A Girl Divided

by Ellen Lindseth

She threw aside any thoughts of impropriety. The chance to learn more about the war that was threatening her home and everyone she loved overrode everything else. “I would like that. Thank you.”

  He winked at her. “Thought so. Now if you see Kitty, tell her I’ll be back shortly.”

  Ah, yes, Kitty. Genie would have preferred not to talk to the woman at all, but she would for Dick’s sake. “All right.”

  Dick frowned, reversed directions, and came back to her. “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing.” She rubbed her arms, chilled by a sudden breeze. “I don’t think Kitty likes me much. Though she seems to like Lavinia just fine. She’s even loaning us swimsuits so Lavinia can teach me to swim. Not that I want to learn.”

  “Everyone should learn, but now might not be the best time. The pool is pretty cold. It might be better to wait another week or so, until we’re closer to the equator. The nights won’t cool off the water quite so much.” He paused. “And you said something about Kitty and Mrs. Schmidt?”

  “Apparently they’re best of friends now.” She tried to keep the jealousy out of her voice, but she kept seeing the open admiration in her friend’s face. “I didn’t even know they knew each other.”

  “How odd. Kitty usually doesn’t associate with . . . unless? No. Though being a missionary doesn’t necessarily preclude . . . But still, it would be unusual.” He seemed to have forgotten she was still standing there.

  “What are you talking about?”

  Surprise flickered in his hazel eyes as he registered her question, and she realized she’d been right. He had forgotten her.

  “Never mind.” She turned away, her spirits plummeting. “I’d better get up to the galley. If I see Kitty, I’ll let her know.”

  He stopped her with a gentle touch on her arm. “Genie, what’s wrong?”

  “Nothing. Truly. I’m just not myself today.”

  He gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze. “Go get some breakfast, and we’ll talk more when I get back, all right? I’ve got to run now, but no more moping about. You hear? Think about the pile of magazines just waiting for you.”

  “All right,” she said, managing a small smile.

  “I’ll see you soon.” After one last reassuring shoulder squeeze, he was gone.

  Chapter 22

  “Today is the day!” Lavinia exclaimed as she entered the cabin. “You’ve managed to put me off for three weeks, but not this time! The weather is perfect, and Nathan’s busy until noon.”

  A scrap of floral fabric plopped on top of the glossy photo spread of New York City. Genie pushed it to the side and kept studying the pictures, trying to glean as much information about American culture as she could. They would be docking in less than a week, and she didn’t feel at all prepared.

  The fabric reappeared, this time separating itself into two separate scraps. “Come on. Time’s a-wastin’.”

  With a slow dawning of horror, Genie looked up from the magazine. “Tell me that’s not a swimsuit.”

  “It is, and Miss Van Nuys apologizes, but that’s the only one she thinks will fit you, because you’re so long-waisted.”

  “I won’t even pretend to know what that means, especially since it doesn’t matter. I’m not learning to swim.”

  “Then just come in the pool with me.”

  “No.”

  Her friend’s blue eyes took on a determined glint. “Either put that swimsuit on, or I tell Nathan you’ve been spending several hours a day in Mr. Pelton’s cabin, alone with the man. Unchaperoned.”

  “You wouldn’t. For heaven’s sake, most of the time he isn’t even there. And even when he is, we aren’t doing anything. We’re just friends.”

  “Do you really think Nathan will believe that?”

  Genie growled in frustration because, no, Nathan wouldn’t. He would believe the absolute worst of her, and he’d make sure everyone else did, too. “Fine. I’ll do it.”

  Two minutes later, she almost reversed her position on the matter. The swimsuit Kitty had chosen for her bared not only her arms and legs but also her midriff. Granted only two inches of it, but she might as well be walking about in her underwear. “Kitty hates me.”

  “She does not.” Lavinia finished tying the belt on her terry-cloth robe. “If she did, she wouldn’t have loaned you a suit at all.”

  “But look at me. I can’t go out like this. I think I’d rather drown.”

  “Genie . . .” Lavinia touched her arm, her fingers cool, her blue eyes beseeching. “I know you’re afraid. But we can’t let our fears stop us. I know, because every day I make myself get out of bed and face the world, no matter how bleak or frightened I feel. And while I do it partly for Nathan, mostly it’s for you. Because you stood beside me when even my own brother would have turned away. Your friendship gave me hope.”

  “And yours has cheered me greatly, but that doesn’t mean I’ll swim for you.” And if that made her a coward, so be it. Then she added, out of fairness, “And your brother does love you.”

  Lavinia waved the correction away. “Nevertheless, if anything happens to the ship, and you were to drown, I would never forgive myself. So, for me, will you please be brave and at least try?”

  Genie hesitated, terror warring with friendship. “Fine. I’ll try.”

  Her friend beamed. “Thank you. There’s a robe there on the bunk, and I’ve got towels.”

  Already regretting her decision, Genie slowly followed her friend out into the passageway and then out onto the stairs leading to the lido deck. She had hoped to put off this day indefinitely. Following Dick’s advice, she had first tried to convince Lavinia to wait until they reached the equator before trying to teach her to swim. That she might do better if the water was warmer. Lavinia had flatly disagreed and had roused Genie early the day after they had left Cape Town . . . only to find the pool closed on account of the weather. Genie had never been so thankful.

  The rough seas and rain had continued for another week, and then she was able to plead off one more week due to her cycle. These last few days, she had tried to avoid the issue by just plain hiding from her friend—not the most respectable of activities, but she had been desperate. Unfortunately, Lavinia was particularly tenacious.

  Despite it being so early in the day—not even 10:00 a.m.—there were entirely too many people lounging around the pool for Genie’s comfort. She drew a deep breath and glanced up into the cloudless azure sky. Lavinia was right; it was a beautiful day. And also one that was likely to cause a different sort of problem for her, besides the whole drowning problem.

  Against her better judgment, she would be exposing parts of her body that had never seen a glint of sunlight, and if her face and arms were any indication, those parts would soon be bright red. Unlike the lithe golden creatures stretched out on towels around her, she didn’t tan. She burned and then freckled.

  Pale was her preferred state. Pale was something she was actually good at. Pale was a valued quality in China, where women went to great lengths to stay out of the sun. So why was she about to risk losing all that now?

  “Ready?” Lavinia said, sounding entirely too cheerful.

  Genie eyed the ship’s glimmering swimming pool as if it were a banded krait: beautiful and deadly and ready to strike if one got too close.

  “Don’t look so terrified,” Lavinia scolded softly. “When has water ever hurt you?”

  “When I was eight, our last summer in Hankow, a ferryboat capsized on the Yangtze River. My father and I were nearby when we heard the shouts. My father helped haul as many people as he could out of the water, but many didn’t make it.” She shuddered, remembering the pale and sightless eyes of the drowned who had also been pulled out.

  “That’s dreadful! But perhaps many of those people died because they didn’t know how to swim. They might still be alive today, if only someone had taught them.”

  “Or one could just avoid boats.”

  Lavinia rolled her eyes. “What are we on, Genie?”

&nb
sp; “I try not to think about it.”

  “And what about yesterday, when someone thought they had spotted a submarine trailing us, and the whole crew went to battle stations? What if it hadn’t been a false alarm? Miss Van Nuys says we’re entering some of the most dangerous waters in the Atlantic, because we’re nearing the States.”

  “Miss Van Nuys could be wrong.”

  That earned her a sharp look, but honestly, she was tired of hearing Miss Van Nuys this and Miss Van Nuys that. It was bad enough that her friend kept disappearing with Kitty for hours on end, leaving Genie bored and lonely. It also meant she had the unpleasant task of placating an irritated Nathan when he stopped her, looking for his fiancée. Having to listen to her friend go on and on about every little thing the blonde said each day positively set her teeth on edge.

  “Oh look! There she is,” Lavinia said, the warmth in her voice leaving no doubt as to who she was. “And your friend Mr. Pelton, too.”

  Genie’s lungs froze as she spotted Dick’s sun-streaked hair and familiar build on the other side of the pool. She swallowed a sudden surge of panic. Baring herself to strangers she had more or less come to terms with, but she hadn’t considered his being here. For some reason that made the whole situation much, much worse.

  Sure, she and Dick had been spending a lot of time together, but she didn’t let herself think anything of it. He was interesting because he had seen so much of the world. And he was easy to talk to as well as being easy on the eyes. But he was also older, more worldly, and something of a flirt. So while his interest in her was flattering, she had learned her lesson with Ted: just because a man was nice to her didn’t mean he wanted her affections in return. And if her pulse leaped a tiny bit every time Dick smiled, every time he touched her, she knew better than to take it seriously.

  She pressed her hand to her chest to ease a sudden tightness. “Did you tell him I was coming?”

  “No.” Lavinia frowned irritably at her. “Why would I?”

  She sneaked another glance across the pool. Dick stood with his back to her, talking to Larry and Bess, who both sat in chairs, swimsuits on, ready to sunbathe. He laughed and something twisted inside her. “I don’t think I can do this.”

  “Nonsense. We’ve put this off long enough.” Lavinia grabbed her arm and dragged her resolutely toward the pool. “I won’t have your death on my head, not when we can do something to prevent it.”

  “What about Nathan—does he know how to swim?”

  “Don’t change the subject. We’re talking about you, not Nathan.” She stopped by some abandoned deck chairs and draped two towels across them. “Ready?”

  “No.”

  Lavinia sighed. “It won’t be that bad. Promise. And don’t forget: I’m going to be just as exposed as you. But then so is every other woman out here this morning, and they haven’t been struck down by the Lord for indecency.”

  “At least you got the one-piece suit,” Genie groused as her fingers fumbled with the knot on the belt. A decidedly light-headed sensation washed over her. She couldn’t believe she was actually doing this.

  Lavinia shrugged off her own robe, revealing a pretty suit in a blue-and-white tropical print. Genie drew a deep breath. In for a penny, in for a pound. Trying not to glance in Dick’s direction, she did the same.

  The brisk sea air raised goose pimples on her bare skin as she turned and laid her robe next to Lavinia’s.

  “Okay,” Lavinia said softly, taking Genie’s arm. “We’re going to walk over to the edge of the pool, sit down, and put our feet in the water. Think you can do that?”

  “If that’s all we do, sure.”

  Her friend slid her a warning look. “I’m not risking Nathan’s wrath to have you just wet your feet. You are definitely going all the way in this morning.”

  “Maybe you shouldn’t risk his anger at—”

  “Well, don’t you two look nice?” Kitty said, interrupting Genie midgrouse. As usual, the woman looked like a model for Harper’s Bazaar. Today’s ensemble was a sporty white outfit that showed off the deep gold of her skin. Genie stomped on a spurt of envy.

  Kitty twirled her finger in the air, almost purring as she gave them both the once-over. “Turn around, so I can see how they fit in the back.” Then she said, “The bottom is a little small on you, Miss Baker. But you, Nia, you look positively divine.”

  Nia? Genie glanced at her friend, only to find Kitty adjusting Lavinia’s swimsuit. As Genie watched in uneasy fascination, Kitty slid her fingers under the fabric straps and then slowly smoothed them back over Lavinia’s shoulders. Lavinia flushed and looked away as if embarrassed. For an uncomfortable second, Genie wondered if she should intervene, though on what grounds she wasn’t quite sure.

  Kitty gave Lavinia’s suit one last tug before stepping away. “Go try them out in the pool. See what you think.”

  As if released from a spell, Lavinia sprang into motion and grabbed Genie’s hand. “Come on. No backing out now.”

  “Wait . . .” The wind teased her bare skin, making her shiver despite the hot sun.

  “Feet in the water, Genie,” Lavinia ordered.

  It’s no different from taking a bath. Stop stalling. Obediently, she sat down on the concrete edge of the pool and then, after another moment of hesitation, slipped her feet calf-deep into the pool. The icy bite of the water made her gasp.

  “It may feel cold now, but you’ll get used to it quick enough,” Dick said from close beside her, making her start. She hadn’t noticed him come up. “Hi, Lavinia,” he said over her head. “Teaching our girl to swim at last?”

  “If she’ll let me.”

  “Of course she will.” Dick clapped Genie on the back. “Our girl here isn’t a coward.”

  She slid him a look even as her skin sizzled from his touch. “How do you know?”

  His expression turned serious. “Would you feel better if I joined you? It’ll only take me a moment to get changed.”

  “No!” She winced as her voice echoed around the deck, drawing looks from the sunbathers. Still, the prospect of trying not to drown with a half-naked Dick in the pool beside her, distracting her, perhaps moving close enough to touch . . . She took a deep breath to quiet the flutterings in her stomach. “I’ll do better on my own.”

  “You sure? I’m a good teacher.” He winked at her as he stood.

  “Excuse me,” Lavinia said loudly, “but I can teach Genie just fine by myself, and I’d like to get started, since we don’t have a lot of time.”

  He hesitated, his brow furrowing slightly. Then it smoothed. “Of course. Good luck.”

  Genie watched him walk away, around the edge of the pool, back toward Larry and Bess. Then she rounded on Lavinia. “That was rude.”

  “Was not. It’s not like we need him. Anyway, you were correct—he’d just distract you.” Lavinia pushed herself up and off the edge of the pool. She sank beneath the water and then resurfaced in a rush of water. She laughed, a bright, joyous sound as she paddled in the water, magically keeping her head above the surface. “Oh, how I’ve missed this. Come on in, Genie. It’s not so bad once you’re in.”

  “How—how are you doing that?”

  “It’s easy. And look . . .” She stopped moving, and her head dipped slightly. “It’s only four feet deep, so you’ll be able to touch the bottom whenever you want.”

  “Oh.” Feeling foolish, she slid forward and dropped into the pool, not giving herself a chance to think. Her breath promptly left her as cold engulfed her, the water rushing up her nose and into her ears. Panicking, she thrashed against the suffocating pressure until her toes scraped painfully against concrete. Instinctively her feet pushed against the solidity of it, and her face cleared the surface. She gasped at the air desperately.

  “Genie, stop trying to drown yourself and just stand!” Lavinia’s exasperated voice cut through the haze of terror.

  Focus. You’re not going to die. Believe. Pulling herself together, she straightened her spine and
concentrated on the feel of the pool bottom under her toes and the warm air on her face. She sucked in one breath, two. Her heart rate began to slow as the water pulled and pushed on her in gentle sways, warming by degrees.

  “See? Nothing to it,” Lavinia said cheerfully.

  Genie experimented with a few tentative steps. It was a curious sensation, moving through the water. The water both resisted and supported, making her feel slightly buoyant.

  “You ready to try floating?” Lavinia asked. “It’s really easy.”

  Genie swished her arms experimentally under the surface. It took more muscle than she had expected, and much of her nervousness returned. “No, thanks.”

  Lavinia sighed and beckoned her with her hand. “You can’t learn to swim if you don’t know how to float. So come here.”

  She hesitated and then gave herself over to Lavinia’s instruction. Soon she had learned to lean back in the water and to arch her back just so to keep her face out of the water. Or mostly out of it. She had almost caught the knack of it when two teenage boys dove into the pool and began swimming laps.

  Every time they swam by, waves would splash over her face, and she would panic and slip below the surface. After several minutes of torture, where she swore half the pool water had ended up in her lungs, she began to lose patience with both the boys and herself. She would master this if it took all day, or week, or even the rest of the voyage.

  “Do you want to take a break?” Lavinia asked after Genie resurfaced for what felt like the hundredth time. “We can always try again later.”

  Genie coughed and wiped the water from her eyes. “I’m not giving up until I can swim from one end of the pool to the other, like those fellows.”

  Lavinia gave her a dubious look. “All right, but let’s keep it simple for now. Like with the dog paddle. It’s easy and keeps your face out of the water.”

  “My face would be happy about that.”

  Lavinia laughed softly. “Fine. But be forewarned: it’s tiring and slow.”

  And so the next lesson began. The boys, apparently wanting a break from trying to kill her, hauled themselves out of the water. Their skin, brown as nuts, sparkled with water. Perching on the edge of the pool, they proceeded to watch her and Lavinia with great interest.