to take care of him, who loved him. And who loved his father.
After the sinking when he’d gone back to Jacksonville, he’d finally accepted that his mother would never be the person he wanted her to be. Oh, she’d been upset that he’d almost died. But for the first time in his life, he’d been able to see her objectively. Everything, her whole way of thinking, revolved around herself. She really couldn’t see it any other way. It was always about her.
That’s why, when his father died, she’d been more concerned about what would happen to her. She’d been unable to understand his feelings, his sense of loss. She’d only seen her son as a burden, a responsibility she couldn’t shoulder. So she’d left him. But she hadn’t left him alone. She’d left him with his grandparents. And they had taken care of him, loved him. Even if he hadn’t wanted to be there.
Out on that raft he’d thought of his grandfather and how hard the man had tried to get through to the rebellious kid he’d been. And his grandmother. Her steady, patient love. She’d laughed at his antics, covered her face to hide her smile when his grandfather tried to make him be serious.
Maybe that’s why he thought the girl on the beach was an angel. Because his grandmother told him that the angels would watch over him. And he’d imagined the angels to be like her, kind and loving. And, of course, beautiful.
Kitty had that kind of beauty. The kind that shown from the inside out. Quiet and steady, kind and loving. He thought back to her concern that he would hurt Madge. Concern for someone else’s feelings was nothing like his mother.
Madge was more like his mother. The thought jarred him. No. Madge wasn’t near as bad as his mother. Maybe there were some similarities, but that’s all. He didn’t want to think he was attracted to women like his mother. Women who would hurt him. Women who cared more about themselves than anything else.
He rolled over and tried to clear his mind. He needed to get to sleep.
Unbidden, his angel came to mind. The one who’d been with him, watching over him. But this time he couldn’t separate her from the one he’d seen today. The flesh and blood angel.
Chapter Ten
“Meet me in the garden gazebo at 1600. Ted”
She stared at the words printed on plain white paper. A wave of embarrassment, all-consuming and painful, washed over her. Mortified by the image of herself, soaked and shivering, her hair wet and wild, she struggled to control her emotions.
For two years she had fantasized about meeting this man again, dreamed of him falling head over heels in love with her. What a stupid fool she’d been.
When he finally recognized her, she’d looked worse than a drowned rat. And the way he reacted to her yesterday screamed loud and clear that he wanted nothing to do with her. If she had looked as bad on the beach that day, she didn’t blame him for blocking the memory.
Then why did he want to meet her? What could he possibly have to say to her? Would he apologize for the way he acted? Would he tell her to stay away from him? And what did she want to say to him?
She stuffed the note back into the envelope and turned it over to read her name again. Neatly printed by hand, no telltale return address or identifiable handwriting. She glanced around wondering if anyone had seen the envelope or who left it on her desk. She folded it up into as small a piece as she could then slipped it in her pocket. It would definitely go into the stove when she got back to the hut.
By the end of her workday Kitty was nauseous. She wasn’t sure she wanted to talk to Ted, but she had no choice.
Directly behind the enormous building, a graveled path led from a flagstone terrace into an extensive garden. On the right a high hedge shielded the garden from the sprawling stable the Americans had transformed into a motor pool. In the distance, at the far end of the garden, the “cottage” clung to the edge of a small lake. She’d been told the castle’s owners had taken up residence there when the Americans took over.
Determined to see this through, Kitty strode along the path fighting the temptation to linger over a fragrant bloom or pause to watch the bees buzzing among the blossoming trees. At some other time, she might be able to relax and enjoy the formality of the garden’s arrangement or investigate the variety of specimens, but not today, not with her nerves stretched to the breaking point.
Deep within the garden a vine-covered gazebo stood as an inviting retreat.
As she approached, she saw his knees and then his hands twirling his cap impatiently.
Her footsteps must have alerted him to her approach because he jumped to his feet and faced her. She glanced up at the tall figure who appeared even taller because he stood on the platform two steps above her. She grabbed for the railing and forced her gaze down to guide her feet. In her state, she did not trust her ability to climb the steps without falling. He must have sensed her nervousness because he held out his hand to help her, but she refused to accept his assistance.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” his words rushed out as if he couldn’t contain them any longer.
Astonished at his outburst, all she could say was “What?”
“You knew.” Accusation was evident in his tone.
“What did I know?” she rebutted. “And why did you want me to meet you here?”
He looked out over the garden, where an older woman knelt digging in the dirt, his hands still fidgeted with his cap.
She stepped further into the gazebo and sat on the bench.
He turned back to her, his brow wrinkled. She thought he was going to say something. Instead he pressed his lips together, as if to silence himself, and sat on the bench facing her. After a moment he put his cap on the seat beside him and leaned forward.
“There was something familiar about you from the beginning. Then, yesterday, I knew what it was. Two years ago, on a beach, on the Georgia coast. You were there. You pulled me out of the water.”
He waited for her to say something. She didn’t know what to say so she just stared at him.
“I’m right, aren’t I?” His insistent tone required a reply.
She released her breath and nodded.
“You knew, but you didn’t say anything.”
She leaned back unsure where to begin. “Why say anything? You didn’t know me, didn’t remember what happened, so why should I bring it up?” It sounded lame to say it out loud. She hadn’t wanted to embarrass herself. But she’d been even more embarrassed by what happened yesterday. He didn’t know that, she told herself. He doesn’t know how much you’ve dreamed about him, how often you’ve wondered where he was and what he was doing.
“It’s true. I don’t remember much about that day.” He looked straight at her, and she could see pain in his eyes. �
�It was all like a dream. You were there. You told me I was safe. And then you were gone.” He looked away, back toward the garden. “I didn’t think you were real. I thought you were a mermaid or an angel. Someone I’d dreamed up. Until yesterday.”
Stirred by the emotion in his voice, she tried to lighten the mood. “Well, you obviously survived and recovered nicely. And by some strange twist of fate, we have met again.”
“Yes.” His smile looked grateful somehow. He glanced around. His hand darted out and grabbed his hat again. He tapped his finger on the bill. “I never got the chance to thank you.”
“Oh,” she hadn’t expected that. “For…for what?”
He fidgeted with his hat. Avoided eye contact while his lips contorted. Finally his gaze rose to meet hers. “Thank you for saving my life.”
Taken aback, she hesitated a moment before responding. “I…I just did what anyone would have done.”
“But you were the one. You saved me.”
She looked away and swallowed hard, not knowing what to say. An awkward silence stretched between them while she digested his words.
“Does Madge know?”
Her stomach twisted into a knot. “No.” She shook her head and looked down at her hands. “I don’t see any point in telling her. Do you?” She had tried for casual and matter-of-fact, not desperate and scared. Her gaze darted back to his face as she willed him to agree with her.
His eyes held a faraway sadness. He forced a weak smile. “All right. I don’t like to talk about it anyway.”
She understood not wanting to dredge up bad memories. Perhaps that was why he blocked the memory of their first encounter.
“Such lovely young people shouldn’t look so sad.” The older woman stood on the path beside the gazebo. In her gloved hands she held a basket of cut flowers and gardening tools.
Ted jumped to his feet. “Ma’am. We were just enjoying the garden.”
“It needs more work than I can give it these days,” she offered. “But it keeps me active.”
Kitty rose slowly. She shot a glance at Ted and then clattered down the steps to where the English woman stood. “We were just leaving.”
“You Yanks are always hurrying off to do something.” The older woman eyed them more closely. “You will join me for tea, the both of you. Looks like you both need a little something.” The invitation sounded more like an order than a request.
“Oh, no, ma’am. We couldn’t,” Ted protested as he hurried down the steps.
“You’d reject an invitation from your host and benefactor, would you?”
He put his cap on and adjusted it. “I really must go. I apologize for not joining you but…”
She nodded her understanding and dismissed him with a wave of her hand. Her frown of disapproval followed his escaping backside.
Shaking her head, she returned her attention to Kitty.
“Even though your young man had to go, you can still have a cup of tea with me.”
With her sweetest smile and the most gracious voice she could muster, Kitty gave the only answer she could. “I’m sorry, but I too must go. Thank you so much for the offer.” Without looking back, Kitty hurried along the same path Ted had taken.
The meeting had been private, and Ted was not her “young man.” She prayed no one else had observed them together. She didn’t want Madge to find out. If Madge knew about their meeting, she might guess the truth. And Kitty wasn’t ready for that.
She hadn’t really lied to Ted. Madge didn’t know Ted was the man she pulled from the ocean. But Madge did know of the incident.
Kitty had been a little tipsy when she confided in Madge about the handsome man she had met once and dreamed of meeting again. Madge never made fun of her. She thought it was a great story, but she never told any of the other girls. That’s when Kitty knew Madge was a true friend, one she could trust with her confidences.
But not this. Kitty couldn’t tell Madge about this.
****
“Kruger, come on and join us. We’ve got room for one more.”
Ted shook his head. “Sorry, fellows. Not in the mood.”
He took a sip of the lousy, warm beer. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d had a cold beer. Back in the states, probably. Although he’d schooled himself against remembering, the image of his last night out before they’d started the long journey to England crept into his mind.
A crowded bar filled with men clad in Air Corp uniforms, smoke hanging in the air, music from a juke box flowing around them. And lots of cold beer. Art, the natural leader, had insisted they spend their last night together. All single with no steady girlfriends, neither he nor Bud nor Mack had objected. They’d had a great time.
A pang of loneliness struck Ted. He missed them, more than he’d ever missed anyone.
A commotion caught Ted’s attention. He glanced up as several officers filed into the club. For a split second, he saw them. Images so vivid he almost waved for them to come join him for a drink. Then reality slammed him in the gut. They were gone. Art, Bud, and Mack. Gone.
A sob caught in his throat, and he gulped his beer to wash it down.
“Mind if I take this chair,” a young lieutenant stood next to him, hands clutching the chair back.
“No. Go ahead.” Ted didn’t look up. He blinked rapidly and hoped the young man didn’t notice the tears threatening to betray his grief.
I’ve got to get a hold of myself.
Kitty’s image invaded his thoughts. She wasn’t bad looking. She was actually pretty in her own quiet way. And serious, way too serious. He’d always gone for the smiling, flirtatious girls. They laughed at his antics and kept him entertained. He’d never even paid attention to the quiet, serious types. If he was honest with himself, he had to admit that they intimidated him.
But Kitty intrigued him. Underneath that prim, proper, serious exterior was Kitty hiding a wilder side? He thought of that wild mass of curly hair. She always kept it tightly pinned. Yet the rain had set it free, turned her into an entirely different creature. Add in that angelic smile and he definitely wanted to get to know her.
He finished off his beer. Staring at the empty mug, he wondered what Art would advise him to do. Keep things light and fun with Madge, or find out what this was between he and Kitty?
Ted knew his dead friend well enough he could hear the advice Art would have offered. Find out what this is with Kitty. Time is short. Your orders could come through any day. Then you’d never know.
So that was it. Ted stood and carried his empty mug back to the bar. He’d break it off with Madge, and then he’d try to get to know Kitty. Maybe he’d be bored with her. Something told him that wouldn’t happen. Something told him there was a lot more to Kitty that he had seen thus far.
Chapter Eleven
The Second Combat Bombardment Wing sent their planes on another raid deep into Germany. A “maximum effort” the staff called it. Tension ran high at headquarters as reports came in.
General Lake called Kitty into his office midmorning to take dictation, but every few minutes they were interrupted with an update on the mission.
Weather had been bad over many of the fields when they took off in the early morning hours. Kitty was horrified to hear that midair collisions during formation had claimed four planes. That translated to forty men gone because they couldn’t see in the dense fog.
Kitty didn’t normally hear about the missions until she worked on the reports. By that time, it was over. The downed planes, both bombers and fighters, were gone. The pilots and crews were either dead or presumed captured. They were just numbers, statistics, on the daily reports.
But this was different. It was happening now. They were out there, flying over Europe right now. No one knew if they would return, not even the men in the planes.
It was a big mission, an important one. General Lake and Colonel Snyder paced the office and struggled to focus on the work at hand.
A report came in of heavy flack over the tar
get and a number of planes shot down. The general sent Colonel Snyder off to get more information.
“Sir, would you like for me to go down to the officers’ mess and get you something to eat? I could bring a tray up here.”
“Yes, yes. Some food might help.” He got up and strode to the window. “I can’t leave the office, not yet.” He waved his arm. “Go ahead. And get yourself something to eat, too.”
When she returned, General Lake held the phone listening intently, his face grim. “Are you sure?”
Kitty set the tray on his desk to his right.
“Yes, yes,” he continued. “Send me everything you have.”
Colonel Snyder entered the room. “I’ve just come from the map room. Everything’s being updated as the information comes in.”
“That was Anderson. His group had to go for the secondary target. Primary was obstructed. He said they hit heavy flack. Waiting to hear the results.”
“General, you really should eat something,” Kitty interjected. She’d learned General Lake liked a little mothering.
He met her gaze, and his expression softened. “You’re right.” He turned to Colonel Snyder. “I’ll be down shortly.”
The colonel left, and General Lake slid the tray over in front of him. He removed the metal dome from the plate and set it aside. “You did get something for yourself, didn’t you?”
Kitty hesitated. “Uh, I wasn’t really hungry.”
“Nonsense.”
He took a spoon and scooped some mashed potatoes and a slice of spam onto his bread plate, keeping a slice of bread for himself. He shoved the small plate in her direction.
Obediently she took it.
“Besides, I hate to eat alone.” His gaze met hers and he smiled, then he looked down as he used his fork to cut the other hunk of spam.
Self-consciously, she avoided eye contact and tasted the potatoes. She could feel him watching as she ate. At times like this, she wished she were back in the steno pool where she felt safe and knew what to expect. Instead she sat here wondering what the general was thinking.
“Have you ever been to one of the air fields?” he asked out of the blue.
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