Beyond the Shadow of War (9 page)

Anya said nothing, trying to comprehend his meaning. She hoped he wasn’t suggesting she should somehow appreciate all the heartache and sorrows of the past five years. That would be ludicrous. Surely he was just trying to sound poetic and philosophical in his own silly way.

“Hey.”

“Hey what?”

He shifted to face her. “You’re so quiet. Did I say something wrong?”

“I don’t know. Did you?” She couldn’t help notice the concern pinching a crease between his brows.

“Anya?”

“Yes?”

“I wasn’t suggesting that you‌—‌”

“Good. I’m glad.” She straightened, turning to look back at the sunset, not quite trusting herself to say more.

“If I said something wrong, it was unintentional.”

She nodded, her eyes following a seagull floating in the breeze just beyond them, perfectly still aloft some invisible air current. Then, just beyond it, as her eyes focused on the stunning sunset, she tamped down her insecurities, took a deep breath, and slowly blew it out.

“Ah, don’t listen to me,” he said, wrapping his arms around her again. “I’m just a blubbering fool in love on a pebbled beach in England.”

“Yes, I believe you are.”

“Just say you’ll always love me, even when my foot is permanently lodged in my mouth.”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

10

Over the next day and a half, Danny and Anya relaxed in the charming seaside town, thankful for the slower pace and the simple pleasure of being together. They climbed the steps to the highest point in town and enjoyed the view of both town and sea. They visited the Aldeburgh Parish Church of Saint Peter and Paul, surprised how similar its interior design was to the Framlingham church where they married. Behind it, they wandered through the ancient graveyard filled with crooked and crumbling tombstones dating back to the seventeenth century.

“Look at this one, Anya.”

Here lyeth the body of Thomas Cornwaleys gent

who married Y sole daughter of Rich Farnsworth of Halesworth gent

and by her had Yssve 3 sonnes & 2 daughers.

He dyed Y 23th of Decem 1664.

“I wonder why his wife’s name isn’t included,” she said.

“I don’t know, but if you ask me their spelling is atrocious,” he teased with a smirk. “Must not’ve had any dictionaries on hand back then.”

Anya rolled her eyes and punched him playfully. “It’s almost three hundred years old, Danny. I’m sure the language was much different then.”

“Look at this one over here.”

In memory of Richard Longsworth

who departed this life on April 12th in the 45th year of his life.

Behold my friend as you pass by, as you are now, so once was I:

as I am now, so you must be, prepare for death and follow me.

“Rather bleak, isn’t it?” she said.

“Yes, it is. Oh, look at this one. It has only one word‌—‌
Baby.
How odd.”

“It’s so old the rest of the engraving must have worn off through the years.”

“I suppose.” Anya laced her fingers with his. “It’s so sad.”

Danny squeezed her hand and tugged her along. They’d never talked about someday having children, but a baby’s gravestone was hardly the place to have such a conversation. Still, he wondered again what their life together would look like if they’d met under different circumstances. If they’d met at school, or at a party like others. It was useless to spend time with such thoughts, but he couldn’t help wondering if they would ever be free from all the sadness. He sure hoped so.

They visited shops selling seashells and handmade jewelry, hand-carved replicas of the historic buildings, and frequented the little bakery that served delightful cookies called chocolate digestives. The malty confection dipped in milk chocolate reminded Danny of a graham cracker. They bought two extra tins to take back with them.

Early the next morning, Danny and Anya took one last walk on the pebbled beach among the tiny boats pulled ashore, and the long rows of beachside villas, beautifully painted in a wide assortment of pastels.

Anya paused to look out across the water. “It’s so beautiful here, I hate to leave. Seems like we just got here, doesn’t it?”

“I was just thinking the same thing.” He stopped and stood behind her, circling his arms around her shoulders, and resting his head atop hers. He loved the way they always fit together; loved the way he towered over her as if he’d been designed for the sole purpose of protecting her. He cherished the moment, wishing it didn’t have to end.

“Do most people take long trips for their honeymoons?”

“They do in America. At least they did before the war. How about we plan on taking a real honeymoon once we get home? We could go somewhere special, like Niagara Falls, or maybe we could go to a
real
beach somewhere and squish sand between our toes. How does that sound?”

She nodded but didn’t answer.

“Anya?”

She turned to look up at him. “Yes?”

“Are you okay? Did I say something wrong again?”

“No, not at all. It’s just that …”

“It’s just what?”

She studied his eyes for a moment, then quietly whispered, “I’m still a little nervous about everything. And I hate feeling this way, like … ”

He brushed aside a strand of hair from her forehead. “Like what?”

She shrugged. “I don’t want to ruin what little time we have left with any more of my silly worries.”

“They aren’t silly to me.”

She glanced away. “I’m trying. Truly I am. It’s just difficult for me to think of America as ‘going home’.” She looked up at him again. “But if I’m honest, it’s not just about the idea of living somewhere so far away from my homeland. It’s how I’ll be going there. And when.”

He couldn’t avoid her eyes this time when the subject came up. He’d put it off as long as he could, but as her blue-gray eyes searched his, he knew it was time.

He smiled. “I suppose it’s been the elephant in the room since we left Framlingham. No use putting it off any longer.”

“What do you mean? What elephant?”

He chuckled. “You’ve never heard that expression before?”

“No. What does it mean?”

“Well, if we were back in our room at the inn, imagine an elephant standing right in the middle of the room. It would be impossible not to notice, right? So the expression refers to something rather obvious that, for whatever reason, we’re avoiding. Like talking about how you’ll get to America.”

Her smile didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Oh.”

“To be honest, I haven’t looked into it yet. I didn’t want to jump that far ahead because …” he paused with a sheepish grin, “well, if you must know, I wasn’t sure you’d show up at the church to marry me.”

“What? Why? Did you think I would change my mind?”

“The thought crossed my mind.”

Anya placed her palms against his chest. “I would
never
have done that to you. I won’t pretend I didn’t have some second thoughts. But Sophie assured me that was perfectly normal.”

“Good for her. Remind me to thank her when we get back.”

Her eyes glistened. “You’re all I’ve got now, Danny. Without you, I might never have gotten up off that dirty floor at home.”

He took a deep breath and pulled her closer in his arms. “Then hear me when I say that I’ll do everything I can to work all this out, getting you to America. Even if we can’t go together, I’ll pester them day and night to get you all the way to Chicago as soon as possible. Fair enough?”

She sighed with a sad smile. “I guess that means I won’t be riding with you in one of those B-17s?”

“Pretty sure
that
won’t be happening.” He kissed her gently, softly. Then, pulling back he said, “But thanks for not fretting about it these last few days. Or at least not obsessing over it, especially after Sybil brought up the subject.”

“Yes. I think perhaps that elephant has been with us ever since.”

He kissed her again, tightening his embrace.

“Danny, it just occurred to me. When we get back to Framlingham, will you have to stay on base or can you stay with me at the pub now that we’re married?”

Danny blinked. “Oh, I’ll be staying with you at the pub,” he asserted. “Wild horses couldn’t keep me away.”

“Horses?”

“Never mind.”

15 June 1945 

The short bus ride to Framlingham marked the end of their honeymoon. Anya spotted Sophie and Charlie standing beside Patrick’s automobile in the parking area. As they stepped off the bus, Anya waved, thinking Charlie had seen them. Instead, he turned to say something to Sophie. Neither of them looked happy.

Danny joined her on the pavement, carrying both their bags. He followed Anya’s gaze to the parking lot. “Whoa. I wonder what’s going on.”

Something churned in Anya’s stomach as she watched the agitated conversation between their friends. “I was just wondering the same thing.”

As they neared their friends, Sophie looked up and smiled. Anya hoped it was a good sign.

She gave Anya a hug. “Hello! How was your trip?”

“It was wonderful,” she said as brightly as she could.

“Welcome back, buddy,” Charlie said, giving Danny a hearty handshake. “Although it sure seems like we just put the two of you on that train for London.”

“I had the same thought.”

A few moments later, they settled into the car. “So? How was it?” Sophie asked.

Danny and Anya looked at each other and smiled. “It was great. Really great,” he said with a chuckle.

“Yes?” Sophie said, her eyes locked on Anya. “You had fun? Lots and lots of fun?”

“Yes, it was wonderful. London is such a beautiful city‌—‌or was, I should say. It’s been terribly damaged, of course, but we were able to see Buckingham Palace, and even caught a glimpse of the king and queen as they passed by in a motorcade and‌—‌”

“And?” Sophie asked.

Anya stopped, glancing back and forth between Sophie and Danny. “And we visited St. Paul’s Cathedral‌—‌”

“And?”

“Sophie, let Anya speak, won’t you?” Charlie teased.

Anya pinned Danny with a look of desperation.

“Oh! Yeah, it was great,” he said. “Then, we took the train to Aldeburgh. Beautiful little seaside fishing town. Much more relaxing. We should have spent our whole honeymoon there.”

“Isn’t it lovely?” Sophie said.

“What’s happening at the 390th?” Danny asked. “Have I missed anything?”

A look passed between Sophie and Charlie before he spoke. “Oh, you know, just a lot of grunt work getting the base ready to close down.”

Another look flittered between them.

Then a look passed between Anya and Danny.

“All right, Charlie, what is it? What’s going on?” Danny asked.

“Nothing that can’t wait,” he said, with a quick glimpse through the rearview mirror.

Anya reached for Danny’s hand.

“Seriously, Charlie. Out with it. What’s going on?”

Charlie eyed him again through the mirror, then slumped a bit. “Your orders came through.”

Sophie turned to face them. “For the record,
I
didn’t think we should tell you yet. I didn’t want to greet you with such news.”

“Yes, and we see how well
that
worked out,” Charlie countered. He put the car in gear as they got on the road, then reached over to squeeze Sophie’s hand.

Anya looked from Charlie to Sophie, then over at Danny again. Whatever had churned in her gut earlier had solidified into a boulder on her chest.

“And what are my orders, Charlie?” he asked quietly.

He sighed again. “You’ll be leaving Wednesday to fly a Fort back.”

Danny gasped. “
Next
Wednesday? As in five days from now?”

“I’m afraid so.”

Anya closed her eyes with a hushed groan, even as Danny threaded his fingers through hers with a tight grip.

“I’m sorry, buddy. The plan is to move all the planes out over the course of three days beginning Saturday.”

“Wait‌—‌you said ‘I’ll’ be flying out this weekend. You meant us, right? You and me?”

“No, just you, actually. Since I’ll be staying here once I’m discharged, I won’t be flying back to the States with you. One less seat to fill on flights home, I suppose. The paperwork came through yesterday.”

Silence filled the car for several moments. Anya steeled herself against the fear washing over her. She freed her hand to press the bridge of her nose.

“Danny, surely you can tell them you’re staying too, can’t you?” she pleaded. “At least until we can figure out a way for me to‌—‌for
us
to fly to America together?”

“Sure, I can ask, but chances are they’ve already assigned me to a crew and a Fort.”

“They have,” Charlie said. “I saw the roster myself. You’ll be flying with Sol Mancini’s crew.”

“But you’ll talk to someone, won’t you?”

“Of course I will, Anya. I just don’t want you to get your hopes too high.”

“But what about the colonel who helped you come back to Holland to find me? Maybe he can‌—‌”

“Moller’s already back in the States,” Charlie said. “There’s a new CO here now.”