Chapter Seventeen

Monday morning dawned warm but foggy. Nora hurriedly combed her hair and pinned on her hat. She smoothed her dress one more time and pulled on some short gloves.

She could hardly believe this day was here...the day she would say goodbye to Bo as he left for the war. Her stomach was churning with nerves and uncertainty.

As she rode the subway to the train depot she reflected on the two-day furlough they had recently shared. They had spent nearly the entire weekend in each other’s arms knowing that they would soon be apart for an indeterminate amount of time. At times their lovemaking was sweet and slow...at other times it was a passionate frenzy. She knew with certainty that Bo was not leaving without feeling her love for him.

She exited the subway station and hurriedly walked the short distance to the train depot. As the fog was beginning to lift, she could see that the depot was a flurry of activity.

Through the remainder of the fog and the steam from the train she saw soldiers in a myriad of uniforms. Wives were clinging to husbands, daddies were holding babies, sweethearts kissed passionately, some being held by buddies as they hung out of the train window for a last goodbye. Men hurried to board the train carrying their duffle bags. It was a riot of hurry and animation. Nora scanned the crowd for a glimpse of Bo.

Bo slapped the label on his duffle bag and searched the crowd for Nora. He made his way in the direction of the subway station knowing she should be arriving anytime. With the crowd and the steam and the fog, it was hard to see. Finally he spotted her in the distance.

“RED!” he shouted across the crowd.

More people scurried past blocking her view of him. He hurried in her direction. He knew they only had a short amount of time before the train would leave the station.He caught another glimpse of her.

“NORA! RED!” he shouted.

Finally she turned and saw him through the crowd. They both hurried through the throng dodging people and baggage until they fell into each other’s arms. He seized her and smothered her with kisses while she clung to him desperately.

“Oh, Red...let me look at you,” he murmured drawing back for a moment and placing his hands on either side of her face. “My beautiful Red... I just want to memorize your face…” he said breathlessly.

Through her tears she managed to choke out, “I love you, Bo...so much…”

He pulled her back into a tight embrace. “I love you too, honey...I always will...never forget.”

His mouth found hers again, kissing her hungrily, desperately, as if he would never have the chance again.

"ALL ABOARD" the conductor shouted above the throng.

Bo embraced her fiercely before they reluctantly parted. He brushed back a stray tendril of Nora’s auburn hair and kissed her again, gently this time, fully aware of her soft lips beneath his own.

In the recesses of their minds they could hear the puff of the train and it’s whistle as it readied to go. Bo grabbed his duffle bag in one hand and Nora’s hand in the other. He pulled her along till they reached his train car. They could see Sal’s face in the window.

"ALL ABOARD" shouted the conductor again.

Bo stopped by the train steps. Placing his bag on the ground, he reached inside his uniform and pulled out an envelope.

“I wrote you a letter. Read it when you get home,” he said his voice full of emotion. He pulled her close and gave her one last kiss before boarding the train. It made him ache to leave her with tears in her eyes.

Nora watched inside the windows as Bo made his way back through the train car. She lost sight of him, but soon Sal’s face disappeared from the window to be replaced by Bo’s.

“Red!” he shouted. She made her way to his window where he reached down grasping her upraised hand in his own. The train started chugging and jerking forward slowly as it pulled away from the station. Nora held Bo’s fingers for as long as she could before they finally slipped away from her. The last glimpse she had of her husband was his face as he mouthed the words “I love you.” Then he was gone in a swirl of fog and smoke.



Photos inspire me sometimes. I thought some of these were sweet.

[img]https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=968&bih=449&q=saying+goodbye+kisses+1944&oq=saying+goodbye+kisses+1944&gs_l=img.12...15302.32387.0.35647.34.10.4.20.24.0.183.1277.0j10.10.0....0...1ac.1.45.img..18.16.1318.Wz9hOizj66Q#hl=en&q=goodbye+kisses+1944&tbm=isch[/img]