“Okay.” Will swung his legs over the side of the bed, stood, and reached for his cane. They rode the elevator down to the ground level and entered the courtyard.
She shielded her eyes from the sun. “How’s your physical therapy going?”
“It’s all right. My leg is getting stronger every day. I’m hoping I can stop using the cane soon. It shouldn’t be too much longer. Then I can report back for duty.”
She halted in the middle of the walkway. “So you’ll return. What if you crash again? What if you don’t survive this time?”
Will frowned. “Are you all right? Let’s sit.” He gestured to a nearby bench.
Charlotte sighed as she took a seat next to him. “I’m sorry. I’m convinced everyone I know is going to die in this war. I don’t want it to happen to you, too.”
Will tapped his fingers against the bench. Finally, he said, “I don’t want to die either, but we need to end this war. Charlotte, they’re murdering hundreds of thousands of innocent people in Europe, maybe more. We need to stop them, and I need to contribute to that. I don’t think I could live with myself if I didn’t.”
“You’ve already contributed and nearly died because of it.”
She took a deep breath and straightened her posture. She needed to change the topic of their discussion before she said something she’d regret. She’d probably already given Will the wrong idea about her feelings toward him by becoming so upset in the first place. She hoped he understood her concern was only on account of their friendship.
“Who visited you earlier?” Charlotte asked in a lighter tone. “I’ve never seen you have any visitors beyond military personnel, and that man wasn’t wearing a uniform.”
“That was my father.” Will’s voice was steady and composed, but his hands were clenched into fists at his side. “Apparently, photos of Friday’s ceremony made it into the New York Times so he knew where to find me.”
“What did he have to say?”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“Will, he’s your father and the only remaining family you have left. He must care about you if he came to D.C. to visit you.”
He shook his head, his face reddening. “He doesn’t care. He just wanted to make himself feel better. An apology can’t undo what he did, and I can’t forgive him.”
Charlotte shrugged. “Maybe he was being sincere.”
“You see too much good in people.”
“Well, what did he do? It must’ve been something terrible.”
“He killed my sister.”
Her eyes widened. “I thought you said she was killed in the Blitz.”
“She was. She never would’ve been in London if he hadn’t pushed her away.” Will stood. “You know what? I don’t want to talk about this anymore.” He limped back to the building as fast as he could.
Charlotte took a moment to collect her next words before running after him.
She caught up with him inside. “Not everyone gets a second chance to make things right, Will. You’re lucky you do.”
Will stopped in the corridor, his eyes narrowed. “Stay out of it, Charlotte.” With a scowl, he continued down the hallway, leaving her behind, bewildered and frustrated.
Twenty-Four
Charlotte didn’t return to the Army Medical Center the following week. When Natalie asked about the abrupt change to her schedule, she explained that she was exhausted, needed to focus on her schoolwork, and wanted to reclaim her social life. Although true, those reasons paled in comparison to her primary intention, one she couldn’t possibly explain to Natalie: She needed to put some space between her and Will. Following her outburst, she was acutely aware of her attachment to him and decided to limit her exposure.
But by Friday, she missed volunteering at the hospital, regardless of Will. The work was so rewarding that every other activity—tennis, socialization, and even schoolwork—seemed trivial. After her last lecture ended, Charlotte donned her Red Cross uniform and rode the bus to the hospital. As soon as she stepped onto the ward, her gaze slipped toward Will’s bed. It was vacant. His absence wasn’t unusual. He often took walks or visited the other wing of the hospital for his physical therapy. She began her rounds, trying to focus on the tasks at hand.
Nearly two hours passed, and Will hadn’t returned. Charlotte finished cleaning the medical equipment and strolled toward his bed for a closer look. The white sheets were new and perfectly folded, and none of his personal items littered the bedside.
She panicked. The empty bed reminded her of Jimmy. The more likely explanation was he’d been discharged. But that theory didn’t reassure Charlotte. Will had no reason to stay in the Washington, D.C. area. He’d return to New York or Connecticut, or he’d be sent to England to continue fighting in the war. Either way, she’d never see him again.
As casually as possible, Charlotte paced to the other end of the ward and found Nurse Parker. “What happened to Lieutenant Kendrick? Was he discharged?”
“Yes, he was discharged on Wednesday.” Nurse Parker looked up momentarily from a chart. “He was as healthy as could be, except for the limp. The doctor determined the physical therapy had helped him as much as it possibly could.”
Charlotte nodded, her eyes growing misty.
Nurse Parker’s brow lifted. “We can’t support healthy men.”
“I know. Thank you.”
She couldn’t bring herself to continue volunteering for the remainder of the evening. She grabbed her belongings from the nurses’ lounge, signed out at the reception desk, and stood at the vacant bus stop. The worst of the afternoon rain had passed; only a lingering drizzle dampened her uniform.
Buckling over, she grasped the bench for support and let out a shaky cry.
Will’s absence brought back painful memories of Nick’s death. Almost five months had passed since Mr. Adler broke the news. She remembered that time of her life poignantly—all the tears and stupid fights with Natalie, but also Will’s continual support. She didn’t know how she would’ve made it through without him. Maybe that was the only reason he’d been brought into her life. Now that she was beginning to heal, it was time for him to disappear.
When the bus arrived, Charlotte dabbed her eyes with her handkerchief and smoothed down her hair. She lifted her chin. She wouldn’t allow herself to breakdown again. If she was strong enough to survive her fiancé’s death, she could survive Will’s departure.
When she returned to her room, Natalie was applying pink lipstick in front of the vanity mirror. She jumped when Charlotte opened the door.
“Oh! You’re back early. I’m going to the movies tonight. Do you want to go with me?”
Charlotte kicked off her shoes. She removed the cap from her hair, unpinned her damp curls, and dried them with a hand towel. She hoped Natalie wouldn’t notice her nose was red from sniffling. “What are you going to see?”
“Sandra and Frankie are going to the new Cary Grant flick. She invited me to join them.” Natalie stood from the vanity. “I don’t want to be a third wheel on their date, but I also can’t avoid outings just because John is in Africa. Besides, if you join me, I’m not a third wheel.”
“John’s still in Africa? Do you know where?”
“I think Tunisia. He won’t confirm anything, though. The newspapers seem to think they won’t be there much longer, but what if their next destination is worse? They could be going to Germany for all I know.” Natalie sighed. “I don’t think I’m ready for that.”
“Well, you can’t control where they’re sent. Try not to worry about it.” Charlotte’s lips lifted into a faint smile. “Come on, let’s watch Cary Grant woo Laraine Day. I’ll be your date.”
They joined Sandra and Frankie at the local cinema. As they settled into their seats with a bucket of popcorn, war-related newsreels flickered across the screen. The first one was about manufacturing on the home front, a topic Charlotte watched with mild interest. The second one was a short documentary on the Americans fighting with the Ro
yal Air Force in England. The cameras flew with the airmen and captured the RAF bombing Germany and fighting the Luftwaffe in the skies above France. They showed the same engagements Will had described, ones in which he would participate again shortly. Charlotte wrung her hands as she stared at the images. By the time it was over and the feature began, her stomach stirred.
She quietly excused herself and retreated to the lobby. She leaned against the wall and clutched her abdomen. She shouldn’t have eaten so little for dinner.
Natalie entered the lobby. “Are you all right? You look like you’re going to be sick.”
“I’m fine.” Charlotte’s cheeks burned with the lie. “You should go watch the movie.”
Natalie planted her hands on her hips. “I know you too well. You’re upset. Is it about Nick?”
Charlotte stared at the carpet. If she told Natalie about Will’s departure, she’d have to admit she’d kept her friendship with Will a secret from her best friend. Natalie didn’t like being kept in the dark about anything.
Charlotte exhaled a long breath. “Do you remember that pilot I told you about? The one who was shot down over Germany? When he was admitted to the hospital, he didn’t talk for over a week.”
Natalie pursed her lips. “Yeah, I think so.”
Charlotte gripped her pocketbook tightly. “Well . . . we actually became pretty good friends. I was his guest at an award ceremony last week, and he’s even met my parents.”
Natalie’s jaw dropped. “He met your parents? And you haven’t even told me about him? Why didn’t you?” Her eyes narrowed. “Are you sure you’re just friends? I mean, I believe men and women can have platonic relationships, but . . . he met your parents, for goodness’ sake!”
Charlotte rolled her eyes. “It was an accident. We ran into my father leaving the Pentagon, and he invited Will over for a home-cooked meal.”
“His name is Will? See, you didn’t even tell me his name! Unbelievable.”
“Maybe this is why I didn’t tell you until now.”
Natalie’s expression softened. “Sorry. It’s just a major thing to keep from me.” She crossed her arms. “So, why are you upset?”
“Since you apparently disapprove, you’ll be glad to know Will was discharged from the hospital on Wednesday. He’s probably on his way back to England, where he’ll start bombing Germany again just like in the RAF clip.” Charlotte motioned to the theater. “I didn’t get to say good-bye, and now I’ll probably never see him again.”
“I don’t disapprove.” Natalie tilted her head inquisitively. “Do you love him?”
Charlotte arched her eyebrow. “No. We’re friends.”
Natalie tapped her foot on the carpet. “I think you’re in denial. Other friends have gone to war. You’ve only ever reacted this way when Nick left. Until now.”
Charlotte closed her eyes and rubbed her forehead. Although she did have strong feelings for Will, they weren’t as strong as the ones she’d felt toward Nick. Then again, she couldn’t stand the thought that Will would no longer be in her life. Was that love?
She shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe I do. But it doesn’t matter.”
Natalie nodded. “Good. I don’t want to see you get hurt again. You’ve gone through enough this past year. Let’s forget about him and move on. All right?”
Charlotte took a step away from the wall. “All right.”
Natalie gestured to the theater. “Let’s go back inside. We’ve missed the beginning. I’ll get Sandra to fill us in if she hasn’t been too distracted with Frankie.”
Charlotte followed Natalie back to their seats, trying to convince herself that forgetting about Will was her only option.
***
Even though it was only the first week of May, summertime arrived early the following Thursday. Charlotte and Natalie spent that afternoon lying in the grassy quad, soaking up the sunlight, and discussing their plans for the summer. Their breaks would likely be similar to last year’s. Charlotte would volunteer at the hospital, and Natalie would go home and continue selling war bonds and writing celebrities to endorse them.
Once the sun sank behind the tree line, they packed up their belongings and strolled toward their dormitory. When they rounded the corner of the building, Charlotte stopped in her tracks.
Will Kendrick stood outside the front doors, his hands in his pockets.
Charlotte yanked Natalie back around the corner.
Natalie pulled her arm out of Charlotte’s grasp. “What was that about?”
“That man at the door is Will,” Charlotte whispered.
“You really should’ve told me about him. I wouldn’t have judged.” Natalie peeked around the corner. “What are you going to do?”
Charlotte frowned. “I don’t know.”
Natalie took the lead. “Then let’s play it cool. We’ll resume our conversation and continue walking. Keep your eyes focused on me and pretend you haven’t noticed him until we reach the front doors. Then act surprised . . . and also introduce him to me. Come on. Let’s go before you lose your nerve.” She tugged on Charlotte’s hand.
Playing the part Natalie described, Charlotte didn’t look at Will again until she was much closer to him and he said, “Charlotte.”
He looked well since he’d been discharged. He wore a gray suit and held a matching hat. She’d never seen him in civilian clothes before, only hospital or military attire. He was clean-shaven and his dark hair had been trimmed. He smiled when their eyes met.
She feigned surprise. “Will! What are you doing here?”
“I wanted to find you. I was, um, discharged from the hospital.”
Charlotte nodded. “I know.”
“I figured you might.” Will scratched his ear. “I didn’t have your phone number or an address to write you. I only knew the car picked you up in front of this building on the day of the ceremony. I hope you don’t mind I stopped by.”
She blushed. “I don’t mind.”
Natalie coughed.
Will broke eye contact and held out his hand. “My name’s Will Kendrick. It’s nice to meet you Miss . . .”
Natalie took his hand. “Natalie Armstrong.”
Will grinned. “I’ve heard about you from Charlotte.”
“I wish I could say the same,” Natalie replied.
Will ignored her barb and returned his attention to Charlotte. “So, I wondered if you might want to go out to dinner with me tomorrow evening.”
Charlotte hesitated. She wanted to spend time with him, yet she also wanted to avoid the additional heartache his eventual departure would cause. “What about the war? Aren’t you going back to England?”
“I’m not going back.” Will stubbed the toe of his shoe on the pavement. “I’ve been medically discharged. I’ve had to face the fact that my leg isn’t getting any better and I’ll have this limp for the rest of my life.”
She frowned. “I’m sorry about that.”
“It’s fine. Listen, I do want to take you out for dinner, but I understand if you still don’t want to. I had to give it a shot.” He shrugged.
Before Charlotte could doubt her decision, she nodded. “Yes. Let’s go out tomorrow.”
Twenty-Five
Charlotte flipped through the hangers in her wardrobe. She picked out a rose pink sheath dress and held it in front of her body, scrutinizing her reflection in the mirror. She scrunched her nose. She liked none of the options so far.
Looking up from the journal she was writing in, Natalie said, “I like that one. So, Will’s not picking you up?”
Charlotte didn’t have time to try on more outfits. The pink dress would have to do. She slid the garment off the hanger. “He doesn’t have a car.” She slipped into the dress and zipped up the side. “I told him I’d meet him in front of the restaurant at seven o’clock.”
“Doesn’t that ruin the best part of the date?” Natalie wiggled her eyebrows. “Being alone together.”
Charlotte’s lips twitched upward. “N
ot on a first date, Natalie.”
“What? It’s not like you just met him. Besides, I’m not suggesting anything bawdy.”
Charlotte shook her head and laughed. She sat at the vanity, touched up her makeup from earlier in the day, and styled the top section of her hair into victory rolls. Her fingers quivered as she pinned the delicate curls into place.
Looking forward to her date with Will created a blend of apprehension and excitement, and she’d been a ball of nerves all day. Years had passed since her last first date, but Natalie was right. It wasn’t as though she’d just met Will. She knew him very well, in fact.
She searched through her jewelry box for the chandelier earrings that matched her dress. She found them toward the back next to the gold ring she’d given Nick two Christmases ago. She paused. The ring hadn’t been handled in months and was dusty. She picked it up, wiped away the grime with her handkerchief, and slid it onto her thumb.
She turned to Natalie. “Do you think I’m making a mistake?”
Natalie looked up from her writing and frowned at Nick’s ring. “Well, I’m not sure you’re ready to be dating again. On the other hand, Will is a handsome man who carries a torch for you, and I’m sure you’d regret it if you didn’t see him.” She shrugged. “I think you should go, but the decision is ultimately yours to make.”
Charlotte heaved a sigh. “I don’t know what the right decision is. Maybe it’ll turn out all right. Maybe he’ll end up breaking my heart all over again before it’s even completely healed from Nick. It’s just so soon.” She glanced at the ring again. “I don’t think I can do this.”
Natalie rolled her eyes. “You need to stop overthinking your decision. It’s one date, and you can’t stand him up. That would ruin any friendship you already have with him.”
Regardless of her doubt, Charlotte couldn’t bear the thought of disappointing Will with her absence. “You’re right. I better go.” She yanked the ring off her thumb and tossed it into the jewelry box. She slid the earrings through her lobes and stuffed her feet into a pair of beige pumps.
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