I stand from the sand too and sweep the back of my dress off as the loose fabric winds around my legs through the wind’s pull. “I’m not afraid of you, Everett. I feel so much, and we’ve only known each other for such a short time. Of course, without a tomorrow, how will we know what today will bring? I’m scared there’s a flaw in my way of thinking.”
“A flaw, Miss Lizzie? There isn’t a flaw about you, not one I can see. If every day ends up being like today, wouldn’t life be magnificent? Imagine never growing old and always feeling this way. Would that make you happy?”
Without a doubt. “Thrilled, indeed.”
Everett’s fists curl by his side as if panic is rising through him, but as his gaze lowers to my lips, his intent becomes clearer than the glittering sky. I’m left without time to take in a full breath or hold on to the air left in my lungs as he lunges in my direction, curling me into his arms and bringing me flush to his body. His cradling arms lower me as he studies my eyes with intent, as if searching for something he never thought he’d find. The spicy scent of his cologne and mint from his breath heat and cool my skin at the same moment, creating a haze of euphoric comfort. Then, his lips press to mine as our hearts wrestle from within our chests. His hands hold me with what feels like such little effort, yet so much strength. Within his arms, I feel like I could never fall. The wind returns with a push and shove, tangling the fabric of my dress around both pairs of our legs. My hair sweeps across his neck and his hands tighten around my back. I need air, but what’s the point? I will gladly embrace a light-headed feeling to allow this moment to continue.
When my feet are flat against the sand and my posture upright, I know the kiss is ending. I want to loop my arms around his neck and hold on a little longer, but I’m a lady and though I choose to think on my own, I must always show a level of grace.
His lips part from mine and the passing breeze leaves my lips stinging with a chill from the loss of his borrowed warmth.
“I’m simply crazy about you, Lizzie.”
My hands fold over my chest because I feel breathless just standing in this man’s presence. I never imagined feeling this way.
“I’m not sure I can find the proper words to respond.” The nerves flickering through my body pull my gaze toward the sand.
“Perhaps, I stole your thoughts,” he says.
I glance up through my lashes, catching him biting down on his bottom lip.“My heart, too.”
“And to think, we can do this all over again tomorrow as if today never happened.”
I want to tell him it will be all I think about until we see each other again. “How will we find each other next time?” I ask.
Everett drops his head and reaches his hand into his pocket, then pulls retrieves a small piece of a note paper with an address scribbled in ink. “You can always find me here before zero nine hundred and after seventeen hundred hours. The side entrance is never used.”
I fold the paper into a square and place it into the pocket of my dress. “Well, I won’t say I’ll see you tomorrow, but if tomorrow is anything like today, then I think we both know what the future holds.”
15
October 1941
If livinga lie means feeling as though I’m wound up tightly like a spool of thread, day and night with a racing heart, and having the inability to calm the sparks of excitement coursing through my nerves, I suppose there are worse things I could be doing.
The intricate timing of sneaking away and hiding in the shadows from the peepers with big mouths is the only way Everett and I could continue seeing each other throughout the summer. Even after broaching the topic with Dad several times, referencing the idea of dating, not one conversation ended in my favor. I have given up hope of forcing him to understand he’s being unreasonable. He’s left me no choice but to go about my business in secrecy, at least until I have my nursing certification in hand.
With Everett’s barracks in view, I ride around to the back side of the building near the corner stairwell, the one he’s always told me to use. Each morning, I remove my heels to hide the clunky sounds of my feet as I jog up the cement stairs. Everett says he never hears me coming, which I sometimes prefer. I find it rather fun to catch him off guard if I show up a few minutes earlier than expected.
However, I suspect he might be on to me as I find him locking his door when I reach the third floor. “Not today, doll-face.” I hold my shoes up to my chest, unsure what he means. “I have an idea.”
“Well, I can’t say I don’t love the ideas you come up with.”Spontaneous. Everett doesn’t like routine, which is ironic considering his newfound career path. “What kind of idea takes less than an hour?” This is my last week of classes. Graduation is this weekend, and I’m giddy at the thought of completing three long years of training.
Everett steals the few steps between us and wraps his arm around my waist, pulling me in to kiss me with a soft caress of his lips. His cap slips off his head like it does any time we kiss before work. He’s dressed to the nines, and I come along and steal a piece of perfection. “Gosh, you smell nice. You know, plumeria and coconut are my favorite.” He retrieves his cap from the ground and dusts off the sides before replacing it on the precise center of his head.
“I know it’s your favorite, silly.”
Everett places his hand on his heart, closes his eyes and winces in comical pain. “You sure know how to drive a guy wild. I will give you that, Miss Lizzie.”
“Well, only you.”
I take Everett’s hand and tug him toward the stairwell. “Hold on now. I have something I want to give you.”
What could he want to give me this early in the morning in the middle of a work week? “You have something for me?” I question.
His smirk tugs to the right like it does when he’s being coy or shy, which isn’t often. I’ve only seen the look a few times before. He reaches into the pocket inside his jacket and pulls out a leather-bound book. “I know we’re only together for today and we’ve joked about going steady, but if there ever comes a time when I can’t be with you, I want you to have something, so you know I’m thinking about you. Because, even if there isn’t a tomorrow, it would take forever for me to forget you.” Everett hands me the book. “It’s a journal for you to document meaningful moments of your life. Since it’s hard to imagine a day without listening to your poetic and worldly thoughts, this book will be like a passage to my soul and you can rest knowing your words will never go unheard.”
I can’t find the words to speak because I might cry if I open my mouth. I can only wonder if he’s preparing to move again and hasn’t had the heart to tell me yet. He’s afraid something will happen. “This is a wonderful gift,” I utter, tracing my fingers along the etched lines of my name he had pressed into the leather. “Is everything okay, Everett? Are you leaving?”
