“Oh! Dash talks about you. She’s been so concerned,” Ginny said.
His smile flashed in the streetlight. “I’m a terrible letter writer.”
“That is very true,” Dash replied. “The family is going to be so relieved when I tell them I saw you! Can we go somewhere to talk?”
“Lovely to meet you,” Ginny said tactfully, tugging Mary away. “I imagine you two have a lot of catching up to do. We’ll see you back at the Coop, Dash.”
“Don’t stay out all night!” Mary sang, dancing down the sidewalk.
Gus was still smiling at Dash. “Where shall we go? There’s a diner nearby that stays open late.”
“That sounds perfect.”
They found a little table by the window, took off their coats, and settled in.
“I can’t believe you’re here,” she said, bubbling over with questions. “Tell me everything. Where are you stationed? Did you have to go overseas? I want to know it all.”
He leaned back in his chair, looking as happy as she felt. “Ladies first, Dash. Where are your manners?”
They talked for hours, and as they did, Dash grasped the extent of the hole Gus had left when he’d gone away. Sitting with him now, she felt like an empty mug being filled with warm cocoa. They chatted about home and friends and memories, and she told him all about the Wrens. She contemplated telling him about Jim, but she decided against it. Knowing she was having trouble might upset him, and there was nothing he could do about it anyway. She could hardly sit still when she told him she hadflown Jenny on her own. When he asked about her parents, she’d ended up telling him about Fred, and they’d grown silent.
“And Dot?” he finally asked, his voice softer after Fred’s sad news.
“Oh! I can’t believe I didn’t tell you straightaway.” She banged the heel of her hand against her forehead. “Dot’s with the Wrens! She’s training right now.”
“I knew she would join.”
“You did? I didn’t.”
He chuckled. “You joined. There was no way she was going to let you do something without her. She just had to work up the nerve. Have you heard how she’s doing?”
“She writes to me all the time, like clockwork. She’s a little overwhelmed, I think, but she’s making friends and enjoying herself.”
“I’m proud of her. That must have been quite a hurdle.”
“I wonder where she’ll be assigned.”
“I imagine there are so many departments that would value her skills. Communications for sure. The way she thinks is so unique. I think it’s safe to say she won’t be joining you.” He flipped one of her hands over. “I see you’re still working with engines.”
She laughed. “Occupational hazard.” She told him more about her job, still avoiding any mention of Jim, and eventually she wound it back to Gus.
“You still haven’t told me what you are up to.”
His shoulders lifted and dropped. “I wish I had something exciting to tell you, but you’d be disappointed. I’m not fighting, obviously, so they keep me busy with other stuff. Your life sounds much more interesting than mine, which is composed mostly of push-ups and marching and fascinating things like that.”
“I bet it’s more interesting that what you’re letting on,” she pressed.
“It’s not.”
Dash studied him, unsure how to feel about his statement. “The army’s missing out on someone really great, but then again, I’m happy to know you’re not over there fighting.”
“Thanks, Dash.”
Eventually, she glanced out the window and admitted she needed to get some sleep.
“Are you coming home for Christmas?” she asked. “Everyone would love to see you.”
He winced. “I don’t know. I’m not stationed here. I was just sent to the city as an errand boy. I have no idea when they’ll need me again or where.”
