Semper Fi (30 page)

“Why the hell not? Plenty of your kind fake it. Your apple farmer did.”

Cal clenched his jaw. “Don’t talk about him.”

“Oh, is it true love? I guess not since you came running back here with your tail between your legs. Did he have enough of you? Can’t blame him really.”

Cal leaped up. “You don’t know anything.”

“I know that you’re a disappointment of a son, and that your sister’s idiot husband is going to have to carry on my legacy here unless you finally decide to be a man.”

“You know what? I don’t need you, or this job. Grandfather left me my inheritance free and clear. I don’t know why I ever worked for you.” He shook his head, laughing humorlessly. “I’ve been trying to please you and spite you in equal measure ever since I can remember. I don’t know why we go on this way.” He shook his head as the anger drained away. “Enough’s enough.”

His father sighed. “I agree, son.”

“I’ll pack up my things.” Cal turned to go.

“Your mother expects you next weekend for her charity event. Don’t disappoint her.”

Cal nodded, and closed the door behind him once and for all.

“Sully, I think we should go.”

Shivering, Sully blinked. His gaze focused blearily on Jim. “Huh?”

“We should get back.”

His pale skin a deathly white, Sully ran his hand over his shorn hair, which looked a starker ginger color than usual. “Nah, it’s still early.”

Jim glanced around the street, hoping for a glimpse of Joe or Pete, but they’d disappeared with two women they met at the bar. Not for the first time, Jim wished Cal was with them. But Cal was off with Amanda again, and Jim had to swallow the strange bitterness he felt. He should have been happy for his friend, and he was. Of course he was.

He refocused on Sully, trembling on the bench beside him. Jim knew, and Sully knew, that the malaria that had been blissfully dormant the past few weeks was rearing its ugly head again for another attack. But Jim also knew from the stubborn set of Sully’s chin that the boy wasn’t about to acknowledge it.

“I’m not feeling well. Will you come back with me?”

Sully blinked again, his brow creased. “You sick, Johnny?”

“Yeah, it’s my stomach.” Jim rubbed his belly, wincing. “That sausage didn’t sit right.”

“Where’s Hollywood? He’ll take care of ya.”

There it was again, that strange pang at Cal’s absence. “He’s with his lady friend.”

Sully’s lips twitched. “Oh right. Sounds like a bonzer gal. A top sheila.”

Jim sighed. Sully delighted in picking up Australian slang, and was likely to burst into a round of “Waltzing Matilda” once he got going. “Yes, I’m sure she is. Look, Sully—”

“You ain’t met her yet, Johnny? Even Pistol brought his girl around. Well, before she told him where to go.”

Again, Jim tamped down the surge of discontent. He’d asked Cal numerous times to meet Amanda, but Cal always had one excuse or another. It seemed there was some reason Cal didn’t want Jim to meet her, but Jim told himself he was being paranoid. “She’s very busy at her parents’ shop. Cal wants time alone with her.”

Sully snorted. “I bet he does. Surprised Hollywood doesn’t have girls lined up for each day of the week. Did I tell you about my girl, Johnny?”

“Why don’t we catch a taxi, and you can tell me on the way?”

“Hell, I ain’t got money for that. We can just walk.”

Jim painted on a distressed expression. “Sully, I really need to get to sick bay. I’ll pay.”

“Shit, Johnny. Sure. Why didn’t you say?” Sully lurched to his feet and tugged on Jim’s arm. “I’ll get you fixed up right.”

Rain splattered the windshield as the taxi drove them back to the cricket ground in the gathering dusk. Sully’s whole body was wracked with tremors now. “Almost there,” Jim murmured.

Sully closed his eyes and leaned his head against the window as he shook. “She was a great girl, Johnny. I never should’a kissed that other gal at the dance. But she was so pretty and smelled so nice.”

Jim patted Sully’s arm. “It’s all right. You’ll find another girl.”

“We been here almost three months. You think maybe we can just stay until the war ends?”

“That would be nice, wouldn’t it?”

“Sure would. It can’t go on forever, right?”

It had been more than a year now since Jim boarded the troop train south to Parris Island. Christmas had come and gone in the stifling heat on the other side of the world. There had been no snowmen or Christmas trees at the cricket ground. No presents or stockings, or turkey and stuffing. He thought of Sophie and home with a powerful pang.

He hoped his father was feeling better, but it sounded as if his hip was only getting worse. At least he’d agreed to hire that fellow to help out. Jim tried to remember the name. Oh yes, Eddie. That was a comfort at least.

As usual, thinking of home made his stomach churn, and he shook his head, muttering to himself to not dwell on it. Sophie, Ann and his father were just fine, especially now that they had Eddie to help around the place.

Sully jerked and took a shuddering breath. “Hey, Johnny?”

“Yeah?”

“I better come with you to sick bay.”

“Okay, buddy.”

By the next morning, Sully was fast asleep in his cot in sick bay, and Jim returned to his own bunk in the stadium stands. On his way, he spotted Cal up ahead on the grass, which put a spring in his step. “Hey!”

Cal turned. He was unshaven, and his uniform was wrinkled. He smiled as Jim caught up. “Hay is for horses. That’s what my mother used to say.”

Jim chuckled. “How’s Amanda?”

“Swell.”

This was the standard answer whenever Jim asked about her. While the others would talk up their girls all day if you’d let them, Cal’s answers were always short and vague. Maybe he really cared for her and didn’t want to gossip. “Is it getting serious?”

Frowning, Cal’s steps faltered. “Serious?”

“Heck, you spend more time with her than you do here. I thought maybe she’s the one.”

There was a look on Cal’s face that Jim couldn’t decipher. Finally he laughed softly. “No. She’s not the one.”

“I was thinking I could come with you next time. If she’s working, we could drop by the store. Wouldn’t have to stay long. I’d like to meet her, even if you’re not going to whisk her back to America after the war and make an honest woman of her.”

As they reached the stadium steps and climbed to their bunks, Cal said, “The truth is she’s finished with me.”

Jim stopped. “I’m sorry. What happened?”

Cal shrugged. “Swept off her feet by some swab-jockey from Oklahoma. It’s the ultimate indignity, really.” He slung his arm around Jim’s shoulders. “Guess you’re stuck with me. Now come on, let’s get some chow.”

Jim found himself smiling as Cal led the way.

Their respite in Melbourne screeched to a halt the next week as they were ordered to move out to a camp south of the city. Jim had gotten too used to the freedom of the cricket ground, and his helmet felt unbearably heavy. His rifle and pack strained his shoulders as they marched along the pavement, boots thudding.

Beside him, Cal laughed derisively. “This again. For a while there, I forgot.”

“Me too.”

They left civilization behind with the broiling sun high overhead. Local dogs followed their progress, tails wagging as they ran up and down the line of men. Soon the heat got the better of the animals, and they rested along the roadside as the Marines marched on.

“Guess they’re gonna whip us back into shape, huh?” Sully asked, struggling to keep up.

“Looks that way,” Joe answered. He grabbed Sully’s pack and hauled it over his shoulder along with his own.

Sure enough, the night marches began. They trudged along, one of the lieutenants fighting with the compass and map in the cloudy darkness. By dawn, they’d covered thirty miles. They collapsed in a pasture to sleep, huddled together in loose clumps. A few hours later, Jim woke to the lowing of the nearby cattle, and watched the rise and fall of Cal’s chest beside him.

He had the strange urge to rest his palm over Cal’s heart and feel the steady beating. Cal’s lips were parted, and he was peaceful, the tired lines on his face smoothed away in sleep. Jim found his hand moving, closing the distance between them to cover Cal’s chest.

“Company ’tenn-shun!”

As the sergeant’s voice rang out over the field, Jim yanked his hand back as if he’d been burned. They all scrambled to their feet, and Cal slapped on his helmet, giving Jim a smile. Then they were moving again.

Although they were still safe on Australian soil, with each step Jim knew they got closer to the front lines across the sea.

Jim shielded his eyes from the sun, peering past the paddock as he heard the car rumbling up the laneway. His heart foolishly skipped a beat, and he hated himself for the disappointment that coursed through him when the Cadillac didn’t appear. Instead an old blue Ford Model A came to a stop by the house.

When Rebecca climbed out, Jim reminded himself to be polite. Sophie was already running over with Adam in her wake, his chubby legs flying faster than ever. Jim followed, forcing a smile on his face. “Good morning.”

Rebecca hugged the children and kissed Sophie’s cheek. “Happy birthday!”

“You remembered!” Sophie beamed, swinging her arms and bouncing on her toes.

“Of course I remembered. I might have even brought you a little something.” She smiled and leaned back into the car.

It was a hot and humid August day, yet her red dress was neatly pressed and her lipstick perfect. Rebecca had always put her best foot forward, and Jim smiled to himself as he remembered how crazy Stephen had been for her. Cal was right—Jim had held a needless and unfair grudge, but that was going to change.

Rebecca hoisted a large, rectangular box wrapped in colorful paper from the car and handed it to Sophie. “Just a little something for your special day.”

Sophie wheeled around to face Jim. “Can I open it?”

“Sure, sweetheart.”

Kneeling on the grass, she tore off the paper with Adam eagerly helping. When she pulled out a ruffled yellow parasol, she gasped. “It’s so pretty!” She opened it and twirled around the yard.

“And what do we say?”

“Thank you, thank you, thank you!” Sophie ran to Rebecca and gave her another hug. “I love it, Aunt Rebecca.”

“My pleasure. Thought you might need a little shade out here.”

Sophie took off at a run with the parasol spinning on her shoulder. Adam careened after her, and Jim and Rebecca shared a smile. Jim led the way to the house. “Thank you. That really wasn’t necessary.”

“I think every little girl should have something pretty. I hope it’s all right that I dropped in like this. I know you have a phone now. I should have called.”

“Of course it’s all right. You’re always welcome.” He ushered Rebecca into the kitchen and pulled out a chair for her at the table.

“Thank you.” She had another small box only several inches long, sedately wrapped in blue and brown paper. She handed it to Jim.

“What’s this?”

“It’s your birthday too.”

“Me? No, I don’t need anything.” Jim stared at the box, not sure of what to do or say. He put it on the counter and poured Rebecca some lemonade.

“Sure you do. It’s just a little something.” She sipped from her glass. “Go on. It won’t bite, I promise.”

Smiling uneasily, Jim sat at the table. He unwrapped the box and pulled off the lid, finding two silver cufflinks inside. He lifted one and saw the faint engraving in the shape of a four-leaf clover. He shifted uncomfortably. It was a thoughtful, personal gift, yet he and Rebecca hadn’t spoken more than pleasantries to each other over the years. “I don’t know what to say.”

She smiled softly. “Well, you can get that panicked expression off your face, Jim Bennett. I’m not looking to be courted.”

“Uh…” Jim cast about for a response. Rebecca had always put him off balance somehow, and today was no different. “You’re not?”

“No, I’m not.” She laughed, raising her right hand with the three middle fingers up. “Scout’s honor.”

Jim exhaled, laughing himself. “I’m sorry. You’re a lovely woman. I’m just…”
Homosexual. Queer. Unnatural.
“Not interested in seeing anyone.” He pushed thoughts of Cal away like he was swatting uselessly at flies.