Rose of Anzio - Remembrance (Volume 4): a WWII Epic Love Story

by Alexa Kang

  Hearing Juliet's sad voice, Anthony almost wanted to apologize.

  "But if she sails toward a life of love and happiness, then it's all that Dean and I could hope for." Juliet walked over to the bed and placed her hand on a folded patchwork quilt with a pattern of interlocking circles. "This is our wedding present for you and Tessa. The double rings intertwined represent the bond between a husband and his wife. I hope you like it."

  Anthony came closer to look at the quilt. How thoughtful of them. He barely knew Juliet, but he could feel how much she loved him already as part of the family. "Thank you. It's a wonderful gift. Thank you very much."

  Juliet smiled. "Now let me show you to the guest room. I would put you in here, but Tessa's old bed is too small for you."

  Anthony took one more look at the room before following Juliet out. Seeing Tessa's old room, he felt close to her again. He couldn't wait till she returned.

  "By the way," Juliet said, "I hate to do this to you. It's your first night in London, and I wanted very much to welcome you with a special home-cooked meal, but I received a message from the hospital earlier. They're short-staffed this evening. I need to go in and help."

  "That's all right. I can take care of myself."

  "You won't have to do that." She opened the door to the guest room. "Dean will take you out."

  Anthony stopped. Dinner alone with Dean? He still wasn't sure what his father-in-law truly thought about him. Taking care of himself would be a more preferable plan.

  Dinner with Dean Graham by himself.

  Tonight would be a very long night.

  On their way to dinner, Anthony felt even more awkward than when he had first arrived at Tessa's home. Dean hadn't said a word the entire time they had been walking. Unsure of what his father-in-law was thinking, Anthony did not know what he should say or do. He considered starting a conversation, but Dean didn't seem interested in discussing anything. He walked with his head down and his hands in his pockets. All Anthony could do was follow along.

  Tessa was often silent too when they were alone. But whereas Tessa's silence made him feel a quiet sense of peace, Dean's silence made him feel agitated. He had never thought he could meet someone even harder to please than Tessa.

  They came to a small Italian restaurant called, simply, Trattoria. A large, bald man greeted them at the door. "Mr. Graham!"

  A smile escaped from Dean. "Good evening, Bruno." Without being led, Dean went straight to a table by the window with a view to the street. "Bruno owns this restaurant," he said to Anthony.

  Anthony acknowledged Bruno with a polite nod.

  "Haven't seen you in a while, Mr. Graham. How's the missus?" Bruno gave Dean and Anthony each a menu.

  "Juliet's well. Thank you. She sends you her regards. She says she's sorry she can't be here this evening." Dean glanced at Anthony with a huge smile on his face. "Bruno, would you please bring out the best bottle of wine you have tonight?"

  Bruno raised his eyebrows. "Sure. What's the occasion?"

  "Bruno, meet my son-in-law, Anthony Ardley."

  Anthony held the menu, surprised to hear Dean referring to him as his son-in-law in such a warm voice.

  "Your son-in-law?" Bruno asked. "You mean…Tessa? Little Tessa is married?"

  With a mischievous smile, Dean sat back in his seat to watch both Bruno's and Anthony's reactions.

  "Well, good heavens! Aren't you lucky, young man." Bruno slapped Anthony on the back, and held out his hand. "Congratulations."

  "Thank you, sir." Anthony shook his hand.

  "You need to stop calling everyone 'sir,'" Dean said. "And stop sounding so terse all the time. We're not your military superiors. We're your family. Even Bruno. He's like family too. We've been coming here to eat since before Tessa was born."

  "Uh…right." Anthony chuckled at himself and relaxed.

  "I'll tell you what." Bruno took the menu out of Anthony's hands. "Forget the menu. I'll make something special for you tonight."

  "There's no need for you to take to the kitchen yourself, Bruno," Dean said.

  "Of course there is. I insist," Bruno said. "Little Tessa's husband is here? You bet I'll cook. I'll make her favorite spaghetti dish with my own special recipe." He winked at Anthony and left for the kitchen.

  Left alone with Dean, Anthony found his father-in-law observing him again. Unsure what Dean hoped to see, but still hoping to gain his approval, Anthony straightened himself in his seat.

  "I used to bring Tessa here for dinner whenever Juliet had to work in the evenings," Dean said. "This is our table." He appeared lost in his memories. Anthony noted the tender expression on his face. It must have been hard for him to send his daughter to America and be separated from her for so long. Surely, Dean must have hoped for the day when Tessa would return to London. And now, Anthony had come to take Tessa away.

  Anthony lowered his head, unable to look Dean in the eye.

  "I remember one time," Dean said, "Tessa told me a boy from school wanted to marry her. A boy named Philip. She was only ten years old." He smiled. "She always sat there across from me, right where you are sitting now. That day, she sat there with her legs crossed. Her hair tied back in a ponytail. She looked all serious, like a little adult."

  Anthony wondered how Dean felt now, seeing him in the same seat where Tessa used to sit.

  "She said Philip told her he wanted to marry her when he grew up. I asked her if she agreed. She said no. She said she couldn't marry Philip because he didn't know who Hamlet was. I watched her eat. I was just glad thinking it would be far into the future before the day would come when someone would really want to marry her."

  Feeling awkward, Anthony thought Dean would tell him how displeased he was that his daughter was now in fact married, but Dean only looked out the window. Across the street, a queue had formed in front of the grocery store.

  "Britain's going through a very tough time," Dean said. "People are in good spirits because we're getting good news about the war, but there will be tough times ahead." He looked away from the window back at Anthony. "Our economy is suffering after so many years of war. It will be a long time before Britain can recover."

  "I'm sure it will in due time, Mr. Graham."

  "Be that as it may, Tessa will have a better future in America."

  America? "Mr. Graham…"

  "She's my daughter. I want only the best for her."

  The best for Tessa. Dean was implying…being in America was the best future for her?

  "Tessa is not an easy one to be around," Dean said. "She's like me. We can be stubborn and arrogant."

  "Not at all, sir."

  "Nonsense. You don't have to deny it. I know my own daughter."

  "Right," Anthony said. He couldn’t seem to say anything right in front of Dean.

  "By the way, stop calling me 'sir' or Mr. Graham, will you? Why don't you call me Dean?"

  Glad for Dean's offer of conciliation, Anthony smiled.

  Dean took a booklet from the inner pocket of his jacket and gave it to Anthony. It was a used copy of the script of Twelfth Night. "I've performed this play many times, in different roles too. This was the script I used the first time I was cast in the play. That was many years ago."

  Anthony took the script. Its corners were wrinkled and the pages were worn. Dean must have read it often, and kept it for years. Anthony opened the cover. Inside was a message,

  To Anthony, my beloved son-in-law. Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them. I'm proud of you. — Dean

  Holding the gift, Anthony couldn't even think of the right words to say to thank him.

  "I'm lucky Juliet would put up with me," Dean continued. "And Tessa's lucky now she's got you to put up with her. How she was able to find herself an impressive young man like you, I'll never know."

  What Dean said came as a total surprise. Did Dean just call him an impressive young man?

  "Take good care of her, will you?" Dean asked.
<
br />   "Of course." Anthony broke into a smile. "I wouldn't think of doing anything less."

  Dean nodded. For the first time since they had met, Anthony felt he understood the man. As difficult as his father-in-law might seem, he was liking him more and more.

  On the crowded platform, Anthony stared at the empty tracks, watching for the train to come. The station clock showed the time to be five past three. The train from Dover should have arrived five minutes ago. Where was it?

  "It's late," he turned around and said to Dean and Juliet. They looked as anxious as he felt.

  He walked to the edge of the platform. A faint rumbling sound approached, and he gazed at the vibrating tracks leading to the distant area outside the station. The train engine with smoke shooting up its chimney came into view. The clacks of the locomotive's wheels grew louder and louder, as did his own heartbeat. He checked each rail car that passed him by, searching for the face of the girl he longed to see. And then, there she was, looking out of an open window.

  "Tessa!" He ran after her car, pushing past everyone in his way. "Tessa!"

  He didn't know how she could hear or see him with all the noise and people around, but she did. "Anthony!" He ran alongside the train, chasing after the voice he longed to hear, calling his own name. "Anthony!"

  She looked as beautiful as ever. Exactly the way he remembered her.

  "Anthony!"

  No sweeter voice had ever called out to him. Wherever they were in this world, his heart would always follow when she called his name.

  The train came to a stop with a loud hiss and a whistle. Tessa stepped off onto the platform. "Anthony!" She ran straight into his arms.

  "Tessa!" He wrapped his arms around her and swung her off the ground. He never wanted to let her go again.

  "You're squishing me." She laughed. "I can't breathe."

  "I don't care." He kissed her face, her hair, her lips. "I'm not letting you out of my arms, ever." Neither of them could stop laughing.

  "Tessa," Juliet said behind them.

  Tessa stopped laughing. "Mother." The sight of her parents made her momentarily speechless. "Mother. Father."

  "Tessa." Dean's voice shook as he called his daughter's name. Anthony let her go and she ran up to them.

  "I'm back," Tessa said, her face filled with emotions. "I'm back. I'm in London again."

  "Welcome home." Dean gave her a big hug.

  "You've grown so much." Juliet, too, embraced her.

  "I missed you," Tessa said.

  "We missed you too," Dean said, stroking her head.

  With gratitude and relief, Anthony watched Tessa reunite with her family. How close he had come to losing her. How fortunate they were to have escaped from the claws of death and could now be with each other again.

  Noticing Anthony standing beside them, Juliet took his hand and pulled him closer to invite him to join them. Anthony put his arm around Tessa. He wanted to hold her and reassure himself that she was really here. She leaned her head against his shoulder. No words could describe how happy he felt. Everything was now as it should be.

  34

  In the rose garden in the Graham's backyard, Tessa separated the cut roses, while Anthony helped her wrap them into small bouquets for her mother's patients. As she laid the last rose on the ground, she noticed he had stopped. Anthony was lost in his thoughts again. Every so often, a haunted expression would flash across his face. She wondered what he was remembering this time. What had he seen in the last two years, and how long would these memories continue to haunt him? She thought of the boy he used to be back in Chicago, the one who exuded optimism and joy. He still carried that positive energy, but now that energy was marred by a shadow of pain. The war had left its mark on all of them. Their wounds might heal, but the scars would always be there.

  She reached out and touched him gently on the face. Her gesture brought light and spirit back to his eyes and he smiled.

  Yes. She thought to herself. In the days to come, she must do everything she could to brighten his life, just as he would brighten hers. After all that he had been through, he deserved to be happy again.

  "I've been thinking," he said, "when we have our first child..."

  "Our first child!" She drew back her hand. Dear Lord! She had barely settled back into civilian life.

  "Well, yeah. We're going to have children, aren't we?"

  She felt herself blushing at the thought. Unable to deny it, but too proud and embarrassed to say yes, she looked away from him. Still, she couldn't hide her smile.

  "When we have our first child, we'll name him Jesse. Jesse Garland Ardley. What do you think?"

  Jesse…

  The pain of losing him still hurt so much.

  "How do you know it'll be a boy? What if it's a girl?"

  "We can still name her Jessie, with an 'ie'."

  Tessa thought of Jesse and his propensity to flirt. She tried to imagine Jesse's reaction if he knew they were naming a girl after him. No. That would not do. She chuckled to herself. It had to be a boy to live up to Jesse's tomcat reputation. Tessa looked at Anthony again. His expression was straight and sincere as always. Obviously, Anthony hadn't thought of the ramifications of naming his son after a master deceiver.

  "What's so funny?" he asked.

  Tessa shook her head. Changing to a more serious tone, she asked, "What do you want to do after we return to Chicago?"

  "First thing, I'll go back to school and finish my degree."

  "And then?"

  "And then, I'll start working for Father. I used to wonder if I should strike out on my own. I always felt I was held back by the way everything was laid out for my future. No risks, no surprises." He stared at the roses. "I think I've had enough risks and surprises for a while. Some predictability and stability would be good." He took her hand. "If I work for Father, maybe I can use our family's resources to do something good. Maybe I can help create more jobs for the returning veterans and help the war widows and their children."

  Tessa was glad he thought this way. It is so good to hear him speak of the future with such hope.

  "Before the war," he said, "I worried I wouldn't be able to prove myself if everything were given to me. I was afraid the Ardley name would be the only thing that would define me, and I would never find out who I really am. I'm not afraid anymore. I'm not worried about who I am either. The important thing is what I'll do with what I have."

  "I'm sure you'll do a lot of good things, whatever choices you make."

  "What about you?" he asked. "What do you want to do?"

  She knew her own answer too. "I want to paint. I'd like to go back to what I started. I want to see if I can become truly good at it."

  "I love your paintings," he said, excited. "I'll back you. We can open an art gallery to show your work."

  "No, not so fast," she said. He was already racing ahead of himself. "We'll have to see if what I paint will be any good. Besides, this is something I want to do for myself, not because I want to impress anyone."

  He held her hand up to his heart. "We'll have good days ahead of us. Everything is going to be great." A warm breeze blew past them, and he leaned over and kissed her.

  From inside the house, Juliet stood looking out the window at Tessa and Anthony in the rose garden while soft music played from the radio. A very long time ago, she and Anthony Browning had tended the rose garden together in Chicago. She had so many sweet memories of the place where she had grown up. Looking at Tessa and her young husband now brought her back in time. Anthony reminded her of everything in America that she had left behind. Through him, she could see glimpses of everything she missed from her past.

  She had thought that part of her life had perished, but it hadn't. What was once lost, her daughter and son-in-law had brought back to life.

  "How much longer are you going to stand there and watch them?" Dean came up behind her and put his arms around her.

  "I can't help it." She stared out the window again. "I'm so
happy seeing them like this."

  He followed her eyes and looked outside. Tessa and Anthony in the garden surrounded by blooming roses were a beautiful sight to behold. They looked so happy. No one could know the hardships they had gone through. Dean hadn’t said this to his son-in-law, but he was beyond pleased to see his daughter married to someone who was so devoted and in love with her. He only wished he could have walked his daughter down the aisle on her wedding day.

  The radio music suddenly stopped and a woman's voice came on. "We are interrupting the program to bring you a news flash."

  Dean and Juliet looked at each other and held their breaths. A male BBC reporter began to announce, "This is London calling. Here is a news flash. The German radio has just announced that Hitler is dead. I'll repeat that. The German radio has just announced that Hitler is dead."

  Overjoyed, they hugged each other.

  "We have to tell Tessa and Anthony," Juliet said and ran outside.

  From the garden, Tessa watched her mother come running out of the house.

  "Tessa! Anthony!" Juliet called out to them. Dean came out the front door behind her.

  "What is it, Mother?"

  "Hitler's dead. The news reporter just announced it on the radio. Hitler's dead."

  "He's gone?" Anthony dropped the bouquet of flowers from his hands.

  "It is true," Dean said. "Hitler's dead. The war's ended."

  Anthony took Tessa into his arms. He felt the entire weight of the world had been lifted off him. "It's over." He heard Tessa say again and again. "It's over."

  The victorious rings of Big Ben roared as Tessa and Anthony walked hand-in-hand down the London streets. In every corner, hordes of people had filled the city to celebrate VE Day. Victory in Europe. Thousands had gathered in front of the House of Commons, waiting to hear Prime Minister Churchill speak. At the base of Nelson's Column in Trafalgar Square, a large sign reading "Victory Over Germany 1945" proclaimed the good news to everyone near and far.