by Diane Moody
“Did he say where I can find out?”
“His best guess was the Red Cross Center on Lexington Avenue there in New York.”
“Okay, I’ll start there. Ah, this is great, Joey! Thanks so much. Let me give you the number of the hotel where we’re staying in case you need to reach me.”
After he finished his conversation with Joey, he and his mother celebrated the good news and spent a few minutes in prayer, thanking God. They decided to leave in an hour or so to have some lunch before heading to the Red Cross.
The hustle and bustle of the city invigorated Danny as they made their way to a café around the corner from the hotel. They took a seat in the front near the windows, placed their order, then relaxed while they waited.
“Almost feels like Christmas, doesn’t it?’ Danny said. “Especially with the snow falling.”
“Yes, it does. And in a way, I guess it is …”
“Mom?”
She blinked a couple of times then waved him off. “Oh, nothing. Just some rambling thoughts bouncing around my mind.”
“Care to share?”
She shook her head with a strange nonchalance, then glanced back outside.
“Are you sure?”
“Oh, don’t mind me. I suppose I’m still a little tired from the trip.”
“Why don’t I walk you back to the hotel before I head over to the Red Cross?”
“Absolutely not. I wouldn’t miss a moment. Until Anya steps off that ship, you’re stuck with me.”
After lunch, they hailed a cab to take them to the Red Cross Center. As the taxi turned the corner onto Lexington Avenue, they noticed a huge crowd of people and asked the driver if he knew what was going on.
“It’s been like this for a few weeks now. Mostly GIs trying to find out when their war brides will arrive.”
Danny and his mother shared a look, then paid the driver and joined the throngs huddled in clusters. They found their way to the end of a long line more than a block from the entrance.
“Mom, are you sure you want to wait with me? Maybe there’s a coffee shop where you could—”
“I’m fine, son.” She tightened the wool scarf around her neck. “Let’s see how the line is moving along. If I get too cold, I’ll tell you.”
As the snow continued falling, Danny picked up bits of conversation in front and behind them. Most were expecting their wives on the Queen Mary, which was scheduled to dock on Sunday morning. Not a single one of them had mentioned the Wisteria, which made him wonder. Half an hour later, they finally stepped inside the center to find another long line winding back and forth around roped stanchions.
Danny groaned. “Great. Just great.”
“At least it’s nice and warm in here,” his mother said. “I’m going to see if I can find the ladies room.”
“Take your time. In fact, why don’t you find somewhere to sit down while I wait my turn? No need for you to stand and wait with me.”
“Sounds like a good idea. How will you find me?”
“Don’t worry. I will.”
Another half hour passed before Danny made it to the front of the line. A uniformed Red Cross girl motioned him toward her.
She smiled. “How may I help you today?”
He took off his hat. “My wife is on the Wisteria, and I need to know what time it’s scheduled to arrive on Sunday and where it will dock.”
Her smile diminished briefly. “Yes, I can help you with that. Are you aware the Wisteria ran into some problems?”
“Yes, I have a contact with the embassy in London who told us about the fire on board and the storms they encountered.”
“Good. I’m glad you’re up to date on that. I’m guessing you must not have received the telegram sent to all husbands asking they not come to New York?”
“What? No. But I’m—”
“No, it’s all right.” She raised her hand, still smiling. “And I’ll do whatever I can to help you.”
“No, you see, once I heard from my contact in London, I hopped a train to come here. Why would they tell us not to come?”
“There has been a great deal of confusion, which is to be expected in situations like this. The Army Transport Division made the request as an attempt to alleviate the confusion and these long lines. But you’re here, so we’ll do whatever we can to help you find your wife.”
“I appreciate that.”
“Good. What is your name and your wife’s name?”
He gave her all the information requested, including the telephone number of the hotel. After she confirmed Anya’s name on the Wisteria’s manifest, she explained the situation further.
“Right now, it looks like the Wisteria will dock mid-morning on Sunday. As you probably know, the Queen Mary will be docking on Sunday as well, which means the dock area will be quite congested. At this point, we haven’t been told which of the piers the two ships will be docking, but we’ll have Red Cross workers working the area. When you arrive, simply look for one of us and we can tell you more then. For now, I will put your name on the list so that you’ll be allowed in the queue at the appointed pier waiting for your wife’s name to be called.”
“That’s great. Thank you so much.”
“You’re welcome. I’m sure you’re anxious to see her again.”
“You have no idea. Oh, I wonder—my mother is here with me. Would it be possible for her to join me in the queue?”
She paused for a moment, then, “Sure, why not?”
He gave her his mother’s name and waited as she added her name to the list.
“Now, here are your passes for the main entrance. We’ll have tables set up at the foot of the gangways. Each bride will have a printed landing card indicating the city or town where she is ultimately headed. That means your wife will be grouped with those heading to Chicago. It’s important that you’re there to hear her name called. Otherwise, I can’t rule out the possibility that she’ll be bussed to another location or even put on a train bound for Chicago. These disembarkations are quite an undertaking and take several hours, as I’m sure you can imagine. Hopefully, there won’t be a problem, but I wanted you to be aware of the possibility. If that should happen, we’ll do our best to let you know how to catch up with her.”
“All right. Thank you for your help, miss.”
“Thank you. Best wishes to you and your wife.”
He tucked the pier passes in his suit coat pocket then skirted the crowded area to find his mother.
After an early dinner at the same café where they had lunch, Danny and his mother took the subway to Times Square. The neon lights dazzled the snow-filled sky as theater patrons, moviegoers, and tourists packed the busy sidewalks. Here and there, musicians played jazz and entertainers danced a jig as a host of others sold souvenirs piled high on tables.
“I’ve never seen anything like it,” she said, her hand on her hat as she gazed up at the bright marquees. “If you told me we were on another planet, I couldn’t be more surprised.”
“You’ve got that right.”
When they passed a small jewelry shop, Danny glimpsed something in the display window. He steered his mother out of the crowd and stopped for a look.
“A welcome gift for Anya?”
“To be honest, I hadn’t thought about it, but see that charm bracelet?”
“Yes, it’s lovely.”
“I gave her one when we were on our honeymoon in England. And that Empire State Building will make a nice addition to it, don’t you think?”
A few moments later, they left the shop with the gift box tucked in Danny’s coat pocket.
“I don’t know about you, but I’m starving. How about an early dinner?”
“Sounds wonderful, son.”
They dined at a busy restaurant just off Times Square and finished their meal by sharing a piece of cheesecake.
“Oh my goodness,” his mother said, savoring her last bite. “I would love to have their recipe. Isn’t this divine?�
��
“I’d order another slice, but I’m stuffed. How about you?”
She sat back with a happy sigh. “No, I couldn’t eat another bite.”
After paying the waiter, he asked where she’d like to go.
“Oh, honey, if it’s all right with you, I’d like to go back to the room and go to bed.”
“That works for me.”
“Are you sure?”
“Absolutely. Let’s call it a night.” He helped her into her coat.
As he opened the door to exit, he added, “Just promise me one thing.”
“What’s that?”
“Let’s not tell Dad or Joey how early we tuckered out in New York City.”
She chuckled, following him out to the curb. “Not a word. My lips are sealed.”
Danny raised his hand. “Taxi!”
45
10 February 1946
On board the SS Wisteria
“Anya! Wake up!”
Someone shook both her shoulders, rousing her from another restless night’s sleep. She lifted her head and found Gigi sitting up on her adjacent bunk.
“Gigi? What are you doing? What time is it?”
“It’s almost five. Get up!”
“Five in the morning? Are you out of your mind?”
She ruffled Anya’s hair. “Come on, sleepyhead! We have to get dressed so we can be up on deck in plenty of time to see the Statue of Liberty!”
Somewhere in her fog-filled mind she remembered reading about the brides on the SS Argentina lining the rails of the deck to see the famous statue as their ship pulled into New York’s harbor. But Anya was so tired, she couldn’t care less about some silly statue.
“Anya, come on! You don’t want to miss this!”
Anya pulled the pillow over her head. “Just take a picture. You can tell me all about it later.”
Gigi yanked the pillow off her head and tossed it out of her reach. “Not a chance. I’m climbing down to knock up—” she giggled, “I mean, wake up Kate. Don’t you make me come up here again.”
Anya rolled onto her back again with a weary groan, realizing she’d never get back to sleep if Gigi had anything to do with it. As the cabin slowly came to life, she closed her eyes for a moment, trying to get her bearings. She couldn’t quite grasp the fact that they might actually be that close to America. In American waters?
After enduring the past few days stuck on this big gray bucket, she could hardly believe they were almost there. What a journey. The war had taught her to expect the worst, but nothing could have prepared her for the sheer panic that swept through the rolling corridors of the Wisteria the night it lost power. Rumors of the call to abandon ship had sent them all scrambling up the stairs in search of lifeboats. Thankfully, the crew blocked all the deck doors, shouting for them all to return to their cabins even as the captain made stern announcements over the public address system debunking the rumor. But with hundreds of women and children, most of them sick and in a state of utter panic, the scene was like something out of a horror cinema. Once again, she witnessed the tremendous calming presence of the Red Cross and their assistance in emergency situations. Had it not been for their compassionate, assertive help that night, who knows what might have happened.
She closed her eyes, hoping Gigi would let her rest a few more minutes. Dear Gigi. Last night’s talent show had played to a small group of those able to attend. Gigi won with a warm rendition of “There Will Always Be an England,” a heartfelt patriotic song that stirred a strong emotional response from all the English brides in the room. To be fair, Gigi had little competition with so many of their shipmates still bedridden with the dreadful seasickness. The event probably should have been cancelled, but Anya had to give the staff credit for their valiant efforts to keep up morale among the few who came.
Over the past few days, she and Gigi had been the only ones able to help the others in their cabin who’d been so sick. Kate had fared better than most, but she stayed out of the cabin as much as possible for Joss’s sake. Thankfully, the little one hadn’t been sick again.
Anya had cleaned up more vomit than she’d ever seen in her entire life. She wondered if she’d ever get the stench of it out of her nostrils. She still had no idea how she avoided getting sick herself. What a wretched way to travel. Still, she mustn’t complain. Rumors of deathly ill passengers—or worse, those who had considered jumping overboard—had swirled down every corridor like a string of harrowing tornadoes. And while Anya hoped they were nothing more than rumors, it grieved her to think otherwise. To be so close to America’s shores …
She shook off such thoughts, grateful she and her friends had survived, and thankful the ship was no longer being tossed about.
In fact, it was quite still now. Too still.
She sat up suddenly. “Gigi, why are we stopped? What’s going on?”
Gigi brushed her long blonde curls. “I snuck out before I woke you and asked one of the stewards. He said there was a boatload of reporters and Red Cross workers boarding us. I suppose they’ll make an announcement. Then at some point a tug will take us in the rest of the way.”
“But I thought someone said the tugboat workers were on strike?” a groggy Kate asked from below.
“They are. The steward said the U.S. Army Transport arranged for army tugs to help us dock. C’mon, girls. Get up!”
Anya pushed her hair out of her face then slowly climbed down the rungs from her bunk. “Why do we need more Red Cross workers if we’re about to dock?”
Gigi pulled on her dress and wiggled into it. “Yesterday someone said we’d have to get all checked out again before we can disembark.”
Anya groaned. “Surely that doesn’t include another physical?”
“How would I know? Kate, hurry up and get dressed so we can go up top!”
Joss whimpered from her hammock as Kate lifted her out. “You all go without us. I have to nurse Joss.”
Gigi pulled on her stockings. “Don’t be daft. You have time. We won’t leave without you.”
“But it will take me a while to get dressed properly. I don’t want Joe to see me like this. And I’ll want to freshen Joss a bit more before she sees her daddy for the first time.”
Gigi folded her arms over her chest. “Kate, we’re just going up to see the Statue of Liberty. They told us it will take most of the day to get us organized to disembark. Just feed Joss then throw on some clothes and come on. We can all doll up later.”
Kate positioned Joss against her breast. “Joss, has anyone ever told you how bossy your Auntie Gigi is?”
Anya snorted. “Gigi bossy? Isn’t that like saying Hitler could be a bit rude at times?”
“Hey!” Gigi pinched Anya’s arm playfully. They tussled like a couple of schoolgirls until Anya locked her arm around Gigi’s neck, trying not to laugh.
“I give up! I give up!” Gigi raised both hands. “Let me go! Mustn’t harm the goods before I see my handsome husband.”
“It’s a wonder we’ve made it this far,” Kate quipped from her bunk. “I feel like I’ve had three children instead of one.” She leaned down to kiss Joss as she nursed. “Never you mind those two, Jocelyn. Just a few more hours and we’ll be safe in our new home with Daddy.”
When neither of her friends responded, Kate looked up at them. “What is it? What’s wrong?”
Gigi looked back and forth between them. “It’s just that …”
Anya blinked. “It’s just that we’ve been …”
“Family,” Gigi whispered.
“Yes.” Anya nodded, her smile waning. “We’ve been family.”
“And now we’ll be going our separate ways,” Kate said quietly, understanding.
Gigi took hold of Anya’s hand. “Surely we can plan a visit? Once we’re all settled?”
“How?” Anya asked. “You’ll both be in New York, but won’t I be such a long way from you?”
“Anya’s right,” Kate said. “America is ever so much
bigger than England.”
Gigi’s voice graveled with emotion. “Then we must insist on a meeting place. We simply must. I can’t bear to think of us not being together again.” She pulled Anya into a hug and held her tight. “You’re more family to me than I’ve ever known.”
“Oh Gigi, please don’t cry, love,” Kate said. “You’ll have us all in puddles.”
“You heard her,” Anya said, dashing at her tears. “And don’t go staining my blouse with all those cosmetics you cake on.”
Gigi laughed as she reached for her hankie. “Now look what you’ve done. I’ll be all splotchy and drippy when Lady Liberty sees me.”
Kate refastened her bra and lifted Joss from her lap so she could stand and join them. “Look at us. Happiest day of our lives, and we’re all three in puddles.”
It felt so strange to Anya, this unexpected sense of sisterhood. And with it, a palpable sadness. First Sophie. Then Sybil … poor Sybil. Now Kate and Gigi and sweet little Joss. Friendships she never would have imagined; friendships she couldn’t imagine living without now. So many new beginnings on the heels of so many goodbyes. Oh, how she would miss them.
Chatter rose as others in the cabin got up and dressed. At a pause in the excited conversations and laughter, they turned at the sound of sobbing from the corner of the cabin. The girl named Tilly had suffered terribly from seasickness from the first day they sailed. Then, last night, she’d become so distraught, her friends had asked the crew to allow her to make a ship-to-shore call to her husband. Others had placed calls, and they thought the sound of her husband’s voice might reassure her and give her hope.
The crew obliged. When she finally got through to her husband’s family home, she’d been told her husband had their marriage annulled a week ago, then quickly married someone he’d just met and moved to California. The news nearly put her over the edge. Her friends hadn’t left her side, fearful she might try to do something desperate.
The shocking news spread through the ship like a raging wildfire causing most all the brides to wonder. Would they arrive in America only to find no husband waiting for them? A long queue formed at the communications office, but eventually the crew turned them all away. Perhaps they knew best, Anya thought. A ship full of unwanted war brides could get ugly in a hurry.