Her Blue-Eyed Lieutenant (Soldiers 0f Swing Book 3)

by Linda Ellen

  With shared laughter, they rose as one and gathered their winter jackets.

  Ten minutes into the movie, Gary was agreeing that the men at the base were right. He was enjoying the film. It was a comedy/musical about a song-and-dance man named Jerry Jones, played by George Murphy, who is drafted into the army during WWI and writes and stages a musical revue; it was truly quite funny. He, along with everyone else in the theater, laughed out loud at the antics and dialogue.

  Then the plot raced forward twenty-five years into the future, and it’s WWII. Jerry’s son Johnny, played by Ronald Reagan, enlisted in the army and refused to marry his sweetheart until he returned. Coincidentally, Reagan’s character accepted an order to follow in his father’s footsteps and stage the same musical. The stage play was full of slapstick comedy, acrobat routines, Alan Hale in drag of all things—which had everyone rolling, a minstrel show, songs by Irving Berlin, and tributes to the Navy and the Army Air Corps. Hundreds of real soldiers played parts in the revue.

  The film was rousingly patriotic, especially during such songs as It’s Your Country and My Country, God Bless America—which gave every person in the theater a tear or two to wipe away—and How About a Cheer for the Navy. Its main purpose, the audience was informed at the beginning, was to raise money for the Army Emergency Relief Fund, an organization that helped US Army soldiers and their dependents. When he had read that opening statement, he had made a mental note to give a good-sized donation to the cause.

  However, after a while the patriotism and shared comradeship started to get to Gary. At one point in the movie, during the song, This is the Army, Mr. Jones, he glanced over at his brothers, sitting side by side and nodding, elbowing one another, laughing together, and singing along. They were obviously familiar with and agreeing about all of the aspects of army life, from peeling potatoes on KP, to cleaning latrines, to marching in the rain, to eating lousy chow, to following orders and saluting—all things that Gary had never experienced—but both of them had. A strange sense of jealousy ripped through him and he felt decidedly out of touch with his womb mates. Truly, he was standing on the outside, looking in, and he didn’t like it one bit. Being the “odd man out” had never felt so galling.

  Tearing his gaze away from his soldier brothers, he looked around the theater, realizing that everyone there—the men at least—were wearing uniforms! Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard—there were uniforms filling every row. The only people not in uniform were the females in attendance, snuggled up to their military-men escorts.

  Gary realized with a sinking feeling that he was the only man in the entire theater NOT in uniform, and he felt sorely conspicuous and out of place. He began to feel sick to his stomach and imagined that all of the other men were staring at him and mentally upbraiding him for a draft dodger. He began to sweat and reached up to loosen his tie, his heart thumping as he wished for the torture to end.

  Finally, after what seemed like hours, the end credits began to roll and the house lights came on. Everyone stood, still laughing and talking about the movie as they began to shuffle out of the theater, and thread outside into the cold.

  His clothing damp from his bout with nervous perspiration, Gary bundled up miserably and lapsed into quiet brooding. He couldn’t shake the imagery bombarding his mind. Soldiers, sailors, marching, saluting, on and on it went. Then the mental images slowly transformed as each one began pointing at him, scowling accusingly as they paraded past.

  Once outside, snug in their warm coats, the triplets walked down the street together. Nearly every person they passed looked them over and grinned at their obvious identicalness. A few even voiced it. “You guys are triplets! Wow! Amazing!” Steve and Gene enjoyed the looks and comments, while Gary felt unbearably awkward that he was not in military clothing as they were.

  While the uniformed brothers talked and joked about the movie, Gary remained silent, staring at the sidewalk in front of his feet as he shuffled along. His companions tried to get him interested in conversation, but had no success.

  “Is something wrong, bro?” Gene asked at one point, but Gary merely grimaced and answered, “Nothing. Got a lot on my mind is all. Everything is just dandy.”

  His siblings shared a look of concern, only to shrug in unison.

  “Well…what now, fellas?” Steve asked with deliberate cheerfulness. “What say we go shoot some pool?”

  “I’m game,” Gene answered, both men eying their look-alike, who merely shrugged.

  Walking another half block, they ducked inside a joint with a sign above the door proclaiming it to be the Boulevard Pool Hall. The place was warm, smoky, and dark, while the air contained the combined pungent aromas of nicotine, sweat, and beer. Shedding their outer coats, the men paid for a table.

  While Steve and Gene racked up the balls, chalked their cues, laughed and kidded around, Gary remained mute as he rolled up his sleeves preparing to play a round of pool. The others could tell he was deep in thought about something, but presumed he was contemplating a problem at his manufacturing company. Of the three, he was the most quiet and reserved, and they tried to give him his space.

  For the next hour, other men, servicemen that is, came and went from the hall. Once again that feeling of vexation filled Gary, as everywhere he looked he saw nothing but uniforms. While acknowledging Gene and Steve, they gave Gary a wide berth, or even surreptitious frowns. His frustration and discomfort kept upping, notch after notch.

  Inside his head, the litany continued, Should I join up? What about the company? What about Dad? What about my responsibilities? But…what about what I want? Should I join up? But…what about Dad? On and on his tortured thoughts went, with no relief in sight.

  Totally out of character, he ordered a beer and drank half of it in one gulp while his brothers looked on, wide-eyed.

  Then, the inevitable happened. A soldier with corporal stripes on his sleeves bumped into Gary, possibly on purpose, resulting in him spilling his beer.

  Gary rounded on him with a fist raised as if ready to fight, his eyes blazing.

  “What, slacker? You wanna make somethin’ of it?” the man’s eyes ate up Gary’s expensive clothing and he sneered, putting himself right up in Gary’s face. “Come on, coward! Rich pantywaist! Let’s see what you got!”

  Everything seemed to happen at once. Gary slammed the bottle down on the edge of the table and reared his right arm back, delivering a solid punch to the guy’s mouth. Equally matched, the fellow recovered quickly and gave as good as he’d received, a meaty fist meeting Gary’s jaw full on. Ramped up on adrenaline, Gary hardly felt it. He merely ratcheted his fist back again for another slam, but Steve and Gene immediately intervened as the other soldiers in the hall, and the owner himself, began to take notice of the commotion.

  “Whoa whoa, now!” “Hold up, here!” his brothers each said, with Gene grabbing the corporal and Steve hustling his brother back a few steps.

  “Lousy, good for nothing rich guy,” the soldier grumbled, glaring at Gary as he strained against Gene’s iron grip. “Who’s he think he is, anyway?” Then suddenly focusing on the brothers’ faces and their uniforms, he said, “You two know the score—what’s wrong with your brother there? Wouldn’t the Army take ’im? He addlebrained or something?”

  “I’ll show you who’s addlebrained, you son of a—” Gary bit off as both men tried to lunge forward, but the brothers held firm.

  Finally, Gene pulled rank on the man, spun him around, and affected his authoritative sergeant tone. “Stand down, soldier! Go on about your business, this is no concern of yours.” His training kicking in, the corporal instantly obeyed, and even grudgingly saluted with a mumbled, “Yes, Sir,” before turning back to his companions.

  Meanwhile, Steve hustled Gary around to the other side of the table, as far from the soldier and his friends as he could get him.

  Gary, heart pounding and palms sweating, clamped his hands on his hips and vigorously gave his head a few shakes to calm his
emotions, forcefully breathing in and out through his nose. That’s it. I can’t take anymore of this. All the previous night, he’d actually prayed for wisdom in what he should do. Now, he felt like this was some kind of weird confirmation. I’m doing it. Period.

  As he made this firm decision about his future, a sense of serenity seemed to settle on him. It felt like a silk blanket fluttering onto his shoulders, cooling his temper and settling his nerves.

  He sucked in a deep breath, feeling at peace for the first time since the war had started.

  “Gare,” Steve began, using the abbreviated form of his brother’s name. “Man, what is up with you today? I ain’t ever seen you like this. You looked like you wanted to take that guy’s head off.”

  “Yeah man, what’s going on, huh?” Gene added as he sidled up to them and rested one hand on Gary’s arm. “If you’ve got some kind of a problem, tell us about it. Don’t keep it inside. Maybe we can help. Just—”

  Gary interrupted him with a raised hand. Then he lifted his head and looked first Gene in the eye and then Steve. Everything seemed so clear, he wondered for a moment why it had taken him so long to make up his mind.

  With an easy smile, he merely stated, “Fellas, I’ve made a decision. Monday morning, I’m enlisting in the army.”

  “You’re what?” Gene erupted.

  Steve leaned near and jerked his head over his shoulder toward the loudmouthed corporal. “Man, don’t let that bozo make you come unhinged.”

  Gary just kept smiling and shook his head, although he reached up with one hand to rub his sore jaw. “He didn’t. He about unhinged my jaw, but nah. This isn’t about him.”

  “That movie, then. I could tell something was bothering you while we were in the theater. All that patriotic stuff, the songs, the—”

  “Nope, not the movie.” He merely smiled at his siblings, enjoying their astonishment.

  Steve and Gene looked at one another and back at their puzzling triplet.

  “But…you can’t just up and enlist! What about Tucker Manufacturing? Man…you’re the boss!” Gene tried.

  Gary opened his mouth to answer, but Steve chimed in, “What about Dad Tucker, for crap’s sake? He absolutely does not want you in the service,” As if he thought Gary needed to be reminded. Only, Gary kept shaking his head, an unwavering smile plastered on his face.

  “What about your employees? What…what about your leg?” Gene said, scrambling for arguments.

  Gary turned his head and looked at Gene. “My leg?”

  “Yeah, you know, your dad said you were born with a weak leg…and you broke the other one… I mean…what if…”

  Gary shook his head slowly. “Nope. Legs are fine. I was on the track team in college. They’ve been put to the test and passed with flying colors.”

  He turned again and looked at Steve. “As for Dad, yes, that’s a big hurdle, but he’ll just have to understand this is something I have to do. Tucker Manufacturing’s Louisville plant is running fine. Dad can hire a new man to oversee operations, come up from Texas, and show him the ropes, make sure he can work well with my staff. Everything will work out.”

  His brothers stood there, wide-eyed and slack-jawed, just staring at him. Finally, Gene’s eyes narrowed and he gave a nod as he recognized the determination and resolution in the return gaze.

  “You’ve given this a lot of thought, haven’t you.” It was a statement, not a question.

  Gary breathed in deeply and rose to his full height. Having made the decision to follow his heart, it was like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders—nay his whole body. He actually felt lighter.

  “Brother, you have no idea. It seems I’ve done nothing but think about it since December 7. A hundred times, I almost shoved everything aside and drove to the recruiting office in Houston. I even had a cabbie drive past the one here. But Father always found a way to talk me out of it. But…” he paused a moment, lips pressed together as he strove to articulate his feelings to his brothers. “I just know this is something I’m supposed to do.” With a shrug, he added, “I’ve felt all along like I’m just spinning my wheels while I’m supposed to be doing something completely different.”

  At their still moderately shocked and even accusatory expressions, he added, “And Dad will just have to get with the program. There’s a war on. He’ll have to just have faith, like parents, wives, and girlfriends all over this country.” At Gene’s raised eyebrows, he added, “And…if worse comes to worst, he’ll have to have faith to get through that, too. But—it won’t.”

  He looked into his brothers matching sky-blue eyes; his own an open book for them to read.

  “Do you know how many Hollywood actors, not to mention businessmen and men in the corporate world, and doctors and nurses, who have left their careers and joined the service? Heck—even DiMaggio! Who am I to be exempt?”

  Moments ticked by, and then finally, Gene let out a snort, ran his hand back through his hair, and slapped Gary on the back. Gripping his shoulder and giving him a fond shake, he said, “Well alrighty, then, brother. What can we say? Welcome to the army.”

  The three of them laughed together and slung their arms around one another.

  “Would you believe, I’ve always worn top-of-the-line clothing, but I’ve never looked so forward to a new set of duds in my life?” Gary snickered. With a wiggle of his eyebrows, he added, “Think I’ll look as good in olive green and khaki as you two?”

  His brothers let go another laugh as Steve answered, “You might regret that remark, bro. Like when you have to stand at attention in the hot sun for an hour—in your wool jacket. Or when you’re marching endless miles with a forty pound pack on your back, wearing your ‘new duds’.”

  Gene glanced at his watch and his grin became impossibly larger. “And on that note, it’s time to go meet up with the girls. I have a suspicion we might be doing some carrying for them.”

  CHAPTER 4

  Locating the small eatery where Gene had arranged to meet the ladies, the brothers walked into the Canary Cottage and immediately spotted the girls holding one another’s hands and giggling at a table near the fireplace. The men looked at each other with raised brows, and then shrugged, moving on into the room.

  “Gene!” “Steve!” Viv and Mary June exclaimed in unison, standing and holding out their arms to be embraced by their sweethearts. The men immediately obliged.

  Feeling frisky, Gene kissed his wife deeply, really giving her an “I missed you” greeting. Not to be outdone, Steve dipped Mary June back over his arm and took her breath away with a downright exhilarating howdy-do. The other patrons in the room looked on and chuckled, or shook their heads and smiled at the antics of the two uniformed men and their ladies.

  Their shenanigans, however, left Julie feeling slightly uncomfortable as she and Gary watched, sending one another a small smile and nod. After a few moments, Gary skirted around his amorous brothers and came over to stand next to Julie’s chair.

  As she smiled up at him, he leaned over and took her hand, his eyes searching hers as he raised it to his lips in a prolonged greeting.

  Delicious tingles zipped up and down her body, almost as if she had stuck her fingers into an electric outlet. Had she really thought that receiving attention from Gary would feel like being romanced by her brother? Pfft, how wrong could she have been? This man’s touch not at all resembled being brushed or hugged by her older brother. Maybe he’s interested after all… Would it be a possibility that we will see one another once I move to Louisville?

  When he finished, he winked rakishly and murmured, “Hello again, Miss Banks,” before pulling back. She managed to softly demure, “Mr. Tucker.”

  When Viv and Mary June were finally released from the clinches of their men and were once again seated at the table, they were both red faced and reeling with delight. As Mary June teasingly complained about Steve’s fervor unrolling her Victory Rolls, Viv eyed the identical brothers exchanging somewhat mysterious grins and queried
, “My goodness, what have you three been up to?”

  Gene answered, “Girls, I think Gary has an announcement he’d like to make.”

  With that, five pair of eyes turned expectantly his way.

  Gary looked around the table and cleared his throat to begin, but was interrupted as a waitress stopped by to see if the newcomers wanted to be served. The men, quite hungry, ordered soup and sandwiches. When she left to fill the orders, Gary looked back at his tablemates.

  “Well…I made a decision a little bit ago. After many months of torturous vacillation, I’ve decided to enlist in the army.”

  All three girls reacted the same—their mouths dropped open with shocked gasps.

  For Julie, his announcement shot down in flames the idea of them seeing one another. She kept quiet as Viv and Mary June began bombarding him with questions, much the same as his brothers had done. Having talked with him for quite a while about their respective lives at the reception, Julie knew as much about him as the rest did, and she, like the others, wondered how his father was going to react to the news.

  Gary answered their queries with, “Once I get back from the recruitment office on Monday, I’ll give Dad a call and let him know my plans.” The others could see that it wasn’t something to which he was looking forward.

  “Poor Dad Tucker! He’ll be heartbroken!” Viv exclaimed. The others nodded thoughtfully, uttering agreement. Julie, however, was of a different mind.

  “Heartbroken? I would think he would be proud!”

  Viv and Mary June exchanged glances, as did Steve and Gene. Mary June spoke their thoughts, “You don’t understand, Julie.” She cast a look toward Gary and added softly, “Gary means everything to him.”

  Julie turned her eyes to Gary and noticed his face seemed a bit flushed, as if the subject caused him embarrassment. Everyone fiddled with forks or glasses, scrambling for something to say as the mood had suddenly turned heavy and uncertain, and they were grateful when the waitress came back with a tray full of the men’s orders.