“Oh, Simon.” A hundred possibilities raged through her head, none of them good. It would take days to fully comprehend.
No matter how long until he left for training, she would stay inWinfield. Together, they could close up his house. Savor every moment as husband and wife.
“I have to report to Fort Knox on Thursday.”
She stared at him, shocked. “That’s in two days!”
“I know.”
She felt as if she might explode now, and it wasn’t from hunger. “When were you planning to tell me?”
“I’ve been scrambling to wrap up my classes, but everything is finished now. I was all packed to drive to Catawba in the morning, but now that you’re here...”
“It’s not enough time.”
“The war won’t last long,” he said, trying to reassure her.
“You can’t see the future, Simon.”
“President Roosevelt won’t let it drag on.”
She released the tree branch, and it sprung between them. “Will they send you to Europe or Japan?”
“I don’t know.”
“Maybe they’ll let you stay in Kentucky. You could teach.”
Laughter rattled his lips. “I doubt the Army has much use for lectures on literature or theology. Perhaps they’ll let me work as a chaplain.”
She was being selfish, she knew, when they needed to fight collectively against the evil, but she couldn’t bear to lose someone else she loved.
“I need more than two days with you,” she said, hating how small her voice sounded. Like she was begging to spend time with her husband. “Weneed more than two days together. If the draft office knows you’ve just married, perhaps they will give you more time.”
“Marriage will not stop them from sending me overseas.” When he kissed her cheek, she smelled smoke on his breath. Had he taken up that wretched habit after he received a draft notice? “We have to enjoy our last hours together.”
She agreed. “I want to meet your parents tonight. We can support each other while you’re gone.”
“They’re visiting friends in Chicago for Easter.”
“Right before you leave?” And in lieu of meeting their new daughter-in-law.
“They already said goodbye.” He looped an escaped lock of hair behind her ear. “But even if they hadn’t, I want to spend my last hours focused on you.”
And how could she argue with that?
A half hour later, he transferred a suitcase to her sedan, and they drove to an elegant inn near Cleveland. The spark rekindled between them as the hours slipped by, their time too short. Early Thursday morning, she drove him to the draft office.
His kiss blazed through her skin again, reigniting her confidence. “Can I visit you at Fort Knox?” she asked as they lingered in the parking lot.
“I hope so,” he said. “I’ll write to let you know.”
Her thoughts returned to the young woman and baby in his home. “Will you keep Izzy and her husband employed while you’re gone?”
“Of course.”
“I’ll check in with them each week.”
“You have enough on your plate, my love. My parents will be responsible for the Winfield house.”
