by Linda Ellen
For the next few minutes, as the guys tucked into their meals, the women kept the conversation going, discussing the upcoming wedding and sharing Mary June’s idea to have Julie come to live and work in Louisville.
Gary perked up at that and met her eyes across the table. “I might be able to help in that regard, Julie. Perhaps I could offer you a position at Tucker’s? There are quite a few jobs in the plant that require a delicate touch and dexterity and many of our employees are female…”
She smiled her thanks, touched that he seemed to always be looking for ways he could help or benefit others. It was just one more reason to like the man.
Just as the guys finished with their meals and the eatery began filling up with patrons, Julie suddenly remembered her mother’s soap.
“Oh goodness! I completely forgot I promised Mama I would pick something up for her at a store called Appel’s.” She turned her eyes to a clock on the wall and saw the lateness of the hour, adding, “Oh, I hope it hasn’t closed!”
The others cast concerned looks her way, but Gary immediately offered, “It’s a few blocks down, correct? I’d be glad to escort you there.”
Reaching into his pocket for his money clip and the key to his hotel room, he tossed a few bills on the table and handed the key to Gene. “Here, take this and you all go up to my hotel room. Julie and I will meet you there in a little bit and then we can decide what to do with the rest of the evening,” he suggested, pausing to add, “that is, if that’s all right with you guys.”
“Sounds like a—” Steve began, but Gary lifted a hand and cut him off teasingly with, “Tactical maneuver?”
The three men burst out laughing, leaving the girls with raised eyebrows and looks of confusion, wondering at the inside joke.
Each girl shook her head, silently pondering, …Must be a triplet thing.
Buffeted by the cold wind, Julie shivered as she and Gary emerged from the warm, cozy interior of the tearoom. Immediately, she clutched her coat up at her neck and muttered, “Brr, I think it’s gotten colder.”
“It surely has,” Gary agreed as he wrapped a sheltering arm around her shoulders and turned his head to hail a cab for the three-block ride to the store. Julie commented that such a thing seemed extravagant, but he waved away her protests. Secretly, she was very glad not to have to walk through the brisk wind, and was thankful to have such a chivalrous escort.
Reaching the four-story building, Gary paid the driver, clambered out, and extended a hand to Julie. He tugged her along as they hurried inside, out of the wind.
Julie smoothed her hair back in place and Gary removed his fedora as they tried to get their bearings, as neither one had ever been inside the establishment before. “What did you say you were looking for?” he asked.
“It’s a special French soap called Rose Bouquet, that is only sold here. Mama’s been using it since before I was born.”
Gary nodded, his taller height enabling him to see more of the store. “Perhaps over that way,” he motioned toward an area that seemed to have novelties and glass cases.
They took about ten steps and were intercepted by a salesgirl inquiring if she could be of assistance. Julie explained the need.
“Oh yes, right this way,” the girl said. Julie noted that the salesclerk seemed to be casting frequent glances at her companion as they moved toward their destination. The other girl’s interest gave Julie a funny feeling inside, somewhat akin to jealousy. She had the sudden urge to grasp onto Gary’s arm and glare at the girl in warning. Instead, her hands clutched her purse to her chest.
Although Appel’s was actually a haberdashery, they catered to the upper class, and years before, they begun selling a few items their male customers could purchase as gifts for the women in their lives. Hence, the small collection of scented soaps, perfumes, and jeweled hatpins along with hair combs and lovely imported silk scarves.
When they reached the glass case where these were displayed, the girl reached under and brought up a box of three bars of the soap.
“Is this what you’re looking for?” She took one out and held it up for Julie to sniff.
With a smile, Julie agreed that it was, and opened her purse to take out the money.
“That will be three fifty, plus tax,” the salesclerk prompted.
Julie’s mouth dropped open. Three fifty! How could that be? “B…but, that’s more than double!”
The salesgirl cast another look Gary’s way and schooled her expression. “Yes, Ma’am. I’m afraid since the war we’ve had more and more trouble getting imported goods from Europe. Matter of fact, we’re lucky to get them at all.”
“It does seem a bit steep,” Gary offered, cupping a hand around Julie’s elbow in an unconscious show of support.
“Yes, sir. But I’m sure you agree that your wife here is worth a bit of extravagance now and then,” the girl returned, eyebrows rising as if she were daring him to refute the statement.
Julie felt her face flame. She thinks we’re married! She wasn’t sure whether to correct the misconception or feel flattered. Nevertheless, she swallowed and asked, “Could I buy just one bar?”
The clerk’s eyes flared for just an instant with what looked like disgust. Julie guessed the girl figured they were a well-to-do couple that could easily afford the small luxury, and here the wife was quibbling.
“I’m sorry, but this comes as a set…”
Gary instantly took charge, reaching for his money clip. “We’ll take it,” he said, peeling off a five-dollar bill.
Julie opened her mouth to protest, but he gave her a quick negative shake of his head, so she clamped her lips shut. The salesclerk rang up the purchase, gave Gary his change, and bagged up the item.
Handing it to Julie, she smiled sweetly. “Enjoy your Rose Bouquet, Madam. Come again.”
“Thank you, miss,” Gary replied for her, taking hold of Julie’s arm and gently hustling her away from the counter.
Julie looked up at him and hissed, “But Gary! That was entirely too expensive. Here, let me give you Mama’s money I brought—” she began, but he shook his head.
“No, you keep it. Tell your mother it’s a gift from me. I insist,” he added when she kept looking up at him with arguments swimming in her eyes.
Finally, she drew in a breath and snapped her purse shut. “All right. Then, thank you.”
He grinned down at her, which deepened his dimples and caused his eyes to twinkle, and her heart galloped up at the sight. Oh my goodness…Gene has blue eyes and dimples just like that, but they never struck my fancy like Gary’s…
“Is there anything else you want to look at before we go?” he asked politely.
She shook her head, not trusting her voice.
“All right then, shall we join the others?”
She nodded, loving the possessive feel of his hand gently gripping her elbow as he ushered her through the door. Unable to resist, she cast one more glance over toward the counter and saw the clerk still watching them.
A little imp made Julie tilt her chin up just a notch and flash the other girl a sassy smile.
The group had been back together for a while, comfortably situated on the couch and chairs in the lounge area of Gary’s suite. He was being the perfect host and had called down for room service to bring some snacks.
Julie surreptitiously observed the two couples in the room. Gene and Viv were snuggling on the couch, and for the moment only had eyes for one another. Mary June was sitting on Steve’s lap in a side chair and they were deep in quiet conversation, Julie presumed about their upcoming wedding, as Mary June was showing her fiancé a few of the things she had purchased that day. Julie watched as Steve tilted his head and whispered something in Mary June’s ear. She blushed and giggled, then turned to smile at him adoringly and lift her hand to caress his face as she received his kiss.
For a moment, Julie felt envious of her friends, and determinedly changed her focus to the room at large. Gary obviously had made the suite i
nto a temporary home, as she could see quite a few personal items such as photos, magazines, and books situated here and there. A large brown briefcase sat against the wall by the door and on a shelf lay what looked like a Christmas gift, its wrapping discombobulated, as if he’d opened it and then stuck it there out of the way.
Then, the doorbell chimed and Julie watched as Gary went to let the bellboy in with their order. The young man entered and placed various items on the small table nearby as Gary shoved papers into a pile and out of the way. There were sodas—Julie noted quite a few Dr. Peppers and Grapettes and a pitcher of iced tea—plus what appeared to be cheese and crackers, pickles, chips, and a few sweet items.
Gary tipped the man and shut the door behind him as he left, then turned to his friends and family. “Snacks for later. Everyone help yourself.”
Steve and Mary June stood up and he took her hand, tugging her along after him. Together they wandered to the table. Mary June reached for a chip as Steve squawked, “What, no caviar? No champagne? What kinda joint is this, Tucker?”
Everyone chuckled as Gary shot his brother a look of disgust over his shoulder, accompanied by a stern comment in the negative regarding his opinion of eating black fish eggs, as he fiddled with the dial on his radio. Finally, he found a station that was playing dance music—a slow number.
Mary June glanced over and met Viv’s eye, her teeth worrying her bottom lip. “I feel guilty that I’m essentially playing hooky from the club tonight. I hope no one else bails on Miss Warren. We’ve been covered up the last few Saturdays with new recruits on first time liberty.”
Steve let out a playful growl as he slid his arms around her waist and hauled her up tightly against him. “Well, I for one am glad I don’t have to stand around and watch other guys paw you all evening.” He leaned in and bussed her neck for good measure.
She squealed and pushed at his chest with both hands as she half-heartedly tried to squirm out of his grasp. “Guys do not paw me at the club, Stephen Wheeler. Miss Warren would bean them over the head if anyone did that,” she added with a giggle.
“Except for that drunken coasty that night…” Viv offered.
“Ew, don’t remind me,” Mary June shuddered with a grimace.
“Yeah. That guy better be glad he’s only in the hoosegow. If I’d been there, he’d be pushing up daisies right now,” Steve grumbled.
“Who’s this?” Gary asked, concerned as he handed Steve a Dr. Pepper.
Gene piped up, “It was right after Steve played hero with those saboteurs last fall. Seems this big burly Coast Guardsman was kin to one of the traitors. Anyway, he’d seen Steve and MJ on the Idlewild the night before and he showed up at the club.” He paused as he met Mary June’s pained gaze. “Let’s just say, he set his cap for her and decided he wasn’t going to take ‘no’ for an answer.”
“Oh Mary June!” Julie gasped as she quickly rose from her chair and moved closer, meeting her friend’s eyes with a sympathetic hand on her arm.
“Geno and some of his boys had to strong-arm the S.O.B. and all the time, I was stuck at the plant, all leaves cancelled,” Steve added, frowning at the memory. He pulled Mary June into his arms again, obviously glad the incident was over and she hadn’t been hurt.
“I had no idea,” Gary murmured, offering heartfelt solicitation. “I’m sorry you went through such a thing, Mary June. And I’m glad the man was evidently put in the brig where he belongs.”
Mary June pulled back in Steve’s arms and smiled gratefully at the faces looking back at her. “Water under the bridge, guys. Hey!” she added as an upbeat song, Bing Crosby and The Andrews Sisters’ new one, Pistol Packin’ Mama, came on the radio. “Turn that up, I love this one. Let’s push back the furniture and cut a rug, huh fellas?”
The men did just that, and within seconds the two couples were dancing, twirling, and jiving to the silly song, which was about a gun-toting wife who catches her man drinking beer in a cabaret and cheating on her, which prompts her to chase him all over creation with a pistol.
Gary turned to Julie with his hands out to take her in his arms. “I’m not as fast on my feet as those two clowns, but…”
Julie eyed the others, giggled, and stepped into his embrace. “I’m not either, but what the hay?”
The businessman and the youngest member of the group kept a watch on the others, copying their moves and laughing when they messed up. It quickly turned into a contest to see who could do the wildest moves. When Steve picked his fiancée up and flipped her head over heels, Gary laughed and gestured with his head while keeping eye contact with Julie, “You game for that?”
“Sure,” she nodded eagerly, but before she could prepare, he grabbed her hips and began the flip. She squealed in a combination of fear and delight, which startled Gary. Their balance off, they were headed quickly toward the floor. Somehow, he managed to twist his body around and wrangle her so that he landed on his back with her straddling his hips.
Shocked and embarrassed at being suddenly put in such an intimate position with a man, Julie nevertheless managed to laugh with him at their awkward predicament, causing the other two couples to laugh as well. All the while, Bing’s voice kept begging, “Put that pistol down, babe. Put that pistol down.”
“Hold on!” Gary called to her over the din of the music. Julie gave him a hasty nod and locked her hands around his neck as he took hold of her waist and somehow propelled himself up and onto his feet. She marveled at his strength and agility as he led her right back into step with the beat of the song.
It was a quick three minutes and then the six flopped down on the couch and chairs, winded and chuckling.
Julie leaned against Gary as she laughed and reached to smooth her hair and fan her flushed face. “That was so much fun!” she giggled, raising her head to grin up at him.
He immediately agreed and his eyes…so much like Gene’s…were sparkling down at her as he ran a hand through his own hair. Her eyes roamed his features, noticing for the first time the oh-so-subtle differences between him and her brother. Were his eyelashes just a tad thicker and longer? She watched as he threw back his head and laughed at one of Steve’s wisecracks. Were his teeth a tiny bit straighter? Maybe his voice just half a tone deeper? Or was all of that her imagination? All three men were so similar and all dark-haired and handsome…however, it suddenly dawned on her as clearly as a spring morning that she wasn’t the least bit attracted to Steve, but she was attracted, in a big way, to the kind, considerate man perched on the arm of her chair.
Oh my…I’m falling for him, but he’s about to join the army and he’ll be gone…
As if he’d heard her thoughts, he turned his head and locked his gaze with hers. She gasped softly as electric sparks sizzled all over her skin, almost as if he’d touched her physically. Swallowing, she hazily wondered if he knew what she was thinking. Oh, how embarrassing! He’s my brother’s…brother! He’s a wealthy businessman, mature and confident. What could he possibly see in a small-town farm girl like me? Calm down silly heart. He’s like a brother. He’s like a brother. Just keep saying that…
Gary leaned closer. His mouth began to open as if he were about to tell her something serious, but the radio announcer chose that moment to cut in with one of those sometimes shocking, sometimes annoying news broadcasts.
“And now, news from the front. After an all out, six-month battle for control of Guadalcanal, the island is finally secured! America’s first major achievement in the war in the Pacific came with a high price tag of men and equipment. But, as Major General Alexander Patch, commander of the U.S. Forces there, put it, ‘Tokyo Express no longer has a terminus on Guadalcanal.’ And folks, I’m sure the soldiers and sailors who fought hard for this victory said a big amen.”
The six in the room smiled at one another upon hearing the news, since everyone knew that each victory brought America that much closer to winning—and ending—the war. Especially Gene and Steve, as they, being soldiers, kept up with what b
attles were being waged and how many lives it was taking to win them.
The nasally voice continued, “On another front, fifty-five U.S. bombers last week led a successful all-American air raid against Germany, with Wilhelmshaven, one of Hitler’s large naval bases, the primary target. Dropping 137 tons of bombs on warehouses and industrial plants, American forces only lost three aircraft in the highly successful operation.”
“Three losses out of fifty-five, that’s pretty good odds,” Steve commented, with Gene agreeing. The girls remained quiet, and as Julie noticed, so did Gary. She wondered if he was thinking the same thing she was—what about the crews of those three planes…and their families and the people who would miss them?
“In other news, Washington has announced the start of shoe rationing, in order to be sure that our boys fighting and marching overseas have sufficient protection for their feet. The Sears & Roebuck Company, however, has announced that you will be able to buy rationed shoes from them by mail. We’ve been asked to pass on the word that you may simply detach War Ration Stamp number seventeen from your War Ration Book number one—the sugar and coffee book—and pin it to your order. To be clear, no ration coupon is needed for soft and hard-soled house slippers, infants’ soft-soled shoes, and rubber footwear such as arctic’s, gaiters, work, dress, and toe rubbers. And now, back to our program of popular dance band music.”
“Shoe rationing? Geez Louise, what next?” Mary June moaned.
“Toilet paper?” “Glamour magazines?” “Hair spray?” simultaneously spouted the triplets, prompting playful smacks from the girls.
“Good thing you found shoes that go well with your dress today,” Viv, her ever levelheaded friend, reminded.
That garnered a smile from the bride-to-be. “That’s true.”
Another Bing Crosby hit, Sunday, Monday or Always, was already playing when the interrupted program came back on, and the soft, lyrical tune began wafting out through the speaker.