“They sound lovely as is. Did you like the service? The sermon?”
“Very much.” Jim stepped behind Mary to let an elderly lady pass. “Your pastor is a great speaker. Dr. Ock—?”
“Ockenga. Harold Ockenga. I visited Park Street Church when I first arrived in Boston. If I was going to live in a historic city, I might as well attend a historic church. But his preaching! Well, it’s wonderful. Every week I’m both inspired and challenged. Isn’t that a perfect combination?”
“Sure is.” Jim smiled at her delighted expression. In high school, Mary had been the invisible sidekick. Although he’d known her for years, in a way, he didn’t know her at all.
“And your family?” Mary turned left on another road, also lined with red brick buildings with white window frames. “How are they? I’m so fond of your mother. She was my favorite Sunday school teacher.”
“She’s still teaching those Bible stories, and Dad’s still building sailboats on the shores of Lake Erie.”
“And your brothers? They’re in the Navy too, aren’t they?” Mary turned right, onto a broader street.
“Ed and Charlie are still in high school, but my older brothers are Navy men. Dan’s on a cruiser in the Atlantic, and Rob’s based in San Diego.” Jim twisted his gold Academy ring, thankful for his brothers’ outstanding records and content to float in their wake.
“And the twins? How are they?”
Jim’s fingers tightened, and he massaged the scar tissue on his palms. “Lillian’s ready to graduate from pharmacy school in June. Ohio State. Nothing can stop her.”
“No, it can’t.” Mary tilted her head in a thoughtful way and watched Jim’s hands. “They were a year behind me in school, so I didn’t know them well, but I always admired Lillian’s tenacity, especially since...”
Since she only had one foot. Jim winced, tugged his jacket straight, and put on a smile. “She’s a spitfire. She and Lucy might look identical, but—”
“But they couldn’t be more different. I heard Lucy married.”
“She did. Martin Freeman, right out of high school.”
“I remember Martin. Everyone liked him.” Mary spread her hands wide toward a park across the road. “Here we are.”
Jim peered down a long walkway lined with trees. A statue of a man on horseback led the way to a brick church with a tall white steeple. He grinned. “Old North Church?”
“‘One, if by land, and two, if by sea.’”
Jim whooped and jogged across the street. He’d always loved the story of Paul Revere, galloping at night, evading British patrols, alerting the people of Lexington before he was arrested on the road to Concord.
He came to a stop at the foot of the statue. Paul Revere, in his tricorn hat, shouting out his warning from his steed.
“The statue was dedicated last year,” Mary said behind him.
“Then I’m glad I came this year.”
“Jim Avery certainly enjoys his tourist attractions.” Arch led Gloria to the statue. “You should have seen him in New York City.”
The cool blonde let out a low laugh. “You’re just jealous, Arch. Deep inside, you want to run around like a little boy too.”
“Only if I’m running after you, darling.”
That must have been the right response, because Gloria nuzzled up to Arch’s shoulder.
Jim leaned closer to Mary and spoke in a stage whisper. “I’m glad you’re in town, so I don’t have to be alone with this lovey-dovey nonsense.”
He led Mary down the mall toward a fountain, leaving the lovebirds cooing to each other by the statue.
“The British are coming! The British are coming!” Raucous voices sounded up ahead. Three young men approached, laughing and jostling each other.
Jim stood taller and scooted closer to Mary.
“Those lousy Brits are still coming.” One of the men spat to the side. “Coming to drag us into another war.”
