The Soldier's Bride (8 page)

“Thanks for inviting Sterling to dinner, Mom,” Evelyn said. “I don’t want you to worry, though. He’s just a friend.”

Marie looked at her daughter and raised her eyebrows. “I’m not worried. I just want you to be happy.”

Evelyn felt the familiar nervousness tighten her chest. “I’ve got you, Dad, and Danny. I am happy.”

Marie linked arms with Evelyn and sighed. “I know, dear. It’s all right.”

~*~

“This is delicious, Mrs. Gifford. It’s been too long since I’ve had a good Sunday meal.” Sterling lifted his fork and nodded to Marie.

“Please, call me Marie. And actually, Evelyn did most of the cooking—the roast is very moist.”

Evelyn smiled. “We all know where I learned it from.”

Harold chuckled and Danny banged his spoon against his high chair.
Sterling ripped off a bit of roll and held it toward Danny, then looked at Evelyn. “May I?”

Danny grabbed the food before she could respond and everyone laughed. He grinned and babbled.

“He grows up more every day,” Evelyn said. “He’d take a bite out of this roast if I’d let him.”

Sterling clicked his tongue at Danny. “Poor little guy. Must be torture to watch us eat the good stuff.”

Evelyn didn’t miss the look Marie gave her with a nod toward Sterling. She shook her head and looked down at her plate. Her stomach danced the jitterbug as she glanced at Sterling. He seemed so at ease with her parents, and Danny kept smiling at him. She’d never seen Sterling act quite so relaxed before.

Evelyn served a delicious brownie dripping with hot fudge and whipped cream for dessert. Sterling ate two helpings then squeezed Evelyn’s hand. “That’s the best meal I’ve had in too long to remember.”

“Why don’t you two head on out to the porch swing?” Harold waggled his eyebrows at Sterling.

Evelyn’s eyes widened, but she stood when Sterling gave her hand a gentle squeeze.

Danny squealed and Sterling touched his cheek. “May I bring him along?”

“Of course.” She took a deep breath and tried to ignore her heart skipping in time with the cadence of Sterling’s voice. As he lifted Danny from his high chair, Evelyn found herself holding in a breath, but Danny just smiled and patted Sterling’s arm.

“I think this little tike’s been sneaking brownies.” Sterling hefted him up and Danny giggled.

The shield Evelyn had placed around her heart started to disintegrate as she watched Sterling interact with her son. She could no longer ignore the warmth spreading through her chest every time Sterling looked at her.

They sat on the porch swing and let it sway gently—the February thaw battled the piles of snow, but winter wasn’t ready to hang its head yet. Evelyn rubbed her arms against the bit of iciness she felt in the air. Sterling put his arm around her and allowed Danny to slide down onto the porch where he commenced pounding on a board with a rock.

“Thank you for dinner and for this.” Sterling looked at her and nodded toward Danny.

She swallowed the lump rising in her throat and blinked. “I’m glad you could come.”

He pulled her close and took her hand. “Evelyn, I care for you a lot. But I’ve been unsure of myself when it comes to women.” He hesitated, his thumb caressing the top of her hand. “What I’m trying to say is that I think you’re pretty wonderful—and, well, thanks for giving me a chance.”

She sensed the emotions he uttered between the words and felt the same fear again. The fear of losing Jim forever if she opened her heart to someone else, as if his memory might break free from her heart’s enclosure and flit away on the retreating winds. She opened her mouth to speak and Danny raised his head and grinned at her, but, no, he was looking past her to Sterling. Her voice caught, and she felt Sterling’s fingers intertwine with hers.

“Thank you. I think you’re pretty wonderful yourself.” She looked at him and caught the spark of happiness in his eyes, the emerald color captivating her heart.

“Are you busy tomorrow night?” he asked.

“Not yet.” Evelyn allowed him to pull her close and she leaned her head against his shoulder and watched her son play at their feet.

“How about I pick you up at six for dinner? You’re not working tomorrow, right?”

“I don’t work Mondays. Six sounds great.” Evelyn felt a tingling warmth creeping up her neck, but it wasn’t an unpleasant feeling. The weight of Sterling’s arm around her was comforting. His closeness and appreciation for her was something she’d missed more than even she had realized.

She enjoyed a quiet dinner the next night and a tentative closeness with Sterling. Evelyn wondered if Sterling’s heart jumped when she smiled at him the way hers did when he smiled at her, or if his chest felt light with the flutter of butterflies when she squeezed his hand. After that Sterling made time to see Evelyn every day, and she began to feel something in her heart that she hadn’t for a long time.

The following week she sang again, and this time Sterling sang with her on a special arrangement of “America the Beautiful.” Everyone loved it, and Frank told them to work up enough songs to play for an hour the next week. After that he scheduled them every weekend alternating Fridays and Saturdays for the next month.

On a Thursday evening in late March, Evelyn checked the last of the reservations and frowned when she noticed the name of Harlan Callaway. The young soldier had strutted into the lounge on a regular basis since that first night. Luckily, LaRue had helped to ward him off by switching with Evelyn whenever his reservation time came up. Evelyn had been left to fend for herself a couple of times when Harlan and his buddies attempted to woo her by dropping lines about the war and how beautiful she looked. Even though she was firm in turning him down, Harlan was persistent.

Tonight, LaRue was off and it looked like this reservation had been made at the last minute for a seven o’clock table. Glancing at the clock, Evelyn glared at the minute hand hovering over the numeral ten and wondered if she had time to grab Philip. The door creaked and her frown deepened when she recognized the pack of boys. What would they think if they knew she considered them boys? They thought a short season in the war had made them into men, but Evelyn knew better.

A shrill whistle interrupted her thoughts, and Evelyn pasted on a serious smile as Harlan sauntered toward her.

“Good evening, Mr. Callaway,” Evelyn glanced down at the reservation number and stepped from behind the desk. “Right this way, your table is ready.”

“Hold on.” Harlan grabbed Evelyn’s arm. “I’m early and we’re in no rush. Right, boys?” He winked, and Michael and Blaine chuckled. Harlan stepped closer to her and tapped the menu she held. “I don’t think I’ll need this. Let’s just skip the main course and I’ll have you for dessert.”

Pulling her arm from his grasp, Evelyn gripped the menu tighter to keep from slapping him. “If you’ll follow me, please.”

“Always so stuffy.” Harlan shook his head and stroked her arm with his finger. “There must have been a time when you wore something other than black. Maybe I can help you remember the good times.”

She took another step back. “You don’t know anything about me and I’m not interested in you.”

Harlan hesitated, narrowed his eyes, and directed another sickening smile her way. “You might be surprised what I know. Evelyn Patterson, war widow living with her parents and her darling Danny. You work here three nights a week and have recently taken up singing with the cripple.” He reached for her hand but she moved out of his grasp. “Why won’t you give me a chance?”

“Yeah, give him a chance,” Michael said. He nudged Blaine. “Harlan will help you forget.” Blaine leered at her and they both laughed.

Heat flashed through her veins and a shiver crept up her spine. “What if I don’t want to forget? I loved my husband—I will always love him. You had your chance to impress me the first night you walked in here. With good manners and courtesy. But instead you thought I’d fawn all over you just because you had on your army dress. Any woman knows it takes more than a nice coat to make a man out of a spoiled, selfish boy.”

Harlan sucked in a breath, his face turning crimson. Michael and Blaine opened their mouths in surprise. Evelyn watched Harlan lift his hand and clench his fist. She shrank back, spun on her heel, and walked away. The plush carpet tugged at her pumps as she hurried through the lounge and over to the table where Frank sat.

“Frank, I need your help. Harlan and his idiot friends are here again, and I’m not going to take any more of his disrespectful behavior.”

“I should’ve booted him the first time I saw him, but his daddy’s a regular here.” Frank pushed himself out of the sagging chair and ambled toward the front of the lounge. Evelyn followed a few paces behind, but when they reached the front, the hall was deserted.

“Guess they saved me the trouble. Evelyn, if you ever see him come through that door again come right on back and get me. I’ll take care of him.” Frank tapped her reservation list. “In the meantime, cross his name off. Make a note that he and his buddies aren’t welcome here.”

“Thank you. I’m sorry to be a problem.” Her lip trembled and she forced a smile.

“You’re not a problem. I know what you’ve had to put up with, and I’m sorry it’s gone on this long.” Frank patted her arm and hunched his shoulders. “That boy must be pretty thickheaded if he thought he had a chance with a nice girl like you.”

Evelyn picked up a pencil and crossed Harlan’s name off the list.

“Now, Sterling; you should definitely give him a chance.”

“Thanks, Frank. I’ll keep that in mind.”

If only he knew how many dates she’d been on with Sterling over the last month, but she wanted to keep things quiet. In a small town like Aspen Falls, rumors spread fast.

“I’ll send Philip to check on you in a few minutes.” Frank touched her arm. “We’ll keep an eye out for you.”

Evelyn nodded and tried to shake off the tremors that threatened whenever her mind flashed to the picture of Harlan’s angry face. Pursing her lips, she straightened her shoulders; she wouldn’t let Harlan ruin the night.

The evening continued without incident as patrons trickled through the lounge. Evelyn smoothed out her dress and looked at her reflection in the mirror of the waiting area of the Silver Lining. She was getting off early tonight so Sterling could pick her up at the lounge at eight thirty for a date. They were going to see the late movie at the theater.

“Message for you.” LaRue came around the corner and handed her a note. “Looks like Sterling got hung up helping a family with car trouble just outside of town.”

Evelyn read the message that Sterling would meet her at her house as soon as he could. “Thanks, LaRue. I’ll leave in a few minutes.”

“Have a good night.” LaRue waved as she hurried back into the dining area.

Evelyn worked for ten more minutes then walked toward the front door. She pulled open the door and paused before stepping outside. The sun had barely dipped below the horizon as dusk fell, giving a soft edge to the trees lining the sidewalk. It was a lovely night for a walk, if only Sterling were by her side.

She wondered if they would make it to the movie after all. The lights of the building glowed against the ever-deepening shadows. Evelyn studied the street before stepping onto the sidewalk. If she hurried, she could get home, check on Danny, and change before Sterling arrived. Spring hadn’t yet descended on Aspen Falls, and a crisp breeze scattered a few brown leaves left over from the long winter. She pulled her sweater tighter against the evening chill.

Normally, she would have enjoyed the brisk walk home as it was barely over a half mile, but the incident with Harlan had left her feeling unsettled. A young couple pushed a buggy covered in warm quilts, and Evelyn fell into step behind them. Listening to their muted conversations and noticing how the husband kept his hand on the small of his wife’s back brought a pang to Evelyn’s heart.

There were no memories of Jim as a father; he was gone before he even knew he would become one. The wind pushed a few tendrils of hair away from her face, and when Evelyn looked up at the night sky, she thought of Jim for the thousandth time—about the song she’d been singing at the Silver Lining for the past month and how it warmed her heart to share his memory with others.

Lost in her thoughts, she didn’t notice the sudden quiet until she passed Danvers Avenue. The young couple must have turned down a side street. The thick branches of the towering oak trees covered the streetlamp ahead, and she could see the first stars glimmering above the trees. Her heels clipped against the sidewalk as she stepped up her pace to cover the darkened portion of the road.

The lamplight ahead was a welcome beacon declaring that she was only a block from home now. Danny might not be asleep, and she’d have time to sing to him before Sterling came to pick her up. She paused when she heard leaves crackling to her right as if under heavy footfalls. She peered into the darkness of the field beyond and kept walking more to the left of the street.

One step outside of the illumination of the streetlamp, she ran into something solid. Before she could back away, hands with an iron grip pulled her into the shadows of the field. She tried to scream, but a sweaty palm covered her mouth, bruising her lips.

Evelyn screamed anyway and kicked at her attacker. Then someone grabbed her legs. There were two of them. Fear coated her throat as she struggled to swallow.

“Hello, Evelyn,” a voice pierced the darkness, and in shock she stopped thrashing. The voice came from in front of her and didn’t belong to either of the men holding her.

“No,” she cried, biting into the skin of the fingers clamped over her mouth. Someone cursed and pulled his hand away only to slap her across the face.

“Stop it! Don’t hit her!” the familiar voice said.

“She bit me!”

Evelyn was jostled back and forth as the three men argued and cursed. “You’re going to hurt her, you imbeciles.” Rough hands grabbed her around the waist and yanked her forward. Her head snapped back and she cried out. The sweaty palm covered her mouth again, pressing the soft flesh of her lips against her teeth so hard she tasted blood.