Fanny raised her glass and was startled at the speculation she read in Sallie's eyes. There was no doubt in her mind that Sallie Thornton would be a formidable mother-in-law.
Dinner was delicious. Before she knew it, she heard Sallie Thornton say, "We'll have our coffee in the living room."
Fanny looked around for Bess. Sallie gave her a conspirator's wdnk as she inclined her head to the left where Bess was talking to John Noble. She'd never seen Bess so animated, so flirtatious. Poor Ted. What was going to happen to the engagement ring? Would he be able to get his money back? Mrs. Bess Noble. It was perfect. Her father would fill all Dr. Noble's patients' perscriptions. He would give the bride away. Mrs. Otis would cry, and everyone would be happy except Ted.
"A penny for your thoughts, Fanny," Sallie said lightly.
"Fm not sure they're worth that much. Bess looks like she's interested in Dr. Noble."
"From where Fm standing, it looks like that interest is being returned. Does that bother you, Fanny?"
"Fm not sure. He's older for one thing. Established. He appears to be . . . sophisticated. Bess is ... a simple person. I don't mean that in a . . ."
"I know what you mean. Dr. Noble is a fine young man. Perhaps your concern is unwarranted. Do you care for coffee, Fanny?"
"No thank you. You have a lovely house, Mrs. Thornton."
"Would you like to see it? I don't care for any coffee right now either. I don't know why it is that we always think we have to have coffee after a meal. Fd like it if you'd call me Sallie, Fanny. Mrs. Thornton sounds so formal."
"If you're sure you don't mind."
"Come along, we'll start on the second floor. I love showing off my old schoolroom. Philip came all the way from Boston to teach me. To this day, I still learn from him."
The intensity in her tone stunned Fanny.
"So what do you think of my mountaintop?" Sallie asked, pointing to the view from the schoolroom vsdndow.
"I don't think I've ever seen anything so pretty. You must love coming here. I think I could live here forever," Fanny sighed.
"I thought that once. It is one of the prettiest places in the world, not that I've seen that much of the world. There might be one other
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place that is prettier. Perhaps we'll talk about that other place one day," Sallie said, her voice thoughtful and sad at the same time.
"These two rooms belong to my sons. I leave the doors open. When they were little, they loved coming here. At least I think they did. I never wanted them to grow up. Isn't that silly? Some days I wish time would stand still. Other days I find myself wishing for the future. I'm in a melancholy mood today. Do you get homesick, Fanny?"
"I did for a few days. I caU home twice a week. I write, and my father writes back. My brothers write on occasion. I guess you know what that's like."
Sallie nodded.
"This is my bedroom," Sallie said, leading Fanny into the room. Curtains were billowing in the breeze from the open windows.
"I keep the windows open in this room all year long," Sallie said. "The shack I grew up in had no windows. The place where I lived as a child was called Ragtown."
Fanny was at a loss as to how she should respond to these confidences. "If you wanted to, you could go back to that awful place and rebuild it, or you could build a park for children. You could put a statue and a fountain in the park. A big square. You could even name it after your mother or father or whoever you loved best. If it was me, that's exacdy what I would do. Loads and loads of pretty flowers, lots of green grass, iron benches, trees, a fountain that never runs dry, and some kind of statue. Maybe a memorial for the young men in the area who . . . who don't. . . return. im I being too forward?"
"Dear child, not at all. What a marvelous idea! Now, why didn't I ever think of that?"
"Maybe because Ragtown held no pleasant memories for you. But no matter how bad it was, no matter how unpleasant the memories, it was your home. When I think about my father and my brothers, our house is always in that thought. I would be devastated if something happened to the place I grew up in. Houses should be handed down from generation to generation. Some people aren't family-oriented, but I am, and I suspect you are, too."
Sallie hugged Fanny. "I'm going to introduce you to my son when he comes home. I'm going to write him a long letter tomorrow and tell him all about you. Come here, I'll show you his picture."
Fanny grew so light-headed she had to grab hold of the side of the dresser while Sallie rummaged through a stack of photographs.
"Ah, here it is. Look at that smile! He flies planes, you know. He can do anything, he's that kind of person. He graduated two years ahead of time. Well, Fanny, what do you think? Isn't Simon the handsomest young man you've ever seen?"
Fanny's head buzzed. Simon? Her hand shook as she stared at the young man smiling into the camera. "Very handsome," she managed to say.
"This is Ash. You and Bess were talking to him that night when he was leaving for NeUis. This isn't a very good picture of him. He's not as photogenic as Simon is."
Fanny's tongue felt thick in her mouth. She should say something now about Ash's letters. What should she say? How should she say it? She felt like she'd just stepped into a hornets' nest.
Downstairs, the guests, didded into groups of six, were playing poker. Bess and Dr. Noble were playing checkers. Fanny heard Bess say, "I'm not much of a gambler." She felt like rushing over and slapping the silly expression off her face.
Sallie excused herself. She's going upstairs to callDevin Rollins, Fanny thought. She hoped that she herself would never be as transparent as Sallie Thornton when she fell in love. She fought the crazy urge to run over to Philip to console him. The naked hunger in his eyes as he stared after his wife bothered her. She wanted to go home.
When Sallie returned to the living room, she clapped her hands to gain everyone's attention, but not before she walked over to stand behind Fanny's chair. "I have something to tell all of you. Most of you probably won't be interested, but my sister will be. I think I've finally located our brother Seth. I'm going to Texas next week. But, before I go to Austin, I'm going back to Ragtown. Fanny gave me a wonderful idea. She suggested I build a park where we used to live. Perhaps one of Chue's distant cousins would be interested in the perpetual maintenance that will be required. We could build a litde caretaker's cottage for him to live in. That way we'll know the park will always be taken care of We'll have a dedication when it's finished and name it after our parents. What do you think?"
Peggy was quiedy weeping. "Only if I can contribute," Peggy said. Her husband moved to her side, his hand on her shoulder.
"I wouldn't have it any other way," Sallie said happily. "I just called my attorney, who will get on it first thing in the morning. By the time I get to Austin, we'll know if the owner will sell the land to us. Chue, do you have a cousin who wants to move to Texas?"
"Many cousins willing to move."
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^'It's settled," Sallie said happily.
Fanny sighed with rehef when Su Li, her husband, and Dr. Noble rose to leave. Bess looked like she'd just lost her best friend.
Sallie was gracious, smiling, hugging everyone as they prepared to leave. "Thank you for coming. Red, I'm going to eat every one of those chocolates when I get into bed this evening with a good book. Shame on you for bringing me Jive pounds."
The trip back to town was made in virtual silence. Bess stared out at the darkness, the dreamy smile still on her face. Fanny poked her on the arm. "What about Ted?"
"Ted?"
"Your boyfriend Ted. That Ted. The same Ted who is going to give you an engagement ring in just a few weeks. The same Ted who is helping you fill your hope chest."
"Oh."
"Oh. That's all you can say is, oh?"
"What do you want me to say?"
"I don't know, Bess. That doctor is too old for you. He must be at least thirty. You also told him a lie. You're not
much of a gambler! Ha! You eat, drink, and sleep the game."
"You're a real sourpuss tonight. Did someone step on your toes?"
"Now that you ask, yes, in a manner of speaking. Mrs. Thornton, who by the way, has asked me to call her Sallie, wants me to micet her son Simon. Not her son Ash, but her son Simon. I know she's going to send him that picture Su Li took of all us at dinner. I know it, I know it, I know it. I should have told her about the letters. I had the perfect opportunity, and I didn't do it. Are you listening to me, Bess?"
"Of course I'm listening. When you go back to work on Monday, make plans to meet with her and tell her. She said she's going to Texas, so that means she'll be coming into the office. This is just my opinion, but Simon is more suited to you than Ash. That's worthless advice because the same love bug that bit you, bit me. Come over to my house tomorrow, and we'll talk about all this. Obviously, we both need some kind of plan."
"Plan? All we need to do is tell the truth . . . and suffer the consequences. Mrs. Thornton is going to be very disappointed in me. Ted is going to have a broken heart. I know he's going to cry, Bess. He really loves you."
"I know. I realized this afternoon that I must not love him. If I could be so instandy attracted to another man, I couldn't possibly
be in love. In love, Fanny, is different from just loving someone. My mother explained that to me when I was sixteen. SaUie Thornton loves Philip Thornton. I could see that this afternoon. But, she's in love with Devin Rollins who is also in love with her. Philip Thornton is in love with SaUie Thornton. You are in love with Ash Thornton, God, this is all giving me a headache."
"Me too," Fanny said.
"Do you dream about Ash, Fanny?"
"Almost every night. I wish I didn't. I hardly know him and yet . . . yet I feel like I've known him all my life. I've actually created this . . . this fantasy, and yet I can't help myself I live for those stupid letters that don't say anything."
"You already have your wedding planned, don't try and kid me, Fanny."
"I think about it, that's true. You know what, Bess, I think we're in love with the idea of love. I'm not going to think about this anymore. I hate it when I get one of those frustration headaches. Look, we're home. I'll come over around noon tomorrow, okay?"
"Great."
Fanny stood on the sidewalk until the long, sleek black car was out of sight.
She wished she was back in Shamrock, snacking on leftover turkey stuffing.
Ash Thornton stowed his gear. The bunk looked wonderful, almost as good as a woman beckoning him to her bed. He felt his eyes start to droop and his shoulders begin to sag. He needed to sleep around the clock if possible. But, before he could drop into the arms of Morpheus, he had something to do.
On deck, he singled out one of the sailors. "Can you tell me where I can find the guy who pilots the Silver Dollar?''
"Adam Jessup? Sure, Captain, he's down in the wardroom. He was part of the welcoming committee when you came aboard, sir. Guess you didn't see him."
Ash snapped off a sloppy salute before he made his way to the wardroom.
He saw him, feet propped up on one of the green tables, his chair tilted back at an alarming angle, a flight manual open in his lap. Back home he used to study in much the same way, while Ash always had to sit hunched over a desk, reading lamp at just the right angle, his
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pencil sharpened to a fine point, his notebooks placed just so, his book spine cracked so that the pages lay flat. Simon could study standing upside down.
"Jessup, Ash Thornton," Ash said holding out his hand. For the benefit of the others he said, "I've been wanting to congratulate you since the day we met upstairs. Do you mind if we go someplace where we can talk?"
"Sure," Simon said, his eyes wary.
Outside the wardroom, Ash clapped his brother on the back. "Jesus, I'm glad to see you and to know you're in one piece. They tell me you could well become a legend in your own time. Look, Simon, I don't have any ulterior motives here. I'm sorry about the p2ist. I swear to God I am. I finally realized something. You know how it is when you're up there thinking. All of a sudden, everything seems crystal clear. Maybe it's because you know you're one step away from your own mortality. Whatever the hell it is, I understand it now. This rivalry, the hatred we had for each other, that wasn't our fault. Mom and Pop set the ground rules, and because we were young and stupid, and didn't know any better, we fell into the trap. They're the ones who chose up sides, not us. We were stuck. The whole damn thing just took off and escalated to the point where each of us wanted to kill the other. I regret all those years, Simon, because we can never get them back.
"I see that suspicious look in your eyes, and I don't blame you. If I was standing in your flight boots, I'd probably look the same way. I want to clear the air in case I don't make it back. I didn't tell Mom or Pop about your alias. Hell, I didn't know it myself until a few minutes ago. I could have told them you were on the Big E, but I didn't. You had to do what you had to do, kid." Ash held out his hand again.
"I'm not shaking your hand, you asshole. C'mere," Simon said as he yanked his brother to his chest. "I'm glad you had the guts to come to me. I don't know if I could have done it."
"Yeah, you could have. God, how I always wanted to be like you. You have no idea what it was like, Simon."
"The hell I don't. I would have killed to take your place. I used to lie awake nights and plot your death."
"No kidding! Jesus, I used to do the same thing. I never did it, though, even in my dreams."
"Me either. What's it like to be an ace. Ash?"
"Pretty damn scary. Those little yellow-bellies are out to get me.
You're just one short to catching up. I'm calling the shots on this one, Simon. I'd like you to be my wingman."
Simon's jaw dropped.
"None of that noble shit up there, Simon. You fly by the book and take my orders. You got that?"
"Loud and clear."
"You better get off a letter home. You write much?"
"No. They write though. How about you?"
"Same as you. I have all their letters in my duffel. I don't read Mom or Pop's letters. Do you?"
"I hate to admit it, Ash, but I don't read them either. I don't want to read about Mom's guilt and Pop's remorse."
"We've come a long way, Simon. I for one thought this day would never come. What are you going to do when this is all over? Are you going back to Vegas?"
"No. I decided that the day I left. I'm heading for New York and Wall Street. You got any money you want to invest?"
"Yeah, a whole bunch." Ash told him about the bank account his father was going to turn over to him. "I don't want the fucking money, Simon. I'll give it to you to invest, and when it doubles or triples or whatever it does, we'll give it back. Consider it your startup money. If that makes it better in even a small way, then I'm all for it. I v^sh there was something else I could do or say. I feel like all our bad times were my fault."
"It's a deal. Remember what they told us in flight training, you never sweat the small stuff All that's behind us now. Compared to what we're facing, our past is small potatoes."
"Listen, Simon, I have to catch some sleep. I'm not going to be any good to anyone if I don't sack out. You hear any rumors about this top secret mission?"
"Only about two hundred."
"What's the most likely?"
"This is just my opinion, Ash, but we're only a hop, skip and a jump from the Solomons. The enemy is holding Bougainville. They maintain this monster air base at Rabaul on New Britain. The marine pilots have been doing daily missions to escort our bombers en route to their targets. There's this stretch of water that is 250 miles long and 50 miles wide. They call it 'the Slot.' The Japs have an ace pilot who's got twenty-five American kills to his credit. That's who we're up against. I think they want us to take out the base at Rabaul. The bastard, at last count, leads a squadron of forty Mitsubishi
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br />
A6M fighter planes fi-om the base at Torokina on Bougainville. It might be an either or, or it might be us taking both bases out."
"What's your best guess?"
"I think the powers that be want both taken out. I say we get on with it. I want it over with so I can head for New York. What about you, Ash?"
"I met this girl when I was home on leave. I'm tiying to wangle some more R & R and asked her to meet me in Hawaii over Christmas."
"Do you think she'll do it?"
"Hell no! She's a good girl. All you have to do is look at her to know that. Simon, Pop took me to Red Ruby's the night of Mr. War-ing's funeral."
"Jesus!"
"Yeah," Ash mumbled. "At the time I thought it was the greatest thing in the world, but there was something screwy about that whole night. I gotta get some shut-eye. Listen, don't let me sleep more than ten hours, okay?"
"Okay, Ash. Ash?"
"Yeah?"
"Thanks. You know, for keeping my secret, for everything. I'm damn glad you're my brother, and I'm damn glad we're on the same side."
"Me too, Simon. Me too."
It was a gray day with dense cloud cover. Ash led his squadron above the clouds in tight formation, every pair of eyes in every cockpit scanning the sea below for the enemy.
Because he was the squadron leader, Ash was first in line to exit a thick cloud bank. He banked hard left, swinging off to the southwest for a quick look at the expanse of water called the Slot. The clouds were thicker now, as far as the eye could see. Ash spotted the first plane and counted nineteen more heading straight up the Slot. His stomach muscles gathered into a hard knot. "Enemy planes, three o'clock," he said tighdy.
"Twenty in all," Simon said.
"Okay, you hotshots, you know what to do, go get 'em," Ash said, breaking formation and climbing up, up, to where the Zeros were.
The squadron broke off in sets of two.
"Come and get me, you fired-up rice ball," Ash muttered as he
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