Ellie lowered herself into the chair and stared ahead. “Maybe I do,” she finally said. “Or maybe I don’t deserve to be with anyone.”
“Relax,” said Zora. “I was only joking. Besides, it’s not the end of the world.”
Ellie took a breath and exhaled slowly. “Maybe you should sit. There’s something I need to tell you.” When Zora had made herself comfortable, Ellie continued. “Shortly after you and I became friends, you asked me if I’d ever been in love. Do you remember?”
Zora nodded, a knowing look on her face. “I believe you said his name was Michael.”
“Yes, but there was someone else… before Michael. His name was Jack Bennett. You’ve heard me mention my aunt Clara, from Tennessee. Well, when I was nineteen, I spent the summer with her, and it was during that visit that I met Jack. He was a year younger than me, working on the lake at the time. Long story short, the other day you said you had a feeling about that package I received at the bookstore, and…”
Zora’s eyes widened. “It wasn’t just catalogs, was it?”
Ellie handed Zora the book and watched as her eyes scanned the cover.
“Oh my God. He wrote this, didn’t he?”
“Yes, and that’s not all.” She showed Zora the letter.
“It sounds like he knew you quite well,” she said after reading it.
Ellie dropped her eyes. “Yes, he did. In fact, I think he probably knew me better than anyone ever has.”
“Were you in love with him?”
Ellie nodded, the memory of that summer still vivid. “Very much.”
“I take it he was the first man you ever loved.”
“He was more than that,” Ellie confided. “Jack Bennett was my first… everything.”
“How come you never told me about him?”
Ellie shrugged. “It was a long time ago, and I guess I didn’t see any reason to dredge up old memories.”
“So what happened?”
“Summer ended, and we went our separate ways.”
“And that was it? You never saw him again?”
Ellie looked at her, then away as the dread swelled inside her. “I saw him twice after that.” She absently played with her earring. “Once that fall, and again after the war.” And as she stared at his picture, she was reminded of the last time she had seen Jack. It was a meeting that still haunted her…
* * *
April 1953
“Hello. Earth to Ellie.” Outside the beauty salon, Marjorie waved a hand in front of Ellie’s face. But Ellie stared ahead, the way one does when observing a shooting star streaking across the sky, with silent reverence.
“Ellie?”
Finally, Ellie snapped to attention. “Hmm?”
“Is everything okay?” Marjorie gave her a funny look. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
“Yeah, you don’t look so good,” echoed Susan.
“I’m fine,” she reassured them. “Why don’t you go on ahead and get a table. I’ll be along shortly.”
“Are you sure?” Susan asked. “We could wait.”
