Blossoms of Love

  In seven months, Mrs. Ellman saw all six of her sons leave home to go fight a war. The women kept the club in town going. Mrs. Ellman insisted on Ellen and her four children and Alice and her son moving into the Ellman house too. She wanted her sons wives and their children all together. Thirteen people lived in the Ellman house now and it wasn’t too crowded.

  In September, the little town in Montana had their first service man killed. He was only nineteen years old and was in the army. David said to Carolyn as they were eating supper, “That does it Carolyn.” She looked at him, “What does it?” He put the paper down, “This boy getting killed. I can’t stay here any longer. I waited until the baby was born.” Carolyn said, “I guess I’m selfish but please wait until you are drafted. Freddie is only a little over a month old.” He said, “Carolyn, do you have any idea at all how I feel? All the Ellman boys are gone. Johnny has four kids. In fact, most all of the able bodied men are gone. I love you and our kids as much as a man can love his family but I also love this country we live in. I want to be a part of keeping it free. I need to go.” Carolyn asked, “What will I do without you, with two small children?” He said, “I know it won’t be easy but you’ll have plenty of help. All the girls will help you. There’s lots of women making it. Look at Ellen, she has four to take care of and three of them are in school.” Carolyn said, “I’m just not brave like they are.” He put his hand over hers, “You’re braver than you think you are.” He kissed her, “Honey, I’ve got to go.”

  David sold the horses and put the money in the bank for Lamont. He kept a few in the stables. Then he sold his. Barbara wanted David to let her and the girls keep the horses but David knew they couldn’t handle that many when the weather got bad. Barbara sat down on a bale of hay, “You and Monty have worked too hard to let the horses go.” David said, “When we get back we can start again. The money will be in the bank.”

  The next day, David flew to Alabama to tell his parents goodbye. He came back the next day. Barbara was going to move in with Carolyn but again, Mrs. Ellman insisted that Carolyn move in with all of them so she did.

  In Alabama, David wouldn’t talk to Natalie. He still loved her but he had no respect for her anymore. He noticed Natalie looked different. She wasn’t wearing fine clothes and she looked very sad. Mr. Agar said, “Son there is a way I could keep you out of service.” David said, “I don’t want to be kept out. I haven’t been drafted.” Mrs. Agar asked, “Why are you going to volunteer?” David said, “Look around Mother. We’ve got the best country in the world. Do you know why? We are free. We can speak as we please, we can go where we want to. We have to fight for our freedom. It’s men like Monty and his brothers, men like Barbara Edmonds’ father who help keep our great United States free. I want to be a part of it. I don’t want my children growing up asking why their Daddy wasn’t in the war. Just because I was born to a rich family doesn’t make me better.” Mr. Agar said, “Dave, I never heard you talk this way. Son, I’m proud of you. I don’t think I realized you were a real man until now.” David smiled, “Dad I’m thirty-two years old.” Mrs. Agar said, “Age doesn’t matter. Look at Natalie. She is twenty-eight and she has ruined all our names.” David looked at his parents, “What do you mean?” Mr. Agar sighed, “You may as well know—Natalie has a baby boy. He was born the same day your son was born.” David said, “Wait a minute, her baby is your grandson too, same as our son is.” Mrs. Agar said, “She isn’t married. She wouldn’t have an abortion. The baby’s father is a married man.” Suddenly it came to David, “So that’s why Natalie came to Monty last Christmas. She thought she’d get Monty to sleep with her and he would think the baby was his.” David really got angry, “Why that little bitch.” Mr. Agar said, “Wait a minute now. I admit Natalie has done wrong and I know she has treated Monty bad, but she is our daughter and your sister. She has changed Dave. She wanted that baby very much. I intend to help her raise her son.” Mrs. Agar said bitterly, “I won’t. I want nothing to do with the child or Natalie. She isn’t my daughter any more. We have nothing but shame in this house now. I can’t have my club meeting or even parties any more. I couldn’t stand having all my friends glare at me and snicker behind my back.” David sighed, “Dad is right Mother. We’re all entitled to one mistake.”

  David got up looking at his watch, “I’ve only got three hours before my plane leaves. I’m going upstairs to see Natalie.”

  Natalie didn’t eat with the family or did she see or talk to anyone but Della who helped her with the baby and her father who went upstairs every day to see her. Della took her meals to her and she stayed in the room most of the time with the baby.

  David tapped lightly on her bedroom. When Natalie opened the door, the expression on her face didn’t change until David said, “I’ve come to see my nephew.” Natalie stepped aside to let him in the room. She quietly closed the door behind her and went over to the crib and picked up a baby who looked very much like his own son. David said, “He’s beautiful Natalie. He looks a lot like my son.” Natalie said, “They were born on the same day.” She held the baby to her, “I love him Dave. I love him more than anyone or anything on earth. No one is going to take him away from me. When he is older, I’m getting a job and moving out of here. We’ll get along just fine with Dad’s help.” David said, “Nat, I just don’t understand you.” Natalie asked, “What don’t you understand?” David sighed, “You married a find man, he gave you everything. He loved you as much as any man can love a woman, yet you weren’t satisfied. Now you’ve got a baby, no husband, you’ve got a great big responsibility for years to come raising this child. Natalie that was a rotten deal you tried to pull on Monty.” Natalie asked, “How did you know?” David said, “Hell, I just put two and two together.”

  Natalie put the baby back in the crib, “I was desperate Dave.” David said, “Yes I see why, but why did you pick Monty? Haven’t you done enough to him?” Natalie said, “I picked him because he is an honorable person. If he thought the child was his, he would have lived with me and took care of us. Well, it didn’t work anyway.” David ran his hand through his hair with disgust, “You really would have done it if it had worked, wouldn’t you? You would have lived with a man you don’t love and make him unhappy just to raise a baby that didn’t even belong to him. This is something I would expect from Dora, but you...Hell, I guess I never really knew you.” Natalie ignored what he said and asked, “How is Monty?” David said, “I hope he is okay. He’s somewhere in the South Pacific.” Natalie asked, “This girl he was with last Christmas, is he in love with her?” David said, “I don’t know if he’s gotten over you yet. I’m leaving for the Navy the last of the week. I’ve got to go catch a plane in about another hour.” Natalie said as she followed him to the door, “Be sure to come back Dave.” Suddenly she threw her arms around her brother, “I know you won’t believe it but I do love you. There are very few people I do love.” David looked into her eyes. He knew she did love him. David said, “I guess you really do. Who am I to judge your feelings.” He kissed his sister and left.

  On the plane, David couldn’t get his mind off of his sister. He thought, “Later in years she’s gonna see she needs more than just the love for a child.” He didn’t know if he should be angry with her or feel sorry for her.

  Carolyn met him at the airport. On their way to town, he told her about Natalie. They stopped at the club. There was a big crowd there. The teenagers made up money and had pictures enlarged from pictures Mrs. Ellman had of them in uniforms. “The Ellman Brothers” was over the pictures hanging on the wall of the main room. Lamont’s picture was the largest because he was the one who started the club. They also called the club the Ellman Center. David smiled and said to Carolyn, “The boys would be proud of what they have done.”

  Too soon for Carolyn the time came for David to leave. She tried hard to be brave. That night when everyone was in bed except Carolyn and Barbara, they sat at the kitchen table drinking coffee. Carolyn said half crying, “I wish
I was a brave as all of you.” Barbara said, “We’re not all that brave. Not even Mrs. Ellman. Every time a car comes this way, we all tense up—afraid it’s bad news or every time the phone rings we’re almost afraid to answer it. We have to put on a big front for each other but we’re all scared.” Carolyn said, “You’re lucky in a way to not be married.” Barbara disagreed, “Oh no Carolyn, you’re wrong. I know you know I love Monty. I would have been the happiest person in the world if I could have been married to Monty. Just a few hours of true love is worth a lot. All those lovely memories to think about and you have your children, you have part of Dave with you through them.” Carolyn smiled, “I’m glad we had this talk. You’ve made me see things I never thought of. Thank you. I hope you and Monty do marry someday. He needs someone he can depend on, someone who can return his love and a person who will help him build a good life.” Barbara said “He still loves Natalie. Besides, I don’t know if I’m all of those things you said but I would love him, I know that.”

  As weeks passed, the war was bad for the United States and their allies. Since David sold all the stock except a few riding horses, the girls decided to go to work, except Carolyn. Her baby was too small. Carolyn said she would help Mom Ellman take care of all the kids. There was a big defense plant that made guns and ammunition. It was only eighteen miles away. The girls went to work there.

  Their biggest problem was getting gas to get to work and back. It was November and the weather was bad. Sometimes the girls were late getting to work and late getting home because of the icy roads. There was no holiday for Thanksgiving. The workers voted to keep working. Mrs. Ellman promised to have them a good Thanksgiving supper when they got home from work. As Mrs. Ellman was feeding the children their lunch, she noticed it had started to snow. Mrs. Ellman said, “I hope this snow lets up before the girls start back home from work.” Carolyn said, “So do I. Ellen is driving this week and their car isn’t in tip top shape.”

  The older children finished eating first. They went outside to play. Carolyn put the others to bed for a nap. Carolyn was good with children. She was firm, yet they liked her. Mrs. Ellman put the turkey in the oven. Carolyn said, “Come on Mom Ellman, have a cup of coffee with me.” Mrs. Ellman looked very tired. Carolyn poured the coffee, “Mom you need to rest more.” Mrs. Ellman sighed, “Oh I’m alright. It’s just the strain we’re under. The war has been going on almost a year and it keeps getting worse. We’re having so many of our men killed and wounded.” Carolyn looked down at her cup of coffee, “I know. I got a letter from Dave last week. He doesn’t say anything about the war but I can read between the lines. When have you heard from Monty and Paul?” Mrs. Ellman said, “I got a letter from Paul yesterday. I haven’t heard from Monty in three weeks but Monty doesn’t write often anyway. Ann is terribly worried about Leon. Neither of us have heard from him in over a month.” Carolyn said, “Since he is on a submarine they may be somewhere they can’t get or receive mail.” Mrs. Ellman said, “I hope that’s the reason.”

  Suddenly Johnny’s son came running in the house yelling, “Grandma—Grandma, somebody is walking up the road coming here. He has on a uniform.” Mrs. Ellman and Carolyn hurried to the door. Carolyn said, “It looks like Monty.” Mrs. Ellman said, “No, he isn’t tall enough and that is either Army or Air Force. It’s either Johnny or Berry.”

  As he got closer Mrs. Ellman said, “It’s Berry.” Carolyn smiled, “Won’t Alice be surprised?” Mrs. Ellman met her third born son by the fence. She cried with joy. He hugged her to him and kissed her. Berry looked around as they walked to the house, “Where is Alice?” Mrs. Ellman asked, “Didn’t she write to you about working?” Berry said, “I haven’t received any mail lately.” He looked at Carolyn and then hugged her. He picked his child up in his arms and kissed him over and over. Berry asked him, “Don’t you remember Daddy?” It was then his son put his arms around his neck and said, “I love you.”

  Berry hugged all the kids except Dennis (Johnny’s boy), he felt he was getting too old for that so Berry shook hands with him. Carolyn said, “Alright children, go on back to playing. Uncle Berry is tired and I bet hungry.” He sat down at the kitchen table, “Something sure smells good but all I want now is a cup of coffee.” Carolyn got the coffee for him while Mrs. Ellman hung his coat up in the hall. He drank some of the coffee. He asked, “Where is Alice working?” Carolyn said, “All of the girls are working except me. Freddie is too young to leave all day. Mom Ellman needs me here anyway. They made a defense plant out of the gun factory. They needed women to work so they make guns and ammunition all day. They said they felt like they were helping to win the war.” Berry said, “I’m real proud of all of you. Looks like everything all well organized around here. I think all of us men should take our hats off to the women in our life.” Carolyn said, “We are doing alright. We don’t like being without our men but we want to help get this war over with so you all can come back to us and we can live normally again.” Berry sighed, “Don’t count on that anytime soon Carolyn.” Mrs. Ellman asked, “That bad?” Berry said, “The Japs caught us with our britches down. We had very little armed forces. We had to start from scratch. We had a few ships in moth balls. The planes were obsolete. Right now no doubt, Monty is flying an old plane. We’re building them but it takes time. We will beat the hell out of them.” Mrs. Ellman said, “Monty wrote a good while ago, he had to go to school because the planes were more modern.” Berry said, “Sure they were for Monty. He was out of service a long time. The Japs and Germans have a lot better ones than we do right now.” Carolyn asked, “How did you manage to get home?” Berry answered, “I’m leaving for Europe soon. I found out a plane was coming this way so I hitched a ride with Uncle Sam. I have to leave tomorrow. They will pick me up on their way back.”

  They heard a car coming up the road. Berry met the car as it stopped. Alice jumped out of the car and was in his arms. The other girls went inside the house so they could have their moment alone. After kissing her over and over he said, “Hey, you’ve cut your hair.” Alice said, “Ann cut it like her. Do you like it?” Berry said, “It’s okay but I like it better long.” Carolyn gave Berry and Alice the key to her house, “You two need to have what time is left alone.” Berry said, “Thanks Carolyn. One of these days I’ll do something special for you.”

  The next day Alice didn’t go to work. She wanted to drive Berry to catch his plane. He said, “No, I don’t want you too. I’ll catch the mail man. It is easier for me to leave if you are here.” She put her arms around his neck, “It has been such a short time.” He said, “I know but I’m lucky, I did get to come home. There’s Monty, he’s been gone ten months and hasn’t been home at all. He’s on a carrier, it’s doubtful he gets home at all. Those planes on the carriers make a lot of missions.” Alice said, “I’m glad you don’t fly. I’m glad you just keep the plane repaired.” He looked down at her, “I love you.” Alice said, “I love you too darling.” Berry said, “Now if you don’t hear from me often, don’t worry. We’ll be going a long ways and it will take a while for the mail to catch up to us. I’ll be back honey, don’t ever doubt it.” Alice asked, “Do you know where you are going?” He said, “I know but I can’t tell you.” She clung to him, “Oh Berry, I’m scared.” Berry said, “I promise you I’ll come back.”

  The mailman came. Berry looked at all of them standing on the porch after he got in the car. As it moved out on the road, he waved. When they were all back in the house, Alice began crying. She said, “It was harder to see him go than the first time.”

  Christmas Eve Barbara and Ann went out in the wooded section and got a tree. This was always Lamont and David’s job. Christmas was very sad this year. None of the men were home but they had to have a tree for the children. They decorated the tree that night. They tried hard to get the Christmas spirit but it just wasn’t there, not even with the older children. On Christmas day they sat down to eat. There was seven empty places. Mrs. Ellman said grace then she said, “We thank you G
od, all our men are still living.” She looked at the women. She dried her eyes, “Girls, even if they can’t be with us we still have them. Wherever they are, I know their minds are with us today.”

  The girls worked on New Years. Christmas day was the only day they didn’t work. In February, Mrs. Ellman got a letter from Paul.

  Hello Mom,

  Sorry I haven’t written any sooner but I’ve been very busy. I’ll have more time now. I’m going on a hospital ship to bring back the wounded. They are the ones who won’t be in combat anymore. We will put them in hospitals in the states. Maybe I’ll see you in a few weeks, if only for a short time. Oh, I saw Monty yesterday. He has been wounded but not seriously. He just won’t be flying for a few weeks. His plane was shot down. He had to parachute in enemy territory but somehow, even wounded, he got back to the allied lines. He is going back to his ship tomorrow. He was shot in the shoulder, but Mom, you’ve got to believe he is okay. He looks good and is just as sassy as ever. Goodnight Mom. I love you. Tell everyone hello. Hope to see you soon.

  Love always,

  Paul

  Barbara asked after reading Paul’s letter, “Mom Ellman, would Paul keep it from you if Monty was hurt bad?” Mrs. Ellman said, “No, not Paul. He has never believed in keeping things from anyone. He has always been that way even when he was a child. It is just like he wrote.”

  That night as Barbara lay in bed, she couldn’t sleep. She thought, “Monty is hurt. If only I could be with him so I could take care of him.”

  Three weeks later when everyone was eating supper, Cindy was sitting near the window and saw a car coming up the road to the house. Cindy said as her face grew frightened, “The police—their car is coming.” They all looked at each other. They knew it was bad news. They wondered which one it was. The knock on the door froze them to their chairs. Nobody wanted to go to the door. The knock came again. Finally, Barbara got up slowly and opened the door. The policeman asked, “Is Mrs. Ellman home?” Barbara felt like she was going to faint. She knew it was neither Paul or Lamont or he would have asked for one of the girls. Barbara said, “Yes, please come in.” The policeman followed Barbara to the dining room where they were all sitting. The policeman’s face was very sad as he handed Mrs. Ellman the telegram from the US Navy. With her hands shaking, she could hardly open the envelop. She read: