Blossoms of Love (35 page)

As they walked towards the house, Ann met them, “Barbara I got worried. Monty! Oh Mom Ellman will be glad you’re here.”

When they went in the kitchen, everyone showed how glad they were to see Monty. Barbara got his hand and led him through the kitchen and upstairs where his mother was but she was asleep and Lamont wouldn’t wake her. Let her sleep. I’ll see her when she wakes up.” They went back downstairs and in the kitchen. Barbara said as she put on a pot of coffee, “Hungry?” Lamont answered, “No, just coffee. When will Paul get here?” Ellen said, “Either late this afternoon or early Saturday morning.” Lamont asked, “How are all the others?” Ellen said, “Johnny is alright. He’s somewhere in Italy. I got a letter from him yesterday.” Alice said, “I don’t know where Berry is, just somewhere in the South Pacific. I got a letter from him last week.” Ann said, “I’ve been worried about Leon. I haven’t heard from him in almost a month.” Lamont said, “Leon is on a sub. They don’t receive or pick up mail as often. You’ll get a letter soon.” Cindy said, “Allen is on one of those islands in the Pacific. I get a letter about every two weeks from him.” Carolyn said, “Dave is on a destroyer but I have no idea where. I got a letter from him today.”

It was another hour before Mrs. Ellman woke. Alice came into the kitchen and said, “Monty, Mom Ellman is awake. I didn’t tell her you were here.” Lamont put his coffee cup down. He looked at his brothers’ wives, then Barbara and Carolyn. Almost in a whisper he said, “I hope I can find the right words. Mom needs comfort and strength.” He ran his fingers through his thick, blond hair, then got up from the chair. He asked Alice, “How is she?” Alice answered, “Your mother is a very strong woman.” Lamont said again, almost in a whisper, “God, give me the right words to help my mother.”

He stopped at her bedroom door. The door was closed. He took a deep breath and quietly opened the door. Lamont looked at his mother who had always been a pillow of strength. Her eyes were closed. Lamont said, "Mom.” When she saw him she cried out, “Monty! Oh Monty!” He went to her. He gently put his arm around her. She said, “Our Paul, he’s ----he’s been killed.” Lamont said, “I know Mom. I know.” He kissed her on the forehead, “Go ahead—cry Mom. It helps.” She clung to him, “Why Monty—why? --he was with the wounded.” Lamont’s jaw tightened, “It shouldn’t have happened. No one is suppose to even shoot at a hospital ship.” It was then she noticed his arm in a sling, “How are you son?” He answered, I’m okay.”

All day Mrs. Ellman wouldn’t let Lamont out of her sight. Lamont told his mother, “I’m suppose to be back on ship by tomorrow night. I’m gonna call and see if I can pull some strings. We weren’t suppose to come to the states. We need repairs on the ship and were suppose to get them at Pearl Harbor but another carrier got shot up pretty bad and had to get repaired there. They don’t have all of the harbor cleared yet from the bombing. So we came on in. I jumped a plane and I’m suppose to catch it back tomorrow afternoon.”

He called long distance and talked a long time. Finally he hung up. He said, “No luck. I have to go back.” Barbara asked, “What about the funeral? Didn’t you tell them?” Lamont said, “Sure I told they. They are sorry but honey, they can’t hold up a carrier just for me. We are short on pilots now. A few hours could mean saving several thousand men.” Barbara asked, “Couldn’t they go without you?” Lamont said, “Baby the Navy just doesn’t do things like that. Since I’m already here is enough. It’s just as well. Paul won’t be opened. There will be two Navy men with him. They will stay with him until he is in the ground.” Ellen asked, “Why won’t he be open?” Lamont said, “You’ve never seen a person after they’ve been in an explosion. I don’t want Mom to know but I doubt if he is all there or if he is, he’s burned badly.” Barbara said, “I don’t want you to go back.” Lamont said, “I’ve got more reason to go now.” For the first time, she saw hatred his in eyes. Lamont said, “I’ve got a debt to pay. They started this war and they’ve killed my brother.” She didn’t like the way he looked just then, there was much hate and determination. She knew he would take more chances now. Ann came in the kitchen, “They’re coming. The ambulance, the police, and another car.” Lamont asked, “Where’s Mom?” Ann answered, “Upstairs with Carolyn. Carolyn is helping her bathe.” Lamont said, “Good. I want to talk to the guards before she sees him.”

As Paul’s body was brought in, Lamont talked to the two Navy men. Lamont felt better for he learned Paul wasn’t blown to bits. The ship exploded just as he jumped in the water. The oil on the water caught fire and burned him real bad. He died minutes after they got him on a raft. One of the men said to Lamont, “His face is burned bad. I don’t think your mother would want to see him like that.” Lamont said, “I’ll explain it to her.” Lamont saw his mother coming down the stairs. He said, “Mom, I want to talk to you before you go in the living room where Paul is.” He led her into the den. He got her to sit down. He said, “Mom, Paul was burned badly. I think it is best if you don’t open the casket.” She didn’t say anything for a few minutes then, “Alright, but Monty would you open it—and see if he is in one piece?” Barbara looked at Lamont. She thought, “How could she ask him to do such a thing?” Lamont didn’t answer her. Mrs. Ellman said, “I know I’m asking a lot from you but I’ve got to know if he is all there.” Then she began to cry. Lamont said, “Alright Mom, I’ll see.”

Barbara followed him out in the hall, “Monty!” He looked at her, “I’ll be alright.” Lamont talked to one of the men. The other man removed the flag from the casket and opened it. To Monty’s surprise, Paul looked better than he had expected. The left side of his face was burned badly and most of his hair was burned off. The Navy did a good job with him. His uniform was white with the three stripes and gold braid and one star on the shoulder. Paul was the highest ranked of all the brothers. Lamont thanked the two Navy men as they closed the casket and placed the American flag back on it.

When Lamont went back in the den, he took his mother’s hand in his, “Paul is in one piece Mom. He doesn’t look real bad but his face is burned. I think it is better for you to remember him the way he was the last time you saw him.” She got up, “Yes, I think it is better too. Thank you son.” He walked with her in the living room. At each end of the casket was a Navy officer. They were Paul’s guardians until he was put in the ground. The casket was draped with the United States flag. There were flowers near the casket. Mrs. Ellman sat down near the body. The service men introduced themselves to her. She didn’t cry, just sat motionless.

At meal time, one guard at a time would go eat. They never left Paul alone. Mrs. Ellman decided to have the funeral in the morning since Lamont had to leave tomorrow afternoon.

As the evening came, big crowds of people came to the house. That night Berry called. Lamont answered the phone. Berry asked, “Monty, is that you?” Lamont answered, “Yes, where are you?” Berry said, “I’m on a ship in the middle of the Pacific. I just got word about Paul. They were good enough to let me call. How is Mom?” Lamont said, “She’s doing very well.” Lamont said to Ann as she started by him, “Go get Mom and Alice. Berry is on a ship’s phone and he can’t keep it tied up long.” Berry said, “Monty I just can’t believe we’ve lost Paul. How did it happen?” Lamont said, “The hospital ship he was on was bombed.” Berry said, “Damn, I wish I could be there.” Lamont saw his mother and Alice coming so he said, “Here comes Mom and Alice. Take care brother.” Berry said, “You do the same.” Lamont handed the phone to his mother, “Don’t talk too long Mom so Alice can talk.”

Lamont went to the den. He wouldn’t sit in the living room. He just sat in a chair and wouldn’t talk. Barbara came in the room and sat down beside him. She said, “I don’t know what we’re gonna do with all that food.” Barbara and Lamont looked up to see the mayor and Dr. Morris come in.

As they talked to Mrs. Ellman and Ellen Lamont said to Barbara, “I appreciate everyone’s concern and sympathy but I’d like to be alone for a while. If it didn’t look bad, I’d go to my house for a while.” Barbara said, “If it will make you feel better, then go.” Lamont said, “No, I better not. Mom might need me. I’ll just stick it out.”

The mayor and Dr. Morris came over to Lamont. They talked for a little bit, then Lamont got his mother to lie down for a while.

Along toward daylight, Barbara found Lamont in the kitchen drinking coffee. Barbara suggested, “Why don’t you lie down and try to rest? You’ve been up for such a long time.” He sighed, “No. I can sleep on ship but I’ve drank enough coffee to float the carrier I’m on.” He got up from his chair, “Let’s you and I take a walk?” She got their coats.

He took her hand as they went out. The morning was very cold but the sky was clear. As they walked Lamont said, “There’s a lot of memories around here Barb. It will never be the same again. It really hasn’t been since Dad died.” He kicked at a rock on the ground, “But when people get old you expect them to leave you. With Paul” he choked up. Barbara said, “I know darling. Paul was a fine man, just like all you Ellmans are.” Lamont said, “I guess we were a pretty good bunch. Me, I’m the black sheep of the family. I was always getting in trouble or getting them in trouble with me.” Barbara stopped walking, reached up, and pulled his face down to hers and kissed him, “Oh Monty, you’re the backbone of this family, the leader. Paul looked up to you and respected your decisions. You’re a smart man too. You just used your brains in a different way.” He looked at her, “You know what I’d love to do right now? I’d love to take you in my arms, hold you, and make love to you, and just relax with your head on my shoulder. But I can’t. This is not the place nor the time or that.” Barbara asked, “Do you know when you can get back?” Lamont began walking again, “No. All I know is we ship out tomorrow. I can say this, unless we have to bring the ship in, it will be a hell of a long time. The war is getting hotter and we are just getting on our feet. When we get ready, all hell’s gonna break loose. We will win the war. I have no doubts about that.”

As they got to the porch, the light in the east was showing that morning had arrived. Lamont looked up in the sky, “It’s gonna be a beautiful day. It would be just perfect for hunting.”

At the funeral, Mrs. Ellman was given the Congressional Medal of Honor. Then one of the guards folded the flag and gave it to her. It was so sad when the bugles blew taps, far in the distance, as they lowered him in the ground. There wasn’t a dry eye there. Paul was buried next to his father in the west corner of the Ellman ranch.

When they got back to the house, Lamont began to get ready to leave.

When he was ready to leave, he looked at his mother for a few seconds, “Take care of yourself Mom.” Mrs. Ellman clung to him, “Don’t you worry about me. The girls will take good care of me. You just take care of you and come back.” Lamont kissed her, “I’ll be back.”

Barbara insisted on driving him to catch the plane. When they got there, he looked at his watch, “It will be a few minutes yet. You’ll be surprised when you see how big the plane is. It carries a crew of men. It will have bubbles on top at the tail and underneath where the gunners sit.” Barbara asked, “Is that the kind of plane you fly?” Lamont answered, “No, my plane is smaller. It has room for only one.” They went to the snack bar and he bought them a hot dog. Barbara said, “Monty, I know this is not the time or place for me to bring this up after what you’ve been through, but it is driving me up the wall. I have to know.” Lamont asked, “What is it?” She asked, “Monty, do you care for me at all? What I mean, is there a chance at all you could fall in love with me?” He said, “You’re right honey, this isn’t the time or place to talk about things that personal.” She begged him, “Tell me Monty. All you have to do is say yes or no.” He said, “Yes baby, there is a chance I could fall in love with you. A very good chance. But I don’t think about those things. I can’t. It isn’t fair for the woman to be in love in a war. What if Paul had been married?” Barbara said, “What about Ellen, Alice, Ann, and Carolyn?” He said, “That’s different. They were married long before the war. Barbara, I’m not asking you to wait for me, or even be true to me. After the war is over, we’ll see.”

The big plane was circling to come in to land. He took her hand and they walked over to the gate. Very gently he took her in his arms. He said, “Stay as sweet as you are now.” Then he kissed her. She clung to him. She said, “Come back Monty. Please come back.” His eyes met hers, “I’ll be back. That’s a damn promise.” Then he quickly kissed her again.

Lamont was right. It was a huge plane. He hardly got on the plane when it began moving. Barbara knew she would wait for him and she knew she would be true to him even though he hadn’t promised her anything. He left her with no strings attached.

As the weeks passed, the girls worked and Mrs. Ellman and Carolyn continued their tasks of the day.

In April, late evening almost dark, Carolyn went out on the porch to call the children to eat supper. She saw the police car coming. At first she froze, then she turned and quickly ran into the house. Barbara was sitting at the table, looked up, and saw Carolyn. Her face looked frightened. Barbara dropped her napkins and ran to her, “What is it Carolyn?” The others heard her. They came quickly out of the kitchen. Carolyn said, “The—police—their coming.” They all looked at each other. It was hard to tell which one was more frightened. Then the knock came on the door.

Ann was near the door so she slowly opened it. The same policeman came in. He took his cap off. He could see how frightened they all were. He asked, “Which one of you is Cindy?” She looked at him, her mouth quivered, “I’m Cindy.” He handed her a telegram. While she read it with shaking hands the policeman said, “Allen has been wounded. He is in the hospital in California, got there yesterday.” Mrs. Ellman asked, “Is he wounded bad?” Cindy answered, “It doesn’t say.” Barbara asked the policeman, “Do you know?” He said, “No. All I know is what I’ve told you.”

When the policeman was gone, Cindy began to cry. Then she said, “I’ve got to go to him.” Ellen said, “Of course you do.” Mrs. Ellman sat down at the kitchen table, “First Paul, now Allen. Oh God who’s next?” Alice said, “He is alive Mom Ellman.” Cindy looked at Barbara, “Would you go with me?” Ann said, “That’s a good idea.” Barbara answered, “Of course I’ll go with you.”