Page 71 of The Girls of Pearl Harbor
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
GRACE
‘Are you certain you don’t want me to come with you?’
Grace rolled her eyes at her sister and glanced at her over her shoulder. ‘For the last time, why can’t you just tell me I look great and leave it at that.’
April sighed. ‘You do look great. Fantastic, even. But you don’t even know this soldier, and—’
‘I’ll be fine. Honestly, I’m walking there with other nurses, and it’ll be busy there. There’s nothing to worry about; you just don’t like that you’re not the one in charge of what I’m doing.’
April had come to stand behind her, and Grace stayed still as she stroked a hand down her hair, watching her in the little handheld mirror she was holding.
‘I do worry about you. I can’t help it,’ April said.
‘I know, but you don’t have to. Can’t you see how much I’m loving being here? I’m fine.’ Grace turned and kissed her sister’s cheek.
‘You look so much like Mom with your hair up like that. I remember sitting and watching her get ready to go out, and honestly I can see her in you so clearly right now.’
Grace opened her arms and held April, hugging her tight and trying not to cry. ‘And here I was always thinking you were the one who looked like Mom.’
April finally let her go and stepped back, reaching up to wipe under her eye. ‘Now look, I’m going to make you smudge your makeup.’
‘So I can go?’ Grace asked.
April smiled and squeezed her hand. ‘Of course you can. Have fun.’
Grace grinned and waved to Eva, who was getting dressed for her night shift after sleeping most of the afternoon. Part of her wished Eva and April were coming with her, but the other part was feeling exhilarated that they weren’t. She didn’t want April watching over her shoulder—she wanted to laugh and flirt and have fun with Peter without worrying about anyone else. Being away from home, it suited her. She’d never felt so alive, and she couldn’t get enough of the rush she felt at going exploring, the excitement every time she set foot outside of their quarters and got to see more of the world.
‘You coming?’ A few nurses were already waiting at the edge of camp for her, and she ran to catch up with them.
‘Sure am!’
They all walked together, and Grace soaked it all up, listening to the other nurses talk about the soldiers they were excited about seeing and giggling about kisses and someone getting pregnant. She was so swept up in listening that the walk passed quickly, and soon they were outside a noisy venue, where she could see plenty of soldiers and airmen inside.
‘I’m keeping my eye out for Australian soldiers,’ one nurse whispered to her, squeezing her arm on the way past. ‘You’ve never seen such gorgeous men in all your life!’
Grace laughed and followed her in, looking through the smoky haze for her date but not making him out in the sea of uniforms. Music blared from a record player somewhere, and women’s laughter echoed against the deep baritones of the men talking. It was so ... she smiled to herself. It was so grown up; that’s what it was. She felt like she’d finally come into her own. She had a job she was good at now, she was loving the independence of being away from home, and she was out on her own, about to meet one of the most handsome soldiers she’d ever laid eyes upon.
‘Grace?’
She turned, her heart racing when she found Teddy standing behind her, a drink in one hand and a cigarette hanging from his lips.
‘Teddy!’ she squealed, throwing her arms around him as he dropped his cigarette and did the same to her, holding her in a one-armed hug.
‘It’s so great to see you. How long have you been here?’ she asked, stepping back and studying his face.
‘Long enough,’ he muttered. ‘But you, look at you.’ He grinned and shook his head. ‘It’s so good to see you.’
Suddenly Grace felt embarrassed being the center of attention. Letter writing had been one thing, but seeing him standing there, looking up at him as he watched her? It brought everything back.
‘You promised to spend some of your leave with us,’ she said, regretting how desperate she sounded the moment her words came out. ‘I’ve been so worried about you.’
‘I’m sorry; it’s been a rough few months,’ he said, running a hand through his hair.
She noticed how tired his eyes looked, his face pale and gaunt where before it had been full. ‘It doesn’t matter; it’s just good to see you now.’
‘Are you here with April?’ he asked, looking around. ‘Come and sit—let’s get a drink.’
