Page 20 of The Girls of Pearl Harbor
Poppy waved her hand in the air like it was no big deal. ‘I suppose so. I mean, not right now, but he’s a gorgeous man, and I think ...’
‘Of course you’ll get married one day,’ April interrupted, beaming at her friend. She didn’t want this conversation to go on any longer; Grace didn’t need to hear the rest and wish she were the one in Poppy’s shoes. ‘You make a very handsome couple. Now where was Eva meeting us?’
Just then a woman came into sight, running, her skirt caught up in one hand, her shoes in the other.
‘Well, it looks like she wasn’t waiting for us,’ Grace said, waving at their new friend.
‘Sorry! Have you been here long?’ Eva was breathless as she slowed, bending forward and laughing. ‘I’m so unfit! I haven’t ever run that far!’
‘We’ve been here forever,’ Grace said, before grinning at Eva’s shocked expression. ‘Honestly, we haven’t—we’ve just walked out. April just recently finished her shift, and we’ve been catching up on some sleep.’
‘Thank goodness,’ Eva said, straightening. ‘I went to see Charlie, and we had almost an hour together just outside his base. Then I caught a ride here, but I had to run the last bit down the beach.’
They fell into step, and April looked down the line at the others, admiring how pretty her friends and sister looked. Grace was wearing her favorite summer frock, with cute puff sleeves and a V-neck, covered in flowers and showing off her tiny waist. Poppy was wearing a darker color and a shorter dress, and she had a pretty flower lei around her neck like the ones they’d received the day they’d arrived. Eva was as pretty as a picture, even as she fanned at her face, her skin damp from hurrying down to them, her dark-red hair striking, pinned off her face and falling like a thick curtain down her back and complementing her creamy skin to perfection. April glanced down at her own outfit, the cream dress she’d bought especially to bring away with her. It was snug at the waist, hitting her at midcalf, and she felt feminine and pretty wearing it. She’d left her hair out tonight, curling it in soft waves, and part of her wished that Dr. Grey could see her.
‘So tell us, was it nice to see your Charlie?’ April asked, realizing no one had even asked her.
‘Yes.’ Eva didn’t hesitate. ‘He was very sweet, all apologetic about ever wanting to leave and go join the Eagles in Britain. I think he finally realized how much I needed him, and he promised not to leave me.’
‘So he finally came to his senses then about how silly it was?’ Poppy asked. ‘Sometimes we have to leave them to simmer for a bit, but they always come around eventually. I’m pleased he finally realized how foolish it would be to go all vigilante like that.’
Eva was silent, and April wondered if Poppy and Grace had even noticed how uncomfortable she suddenly looked.
‘Is that what you meant, though, Eva?’ April asked gently. ‘Does he still want to go?’
She nodded, and even in the fading light April could see that her eyes had filled with tears.
‘He didn’t say, but I know he still wishes he was there. He wouldn’t just change his mind like that.’
April waited, not wanting to push. She felt like she’d only scratched the surface of something much deeper. ‘It’s nice he doesn’t want to leave you.’
‘It’s kind of complicated. My father, well, he’s difficult,’ Eva said, her voice lower now as if she didn’t want the others to hear. ‘And Charlie knows what it’ll be like for me—if he goes and can’t come back, I mean. I’m just so pleased he’s not going to keep pushing for it.’
April put her arm around Eva’s shoulders. ‘You’re afraid of going home to your father?’
Eva nodded, but this time the tears fell rapidly down her cheeks before she could blink them away. ‘He’s not exactly the most pleasant of men, the complete opposite of Charlie. I don’t know what I’d do if I lost him.’
April nodded. She understood. Life hadn’t been easy for her when she’d lost her mother, but she didn’t know what it was to be scared of another human being, and she could tell from the fear on Eva’s face that she was very much afraid. She’d seemed so capable and strong, and from Grace’s recollections Eva had barked at the soldier who’d gotten all frisky with her sister, but this was a different, very real side to her too.
‘Well, at least he can’t trouble you here, right? For as long as we’re hidden away in paradise here, you’ve got nothing to worry about.’
Eva brushed her cheeks, and the look of insecurity was gone, her smile fixed again, business as usual.
‘What are you two whispering about?’ Grace asked, moving closer.
‘Absolutely nothing,’ April said, linking arms with Eva.
‘You were telling her about that gorgeous doctor, weren’t you!’
April just laughed. If she had to take the fall and pretend that was what they’d been talking about, then so be it. Eva had opened up to her, and she wasn’t the type of person to ever betray anybody’s trust.
‘Is it far to walk?’ Poppy asked.
‘About another fifteen minutes or so,’ Eva said. ‘I heard the party in full swing when I came past before.’
‘At least it’s safe walking here; we don’t have to worry about anything sinister.’
‘Yes, Mother,’ Grace said. ‘No need to worry.’
