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

by Alexa Kang

  "Next week. I can't wait to meet him in person. He's so sweet. He sends me the funniest drawings. Thanks so much for introducing us."

  In the dining room, William, Dean, and the Caldwells were already waiting. Tessa took a seat by her father, while her mother sat down with Uncle Leon and Aunt Anna. Uncle Leon had not left her mother alone since her parents' return to America. He and her mother had not seen each other in years. Uncle Leon was thrilled to see her again and have her reunited with the family. Even her father, who ordinarily did not enjoy being around a lot of people, looked pleased to be surrounded by family and good friends. In any case, Alexander wasn't leaving him be. Now an overachieving teenager with a passion for the classics and literature, Alexander had been peppering her father with questions about Shakespeare.

  William took his seat at the head of the table. "We have a full house."

  Tessa looked around the table. Almost a full house. Only one person was missing. She turned her hand. Her golden wedding ring glistened under the dining room chandelier.

  At the Separation Office at Camp Grant, the staff officer recited to Anthony a series of GI benefits. This would be his last duty with the military. Once his exit interview ended, he would be a civilian again.

  While the officer filled out the last of the necessary forms and paperwork, Anthony thought of the first day he had arrived here for processing as a recruit. This was the place where his military journey had started. Somehow, he made it through. Fate was releasing him back to the world where he belonged. Others were not so lucky. He slid his hand into his pocket to check and make sure the lucky seven dice were there.

  The staff officer handed Anthony his discharge papers. "Sure you don't want to sign up for another term, Captain? You have a stellar record. You'll do well if you stay on. You can build a great career."

  Anthony didn't answer his question. "Thank you." He took the discharge papers, picked up his bag, and walked out. He could not wait another minute to get onto the bus to go home. The barracks could no longer bind him. At last, he was free. He could go anywhere he wanted.

  The bus dropped him off in downtown Chicago, where he found himself standing before the familiar sight of the Wrigley Building, the Tribune Tower, and the Michigan Avenue Bridge. He was back in civilization. Men, women, and children passed him by. Shops of all kinds lined the streets. Clothing stores, shoes stores, department stores. How he had taken these luxuries and conveniences for granted.

  Passing by the Civic Theater, he noticed the large poster for the current production of The Glass Menagerie. On his way back to Chicago, he had read the review of the play's premier performance published in an old copy of the Chicago Tribune. He had wanted to take Tessa to see this after reading Claudia Cassidy's enthusiastic endorsement of the play. Thinking of how delighted Tessa would be, he decided to make a quick stop and buy a pair of tickets.

  While waiting to make his purchase at the ticket booth, he noticed the newspaper which the man standing in line before him was carrying. The headline, "Atomic Bomb Story! How the Deadly Weapon Was Developed," seemed to be shouting at him. Four years ago, Professor Vinci had tried to recruit Anthony to join the scientific team that was developing the atomic bomb. Back then, he had declined the professor's offer. He didn't want to be a part of something with such an unmeasurable power to destroy. And he was correct in his estimation of what the weapon could do. The professor had succeeded. The atomic bomb was as ghastly as he had promised. It had destroyed the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, leaving millions of people behind on the trail of death.

  Knowing what he knew now, he wondered what difference his choice had made. While at war, he had taken the lives of countless people. Some were even killed under his direct command. Regardless of what he had wanted, the war left him no choice but to play a role in the most destructive event men had brought into this world. Today, he could no longer be that innocent boy who saw right and wrong the way he did before he went off to war.

  "May I help you?" the cashier at the ticket booth asked Anthony. The man in front of him had finished his purchase.

  "Yes," Anthony said. "Two tickets for The Glass Menagerie please."

  The cashier proceeded to assist him. The man who had purchased tickets before him smiled at Anthony and walked away. The headline of his newspaper still seemed to be shouting out to Anthony, wanting to be seen. Anthony lowered his eyes.

  For all its horror, the war did not destroy everything.

  Tessa.

  He had to get back to her. She was the one thing that was still right in his world.

  He went out to the street and hailed a taxi. On his way home, he thought of the girl he loved. As long as she was by his side, there would always be something worthwhile to live for, no matter how ugly this world became. Together with her, he would rebuild their lives. For as long as there was love, there would be hope.

  The taxi dropped him off at the entrance of the familiar driveway in front of his home. In the August summer heat, the roses in the garden were in full bloom.

  He walked toward the house. With each step, his heart quickened. Before he was halfway there, the front door opened. Tessa, standing in the doorway, was the most beautiful sight he had ever seen.

  She ran out toward him. He dropped his bag and took her into his arms.

  The soldier had come home.

  — The End

  Epilogue

  May 1946.

  In the study of her new house, Tessa lifted the lid of the oval-shaped music box on top of the desk. She ran her fingers lightly over the scalloped edges. The instrument was beautifully designed with a mother-of-pearl inlay of tiny diamond-shaped patterns. Its smooth midnight black surface reminded her of the color of ravens.

  Raven-dark hair. One night, more than two and a half years ago, her guardian angel with raven dark hair came into her life and demanded that she take notice of him. He had been with her ever since.

  She placed the figurines of a man in a tuxedo dancing with a woman in a red ball gown on the base of the music box and watched the figurines twirl and rotate to the tinkles of Tango Jalousie. With this music box, she and her guardian angel could always dance together.

  My last tango will always be yours.

  She took the mementos she had kept from the war out of the music box's jewelry compartment. An angel amulet, a pair of lucky seven dice, and a dog tag bearing Jesse's name. Holding the three items in her hand, she turned toward the door. Sometimes, she felt as though Jesse was standing at the door, watching her like he used to back in Anzio.

  She put the amulet, the dice, and the figurines back into the jewelry compartment and put the music box away. She then opened a little tin box on the desk and placed Jesse's dog tag inside before she took it with her and left the room. As she walked past the door, she could still feel his presence. She could almost see him leaning against the doorway, smiling at her. He remained forever young, forever handsome. His smile remained ever so radiant. She reached out, but he was not there. All she could grasp was air.

  She drew her hand back and went outside. The new house was nowhere near as big as the Ardleys' mansion, but she and Anthony had looked forward to moving here. This was their own home, where they would begin their new life and create new memories.

  There was one thing she had insisted on: having Mr. Miller put in a rose garden for their new home, and Anthony agreed.

  She came to the front yard where the gardener was busy at work. "Good afternoon, Mr. Miller. How is the rose garden coming along?"

  "Wonderful. It's coming along very well. I brought several new specimens to plant on this patch here. And take a look at these." He pointed to a spot where the flowers were blooming directly under the sun. "These are turning into beautiful blossoms."

  "They are beautiful." Tessa knelt down by that spot and dug a hole with a small shovel Miller had left on the ground. She placed the little tin box into the hole, covered it, and patted the soil. Satisfied, she gazed up into the sky
. Somewhere, out there, she knew Jesse was watching over them.

  The sound of Anthony's car came in from the driveway. Tessa stood up and called out to him. "Anthony!"

  He parked the car and walked toward the garden with a shopping bag. "The flowers look beautiful, Mr. Miller."

  "Thank you. I'm glad you like it," Miller said as he planted more seedlings in the flower beds.

  "Look what I got," Anthony said to Tessa. He opened the shopping bag to show her the plaque inside. "I picked it up from the garden supply store just now. Does it look okay?"

  She examined the plaque and the words engraved on its surface, In memory of Jesse Garland, 1920–1944. Even though time had passed, it still hurt. Jesse, so young, and gone too soon.

  She knelt down again and placed the plaque on the soil on top of the spot where she had buried the tin box. Only the touch of Anthony's hand on her shoulder could give her solace for all that was lost. She smiled at Anthony.

  "Come on. Let's go inside." He took her hand. Together, they walked back into their house. She wanted to wash the dirt off her hands, but he wouldn't let her go. "I've got something for you." He took a velvet jewelry box out of his pocket and opened it. Inside, there was a rose pendant, gold, with a diamond in the center. "Happy birthday."

  "Anthony!"

  "Do you like it?"

  "It's gorgeous."

  He caressed her lightly on the neck. "Let me put it on you."

  She turned around and brushed her hair to one side. He unclasped the necklace of the pink rose pendant she was wearing and replaced it with the new gold one. "What do you think?"

  She touched her new pendant. Gold. Everlasting. For all eternity.

  Smiling, she turned around. He embraced her and kissed her, passionately the way he knew she liked. She put her own arms around him and looked him in the eyes. "You're forever etched in my heart."

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  After Rose of Anzio, my next novel, Eternal Flame, has been submitted to Amazon’s Kindle Scout program. From April 8 - May 8, you can nominate Eternal Flame for publication by Kindle Press. If this book is selected, you will receive a free advance review copy before the book is officially released.

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  “Last night, I loved you a lifetime and more.”

  Eternal Flame Synopsis

  16-year-old Julia Olsen’s world is falling apart. Her quarterback boyfriend broke up with her. Her family’s new home under renovation is a mess. Her high school counselor won't stop harping on about her grades. A time-traveling WW2 soldier crashing into her room is the last thing she needs.

  In 1944, 18-year-old Edmond Ferris answered the draft and headed to war in France. A chance discovery brought him home to Chicago . . . in 1989! He's back in his own room, except a strange girl is living in it. She drives a Japanese car and she listens to Milli Vanilli, a German band.

  Is their encounter an error in time or a will of fate?

  Find out in this timeless tale of two young people whose love for each other knows no bounds.

  * Edmond Ferris first appeared in the WWII novel series Rose of Anzio Book 4 - Remembrance. Eternal Flame is a standalone novel, but contains minor spoilers of the Rose of Anzio Book 4.

  Pearl Harbor and More

  Stories of WWII - December 1941

  Available on Amazon

  Pearl Harbor and More: Stories of December 1941

  ~ includes ~

  Christmas Eve in the City of Dreams

  A story about Jesse Garland before he joined the war

  Pearl Harbor and More

  Stories of WWII - December 1941

  _________

  On December 7th 1941, hundreds of Japanese fighter planes carried out a devastating surprise attack on the American naval base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii and changed the face of World War II.

  This wide-ranging collection of eight stories by a diverse group of authors, who write wartime fiction, commemorates the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Pearl Harbor. Few people's lives were unaffected in some way by that fateful day and these stories reflect this.

  Some of them are set at Pearl Harbor itself, in other parts of the United States and in Singapore. Other stories take place in Europe: occupied France, Germany and Northern Ireland. They explore the experiences of U.S. servicemen and women, a German Jew, Japanese Americans, a French countess, an Ulster Home Guard, and many others.

  The authors invite you to step into December 1941 with them.

  Pearl Harbor and More - Stories Summaries

  Deadly Liberty by R.V. Doon: Connie Collins, a navy nurse on the hospital ship, USS Solace, takes liberty the day before Pearl Harbor. Her budding romance wilts, an AWOL nurse insists she find a missing baby, and she's in the harbor when WWII erupts. Under fire, she boards the ship--and witnesses a murder during the red alert chaos. When liberty turns deadly, shipmates become suspects.

  The List by Vanessa Couchman: A high-ranking German officer is assassinated in Western France and 50 hostages are shot. Fifty more will be executed if the killers are not handed over. Jewish communist Joseph Mazelier is on the list. Will Countess Ida agree to help him escape?

  Christmas Eve in the City of Dreams by Alexa Kang: On his last night in New York, a young grifter sets out to turn the table on those who shorted him before he leaves for the draft. Will he win or lose?

  Allies After All by Dianne Ascroft: Although their nations are allies, from their first meeting American civilian contractor Art Miller and Local Defence Volunteer, Robbie Hetherington loathe each other. But Northern Ireland is too small a place for such animosity. What will it take to make the two men put aside their enmity and work together?

  Time to Go by Margaret Tanner: A young sailor, who died at Pearl Harbor, finally meets his soulmate on the 75th Anniversary of the battle. Will she be prepared to leave the 21st century with him? Or will they forever remain apart?

  Turning Point by Marion Kummerow: Eighteen-year-old German Jew Margarete Rosenbaum is about to be sent to a labor camp, when a bomb hits the building she lives in. Emerging from the rubble she's presented with an unexpected opportunity. But how far is she willing to go to save her life?

  I am an American by Robyn Hobusch Echols: Ellen Okita and Flo Kaufmann are high school seniors in Livingston, California. Ellen is a first generation American who lives in the Yamato Colony, composed of about 100 families of Japanese descent. Flo's father is a first generation American. After Pearl Harbor, the war hits home fast and brings unforeseen changes to them and their families.

  A Rude Awakening by Robert A. Kingsley: Singapore, December 1941; the fortress sleeps, believing its own tales of strength and invulnerability. A rigidly class based society throws garden parties and dines sedately, disregarding the slowly growing number of warning signals. Suddenly, the underestimated enemy ferociously attacks and the myth of invincibility is shattered forever.

  Purchase Now for $0.99

  Pearl Harbor and More: Stories of December 1941

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  I hope you enjoyed this series.

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  please go to Rose of Anzio - Moonlight on Amazon.

  Thank you!!

  The Rose of Anzio Series

  Available on Amazon

  Get your copy now!

  Rose of Anzio Book 1 - Moonlight

  Rose of Anzio Book 2- Jalousie

  Rose of Anzio Book 3 - Desire

  Rose of Anzio Book 4 - Remembrance

  Rose of Anzio is available in Kindle Unlimited

  *Buy a paperback copy and get the eBook free via Kindle Matchbook

  About the Author
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br />   Alexa Kang's writing career began in 2014. She grew up in New York City and is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania. She has travelled to more than 123 cities, and she loves to explore new places and different cultures. When not at work, she lives a secret second life as a novelist. She loves epic loves stories and hopes to bring you many more.

  I would love to hear from you. Contact me or follow me at:

  @Alexa_Kang

  roseofanzio

  www.alexakang.com

  alexa@alexakang.com

  Acknowledgments

  Rose of Anzio began as a personal challenge for me, but over the course of last year, I discovered that writing a full-length novel (four novels, in fact) is a group project. Words alone cannot express my gratitude to everyone who had encouraged me and helped me bring this series to its completion. I am still amazed at the time and efforts of those who volunteered to help me make this story stronger and better.

  Thanks to Anneth White, who first encouraged me to write this story and continuing to inspire me by following it faithfully throughout. Thank you to Pamela Ann Savoy, who gave me great feedback on story ideas and development along the way, and took time out of her super busy schedule to proofread my work as I wrote. My utmost gratitude to Brandon Bjorklund, a fellow writer and good friend who reached out to teach me the ropes of self-publishing, and gave me valuable advice and support throughout the process. Also, a very special thank you to Ms. CandyTerry, who gave me a huge amount of moral support, as well as the first platform for me to introduce this story.