《Time On Our Side》 The Goodbye Their summer was spent in the kind of splendor you could only see in a classic movie of Hollywood''s glamorous heyday. The classy parties, the beautiful settings, the sunsets on the beach; it all seemed like an enchanting dream. The tinkling of champagne glasses still rang in their ears, long into the night, from the gatherings they attended. Then the summer ended. It was a cold, rainy September morning when Gerard left. The war in Europe was heating up and they needed all the help they could get. There was no hesitation in going; if you were a man, you fought. Sarah stood at the train station, holding him tightly, crying. If she could just keep holding in, maybe he wouldn''t leave. If she could just hold on, maybe all of this would go away and they could go back to their lives in the snug Hollywood Hills. If she could just hold on, the train whistle sounding in her ears would stop drowning out the happier sounds. If she could just hold on, it would all be okay. But, of course, she couldn''t. He kissed her hard, trying not to cry himself. He whispered his love to her and pressed an envelope in her hand, telling her to read it when he was gone. "It might help," he whispered in her ear. She clung to his coat, crying softly and begging him in hitched whispers not to go. He held her for a few more moments, then pushed her away and climbed up onto the train. They had agreed earlier not to linger, trying to keep sight of one another, but she couldn''t help hoping he would come to a window. As the train hissed and slowly started to move, she followed along--watching each window for one last glance of his beloved face. He appeared for a brief moment and she could see the tears on his face as he too cried at their parting. She shouted to him, but the train whistle sounded and drowned out her voice. As the huge, hulking mechanical beast took her beloved away, she ran to follow as long as she could, tears streaming down her face. At the end of the platform, she collapsed. She wrapped her arms around herself in a pale shadow of his last embrace. Something crumpled in her hand and she remembered the letter. Right there, in the middle of the throng of people that surged around her, she unclenched her fingers and opened the rumpled envelope.Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. "I know you''re reading this as soon as you lose sight of the train, and I want you to know I wish I was still there holding you. I love you. Always remember that, Sarah. I love you, and I will love you forever. I know you''re probably very upset right now, but I don''t want you to focus on how it felt to see that train leave. Instead, remember how it felt to watch the sunset together and then talk until we saw the sunrise the next day. Remember the sounds and smells and sights of the summer. Remember how it felt to stand on the beach and hold each other. "When I come home, I am going to take you away from all the heartache you have right now. We are going to have that life we always talk about. We are going to have the blue house with the white picket fence you want so much. When I come home, we will find a way to disappear from all of this and just live. "Remember that I love you. If you are ever unsure in your life, just remember that I believe in you, love you, and will be here for you. Every night, I will look up at the stars and remember our summer together, and count the moments until I can be with you again. "I am always and forever yours, Gerard." Sarah stood shakily. She brushed off the bits of dust from the floor of the platform, pulled out her hankerchief from her pocket, and dried her eyes. She walked numbly to the front of the station, telling herself over and over that Gerard would be coming home. Somehow, she wasn''t sure whether she was reassuring herself, or trying to convince herself. A New Friend The train ride was a long one¡ªfrom northern California, where he left Sarah, to Chicago, and then a transfer to New York. From there, he would board a flight for England. Gerard settled into his seat on the train, expecting to be alone with his thoughts for quite a while. ¡°Hey, you there!¡± A boisterous voice boomed at him just as his eyes closed. He opened them to see a young man, he estimated a few years younger than himself, standing in the aisle and looking down at him with a wide grin across his freckled face. ¡°Yes?¡± Gerard asked, not unkindly. ¡°Mind if I park myself here? Most of the rest of the car is full, and I don¡¯t fancy sitting next to a family of screaming brats the whole way to Chicago.¡± The young man explained as his grin widened. Gerard motioned to him to sit, and the young man did. ¡°I¡¯m Billy. From Virginia, but I was at college in Long Beach. You shipping out, too?¡± Billy extended his hand to Gerard in a friendly gesture. Gerard took it and shook Billy¡¯s hand, smiling a little at the guileless nature of this youth. ¡°Gerard, and yes I am. What part of Virginia are you from, Billy? My people come from that part of the country.¡± ¡°Norfolk. Whereabouts are your kin from, Gerard?¡± Billy asked earnestly and a little anxiously. ¡°I¡¯m originally from Charlotte, in North Carolina, but I¡¯ve been living in California for the past couple of years, trying to make it as a journalist in San Francisco. Tell me, Billy. How old are you?¡± Gerard asked gently, trying to put the younger man at ease.This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. Billy hesitated before answering, looking around the train car before lowering his voice conspiratorially. ¡°I¡¯m only 16, but I fudged the paperwork a little. I¡¯ll be 17 in January, so it¡¯s not like it¡¯s that big of a deal. Besides, when your country calls,¡± he added, puffing out his chest with pride, ¡°you answer!¡± Gerard chuckled. ¡°Yes, Billy, I suppose you do. Well, don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t tell anyone. Do you know your assignment yet?¡± ¡°Sure do! The 29th I.D.,¡± Billy responded happily. ¡°The Blue and Gray.¡± ¡°Well that¡¯s just swell, Billy. Looks like we¡¯re going to be in the same Division.¡± Gerard said with a reassuring smile. ¡°Really? Well that is swell, Gerard! Gee, I¡¯m sure glad I met you!¡± Billy beamed. ¡°Stick with me, okay?¡± Gerard said, suddenly serious. He had a strange feeling of protectiveness wash over him in regards to this kid. ¡°I don¡¯t want anything to happen to you.¡± Billy gave him a strange look for a moment, then the huge grin broke out across his freckled face again. ¡°Well, sure! You¡¯re the first friend I¡¯ve made since joining up in the service. I¡¯m not letting you out of my sight!¡± Gerard couldn¡¯t help but laugh a little at the open candor of the kid, but something nagged at the back of his mind. Only 16, he thought. Far too young to be enlisting, even if it is for a good cause¡­ He shook his head to dispel the thoughts muddling around in there, and smiled back at Billy. ¡°What do you say we hit the dining car and try to rustle up a meal, Billy?¡± Gerard asked to take his mind off of the doom and gloom thoughts. Billy¡¯s grin widened, if that was even possible, and he nodded his mop of reddish blond hair. ¡°That sounds like a great idea!¡± The two stood and walked through the train, both lost in their own thoughts. Billy, thrilled to have made a friend so early on in his journey and excited about what he would find. Gerard, worried about Billy and what was to come. Sarah Finds A Home Sarah paused taking down the laundry in the backyard of the rented home she shared with three other women, all of whom had men in the service. The four of them had banded together in a close collective of camaraderie in their shared apprehension over their men, their desire to do their part for the war effort, and their need to support themselves while they waited. Tina¡¯s husband was an airman, he had been gone for two years already and she was constantly on pins and needles waiting for word from him. Martha¡¯s man was a sergeant. She never let any of the others forget that fact; that her fianc¨¦ was a higher rank than theirs. He was stationed somewhere in England and she hadn¡¯t heard from him in over a month, but she was hopeful that she would hear something soon. Then there was Edith, whose new husband left just four months ago¡ªjust before she discovered she was pregnant. All the other women looked after Edith as if she was their daughter, for she was barely 18 and scared out of her wits, though she and Johnny were both excited for the new baby. Sarah sighed as she looked out over the skyline of Los Angeles from their backyard on the hill. It was a lovely view, but all she saw was her loneliness. She put a hand to her chest, where she felt Gerard¡¯s letter. She kept it there every day, close to her heart, and read it every night before bed. It was the closest thing she had to having him near her. ¡°Sarah?¡± Tina called from the back doorway. ¡°Are you okay, honey?¡± Sarah pulled herself away from her thoughts and turned, smiling. ¡°Yes, Tina. I¡¯m fine, just lost in thought for a minute. I¡¯ll bring in the clothes shortly.¡± Tina nodded and went back in the kitchen to finish her baking. The women were going to a charity event later that evening, for widows and orphans of the war, and Tina¡¯s baking was always a huge hit at events like that. Sarah didn¡¯t feel like going this time. She wanted to curl up in bed with Gerard¡¯s letter and just be alone with her thoughts and memories of the summer. It would look bad if she didn¡¯t go, though. And Edith was already excusing herself for the sickness. ¡°Why do they call it ¡®morning sickness¡¯?¡± Sarah muttered to herself as she pulled the rest of the clothes off the line. ¡°It hits in the morning, the afternoon, the middle of the night¡­ Poor Edith. I¡¯ll make her some tea before I go.¡± When the clothes were all in the basket, she hoisted it up on her hip and took it in through the back door, through the kitchen and into the small living room, turning on the radio as she went by. The smooth sounds of Bing Crosby came through the speaker and Sarah hummed along to ¡°Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin¡¯¡±. She set the basket down in front of the sofa, sat down, and started folding the clothes, towels, and sheets. She could hear Tina singing along with the radio in the kitchen, and it made her smile again. Truly, she had grown to love these women in the few short weeks since she had moved in here. She silently thanked Gerard¡¯s commanding officer¡¯s wife for finding her this home. She recalled the conversation the day after Gerard had left. ¡°You know, my dear, you really shouldn¡¯t be alone while you wait for him. Do you have some family in the area with whom you can stay?¡± Mrs. Marshall had asked her politely as they sipped their coffee together. Sarah had simply shaken her head. ¡°Well, I know the best place. There are three other women there, in the same position you¡¯re in. You can all share in the chores and the costs¡ªand they¡¯re looking for a fourth.¡± Mrs. Marshall had said it as though talking about a bridge game. At first Sarah had been hesitant, but she agreed because she had no idea what else to do. She was adrift without Gerard, and this might give her some direction. Now she couldn¡¯t imagine living anywhere else while she waited; while they all waited. Martha came out of her room, all dolled up in a red dress with lipstick to match, ready for the event. She clipped down the hard wood hallway in her black heels toward Sarah, her patented matronly smile on her face. ¡°Sarah, dear, if you fold the blouses like that, they are bound to wrinkle. Here, let me do it for you.¡± She said in a condescending tone. ¡°This is the way my husband, the sergeant, showed me.¡± Sarah bit back a sardonic reply, instead smiling back gratefully. ¡°Thank you, Martha.¡± She sat back and let Martha ¡°show¡± her how to fold a blouse¡ªexactly how she had just done it.Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. Martha nodded once and walked away with a satisfied look on her face, heading to the kitchen to educate Tina (the woman who had owned a bakery with her husband before the war) on how to bake cookies properly. Sarah cringed when she heard Martha¡¯s voice start up again, but Tina was all smiles and ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am¡±s. Sarah didn¡¯t know how Tina could keep her cool so well. She made a mental note to corner her and ask her about it sometime. Edith came out of her room then, in a house dress, and sat down on the sofa next to Sarah. She pointed toward Martha¡¯s back with her thumb and rolled her eyes, making a gagging motion. Sarah tried hard not to laugh. Of all three of the women, Edith was easily her favorite. Not only because they were so close in age, but also because Edith seemed the most real to Sarah. There was no fakery with her, no false face. She was too young for that. Sarah noted that Edith looked pale today and leaned over to her. ¡°Are you feeling any better?¡± she asked in a whisper. ¡°A little. I¡¯m just still so queasy!¡± Edith replied. ¡°The ironic thing is, I¡¯m also hungry as a horse. I could eat the whole house, if not for the fact that the sight or smell of food makes me want to sick up.¡± Sarah nodded. She had never been pregnant herself, but she had an older, married sister with three children, so she had watched the process a few times, and what she saw made her think that perhaps she didn¡¯t want to go through the process at all at any point in her life. Edith¡¯s sickness was definitely a point in favor of that decision. Martha was clip-clopping back into the room and when her eyes fell on Edith, her lips pursed. ¡°What are you doing out of bed, young lady?¡± she asked in a tone that brooked no argument. Edith sank a little into the sofa and took on the demeanor of a petulant child. ¡°Oh come on, Martha!¡± she whined. ¡°It¡¯s so dull in there. Everyone is out here! I¡¯m already stuck at home tonight when everyone is gone, at least let me be social for a few minutes before you all get ready and go!¡± Martha studied the younger woman for a long moment, and Sarah tried to be invisible while she continued to fold laundry. ¡°Well¡­I suppose a few minutes wouldn¡¯t hurt. But then right back to bed with you!¡± Martha stated with authority before turning on her heel and walking down the hall, presumably to fix her makeup yet again. Sarah leaned over to Edith and muttered, ¡°Morning sickness or no, three hours without Martha and I think you¡¯re the lucky one here.¡± They both giggled quietly for a solid three minutes before Edith was overcome by the sickness again and had to run to the bathroom. * * * The charity event was in full swing, with booths all around the event hall and music from the band up on the stage. Martha moved through the room like she ran the place, offering advice to booth runners and patrons alike, and generally keeping herself busy. Tina¡¯s cookies and cakes were a hit (as if anyone expected any different, except perhaps Martha), and her booth was cleared almost immediately. Sarah was happy to help Tina sell her wares, smiling at the children that came through and chatting idly with the women that would all ask the same questions. ¡°Oh is your man in the service?¡± and ¡°Where is he stationed?¡± and of course the ever-popular ¡°I don¡¯t see a wedding ring, are you waiting to get married until he gets back?¡± That last one always stung a little, as she and Gerard had never really discussed the prospect of marriage. Sure, they had assumed they would wed someday, but when the call came and he enlisted, all potential talk of nuptials was put on hold indefinitely. She honestly couldn¡¯t say where she and Gerard stood when it came to wedding plans, and she was a little afraid to write and ask him, if she was going to be truthful with herself. Pushing these thoughts away, Sarah let herself be taken up in the festivities of the evening, all of which were overshadowed by the speeches about the widows and orphans of the war effort¡ªthe purpose of the fundraiser. Sarah couldn¡¯t help but think of Tina and Edith, who would be widows if anything happened to their husbands in the field. And Martha, who wasn¡¯t even married yet to her beloved sergeant, would be left completely out in the cold with no support whatsoever. It was a sobering thought. There was one gentleman in particular at the event that kept catching her eye. He was tall, had auburn hair, and was soft spoken when he came to the booth and bought a single cookie. His smile made her stomach leap into her chest and her heart beat faster. Almost the way Gerard¡¯s did the first time she met him. The thought made her reach for the letter, now in her pocket, just to feel its closeness. Something about the man made her feel off-kilter. Her eyes followed him throughout the evening as he wandered through the booths and danced with various ladies. At one point, Tina caught her staring at him and elbowed her in the ribs, smiling knowingly. She leaned over to Sarah and whispered, ¡°His name is David. He is here from back East somewhere, helping at the air force base. My Mark knew him in basic training. Handsome, isn¡¯t he?¡± Before she knew what she was saying, Sarah responded, ¡°He sure is.¡± Then she shook her head to dispel the thought. ¡°I mean, I suppose he is¡­ If you like that sort of look.¡± Tina put her head back and laughed uproariously. ¡°Honey, it¡¯s fine to find a man handsome and still love your man. Looking doesn¡¯t mean cheating. Just watch yourself, is all.¡± Sarah nodded, her eyes still following the mysterious David. At least now she had a name to put to that gorgeous face.