by Marilyn Turk
Lexie drummed her fingers on the desk. Should she wait on Penny? She didn’t really want to go alone. Was it because she was scared? Because Russell wouldn’t be there? No, she wasn’t afraid. Outside the window, a darkened sky threatened rain. Maybe one of the other student nurses could go with her. She left her room and walked down the hall to see if anyone else was there. Not finding anyone, she went down to the living room and found Nancy, another student, standing by the telephone.
“Hi, Nancy.” Lexie didn’t know the shy girl well, but they shared a class together. “Would you like to go to Mack’s with me and get a shake?”
“Oh, hi, Lexie. Sorry, but I can’t go right now. I’m waiting for my boyfriend to call.” She looked down at the phone as if willing it to ring. “He said he’d call after work and let me know if he could see me this weekend before he ships out.” She lifted her gaze to Lexie. “Maybe another time, though.”
“Sure.” Now what? The more she told herself not to go, the more the milkshake summoned.
Oh, bother. She’d just run down to the diner real fast and quench her craving, then hurry back. Thunder rolled in the distance when she walked outside, so she rushed down the street, hoping to beat the rain.
Only a few people were seated at the counter, but she chose an empty booth instead, preferring to be alone. When the waitress came over, Lexie decided she was hungry too, so she ordered her regular club sandwich, along with the chocolate milkshake. Waiting for her food, Lexie stared out the glass at the traffic and pedestrians passing by. She sighed, wondering what Russell must be doing. Five hours difference meant it was around 10:00 at night in England by now. He was probably playing with the band before hundreds of servicemen at that moment. She wished she could see him there. Was he enjoying himself? Did he miss her?
“Hello again.”
Lexie jumped at the male voice and jerked her head to see Cal Miller standing by the booth.
He smiled. “I didn’t mean to scare you.” He motioned to the opposite seat with the hat he held in his hand. “May I?”
“Yes, of course. I thought you had left town.” She hadn’t expected to run into him again, but how could she tell him not to sit with her?
“I’m leaving next week.”
“You haven’t been in a hurry to get there, have you?”
He shrugged. “Why leave here before I have to? There’s not much going on in a factory town.”
“I guess not. So, what have you been doing with yourself while you’ve been here?” She didn’t mention seeing him around town when she and Russell were out.
Cal glanced out the plate glass window. “Saw some shows, heard some bands, you know, the things you do in New York City.”
Lexie’s food came, and Cal just ordered coffee. He looked at her food and said, “Early dinner or late lunch?”
She smiled. “Sort of both, but mainly dinner. I only came in here for a milkshake but decided to eat too. I have to get back soon.”
He gave a slight shake of his head. “I promise I won’t keep you.” Lifting his cup, he stared at the liquid, then took a sip before saying, “How are things at the hospital?”
Lexie nodded. “Good, very good. But I’m glad to get away for the weekend.”
Cal lifted his eyebrows. “Where are you going? Isn’t your fiancé overseas?”
She squirmed a little in her seat. Wasn’t that question a bit too personal?
“I’m going out to the Hamptons. I believe I told you I had friends there.” At least he knew she wouldn’t be available if that’s what he was hinting at.
“Ah yes, the people you had been visiting the first time I saw you.”
“Yes, those people.”
“Are you planning to stay there for the Fourth of July and watch fireworks?”
She frowned at his remark. “No, well, I can’t stay all week, but I might go back for the Fourth. Of course, you know there won’t be any fireworks, don’t you? The government has banned them because of the blackout.” Didn’t everyone know that?
“Oh yes, I forgot. That’s too bad, isn’t it? Won’t you miss them?”
Shaking her head, she said, “No, not really. When the war’s over, we’ll go back to things the way they were before.”
He cocked his head. “Will we now?”
Cal was acting strange, not as carefree as he’d been before. She took a bite of her sandwich and ate quickly, trying not to choke. Grabbing her drink, she took a sip before replying. “You don’t think so?”
“How can things ever go back the way they were before the war? So many things have changed.”
His morose tone was alarming. Did she hear a tinge of regret in his voice?
“I think we can change what we want to change, whether for good or for bad. And what we can’t change, we learn to adjust to.”
“You always look on the bright side, as they say.”
“Why not? I prefer to be happy, so I try to focus on the good things, not the bad.” Wasn’t that what the minister had said in church?
“But is that realistic? Are you pretending bad things don’t exist?”
“No, not at all. In the hospital, I deal with bad things all the time—people sick, injured, or dying. But we do the best we can to help them. And we hope and pray for a favorable outcome.”
He chuckled. “There you go again, praying. So, did you remember to pray for me?”
Was he making fun of her or was he serious? Although his tone of questioning was irritating, she answered him truthfully.
“Yes, Cal. You asked me to, so I did. May I ask you a question?”
He lifted his eyebrows. “Go ahead.”
“Has something happened to make you sad? You’re acting different today.”
His gaze returned to stare outside the window at the black sky. “No. Nothing’s happened—yet. I’ve just been doing a lot of thinking.” He returned his gaze to her. “Sorry to bother you.”
Lexie shook her head. “It’s no bother. I just wish I could help.” Maybe he was just lonely.
“Are your friends gone?”
“Friends? I have no friends here—unless you allow me to call you a friend.”
Lexie’s face warmed. Was it safe to be his friend? “Oh, I saw you with a couple of other men, and I assumed you were friends.”
His brows knit together. “No, they’re not my friends. Just business associates.”
“I see.” Lexie finished her sandwich, then picked up her milkshake, wanting to savor the rest. But the conversation had taken some of the enjoyment out of the concoction.
Outside the diner, the clouds gave a premature appearance of nightfall. Lexie’s mood had darkened as well. She fought the feeling of doom that Cal emitted and sought a way to cheer him up. It was her turn to ask a personal question. “Have you talked to your family?”
His face fell in answer to her. “No. Why do you ask?”
“I remember you said you hadn’t seen them for a while. I thought you might call them.”
He lowered his gaze to the coffee cup cradled in his large hands.
Had she overstepped her bounds? When he didn’t answer, she assumed she had. “Well, I better go. I want to get back before the rain starts.” She grabbed her purse and slid out of the booth. “I hope things go well for you in your new job, Cal.”
He slapped two quarters on the table, then exited the booth also. Standing beside her, he set his fedora on his head. He searched her face. “Lexie, you said you wished to help me.”
Her body tensed. What was he going to ask her to do? “Yes, I did.”
“You have. You have helped me.”
Lexie angled her head as she looked up at him. “I have? Well, I don’t know what I did, but I’m glad.”
He took her free hand and enclosed it with both of his. “Be careful, Lexie. I hope God protects you from all the bad things in the world.”
What a strange thing to say, and the third time today someone told her to be careful.
“He will,
Cal. He will. Goodbye.”
“Goodbye, my friend.”
Lexie left the diner, glancing back over her shoulder at Cal, standing outside the door. He gave her a little wave, and she turned back around. As she hurried back to the residence, she could smell rain. And something else. Her skin crawled with a sense of being watched. Was Cal still watching her? She jerked around, but he was nowhere in sight. Everyone else had their heads down, scurrying down the sidewalk as fat raindrops fell from the clouds. Why did she have that feeling? Who else would be watching her? A loud clap of thunder made her jump, and her heart raced. She chastised herself. Lexie, why are you so suspicious?
She jogged the rest of the way to the residence just as the storm commenced.
Karl watched Lexie hurry away, then turned around and bumped into Oscar.
“You are still here. Are you abandoning your mission or just sharing secrets with the woman?”
The obnoxious baker was tailing him. “I do not answer to you, Oscar.”
“I warned you about the girl. She is a problem.” Oscar growled.
Karl pierced Oscar with his gaze. “Leave her alone, Oscar. She knows nothing.”
“I don’t believe you, or you would have already left.”
Karl clenched his teeth. “I don’t care if you believe me or not, but leave her alone. She is innocent.”
“Like all Americans, yes?”
Karl shoved Oscar aside. “Get out of my way, Oscar.”
As he walked away, he heard Oscar’s voice. “Remember, I warned you.”
Karl’s decision was made.
While the band took a break, Russell stood and stretched. Too bad he didn’t play a horn. Those guys got to stand up during the performance. Wasn’t quite feasible when you played the piano.
He sauntered over to the back door where the other guys had gone outside for a smoke. A blast of chilly, damp air hit him as he opened the door. The weather in England took some getting used to. He decided against going outside, so he turned around and went to get a drink from the refreshment table. Gloria Bentley, one of the Hollywood starlets who had come along with the USO tour, stood by the table.
She gave him a gleaming smile as he approached. “Hey, sailor. What brings you here?”
Russell glanced around to see who she was talking to, and she laughed.
“I’m talking to you, Piano-man. I haven’t seen you with Artie’s band before. You must be new.”
“Is it that obvious?” Russell picked up a glass and took a sip, the cold beverage refreshing after the long set of songs.
She angled her head toward him. “Oh, just a little—like a fish out of water.”
Russell’s face warmed, and he ran his finger around his collar and attempted to loosen his tie. “I’ve played with Artie’s band at the USO dances in New York when he needed a piano player. But I have to admit that this is my first gig overseas.”
“So why aren’t you hanging out with the band? You don’t like their company?”
Attempting to appear casual by laughing, he felt like a teenager around a girl he had a crush on. Gloria was one of the most beautiful women he’d ever seen, and she oozed “star.” Her jet-black hair gleamed in waves that perfectly framed her ivory skin. Green eyes glittered when she spoke, lighting up the room around her. She wore a shimmering gold, form-fitting evening dress with exposed bare shoulders, a total contrast to the drab army-olive uniforms of the audience who were completely captivated by her presence. Russell had been around a lot of wealthy, famous people in his years at the Jekyll Island Club, but associating with celebrities in her realm was new to him, especially one so breathtakingly gorgeous. He was on unfamiliar ground, and she had read him like a book.
He swallowed the lump in his throat. “No, that’s not it. I really like Artie and the boys. Most of them went outside to cool off and smoke, and I was planning to join them, but I don’t care for the weather outside, and I don’t smoke either.” Russell affirmed the promise he’d made to Lexie. True, she wasn’t there to keep an eye on him, but he knew he’d made a promise, and that was enough. Besides, he felt better since he quit and didn’t have a stale taste in his mouth all the time like he used to.
“Well, if you’re lonely, I can keep you company.” She opened her arms out to the side. I’m alone too.” Russell’s gut churned. What was she offering? There were a million guys that would drop to their knees if she made that offer to them. He didn’t mean to stare but wondered if he looked bug-eyed with his mouth gaping open at her suggestion. But his eyes wouldn’t move away from her as if they were magnetized to her lovely face, not to mention her perfect hourglass shape. He picked up a napkin and mopped his brow with it. How did it get so hot in here?
Her playful laughter broke the tension. “So what’s your name, Piano-man?” She no doubt knew the effect she had on men and enjoyed every moment of it.
Russell blew out a breath before answering. “Russell. Russell Thompson.” He didn’t ask hers. Everyone knew who she was.
She extended her hand. “Hi, Russell. I’m Gloria.”
As if she needed to tell him. He took her hand, planning to give it a masculine shake, but she squeezed his hand like she was molding clay.
“Nice to meet you, Gloria.” He eased his hand out of hers, but the heat she’d transferred continued to travel up his arm. Control, Russell. Pull yourself together. He glanced toward the bandstand, hoping the rest of the musicians had returned.
“Where are you from, Russell? Did I detect a Southern accent?”
He chuckled, pretending to be composed. “Maybe you did. I grew up in Georgia.”
“Ah, so that’s what I heard.” She eased closer to him. “Ever since Gone with the Wind, I’ve thought southern accents were sexy.”
A flash blinded him for a second as the light on the photographer’s camera popped. “You two get a little closer together!” The Stars and Stripes reporter motioned with his hand.
Gloria smiled and slid her arm around Russell’s neck before he knew what was happening.
Another pop and flash. “There. Got it.” He grinned and gave a thumbs up before scurrying away.
“Hey, Russ! We’re going back on!” Nick’s voice couldn’t have been more welcome at the moment.
He glanced at the stage and stepped away from her. “Time to go back to work.”
“I’m right behind you,” she said.
Russell hoped she’d stay there and keep her distance. In the first half of the show, her rendition of “Chattanooga Choo Choo” had gotten rousing applause from the male-dominated audience. Thankfully, he couldn’t watch her while he played. Otherwise, he’d surely miss a chord.
As he took his seat on the piano bench, one of the trumpet players leaned over to him and said, “Hsss! Hot stuff!” and shook his hand like he’d touched a hot stove. Russell focused on the keyboard and waited for Artie’s command to begin playing. The first number was orchestra-only, then Artie introduced Gloria again. She slinked across the stage to thunderous applause, hoots, and whistles, displaying her sparkling smile as she scanned the room. After several peppy tunes, the band began the next number, “I’m in the Mood for Love.”
Gloria’s throaty voice began to sing the song while soldiers waved and called out, “Me too!” She stepped off the stage and strolled along the front row of soldiers, grabbing a soldier by the chin as she sang directly to him. More hooting continued while she sang and played the crowd. Russell focused on the piano keys but was aware of her movement. He was unprepared for her return to the stage when she walked over to the piano and put her hand on his shoulder. He looked up at her and smiled like a good showman should. The Stars and Stripes photographer snapped a picture of them as he made his way through the room.
Finally, the song and the set were over. Artie told the crowd “Good night,” the band stood and bowed to a standing ovation, and Gloria waved goodbye to the crowd. The soldiers filed out as the band members put away their instruments. Louie yelled, “Who wants to g
o to the pub with me?”
Everyone else in the band chimed in, saying they’d go. Russell decided to join them, too, because he was hungry and had no idea where else he could grab a bite to eat. He glanced around and didn’t see Gloria. Thank God, she was gone. He wasn’t interested in fending her off anymore. When the guys got all their things packed away, they headed out the door and through the gates of the base, then walked three blocks down the street to the pub on the corner. The guys spread out in the small room, grabbing chairs where they could find them. Some of the locals played darts in the back corner and eyed them as they settled into their seats. Russell got the idea that they weren’t completely welcome.
“Pints for everyone!” said Harry as the waitress came over to his table. She took food orders from all of them and returned to the bar to turn them in. Russell sat back in his chair and took in the pub surroundings. Sal leaned over to him. “Say, Russ. That Gloria doll was making a move on you. What you got that I don’t have?” He bumped Russell with his shoulder and laughed. Nick sat across the table from them and chimed in. “Yeah, man, I thought she was going to sit in your lap.” The guys guffawed, and others made comments.
“She can sit on my lap anytime she wants to!” Louie said.
Nick lowered his voice and motioned toward the door. “Here’s your chance, then.”
Heads turned to the entrance where Gloria had just arrived. She had exchanged her evening gown for wide-leg trousers and a plaid jacket, but she was no less lovely. In Russell’s opinion, she was even more so with her natural beauty coming through. And her ordinary clothes made her less threatening than the body-hugging evening gowns she wore on stage.
She waved to the guys and came over to Russell’s table. Nick jumped up and said, “Here, take my chair.” She smiled and accepted, sitting across the table from Russell.
“What are you guys having?”
“Ale. You want me to order you one?” said Harry.