“I’ve heard of it,” Adele said quietly. “A very good organization.”
She nodded. “It isn’t just for show like some other organizations. It does what it says it will do. It was actually started last year by a lieutenant colonel who had lost most of one leg, and it’s really caught on. They connect with amputee veterans across the country. I have come to admire their work greatly.” She straightened a bit. “Of course I couldn’t attend their convention, because that was for the men only, but I do contribute to their national newsletter,The Amputations’ Quarterly.” She stood and went to her suitcase, producing a thin magazine that she handed to Adele. “I wondered if it would be too forward of me to leave this here for Jerry.”
Emotion caught in Adele’s throat. “That is so thoughtful. What does Fred say?”
She scoffed. “I never told him, but one of the men at his office must have seen me going into the building, because I came home that night to an angry, pacing husband.”
“Oh no.”
“He said he wouldn’t allow me to do it, and since I was very pregnant with Arthur at the time, I went along with him, let him have his way. But Arthur is a good baby who has no trouble napping when I am at the office, and Madeleine has a new friend across the hall and is invited to play there whenever I am going out. It’s all come together splendidly. Fred is the only trouble.”
“What will you do about that?”
“You might recall that I am somewhat stubborn.”
That made her laugh. “Somewhat,” she agreed.
“I know what’s important, and this organization is. I am needed there, and oh, it is so nice to know that I am doing some good. For the longest time, I was just going with the crowd, nodding when I should have been thinking for myself. But after you visited me the first time, and we argued, I couldn’t help wondering why we were spending so much time and energy fighting over something like alcohol prohibition when we could be using that to help these poor men.” She shook her head. “I felt very foolish. I have told all that to Fred.” A smile curled her mouth slightly. “I think I might have frightened him a little, because he has not brought up the subject in a while. But I know it is on his mind. He is not happy, and I will admit it is causing some strain between us. Coming here is medicinal for me, I think.”
Adele was speechless. “I had no idea. I’m in awe of you, being a mother and a wife, and still giving up your time.”
“It’s nothing compared to what you’ve done, Adele,” Marie said, taking her hand. “I know you don’t talk about what you went through, but Maman did mention your friend Minnie to me. I’m very sorry for what happened to her. But then you came back here and got right back to nursing. I’m so proud of you. I missed that feeling of being useful, andwhile it’s only volunteer work, the War Amps have made me feel like I am making a difference. Motherhood is one thing, and of course I love my children, but sometimes I envy you your freedom.”
“And this whole time I’ve been dreaming of what you have,” Adele said with a small laugh. “Well, tonight, you can have a taste of that freedom, if you like.”
Marie touched the blue gown, lying on the bed beside her. “This place we’re going must be safe if Jerry would take you there. Don’t think I didn’t notice how you two look at each other. Good thing his brother is a good conversationalist, because it’s fairly obvious you and Jerry only have eyes for each other.”
“Trust me, we will be perfectly all right tonight. Those boys out there doing dishes wouldn’t let anything happen to us, no matter what. And if you’re the slightest bit uncomfortable, just give me a signal, and Jerry will take us home. Oh, let’s go, Marie. I promise you’ll have fun.”
“I don’t want to ruin the evening for you three.”
“Don’t be silly. We’re going because you’re here,” she said with a wink. “Now let’s get ready. I’m dying to see this dress on you.”
Once changed, Marie was a new woman. Adele put on an older, brown dress that she’d altered by raising the hem by about a foot then sewn in a bit of flair with sequins and feathers. She added a little headband, complete with matching decorations.
“Ready!” she said, leading Marie out to the front room again. The men were sitting with Guillaume, each with a cigar, but all three rose and smiled with appreciation, seeing the girls transformed.
“We’ll be the envy of the whole club,” John said.
Marie gave the children quick kisses after making her mother promise it was all right. Maman assured her over and over that yes, she knew how to take care of children.
“I raised two perfect ones already,” she said, kissing them both goodnight.
From the back seat of the Ford, Marie stared out the window,impressed by the well-lit, busy streets of Windsor and the lines of traffic slowing them down.
“Fred might be right,” she said to her sister. “I can’t imagine this is all legal.”
“Oh, it’s not,” Adele assured her. “But the laws need to be rewritten.”
When they pulled up the long driveway to the Riverside Inn, a magnificent white building that could have held four of her family’s homes inside of it, the music flowed outside toward them, and a trumpet soared over a chorus of saxophones. Marie beamed at Adele, and she knew everything was going to be just fine.
Adele had only heard stories about the place, and she was not disappointed. The inside was even more glamorous than the outside. The main restaurant was a very large room with a bright, cheery feel to it and more than twenty tables were set around the perimeter. White tablecloths adorned every one of them, as did a vase of fresh flowers, and the clientele were all elegantly dressed. In the middle was a wide, wood-panelled floor with an orchestra at one end, and couples were taking full advantage of the snappy music filling the air. Swaying a little as she walked, Adele followed the host to a table with a picturesque view of the river; the sun had set, but lanterns blinked along the shore. It was all very romantic.
“This is nice,” Marie said as they sat down. Adele had made sure her sister had a window seat to best enjoy the sight.
Jerry held up a hand, signalling a waiter, and Adele turned to her sister. “Will you have a drink with me?”
“Just one,” she replied cautiously. “I think I’ll need something to even attempt those dances,” she added, nodding toward the couples who moved effortlessly across the floor to the latest popular tune. “What’s good here?”
