Posted by hummingbird on 6/3/2014, 7:33 am VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV
Chapter Eighteen
Nora glanced down at the envelope she had tucked in her hand. Just the single word Red decorated the front in Bo’s handwriting. She tucked it into the pocket of her dress. Reading the letter would be the first thing on her agenda when she got home.
She pulled a handkerchief from her bag and wiped her eyes. The pent-up emotion was so near the surface. She couldn’t wait to get home and just release the tears.
She made her way slowly back to the subway station. She couldn’t get that last glimpse of Bo out of her mind. She wondered if he was thinking of her too.
“Nora!”, she heard a voice shout behind her. It was Rita. She stopped and waited for her to catch up. Rita’s eyes were red from crying. “Glad I caught up with you,” Rita said. “I’d like some company for the ride home.”
They were just ready to descend into the subway when they heard another shout, “NORA! RITA! OVER HERE!”
They turned to see Lena in the car. She leaned across the seat and pushed the door open for them.
“COME ON! GET IN!”
The girls hurried to the car and slid into the front seat...Nora in the middle.
“I didn’t know you could drive. You have your license?” Nora asked as Lena squealed away from the curb.
“Not yet...but I can drive. Mick has been teaching me.” The girls were surprised at this. There were not a lot of women drivers. In fact, some women looked down upon other women for driving considering it a “masculine” thing to do. Of course, Lena never gave much thought about what other women thought. She wanted to learn and convinced Mick to teach her.
They soon discovered that Lena needed more driving lessons and much more practice. They sputtered along slowly and stalled frequently. Horns were honking behind them.
“OH, HOLD YOUR HORSES!” Lena shouted in frustration.
“Lena, are you sure you know what you’re doing?” Nora asked nervously.
“Yes, I know what I’m doing! I got all the way down here this morning, didn’t I?”
She chugged and stalled again. This time they heard squealing tires as the car behind them skidded to a halt barely missing their bumper.
“DAMN!” Lena emoted.
Rita sat in silence wondering each time they stalled if she should pop the door open and jump out. But, she remained stoically in the seat.
“So, THAT’S what happened to this car!” Nora said pointing a finger in the air knowingly. “Bo said the last time we drove it that he thought the gears were getting stripped!”
“And I suppose you think that’s my fault! Well, it’s just crazy the way these things operate! It’s obvious that a man developed them! I mean you have three pedals and you have to operate TWO of them up and down at different times while still listening to the engine and running this gear shift thingy with your hand! It isn’t easy you know? If YOU think you can do it better…”
Nora shut her mouth. Rita sat there bug-eyed crossing herself in silent prayer. Their nerves and emotions were already frayed from the morning’s events. They certainly didn’t need this.
Finally, after much chugging, stalling, and a few close calls, Lena pulled the car into the parking spot behind Salvadore’s barely missing Mr. Berkovich’s old truck. She turned off the engine and they all sighed in relief and sat in stone silence until Lena calmly spoke.
“I just thought it would be helpful to know how to drive with the boys being gone and all...so, if either of you ever need a ride anywhere, just let me know. I’d be happy to take you,” she said seriously before exiting the vehicle.
Nora and Rita just looked at each other with eyes wide and mouths hanging open.
* * * * * * *
Nora turned the key in the lock and entered the quiet apartment. She locked the door behind her.
Removing her gloves and hat, she looked around and saw remnants of the weekend...a beer bottle Bo had left on the counter, his shirt draped over a chair, his car keys on the table.
She picked up the shirt and held it close. It still held the faint scent of him. A lump formed in her throat as emotion finally took over. The tears began as she slowly made her way to their bedroom. The bed was in disarray, sheets and pillows askew...just as they had left them before he went back to the base. Nora held the shirt close and laid down on Bo’s side of the bed, her head resting on his pillow.She let her shoes drop onto the floor as she pulled her feet up. The tears fell freely now...tears she had tried to control all day...she finally let them flow. She gripped the shirt and held it tight against her as the sound of her crying filled the empty room. The tears fell faster as she cried. Soon her body was wracked with sobs...uncontrollable sobs...they came from deep within her and continued until she lay weak and exhausted. She rolled onto her back and stared at the ceiling. It was then that she remembered...the letter.
She reached into her pocket and pulled out the letter. She carefully tore open the envelope and unfolded it revealing Bo’s handwriting.
My Sweet Red,
It's our last night here at the Camp, and I can't sleep. I don't know if it's thinking about what lies ahead or thinking about what lies behind that is keeping me awake. Perhaps it's a combination of both.
I want to assure you that I feel like we are ready for what lies ahead. If it comforts you in any way, they have trained us well. We have been told that our mission will be a very important one and could change the course of this war. I am honored to be a part of this mission. I want to serve my country well, and I hope to make you proud.
You are on my mind tonight. I'm lonely without you beside me. I still don't know how someone could grip my heart and soul in so short a time~just a matter of months. But you have, and now I can't imagine my life without you. Unfortunately, we are forced to be apart for as long as this mission will take.
I want you to stay strong. Work hard. Pray hard. Live life fully. Enjoy those around you. Love them and let them love you. Don't hide yourself away. Please. I have to know that you are making an effort to be happy in my absence. I love you so much, Red. I want you to be happy.
You were right about us. I am so happy and thankful that we didn't wait until my return to marry. And if God wills it and I don't return, please know that the times we've shared together have been the happiest days of my life. I carry the memory of those days with me, all of those pictures in my mind. I'm sure there will be many nights like this one where I will think upon those pictures and those memories. I know you will do the same.
In closing, I have left you a gift. It's in the bottom drawer of the bedside table. I think you will like it, and I pray that you will remember me every time you wear it.
Loving you with all my heart, Bo
Nora folded the letter and placed it back in the envelope. Holding it close to her, she wept some more. All of the times she had held back her tears seemed to now come to the surface. She just couldn’t seem to stop. She needed this time just to let the tears flow. What seemed like an eternity later, they finally stopped. She lay exhausted with swollen eyes from crying and an upset stomach from nerves. Then she remembered the gift.
She reached over the side of the bed and into the drawer where she found a black velvet box. She sat up in the bed indian-style and opened the lid. Inside she found a gold filigree necklace with seed pearls surrounding a ruby setting. Beneath the setting another ruby teardrop dangled. It was delicate and beautiful. Inside the box, she also found a folded note.
Red, I hope you like this token of my love for you. I feel I need to explain. When we were young men, my brother and I, Maggie always stressed to us the importance of finding and marrying a 'good woman'. She always quoted a verse to us, Proverbs 31:10. I know it from memory now. It says, Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.I have found that woman in you, Red. This ruby necklace is just a reminder to me of what a treasure you are. Thank you for loving me.
Awwwww....this brought back such memories for me....I married my husband almost 45 yrs ago and he left 2 weeks later for his 2nd tour in Vietnam...this story recalled soooo many "pictures"for me of our tooo short marriage, the inconsolable tears and the every day, every moment wondering and praying for his safety. We were lucky and he came home and we have our life. he was career military and had 20 years MORE of bittersweet deparatures and oh so happy reunions. thanks for this story!
Oh, Rosie. Yours is an amazing story in itself. Thanks for sharing that with me. My husband was in the military for 20 years also. We had many departures and happy reunions too, although we were blessed that he wasn't going during wartime. I write this not from true experience of what Nora is going through. I am only trying to "feel" and express what I think it would be like. I only hope I can come close.