Lost and Found in Lavender Bay by Brouder Michele

Author:Brouder, Michele
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: anonymous
Published: 2024-06-26T00:00:00+00:00

The following night, they went out dancing. They met up with Diana and Betty, as Laura was eager for Edwin to meet them. Joy had planned to come out as well, but one of her kids was sick and she decided to stay home.

They danced all night, rarely sitting down. They jitterbugged to Glen Miller’s “In the Mood,” and when the orchestra played “Begin the Beguine,” Edwin held her close, his hand folded over hers against his chest.

Diana and Betty didn’t stay late as they were on the morning shift, but Laura and Edwin stayed long after they left. They practically had to be kicked out of the place, stumbling out in the early hours of the morning, Edwin’s right arm slung around her shoulders, a lit cigarette in his other hand. The cool air was a welcome relief. They were sweaty from all the dancing, and Laura’s hair was damp and clung to the nape of her neck.

“The fresh air feels good,” Edwin said.

“It sure does. I can’t remember the last time I danced like that.”

“I don’t think we’ve ever danced like that.”

“No, we haven’t.” Impulsively, she reached for his hand and kissed his knuckles.

“You’ve got nice friends, Laura. I’m glad.”

“I wish you could have met Joy. She is one top-notch gal.”

“Where’s her husband?”

“He’s in Europe as well.”

They walked two blocks in silence with only the moonlight to guide their way, due to blackout restrictions, Laura simply enjoying being in his company.

“Do you ever get lonely, Laura?” he asked.

She snorted. “Every night when I go to bed by myself.”

“No, seriously.”

His mood had shifted. She’d noticed that the last time he was home. Suddenly he would become very somber. He could be in the middle of laughing and yukking it up, and then he’d go quiet, as if someone had flipped a switch.

Laura’s left hand held on to his right hand, which was slung around her shoulder, and she slid her free hand around his waist.

“Edwin, where do you go when you go quiet?”

“Huh?”

“Where are you right now?”

He took a long drag on his cigarette and flicked the elongated ash onto the sidewalk. “I don’t know. I think of what’s going on over there and all the guys I’ve left behind, and I don’t know if I should be here.”

She stopped walking and frowned. “What do you mean? Do you not want to be home with us?”

“More than anything, sweetheart. But last week, we lost five guys in our unit.” He shook his head, his eyes narrowing as cigarette smoke drifted in front of his face.

They turned to face each other, and Edwin went on. “As much as I love coming home—and it’s the only thing that keeps me going, knowing that I have you and the girls waiting for me—there’s a part of me that feels guilty for enjoying myself when I’m here. Especially when so many men, some a lot younger than me, will no longer enjoy anything.”

Laura took both his hands. “Oh, Edwin.” She knew something about guilt and how it could eat you up inside.

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