“What wind is this? Why didn’t it blow my way?”
“I hear things. Out there. Word is Leroy gave him the money.”
“Leroy?” She moved about the office trying to take it all in. “He gave him . . . That’s a whole new low, Doc. Sending my son off to a foreign war without bringing me in. Not letting me say good-bye. Or even better, giving me a chance to knock some sense into him. Oh, that man!”
“I don’t regret helping him. But I do regret keeping it a secret. I need you to know I tried to talk LJ out of it. But if the Canadians figured out what he was really doing entering their country, he could’ve landed in prison. At least with my connections, he’s undera good commander for now. I hear there’s already an American unit under a chap named Charles Sweeney. LJ may end up in his squadron.” Doc tried to take her hand, but she twisted away. “I know you’re upset.”
“Upset? I’m furious.”
“Well, then.” Doc stood to go. “I’ll be off. If you need anything, just—”
“Wait.” He was her last link to LJ. “Why didn’t he tell me?”
“Why do you think?”
“What’s wrong with our Air Force? Eglin is just down the road. Why didn’t he just enlist?”
“Like I said, he thought FDR would keep us out. He’s a young man, Tooz. He wants to test his mettle. Have an adventure. He’s more Leroy than you want to admit,” Doc said. “You raised a good man. Be proud of him, of his courage. To be honest, LJ may end up without a war anyway. Chamberlain wants to negotiate peace with Hitler.”
“Peace? That maniac invaded Poland.” Just then, Dupree looked in. “Did you know too?” she asked. “Did you know your brother was planning to run off?”
“I didn’t think he’d do it. And we’re out of oil for the popcorn.”
“Run ’round to Biggs and buy more. I’ll call the supplier in the morning.”
Dupree lingered a second, then said, “Sorry about LJ, Ma.”
“You don’t have to be strong all the time, Tuesday.” Doc took her hand. “You can depend on others.”
“But I do have to be strong, Doc.” If she let herself feel weak—beweak—she’d fall apart completely, never to be assembled again. She could sense her joints and bones rattling, about to snap. “I have to be strong for Dupree and the Starlight.”
Doc released her hand. “Not much has changed about how I feel, Tuesday, right or wrong. But my heart demands I be your friend first and foremost. So if you—”
“W-when do you think I’ll get his letter?” She ached to hear from him, to read his handwriting, to know that he was okay.
“Soon, I reckon. LJ told me to tell you to keep the Starlight on and he’ll be home as soon as it’s over.”
“Then I guess that’s something, isn’t it?”
25
HARLOW
The Sunday morning golf routine remained a strong tradition in the Cookie and Anne Hayes household. Harlow lay in bed, listening to them bustle about.
“Have you seen my gloves, Anne?”
“In the closet, top drawer. Cook, Marge is on the phone, wants to know if we want to have lunch after.”
“Only if Wayne buys. That skinflint wormed his way out of the last five lunches.”
“You kept count?”
“Yes, I kept count. Anne, where are my shoes?”
Harlow snickered and realized something about home she’d forgotten. Mom and Dad’s morning chatter always felt like love to her.
However, after a week of being in her pink bedroom with the Rick Springfield poster, she knew Buckhead wasn’t where she belonged. Nor New York.
