“No, Dad, I’ve lost the desire to argue my rights with you. I’m not a child. I’m a grown woman about to embark on a career that will allow me to care for others the way Mom did. It shouldn’t be your decision of who I choose to spend my time with.”
Dad straightens his shoulders, and his neck stiffens. “How dare you speak to me this way? When you live on your own, you can do as you please, but while I still financially support you, I believe I’m entitled to some say in the foolish decisions you make.”
“Foolish?” I’m doing my best to keep the volume of my voice low. I know how this could end if anyone were to hear our conversation. “I love him, Dad. We’ve been going steady for almost three months and I haven’t been able to share that with you because you would rather keep me locked up in our house like a wife without a husband and a mother without children. It’s my turn to live, and it isn’t fair for you to hold me back.”
“You don’t know who you’re getting involved with, Elizabeth. He isn’t just another soldier here on base. That boy—”
“He’s a man—a good man, one you know little about, and aside from that fact, you never let me date anyone on the base. That was unfair too.”
“Elizabeth, I’m furious over your secrets and lies. I have done nothing but try my hardest to give you the best life possible and this is the thanks I get.”
My life felt perfect until Mom died. Dad’s soul died with her, and nothing has come close to that consoling feeling since. We move through life in a spell of breaths and few words. It isn’t something I consider a good life.
“Dad, I received a job offer in Boston,” I say. I didn’t plan to tell him this information until after receiving my certification this weekend, but I suppose the news doesn’t matter much. “And, well—I’m thinking about taking it.”
It’s one thing to prevent me from going steady with a man on base, but it’s another to interfere with my career. It’s something he wouldn’t do unless I was enlisting in the military. His only wish is for me to have a civilian career as a nurse. I’m guessing Everett doesn’t sound like the worst idea to him right now.
16
Current Day - October 2018
The journal—Ithought Makena gave it to me. I lean toward my nightstand and gather the soft leather-bound book in my hand. A desire to hold it up to my nose reminds me of a time when I used to inhale the sweet scent of leather when there wasn’t any other aroma worth inhaling.
I trace my finger down each embossed letter of my name, recalling the look in Everett’s eyes when he handed me the empty pages to fill out all those years ago. I could have been a writer and a nurse. He made it so I could have it all.
17
December 1941
Weeks of silencefollowed the inevitable rendezvous and my completion of nursing school. There wasn’t a celebration or a sense of accomplishment.
Life has continued to push forward, leaving me with nothing but an angry parent and a life-altering decision I must make between the Atlantic and Pacific coast—staying here in an unapproved relationship with Everett or leaving him behind for a career opportunity I should feel grateful to have.
I knew it was only a matter of time before Dad would catch onto me about Everett. I just didn’t know when or how long we might have to enjoy each other’s company without stress.
After the mortifying scene at the paratrooper exhibition, so many thoughts came to mind. I had a lot to fight for, but with the one person I would never want to fight. Dad and I argued for days. I eventually told him that if he felt the need to kick me out because of my differing beliefs on dating, going steady, or Everett in general, I would leave without a fight. He knows I don’t have many options for places to stay, but he is also aware I wouldn’t have too much trouble finding someone to take me in, and the small talk around base would be worse than the current situation we’re living.
Our conversations are brief within the house; nothing more than: hello, goodbye, goodnight, and thank you. He stopped asking where I was going when I left, and I lost interest in hiding my comings and goings. Everett seems determined to have a man-to-man talk with Dad, but I’ve requested that he doesn’t engage in this nonsense. If Dad didn’t make such a deal out of a relationship, Everett could join us for dinner at night and get to know the people I love most, but instead, the boys and I often have secret family dinners at diners without Dad. James and Lewis are fond of Everett, and their feelings toward him mean the world to me. They have both attempted to talk Dad down from his irrational thoughts but have gotten nowhere. I accept that Dad may never approve of anyone for me, and it will drive a wedge between us that we won’t be able to repair.
“There she is,” Everett says, greeting me with open arms. It’s unusual to find him out of uniform, but it’s Saturday night, and we’re going to see a picture at the theatre. Even when not dressed for work, he looks like a heartthrob who has fallen off a movie set. With his taupe fitted dress trousers, a matching vest and bow tie embellished by the vibrant white glow of his button-down shirt, he is sensational and will surely be a sight for sore eyes tonight among the ladies downtown. Everett doesn’t give me reason to worry about the others who noticed his presence here. The tight grip of his hand around mine is all I ever need to feel like nothing could ever go wrong. Together, we walk on water, and though it’s not always practical, the sparks between us make me forget about everything else. Love can do such crazy things.
He’s leaning against the passenger side door of his car, waiting for me to fall into his embrace. “Sorry for making you wait an extra minute. I was waiting on the silly kitchen timer so I could take their casserole out of the oven. I thought I had it all timed out to perfection, but—”
Everett wraps his arms around me and kisses my forehead. “Don’t be ridiculous. I’ve heard some women make a man wait for hours on her while she powders her face to go out for an evening.”
“Oh, no, I could never spend that much time preparing to go out so that I can come home and wash it all away.”
I straighten my posture to step back along the sidewalk so Everett can open the car door. “How is your father this evening?” Everett asks as he does whenever he picks me up at the house.
“I’m not sure. He’s had his head buried in work all day. I poked my head in to say goodbye and let him know dinner was on the table.”
I pinch my skirt to slide into the car, but before Everett can close the door, Dad steps outside onto the front step. He hasn’t been so forward since the exhibition, and I’m terrified of what he is about to say. “Are you truly going to the theatre tonight?” Dad calls out.
Everett clicks his heels together as if it’s an automated response and salutes Dad. The gesture makes me want to roll my eyes, but I refrain. “Yes, sir, I will have her home before ten. Is that all right, Sir?”
Dad slips his hands into his pockets and rolls back on his heels. “Maybe you would like to stay and join us for dinner instead?” I’m questioning if I’m hearing Dad correctly because those words would never form on his lips.
“Dad, we have plans with friends tonight.”
