“Nothing is wrong.” I try to swallow the lump in my throat, but the way he’s looking at me, it makes my body weak. “I—I just decided on something today and acted on it before anyone would have the chance to talk me out of it.”
Everett closes his eyes, his dark lashes sweep across his high cheekbones, and he holds his palm up to the side of his face. “You enlisted.” He isn’t asking. He knows.
“Everett, I know it’s not what you or anyone wants for me, but you must understand, it’s my calling and I can’t ignore the thoughts reeling through my head. I am positive I am cut out to be a part of the Army Nurse Corps. You can’t argue. You just can’t. We both know it’s only a matter of time before you receive orders for a deployment, and I refuse to sit here like a lady and wait for all the blood, sweat and tears to pass before our nation becomes safe again. I can’t imagine the helpless feeling of not being where I’m needed—wherever that may be.”
“I understand, Lizzie. Believe me, I get it. I will not stand in your way or make you think your decision isn’t right. Over the past week, you have proven your strength, courage, and determination in a way that I’ve never seen before. I see why you feel like this is your direction. I feel the same way about my own.”
I take Everett’s hands within mine. “You know, I don’t want you to think the thought of us, you and me, our future hasn’t crossed my mind, but we’re going to have all the time in the world for that after the war ends. I’m sure my decision would have been harder if you were a civilian. The thought of leaving you behind breaks my heart into millions of pieces, but neither of us will leave the other behind. We both have duties to fulfill before we can reach a point where there are no obstacles between us.”
Everett pulls in a long inhale. “Everything you said is accurate, Lizzie. It’s going to be hard not worrying about you, though.”
I place my hand on his chest and stare up into his eyes. “We can’t think that way. If this world has a plan for us, which I believe in my heart, it does, then we will be together after this is over. We have to have faith in fate. Don’t you believe everything happens for a reason?”
“What does fate think about all the tomorrows and yesterday’s?” Everett asks, his heart pounding beneath my hand.
“Fate outweighs the days, weeks, and months—it outweighs time. Fate is where we end up when we end up there. Knowing you will be there is all the determination I need to keep my focus where it should be. It will get me through the long days, nights, and months. It will carry me through until we win this battle.”
Another set of headlights flashes against the living room window. “Is that your father?”
“Probably.”
“You haven’t told him yet, have you?”
I drop my gaze down between our feet. “I was hoping you might be next to me when I do.”
Everett lifts his hand to cover his eyes for a moment. “I thought you said we were both going to survive this, Lizzie? I’m going to be lucky if I make it out of this house alive tonight.”
“There are worse ways to go, right?”
“You know, you’re right. Everything you have said over the last ten minutes couldn’t be further from the truth because I honestly feel deep down in my heart that you, Elizabeth Salzberg, will probably be the death of me.” A soft chuckle emits from his mouth before I press up on my toes to steal a quick kiss before Dad walks into the house.
The moment the door opens, Everett clicks his heels together and tosses his hand up to salute Dad.
“Everett, I didn’t know you’d be joining us tonight. Put your hand down, son. You’re off duty.” Dad greets him, before me, his daughter, but I’d prefer that over the trying months of wishing Dad would accept Everett as my boyfriend rather than Mr. Hollywood, as he referred to him until recently.
Dad turns around and kisses me on the forehead. His eyebrow rises with skepticism as he glances at my face but doesn’t pursue a line of questioning for the time being. “I’m going to rinse off and change out of uniform. I’ll be ready for supper shortly. Your brothers are due home any moment now too,” Dad says before heading down toward his bedroom.
“It seems my father has taken a liking to you,” I say, pinching Everett’s chin. With a pivot of my heels, I return to the kitchen to check on the simmering candied carrots.
“The house smells like a slice of heaven, Lizzie. Do I smell meatloaf?” Everett questions, reaching for the metal handle of the oven.
I swat at his hand with the dish towel. Don’t touch. I want to keep the steam inside. “But, yes, meatloaf—”
“Whipped potatoes,” he continues with a wink.
“And candied-carrots,” I finish.
“You outdid yourself tonight. How did you get all this done after volunteering at the hospital all day?”
I point my potholder at him. “Never question a woman’s ability to perform magic.”
Everett holds his hands up in defense. “Yes, Ma’am. Well, I’m thankful for the kind invitation to join you all for a showdown tonight, and the deliciously smelling meatloaf too.”
The nerves in my belly fizzle again after nearly forgetting my intentions of winning my family over with their favorite meal. Everett uses the free time to inspect the framed portraits hanging on the wall between the kitchen and family room. They have been hanging in the same spot since I was a child. Mom loved family portraits, even though James and Lewis often fooled with her about hanging up photographs of the people she sees more than anyone else in the world.Why look at a picture when you can look directly at us in living form?
“Someday, these portraits will be important to you. They represent a moment in time that you will long for again. You may not appreciate these framed beauties now, but there will come a day when they will be the reason you smile first thing in the morning,” she said often.
“Your hair was so light when you were younger, and those freckles,” Everett calls over.
