A Memory Between Us by Sarah Sundin

Author:Sarah Sundin [Sundin, Sarah]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2011-03-09T22:00:00+00:00

29

Bowman Field, Louisville, Kentucky

Sunday, November 28, 1943

Ruth pointed to the orientation material as she and May walked from the barracks to the classroom building. “Talk about expecting the worst. Crash procedures, ditching procedures, field survival, the use of side arms.”

“Because the Japanese don’t follow the Geneva Conventions. At least those subjects are practical. What about military customs and courtesy?”

“We’re in the Army Air Force now.” Ruth still smarted from the morning bunk inspection. The hospital corner on her cot was one-quarter inch off, and she had to start all over. The Army Nurse Corps hadn’t put her through these boot camp hoops when she joined. This was like the first months of nursing school before she got capped, but with calisthenics.

“And look at these academic subjects: aeromedical physiology, neuropsychiatry …”

“I don’t know what will hurt more—our brains or our bodies.”

About twenty feet behind Ruth, a nurse belted out “Oh,

What a Beautiful Mornin’.” The roar of a twin-engined C-47 cargo plane overhead couldn’t drown out the girl’s big voice.

Yes, it was a beautiful day, crisp and cool, without England’s smothering dampness and grief, without Chicago’s biting cold and shame. What a blessing.

A new trace of pink colored May’s pale cheeks. Would the taxing eight-week program help her come to terms with Charlie’s death? With Charlie listed as Missing in Action, she might deny his fate indefinitely.

“Charlie loves to sing,” May said with a sigh. “I sure miss his voice.”

Ruth looped her arm through May’s and gritted her teeth. Time for another push. “What if—what if he doesn’t come home?”

For once May didn’t reprove her, which was progress. “Then I won’t hear his voice until I get to heaven, but oh, how lovely it’ll be then.”

“But how will you manage?”

“Same as now, by leaning hard on God’s arms.”

Every one of Ruth’s facial muscles tightened. “How can you trust him? He took your parents. He took Thomas. He took Charlie.”

May stopped on the concrete walkway and turned those penetrating eyes to Ruth. “He let you be raped? He let Jack find out your secret?”

Ruth clamped her lips together and gave a sharp nod. “I know why I was punished, but you—”

“Punished? You think the rape was punishment?”

“I know it was, and Jack, and everything.”

May closed her eyes and pressed her hand over Ruth’s for so long that the alto passed them singing about Oklahoma corn.

“Oh, honey,” May whispered. “A child playing with fire gets burned, but that’s not punishment.”

Ruth’s stomach simmered. “The Lord could have stopped it. I prayed.”

“Yes, and he could have kept Charlie’s plane aloft, but he didn’t. I don’t know why, but he has a reason—to teach us to rely on him alone, to get us to change direction.”

Ruth curled her free arm around her roiling stomach. “Well, he certainly got me to change direction, but why did Jack have to find out? I’ve changed.”

“Mm-hmm. Have you asked God to forgive you?”

“So many times I’ve lost count.” Her mouth puckered. No, she would not cry her first day at the School of Air Evacuation.

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