Will assimilated effortlessly into Charlotte’s life in Washington, D.C. He made friends with her girlfriends’ husbands and his colleagues. Her parents loved him and accepted him into the family, for which she was thankful, since he no longer had family of his own. Will’s father died of a heart attack in January 1944 without reconciliation with his son. Though Will grieved for several weeks, a burden seemed to lift from his shoulders. The frequency of his nightmares also diminished. Will credited it to his flying again, though Charlotte felt it was due to a combination of the two events.
Regardless of why his nightmares ceased, Will was like a new man by the time they married that summer. The wounds he suffered when they first met, both physical and emotional, had begun to heal, and though Charlotte hadn’t known it was possible, she loved him more than ever.
“I think we’re here.” John squinted at the small, paper map that directed them to Nick Adler’s resting place. They stepped off the pathway and found his grave—a white marble headstone jutting from the manicured lawn. It looked exactly as it had in December 1942. Charlotte was ashamed she hadn’t visited since the funeral.
“I should’ve brought flowers. It didn’t even cross my mind.” She frowned.
John stood at attention, his hands behind his back. He said nothing.
“You’ve been here before, right?”
He relaxed his posture and shook his head. “I didn’t have the nerve.”
Neither Charlotte nor John had ever brought up the conversation they had outside the dance hall during his leave. She once asked Natalie whether he still blamed himself for Nick’s death. Natalie had said she didn’t know. John never talked about the war since his return, not even to his wife. Charlotte couldn’t blame him, not after four years spent in North Africa, Italy, England, France, Belgium, and Germany. It was no surprise he’d want to put it behind him and move on with his life.
But try as they may, it was impossible for anyone to forget the war. Life couldn’t return to what it had been five years earlier. The conflict affected them all, not one soul left untouched. They were, after all, years of sacrifice. John gave up four years of his life and the comforts of home. Charlotte offered her naivety, and Will his psychological stability. They were years she would never forget, ones that would affect her for the rest of her life.
Charlotte and John said not a word as they stood at Nick’s grave, offering a silent salute to one of the many men who’d sacrificed their lives to win the war. In the distance, the American flag flew proudly at half-mast in front of Arlington House, an unwavering symbol for which they had all fought.
###
Acknowledgments
I'd like to thank everyone who read bits and pieces of Battle Hymns from its conception nearly five years ago. I want to thank my cover designer, Jenny, for coming up with the most beautiful cover when I had absolutely no idea what I wanted. But most especially, I extend my eternal gratitude to Alexandra Richland for reading through several drafts of this story without complaint and answering all my questions regarding proper medical care. I couldn't have done it without your help!
About Cara Langston
Cara Langston was raised in Atlanta, Georgia, and currently lives in Dallas, Texas with her husband and dog. She is a member of the Historical Novel Society. Battle Hymns is her first novel.
Connect with Cara to chat and find updates on her next novel, The Glassmaker's Wife, a historical romance set in Roaring Twenties Chicago.
Website: www.caralangston.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/caralangston
Facebook: www.facebook.com/authorcaralangston
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/caralangston1
Battle Hymns Page 22