Page 117 of The Girls of Pearl Harbor
Eva shook her head and reached for Grace’s hand, hating how stiff it felt. ‘No,’ she said softly. ‘I think you’re wonderful, Grace. You’ve been a great friend to me, and you’re so brave, but you’ve never loved nursing like I have. It’s all I wanted to do, and it still is. I need to do this.’
Grace’s hand softened, and her friend’s fingers slowly clasped hers back. ‘I know I said I would pretend to be married to Teddy to go home, but—’
‘Grace, you took a bullet that day on the beach. You’re injured, and you have every right to go home to recover,’ April said, and Eva had to laugh at the way they’d fallen back into their old ways. Only this time she was almost certain that Grace liked it. ‘I saw that bullet hit you. In fact, I see it every time I close my eyes. You’re one of the bravest nurses I know.’
‘Even if she is still scared of blood?’ Eva teased, receiving a swat from Grace that had her ducking out of reach.
‘Eva,’ April said, her tone suddenly an octave lower. ‘Here he comes.’
Eva slowly turned, her pulse quickening as she saw Art, pushing his own wheels with Harry walking beside him. She gave him a little wave as his eyes caught hers.
‘Promise me, Grace, that you’ll look after him on the way home,’ she said, not taking her eyes from Art as she spoke. ‘I need to know you’ll care for him just like you’ll be caring for Teddy.’
Grace’s hand fell over her shoulder. ‘I promise, with all my heart.’
‘Thank you.’
Eva stood with April on one side and Grace on the other, smiling as Art reached her, clearly out of breath from the exertion but no doubt proud he’d made the journey without help.
He reached for her, and she dropped to his knee, nestling in his lap and scooping her arms around his neck. She wasn’t going to stand beside him when she could sit with him.
‘Huh-hmm,’ Harry grunted. ‘You’re supposed to wait untilafterthe vows to kiss the bride.’
‘And a man is supposed to have two legs, so how about we forget about rules, huh?’ Art sniped back, claiming Eva’s mouth as everyone around them erupted into laughter that she knew she’d never forget the sound of, for as long as she lived.
‘I can’t believe it’s goodbye.’
Eva dropped to her knee, clasping Art’s hands, her head falling to his lap as she tried desperately not to cry. For so many months, tears had refused to fall when she’d wanted more than anything to grieve, and instead she’d felt nothing. Now, she felt everything, every stab of pain as she thought of Art sailing home without her, every jab of fear, every burst of nerves.
‘This war will be over in no time, and you’ll be coming home to me,’ he said, his fingers in her hair, stroking her as she lay collapsed against his knee. ‘Look at me, Eva.’
She slowly looked up, wishing they’d had just one day together as husband and wife before he’d had to leave. Instead, they’d had hours.
Art’s fingers curled beneath her chin, and he smiled down at her, his gaze filled with unshed tears, his smile so sweet it took her breath away.
‘I’m so proud to have you as my wife. My family are going to think you had rocks in your head to marry a grumpy idiot like me, but they’re going to fall in love with you just like I have.’
She rose and pressed her mouth to his, inhaling the scent of him, drowning in the feel of his lips moving slowly against hers in one final kiss. Eva shuddered as she wondered for the hundredth time if she’d made the right decision or not; as the wife of a disabled serviceman, she could have returned home with him in a heartbeat, but it had felt so wrong to leave when there was still so much help she could give so many men.
‘I love you,’ Art whispered.
Eva bent her forehead to his. ‘I love you too.’
The corpsman assisting Art cleared his throat, and she knew it was time. Eva rose and stood straight, bravely smiling at Art as he gave her one last wave before he was wheeled away from her. Then she turned to say her goodbyes to Grace.
April and Grace had their arms wrapped tightly around one another, and she smiled as she watched them. They’d become like sisters to her, and she knew she’d never, ever forget their friendship for as long as she lived.
When they finally parted, she watched as April gently wiped away Grace’s tears before her own, then ran her hands down her sister’s arms and gripped her hands before turning away.
‘Come here,’ Eva said, opening her arms and holding Grace tight. ‘I’m going to miss you so much.’
‘Me too,’ Grace whispered. ‘I can’t believe I’m going home.’
‘You look after yourself,andthat man of mine, won’t you?’ she said as she finally stepped back, holding her at arm’s length. ‘Don’t let him fall into his dark thoughts; keep reminding him how badly I need him to be waiting for me.’
Grace smiled. ‘I sure will.’
Teddy was also in a wheelchair, but Grace was pushing him, with his leg raised and in a cast, his stomach heavily bandaged, and one of his eyes covered with a large patch. But Eva didn’t miss his smile as Grace touched his shoulder, and she glanced over at April and saw that she was watching too.
