‘Thanks,’ Grace said as she quickly passed him, climbing in and scooting over to make room for April.
Poppy sat up front beside Teddy, pressed beside him, his arm around her shoulders as they drove. They’d been sweethearts for more than a year now, but Grace could still vividly recall the night they’d met him, at a party, when he’d walked straight over to the three of them, his smile wide. She’d opened her mouth to talk to him, his eyes on her, the anticipation flooding her as this handsome man she’d never seen before stood in front of them; she was excited to tell the others that she had dibs on him. And then Poppy had dazzled him with her larger-than-life smile and batted her lashes, holding out her hand and telling him she was ready to dance. And suddenly the new guy in town was smitten with her best friend and not her.
‘All the guys will be so jealous when I arrive with the three most beautiful nurses in the Pacific on my arm,’ Teddy teased, glancing back at them.
Grace felt her cheeks heat, but she quickly looked out the window.
‘Well, don’t go thinking you have the three of us all to yourself,’ April teased right back. Her sister might make fun of her crush, but she’d never let on to anyone else, and she always covered for her, although Grace wondered if even April knew how she truly felt about him. ‘You’re not the only handsome pilot in town, Theodore.’
They all laughed, and Grace gave her sister a grateful smile.
‘So what do you make of all this peace talk, Teddy?’ April asked.
‘Let’s not ruin a fun night by talking about politics and war,’ he said as he drove. ‘The Pacific will stay as peaceful as can be—mark my words. Everyone knows we’re as safe as could be here.’
Grace looked at April and saw the serious look on her face, the tight set of her jaw giving her away. She didn’t know when her sister had become so interested in politics or what was going on, but she seemed all twisted in knots about things today. Did she know more about the threat of war than she’d let on?
‘Why are you so concerned about the peace talks anyway?’ Grace asked. ‘I don’t even know what you’re talking about. Did you hear about it on the radio?’
‘It’s nothing,’ April said, before frowning and leaning closer. ‘Sorry. I didn’t mean to ruin the mood—it’s just something I overheard the other day about the peace negotiations with the Japanese, and it’s made me nervous that there’s more going on. I don’t know; maybe I’m overthinking things. I just keep worrying that we’re not as safe as we think we are.’
‘April, just enjoy being here,’ Teddy said. ‘This island is heaven, and the longer we get to spend here, the better. I want you to forget all about war for tonight, okay?’
Grace watched her sister as she sat back and frowned, clearly still lost in thought. Grace had always been the fun one, the risk-taker, whereas April was more serious and always quick to come to her little sister’s rescue. She wished April could loosen up and just relax sometimes like the rest of them could, but she recognized that worried frown. It had started when their mom had died, and it always reminded her just how much had always fallen to her older sister to deal with.
They drove in silence, bumping along, her elbow colliding with April’s every so often, until Teddy cheerfully announced they were there.
‘Here we go, ladies,’ he said. He got out and opened a door for them. ‘Don’t forget to behave.’
Grace smiled up at him as she got out, before grabbing her sister’s hand as they surveyed the beautiful house in front of them, music filtering out and drawing them in, young men in uniform swarming everywhere, and about half as many women in pretty summer frocks filling up the rest of the space. She’d never seen anything like it in her life.
‘I feel like I’m finally all grown up,’ Grace whispered as they walked up the steps into the house. ‘This place is amazing.’
‘You are all grown up,’ April said with a laugh, looking more relaxed again as she slung an arm around Grace’s shoulders. ‘Now come—let’s go find us some handsome men to dance with!’
Grace glanced down at her pretty powder-blue skirt as it twirled out around her and then happily followed her sister, her arm looped around her waist. She could hear Poppy and Teddy behind her, but she didn’t turn, happy to leave them to themselves. What she needed was to meet some soldiers, because when she found the right man, she was certain she’d forget all about her crush on Teddy.
‘We probably should have brought our gas masks,’ April muttered. ‘Imagine if something happened so far from our quarters?’
Grace groaned. ‘You’re such an old lady sometimes. No one’s going to tell us off for not having them. Just enjoy the night!’
‘Evening, ladies,’ a few navy officers said as they passed.
‘Evening,’ Grace murmured back each time, feeling her cheeks heat up when one of them let out a low wolf whistle.
‘Can I get you ladies a drink?’ a flyboy asked, his uniform catching Grace’s eye.
‘Certainly,’ April answered for both of them. ‘So long as you have a handsome friend?’
‘You look after those girls!’ Teddy hollered from behind them.
Grace shot him a quick glare, not about to let Teddy get overprotective and tell them who they could and couldn’t drink or dance with. He’d chosen Poppy, and as far as she was concerned, that meant he didn’t get a say in what she did or didn’t do.
‘Who owns this house?’ Grace asked as they followed the pilot past groups of people, all standing along the walls to make way for dancing.
‘Some wealthy family who’ve told us to enjoy their holiday home!’ the flyboy said, passing them each a cup of something alcoholic from the smell of it. Grace took it and held up the paper cup to April’s. ‘Folks around here love us—they don’t seem to mind opening their houses up.’
‘To Pearl Harbor, then,’ Grace said.
‘To Pearl Harbor,’ April replied as the pilot clinked both of their cups too hard and made them spill right away. She jumped back, cup extended in front of her to avoid the splash.
‘Want to dance?’ he asked as another man in uniform appeared nearby.
‘Sure,’ Grace said as her sister was whisked away by the hand to dance too.
She gulped down her drink to quell her nerves and then set it down, before letting him lead her away from the wall and to the center of the enormous living room. It struck her that she didn’t even know his name, but the small band in the corner was playing so loudly now, and she didn’t want to lean in any closer to ask him.
Grace placed her hands on his shoulders as he touched her waist, his palms as warm as the balmy air brushing her shoulders. With so many bodies inside it was stifling, and she was already looking forward to finding some cooler air outside as sweat tickled her neck and forehead. She wasn’t used to such high temperatures in the fall.
‘You know, I think I fell in love with you the moment I set eyes on you back there,’ he said into her ear.
Grace tipped her head back and laughed, only to realize when she righted herself that the expression on his face was serious. ‘I don’t even know your name! You can’t be in love with me!’
‘Sam Chapman,’ he said. ‘Saying hello to you was . . .’
‘Whoa, stop right there,’ she said as his hands moved lower and skimmed her bottom. ‘Waaay too low!’
He kept hold of her, smiling away as if he thought she liked having his paws all over her. Grace struggled and yanked at his wrists, trying to force his hands away.
‘Hey, back off, flyboy,’ a loud female voice commanded. ‘Now!’
He jumped back as if he’d been caught red handed by his own mother, looking back sheepishly at Grace. She didn’t take her eyes off him, her burning cheeks betraying her as she stared defiantly at him, not about to run away upset. How dare he!
‘Go,’ the young woman said, appearing from behind the officer. ‘And touch a lady like that again, and I’ll make sure you regret it.’
A warm palm found
its way into Grace’s, but this one was welcome, and she held on tight to it. She found herself looking into dark-brown eyes that belonged to a woman easily half a foot taller than her, with a mane of red hair that fell most of the way down her back and over her shoulders.
‘You need to be firm with them,’ she said. ‘They’ve all been away from their mamas too long, and they’ve forgotten their manners.’
Grace laughed, grateful for the joke, and squeezed the hand she’d ended up holding.
‘Thank you. He was getting . . .’
‘Frisky?’ The redhead laughed. ‘Because trust me, I could see that.’
‘Grace Bellamy,’ Grace said, shaking the hand already in hers.
‘Eva Branson,’ she said, letting go and touching Grace’s shoulder, leaning in as the music became even louder. ‘Want to find someone else to dance with?’
Grace shook her head, suddenly not as confident as she’d been earlier. She saw her sister being twirled around and smiled, happy that April was having fun, and then she saw Poppy, folded into Teddy’s arms like she was never going to let go of the man. Her heart skipped a beat, imagining what it would be like. Why did Teddy always have to be so perfect?
‘Maybe a drink and some fresh air?’ Grace suggested instead.
They walked over to get some punch, and then Eva led the way, walking outside and stopping only when they reached the sand.
Grace bent to slip her shoes off, loving the sensation of sand beneath her feet as she wiggled her toes and let it slide across her skin. She’d been so excited about going to a party and meeting boys, but suddenly the best feeling in the world was hearing the music behind her and facing the water twinkling beneath the moonlight. Maybe she wasn’t as confident as she liked to think she was, or perhaps it was that the atmosphere was different here, the boys in uniforms more like grown men than the young guys back home she’d flirted with. At home, dances had been strictly supervised, and she would never have talked to men so openly, let alone danced and had a drink with them, but here? It was like a different world from the one she’d grown up in, shielded from anything sinister.
‘So how does a girl manage to bark orders at an officer so confidently?’ Grace asked, taking a sip of her drink. ‘I think I might need to take lessons if I’m going to survive here.’
‘Try having two big brothers and an ex–sergeant major for a father.’
Grace felt her eyes widen. ‘Ahh, right. Now it makes sense.’
‘I learned fast that the only way anyone ever got my brothers and their friends to do anything was by being assertive.’ Eva smiled. ‘If it doesn’t sound like an order, they don’t bother listening.’
‘Have you just gotten here as well?’ Grace asked, intrigued by her new companion. ‘I arrived early this morning. My sister’s here with me too.’
‘Fresh meat,’ Eva said with a grin, tipping her head back slightly. ‘That’s what all those boys in there will be calling you. No wonder he put his hands where they don’t belong.’
Grace was starting to realize just how little she knew about dealing with men. Now here she was, with no one but her sister and her own wits to rely on, surrounded by a bunch of men who’d probably had one too many drinks before she’d even arrived. She was going to have to be more careful; not everyone was as polite and friendly as Teddy.
‘I’ve been here a few months already. I’m a Navy Corps nurse stationed on the USS Solace.’
‘Where is it moored?’ Grace asked, staring out at the ocean.
‘Over that way in the stream,’ Eva said. ‘We’ll be heading back soon, but we all wanted to come have a couple hours of fun first. It’s boring as hell being on that boat all the time with nothing much to do.’
‘Please, don’t let me stop you. Head back in to dance if you’d like,’ Grace said, embarrassed that a stranger had been forced to rescue her and then sit out the party. ‘I’ll be fine.’
‘Don’t be sorry; this is nice,’ Eva said. And Grace believed her. ‘The boat gives me cabin fever, and the heat and music in there are enough to give anyone a pounding headache, so this is perfect. My fiancé wasn’t allowed leave tonight, so it’s nice to have someone to talk to.’
‘He’s based here too?’ Grace asked.
‘Yes. He’s air force, but he’s being reprimanded for something, and he isn’t allowed to leave his barracks. He’s pushing the boundaries, and I think he’s pushed his luck too far this time.’
Grace smiled over at her new friend, pleased she’d met her. She sat down, her legs curled up beneath her, the sand cool against the tops of her feet. She sipped her drink and glanced at Eva, straightening her shoulders as she noticed the perfect, almost dancer-like way the other woman sat, so elegant and tall.
‘So where did you do your training? What made you go into nursing?’ Eva asked.
Grace often wondered why she’d decided to train, but she knew why. No matter how often she told people that she’d always wanted to be a nurse and she liked taking care of people, the truth was far removed from her perfect little story. She wasn’t lying—she did love people, and she’d always help someone if she could—but nursing wasn’t something she loved the idea of, and she doubted it ever would be.
‘Promise you won’t hate me?’ she asked.
Eva frowned. ‘Hate you? Why?’
‘When I admit that the only reason I’m here is because I didn’t want to be left home while my sister and best friend went on the adventure of a lifetime,’ she confessed. ‘I’ve never told anyone that before, but the truth is, I’m squeamish around blood. I wasn’t about to sit at home, though, and let them do this without me.’
Eva stared at her, her eyes wide, before she erupted into laughter, spilling her drink as she reached for Grace’s wrist. Grace knew her cheeks would be bright red, the burn making her entire body flush as she went to stand up.
‘Stop! Don’t go!’ Eva pleaded as she wiped tears from her cheeks. ‘I’m sorry, but that’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard! You can’t be a nurse if you’re scared of blood—you do realize that, don’t you?’
‘I didn’t say scared,’ Grace corrected.
‘Grace, if you’re funny around blood, you need to get out now. What happens if we end up at war? What will you do if you’re dealing with amputations and surgeries and—’
‘Stop!’ Grace begged, her stomach turning just thinking about it all. ‘Everyone back home seems so certain we won’t join the war, and I’m fine with needles, so I can do the injections when they’re needed and bandaging, all that sort of thing. It’s just full-on blood that makes me feel sick.’
Eva leaned in closer to her, her smile kind. ‘I’m sorry I laughed at you; it wasn’t fair, but I’m serious. Maybe you should consider volunteering in another way if you’re not sure about nursing? Before it gets worse, I mean.’
Grace shook her head. ‘I’m fine. Honestly, I shouldn’t have even said anything.’
‘I understand why you wanted to stay with your sister, though,’ Eva said. ‘And it is an amazing adventure here. In fact if we don’t end up at war, it’ll be the adventure of a lifetime. But we need to remember what we’re here for if things change. We could be sent anywhere if we enter the war.’
‘Grace! We’ve been looking everywhere for you!’
She turned, looked over her shoulder, and saw her sister standing there with Poppy trailing behind her.
‘I was just enjoying the fresh air,’ she said, standing and brushing the sand from her skirt. ‘April, this is Eva. Eva, this is my big sister, April.’
April came forward and shook hands, her smile wide and her warmth second to none, as always. Sometimes Grace felt it was like introducing people to her mother; April had an elegance and way of putting people at ease that made her seem so much older sometimes.
‘You’re stationed at Tripler with us?’ April asked.
‘No, I’m with the navy, on the USS Solace,’ Eva said. ‘It’s nice to have my feet on solid ground for
the night.’
‘Want to join us inside? I met a charming officer who promises me his friends are desperate to meet us. I’m sure they won’t mind one more lady to bat their eyes at.’
Eva gave Grace a look, almost as if she was silently asking if it was okay to join them, and Grace smiled and nodded quickly.
‘Who’s this gorgeous girl?’ Poppy asked when she came closer, grabbing Grace’s hand and then walking backward to look at Eva.
‘This is Eva; she’s a navy nurse,’ Grace said. ‘Eva, meet Poppy.’
‘Well, the more the merrier, I say!’ Poppy said with a wink. ‘Come on, girls—let’s dance!’
‘You’re certain I’m not intruding?’ Eva asked.
Poppy tucked her arm into Eva’s as Grace watched. ‘Of course not. Just promise you’ll show us around this gorgeous island the second you have a day off.’
‘Done.’
They walked back in together, four of them in a row, and the wolf whistles didn’t take long to start.
‘I’m off to get more drinks! See you girls soon,’ Poppy called out.
Eva took a young man’s hand and twirled off onto the dance floor within seconds, and Grace felt a nudge at her elbow and turned.
‘Oh, hi, Teddy,’ she said.
‘You look like you need someone to dance with,’ he replied, his grin making her cheeks flush.
April grabbed her other arm then, smiling as she stepped away toward the dance floor.
‘Don’t go disappearing on me again, Grace. I want to be able to see you at all times, okay?’
Grace nodded, resisting the urge to make a face at her sister for treating her like a child yet again.
Teddy shuffled closer beside her, and she laughed at the expression on his face when she turned, his eyebrows drawn together as he frowned and wagged his finger. ‘Don’t you move, Grace Bellamy. I want to make sure you’re not up to mischief!’
She burst out laughing, play punching Teddy on the arm. ‘Stop it! She might hear you, and then you’ll wish you hadn’t mocked her.’
The Girls of Pearl Harbor Page 2