Kitty's War

by Barbara Whitaker

  Chapter Fifteen

  “Kitty?” Ted’s voice boomed from the darkness as he came closer.

  “Who is this guy?” Ade asked.

  “I could ask the same thing, Bud.” Ted’s irritation radiated as he faced Ade with Kitty trying to squeeze between them.

  “This is Ade…” Kitty couldn’t remember his last name.

  “Carlton,” Ade added.

  “He’s my escort.”

  “Escort, ha! I suppose he’s not your fiancé,” Ted said.

  “My what?” Kitty exclaimed. But then the story she told General Lake flashed into her head. “Who told you that I was engaged?”

  “Never mind who told me.”

  “What’s he talking about? And who is he anyway?” Milt asked.

  “He’s been dating my best friend,” Kitty said.

  “Who are you?” Ted asked belligerently.

  “That’s none of your business. What are you doing here?” Milt’s anger rose.

  “Ted, this is my brother, Milton.”

  “Brother! You said you were going to meet your fiancé.” The darkness couldn’t hide the confusion in Ted’s voice.

  “What fiancé?” Ade asked.

  Betty giggled.

  “Oh, I just told General Lake that I was going to London to meet my fiancé so he would give me leave.”

  “Am I hearing you right? You told the general a lie to get leave?” Milton said. “My straight as an arrow sister lied. Again.”

  Kitty cringed at her brother’s reaction, especially the emphasis on that last word. She’d never lied. Never. Even when it meant she or Milton got in trouble. She always told the truth. Except for that one big one that no one else knew about—except Milton.

  “And how do I know this really is your brother?” Ted asked.

  “Because he is,” Kitty insisted.

  “What I want to know is why this…this idiot followed you to London, especially if he’s your ‘friend’s’ boyfriend. What’s he to you?”

  “Well, I guess you could say we’re friends.” Kitty wondered how she could explain their relationship. “But I don’t know why he’s here.”

  “I came to make sure you were all right.”

  “Sounds like the bloke’s sweet on you.” Betty was enjoying the confusion.

  “I was just afraid she might be mixed up with some unsavory character.”

  “I can take care of myself,” Kitty insisted.

  “Sounds like my little sister has grown up—at least a little. And I’m not sure I like it.”

  “Oh, Milton. It’s a long story. And not one I want to tell right now.”

  “Not one you ever want to tell, apparently,” Ted added.

  Kitty wanted to scream at all of them. She didn’t know why Ted was here. And what’s more, she didn’t care. She stamped her foot in frustration.

  “How ’bout we leave these three to slug it out?” Ade asked Betty.

  “Sounds like a good idea,” Betty replied.

  “Oh, no you don’t. You’re not stealing my girl.” Milton turned on his friend as the clouds drifted overhead revealing a small portion of the almost-full moon. A soft glow engulfed the group.

  “I’m not your girl, Milt. I’m not anybody’s girl.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean that I decide who I go out with. I’m not one of those easy girls, you know. I like to have a few laughs, but that’s as far as it goes.”

  “I know that, Betty. That’s why I like you.” Milton obviously didn’t want to lose his date.

  “I’ll take care of Kitty. You can go on with your girlfriend,” Ted offered.

  Milton turned on Ted. “You stay away from my sister.” His anger abruptly changed, and he froze in place.

  Kitty looked from her brother to Ted. The moonlight reflected off the gold bars on Ted’s collar. She realized that she’d failed to introduce Ted properly and due to the darkness her brother hadn’t known Ted was an officer. But before she could say anything, Milton straightened up and saluted.

  “Lieutenant,” Milton said.

  Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Ade snap to attention, too.

  “At ease, soldiers,” Ted said calmly, returning their salute. “I have no intention of pulling rank here.”

  “Sir, what are your intentions?” Milton asked.

  “Like I said, I just wanted to check on Kitty and make sure she was okay.”

  “All this is my fault. I should have introduced you properly.” Her gaze flew between Ted and Milton. “Lieutenant Ted Kruger. Sergeant Milton Greenlee.” She motioned for them to come together, but both stood rooted in place. “Now you two can be friends,” she added hopefully.

  The two men continued to stare at each other. Finally, Ted broke the silence. “This officer stuff doesn’t mean much as far as I’m concerned. I’m in the Air Force, and I’m an officer because I’m a navigator. It’s nothing like you guys in the infantry. I’m not in command of anybody. I just navigate.”

  Slowly a grin spread across Milton’s face. “Well, I never thought I’d hear one admit it.”

  “Then you two can be friends.”

  “Maybe. As long as he stays away from you.” Milton gave Kitty a stern look then shifted his gaze back to Ted. “I don’t want her getting mixed up with any officers.”

  Ted laughed. “I understand.”

  Kitty stood there wondering what to do next.

  “I thought you were beat, wanted to hit the hay.” Milton was back to his old self.

  She nodded. “Yes. I was.”

  Milton looked around. The moonlight illuminated the street so they could see Kitty’s quarters just a few feet from where they stood. “I’ll be here to pick you up at nine in the morning, okay? We’ll take in all the sites.”

  “Sounds wonderful.” Kitty relaxed. A wave of fatigue washed over her. She turned to Betty. “Nice to meet you,” and nodded to Ade. “I had a nice time. Thank you.”

  Then she approached her brother and gave him a hug. “Good night.” She turned toward the hotel entrance. Ted stood to one side. Unsure what to say to him, she stammered “Good night,” and hurried inside.

  Ted said nothing, which only added to her confusion. Everything seemed disjointed between them. Awkward. She wasn’t sure why and she still didn’t understand why he was here. She shook her head, convinced she’d never understand men.

  ****

  As soon as Kitty went inside Milton faced Ted, “Now I want to know what’s goin’ on.”

  Ted took a deep breath. He wasn’t sure what Kitty’s brother wanted to know—or how much he already knew.

  “Maybe we should go someplace where we can talk,” he suggested.

  Milton nodded. “Okay. I know just the place.” He turned to look at Ade and Betty. “Come on. We’re going to get a drink.”

  “Not me,” Betty said. “I’m callin’ it a night, too. You boys can go ’ave your drink without me.”

  Ade spoke up. “May I take you home?”

  She flashed a smile. “That’d be just peachy.” She took his arm and steered him toward a nearby subway entrance.

  “Wait just a minute,” Milton protested.

  Ade smiled, like the cat that swallowed the canary. “You two go talk.” He patted Betty’s hand. “I’ll see you later.”

  Betty waved to them and called, “Night boys.”

  Ted watched the two depart, leaving him to face Kitty’s brother. He shouldn’t have come. Had no real reason to come. Except he needed to get away from the base, from his do-nothing assignment, and it had shocked him when he learned Kitty was engaged. He should have gone to Madge and asked her about it. He could have passed it off as gossip, which is what it was. But no, he’d acted on impulse and took off to London—to face an angry brother and a confused Kitty.

  Milton glared at him.

  “Where’s that drink you were talking about?”

  Milton’s frown melted into a smile. He slapped Ted on the shoulder. “Come
on.”

  Through the blackout, glimmers of moonlight showed the way through the London streets. Foot traffic picked up with their flashlights lighting the way to a stairway down into a cellar. Milton led him through the door and blackout curtains, and into a smoky, crowded bar. Uniforms lined a bar along one wall. Others clustered around tables or shuffled their dates around the tiny dance floor to a Benny Goodman tune.

  Ted and Milton pushed their way through to the bar, and Milton ordered for them both. When the bartender set the glasses in front of them, Milton handed him some coins before Ted could reach in his pocket.

  “You aren’t buying my drinks,” Ted shouted to Milton over the din.

  Milton shook his head. “You can get the next round.”

  Ted reluctantly agreed. He took a long swig. The warm stout tasted good. He wondered how much of the stuff it would take to get good and drunk.

  “Did that general send you to check up on Katherine?”

  His question caught Ted off guard.

  “General Lake?”

  “If that’s his name.”

  “General Lake doesn’t know anything about me coming here.”

  Milton took a drink. “She wrote me about him. I figured it was worse than she said, but I didn’t know it had gotten so bad that she’d lie to him.”

  “I don’t know what she told you, but I don’t think the general has gotten out of line. What I mean is I think she’s keeping him at bay.”

  “How do you know?”

  “From Madge. That’s Kitty’s best friend.”

  “And your girlfriend?”

  “Yes, she was, up until a couple of days ago.”

  “So what’s…Kitty, is that what you call her? What’s she to you?”

  “Like she said, we’re friends. We met a long time ago.”

  Milton’s brows furrowed into an unspoken question.

  “Did she ever tell you about pulling a guy out of the ocean? On the Georgia coast?” Ted asked.

  Milton leaned back as if surprised. Finally, he spoke. “Yeah. She told me about it before I left the states.”

  Ted sighed. “That was me.” How did he explain it all?

  “I’m sure she would have written me if she met that man again.” Her brother looked suspicious. “Why didn’t she tell me?”

  Ted ran his hand through his hair. “It’s complicated. Hard to explain.”

  “Try me.”

  Milton signaled the bartender to bring another round. He pointed to a table in the corner that had just been vacated. “Come on over here where we can talk.”

  Milton grabbed the drinks deposited by the bartender and carried them to the table. Ted dug some coins out of his pocket and paid for the drinks before joining him.

  Always cautious in places like this, Ted slid into a chair with his back against the wall. If a fight started, he wanted to be ready to get out quick, before the MPs arrived. No drunk tank for him. He was in enough trouble without being hauled in for disorderly conduct.

  The infantryman settled in and sipped his drink. “Now tell me this complicated story.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  Milton arrived at the hotel the next morning to pick her up. Ted was with him but dressed differently.

  “Why are you wearing that?” Kitty asked.

  “So I can go sightseeing with you and Milt,” Ted replied.

  “But won’t you get in trouble?” Kitty looked to her brother.

  “It was his idea.” Milt was quick to say, a look of amusement on his face.

  “You’re out of uniform.”

  Ted laughed, and the joy in it made her feel warm inside. “I just borrowed the shirt and cap for the day. No one will notice.” He grinned. “Just three non-coms out to see London.”

  “What if the MPs catch you?” Kitty worried.

  “They’re less likely to notice me this way than if I was a second luey hanging around with enlisted personnel.”

  Kitty frowned and looked to her brother for help.

  “Don’t look at me. He wanted to do it. If we’re stopped, I don’t know a thing—and neither do you.”

  “See. I’m the only one who gets in trouble. Okay?”

  “Okay,” she agreed, reluctantly. If he wanted to impersonate a sergeant in the infantry who was she to object?

  “Besides, I’m already in trouble, so a little more won’t matter.”

  They turned a corner and headed to Piccadilly Circus. Milton led the way.

  “Yeah, what a crock!”

  “How do you know about that?” Kitty asked, uncomfortable with Ted and Milton acting so familiar.

  “He filled me in last night.”

  “Last night?” Kitty asked. “Where did you two go last night?”

  Milton grinned at Ted, who grinned back. Uneasiness pricked at her.

  “Oh, we had a few drinks. Then, since Ted didn’t have any place to stay, I smuggled him into my room.”

  Shocked, she stopped in her tracks letting the information sink in. Ted stayed with Milton last night. Incredible.

  Ted turned to look at her. “Aren’t you coming?”

  She hurried to catch up with them.

  “That’s where I got the idea to become a sergeant. In Milt’s room.”

  “What else did you two do?” She never thought about her brother making friends with Ted. She’s just assumed Milton would send him on his way.

  “We talked,” Milton offered, glancing at Ted.

  “About what?” She had to almost run to keep up with their long strides.

  “Mostly about you,” Ted announced. He gave her a sweet smile and slowed his pace a little so she could walk at his side.

  Her unease heightened. She looked at Milton who walked ahead as if intent on reaching some unknown destination. What had he told Ted about her? Surely he wouldn’t tell him embarrassing things. The sun beat down with unusual heat. Her skin crawled up her arms, her neck. A childhood memory of breaking out in hives materialized out of nowhere.

  Ted stopped her by putting his hands on her shoulders and turning her to face him. “Are you all right? You look kind of funny?”

  She was literally shaking in her shoes. And the feel of his strong, warm hands didn’t help.

  “All she needs is something to eat. I bet you haven’t had breakfast, have you?”

  Kitty shook her head, back and forth, unable to speak.

  Her brother took her arm. He steered her into the Red Cross Canteen. “We’ll get some food into you before we go a step further.”

  Kitty sipped the coffee and stared at the doughnuts on the plate in front of her. She thought of the letter she’d sent Milton after that dramatic day on the beach. Her account of the incident must have sounded childish. And later, in other letters, she’d shared her day dreams of someday finding the handsome mystery man.

  She closed her eyes. Please, you didn’t tell him all that. Please.

  “Go ahead and eat. We’re not moving until you do.”

  Kitty had heard that serious tone before when he’d given his kid sister orders. She picked up a doughnut and took a bite. But she didn’t taste any of it.

  The morning passed quickly. Ted proved a very entertaining tour guide. He regaled them with stories as if he’d lived in London all his life, but it was his knowledge of history that impressed Kitty the most.

  And he was a perfect gentleman. A few times he flashed that heart-stopping smile her way. She could not help but react. She’d stammer or catch her breath, which only made him grin like the Cheshire cat, pleased with himself.

  There were none of his comic antics. Just a very pleasant, very handsome companion. Maybe her brother’s presence kept him on his best behavior. Or maybe he wanted her to see him in a different light.

  They walked from Piccadilly Circus to Buckingham Palace, and from there continued on to see Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament.

  When Kitty delighted over the big double-decker buses, the three clambered aboard and climbed to the top. Ki
tty sank into the seat by her brother and slipped her arm through his.

  “Now this is how it’s supposed to be,” she announced, squeezing his arm and smiling.

  “What do you mean?” he asked.

  “Oh, coming to England, finding you. Us here together.” She looked around at the passing buildings. “This is what I dreamed of.”

  Milton glanced at Ted, who sat across the aisle. “Sis, you’re crazy.”

  He laughed when he said it so she couldn’t be mad at him. “Okay, so I’m crazy. Is it so bad? Wanting to come over here and help my big brother win this war.” She turned in the seat to face him. “Now we have to figure out how we can do this more often.”

  “Do what?” He was still grinning at her.

  “Get together like this. Wouldn’t it be great if we could do this every weekend?”

  He just shook his head. When his gaze shifted Ted’s way, she followed it. He was laughing at her, too, like they shared a joke—a joke on her.

  “I’m not kidding,” she continued, a little irritated.

  “I know, I know,” Milton tried to calm her. “Just remember, the Army’s in charge. We have to do what they say when they say it.”

  “Of course we do, but that doesn’t mean we can’t get together.”

  “Maybe you can talk that general of yours into giving you a pass every weekend, but I can’t.” He paused. His face grew more serious. “Do you know how many men are here in England? And how many of them want leave to come to London?”

  Kitty stared at him. Facts and figures popped into her head. Stories about millions of men in England. The inevitable invasion. She pushed them aside, not wanting to think about what the stories meant.

  “Let’s just enjoy the time we have together, now,” Milton continued. “Isn’t that right, Ted?”

  “Right,” Ted agreed. He glanced ahead. “Looks like we’re almost there. See the bridge.” He pointed to the Tower Bridge just coming into view. He stood. “The next stop is where we get off.”

  Kitty tried to hide her disappointment. She’d counted on spending time with Milton. The whole reason she’d volunteered for overseas service was so she could be near him. Now she was here with him only to learn the truth. That they couldn’t spend time together. They had separate jobs in different parts of the country, and the Army wasn’t going to allow them time off to be together.