WAR BRIDE by Sinclair Brenda

Author:Sinclair, Brenda [Sinclair, Brenda]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: grandmother, Brenda Sinclair, war bride, short story, granddaughter, romance, World War II romance, university co-ed, unplanned pregnancy
Publisher: Brenda Sinclair
Published: 2012-03-16T04:00:00+00:00

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Sally settled into a daily routine at the Clark farm, but she couldn’t get through a day without dissolving into tears. Her understanding mother-in-law spent hours each evening with her, sitting outside on the veranda, or knitting in the cozy living room parlor. Sally told Mrs. Clark about the day she met Robert, about their courtship, and their beautiful wedding. She told her about her family back in London and how much she missed them. Mrs. Clark regaled Sally with tales about Robert’s childhood, his ambitions, his kind heart, and his sad death. They’d spent hours gazing through photo albums, and Mrs. Clark showed her all of Robert’s trophies earned in beef club, at first base on the baseball field, or scoring baskets on a basketball court.

Although it was unusual for a married woman to work outside the home, Mrs. Clark had stepped in as a substitute teacher until a suitable single girl could be hired for the small community nearby. To repay Mrs. Clark’s kindness, Sally spent her time cooking and cleaning, and weeding the garden.

Alexander Clark had injured his back years ago on the farm and turned it over to his sons. He owned and operated the lumberyard in the same nearby town, with a staff of able-bodied young men to help him. He ate lunch at the corner café every week day where he claimed he learned more about the goings on around town than he did reading the weekly newspaper.

That left Sally to prepare lunch for Jimmy. Although she felt nervous at first, left home alone with a strange man, Sally soon overcame her shyness toward Jimmy and enjoyed their daily conversations while he ate.

The gingham curtains ruffled in the breeze while Sally heated up homemade chicken noodle soup and prepared ham sandwiches for Jimmy’s lunch. She’d been on the farm for exactly two weeks already, and she couldn’t believe how quickly the time had sped by. She kept herself busy with chores every day, but the nights in Robert’s bed remained long and lonely.

At twelve o’clock sharp, Jimmy charged into the porch and splashed water into an old metal basin.

“It’s all ready,” Sally called over her shoulder.

“Always is,” he shouted back, washing up before eating.

Sally noticed he wore a different plaid shirt every day with well-worn denim trousers, and he always parked his mud-encrusted work boots at the back door. The thoughtful fellow she was becoming quite fond of pussy-footed it across the kitchen floor on sock feet and flopped onto a chair at the kitchen table. She smiled and placed his lunch in front of him.

“Eat up. I’ll be right back.” She blushed with the realization that Jimmy would deduce her destination was the outhouse.

Sally headed outside and the screen door slammed behind her. She started toward the small building painted in a dark blue, some distance away, hidden among a clump of lilac bushes. As she rounded the corner of the house, she encountered the family milk cow – a white-faced Hereford cross, nasty tempered, threatening, and the size of an elephant in her mind.

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