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HARRY TOSSED HIS HAT at the coat tree. It caught on the top hook. “You still got it, Harry Boy.” He laughed and headed to the kitchen.
He knew he’d gotten under Jack’s skin with his final comments about not being husband material. Just because his brother wasn’t yelling on the outside didn’t mean he wasn’t seething on the inside. He wondered if Jack would tell Alice he’d been there. Again, didn’t matter if he did, or not. If Jack didn’t, and Alice found out, which Harry would make certain she did, she would be angry with Jack and that would mess up any designs his brother might be contemplating.
He’d call Alice and see if he couldn’t start some trouble for Jack. “The Armstrong farm, please, Iris.”
“Welcome home, Harry. I heard you and Fin had a bit of an adventure trying to get back to us.”
“And I heard you’ve been sick. Glad to hear you’ve recovered, now can I talk to Alice, please?”
“Of course.”
“Hello?” Alice sounded distant, almost distracted.
“Alice. It’s Harry. I stopped by earlier, but you weren’t home. Did Jack tell you?”
“He did. I’m so glad you called.” Her voice picked up. She definitely sounded glad to hear from him. “Isn’t it marvelous news about Lizzie?”
“The best. Fin must be over the moon.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen him happier. Except, maybe, when Lizzie agreed to marry him.”
“Hey, speaking of weddings. Jack told me the quarantine might be over soon. Don’t you think it’s time to start planning our wedding?”
Did she hesitate? Or am I imagining it?
“You still want to marry me, don’t you, Alice?” He smiled to hide his fear. What if she said no? “I can be a bit of a lout sometimes, like the other day with my stupid threat, but I do love you.”
“Of course, I want to marry you.”
“Well, how about this. I still owe you the picnic I promised. How about we go out to the lake Tuesday, and we can talk about our future. The weather’s been so nice, hopefully it will stay that way. If not, well, we can have it in your parlor.”
Another hesitation?
“How about it, Alice? Tuesday?”
“I’d like that. I’ve missed you.”
“And don’t forget the chocolate cake. It’s my favorite. Why, thoughts of your chocolate cake are what kept me going over there in France. No fancy French pastries for me, no sir, just my girl’s chocolate cake.”
“I promise to bake you all the chocolate cake you want from now on.” She laughed.
Harry loved that sound. “Excellent! Then I’ll pick you up Tuesday.”
“Good night, Harry.”
“You get some rest, like Doc ordered.”
“I will.”
Harry hung up the earpiece and smiled. He didn’t know for certain what was going on at the Armstrong farm before he rang, but whatever it was, he was certain Jack was nearby and listening to everything on Alice’s end of the conversation. And she was no doubt telling him everything from his end right now.
* * *
HARRY TURNED AND RAN into Aunt Caroline standing behind him.
She smiled and squeezed his arm. “A picnic on Tuesday, is it? That’s a wonderful idea. It will give you and Alice a proper chance to get reacquainted. You haven’t had a chance to say more than a couple of words to each other since you’ve been home. With Alice being sick, the quarantine, and then Iris away from the switchboard.”
“My thoughts exactly.” He stepped around her.
“And what am I making for this picnic? I don’t imagine you planned on preparing anything yourself.” She chuckled as she passed him to the kitchen. Harry followed.
“I thought something simple. Sandwiches, hard boiled eggs, something to drink. Whatever you think best. Alice is making a chocolate cake, so you don’t need to make anything sweet.”
“Alice is sweet enough.” Aunt Caroline laughed at her teasing.
“She is.”
His father came in the back kitchen door. “What’s going on in here? Hope I’m not missing anything important.”
“I’m taking Alice on a picnic Tuesday. Aunt Caroline and I were talking food.”
“Excellent idea. Women like that sort of thing.” He took a cookie and held the jar out to Harry, who helped himself to two.
“Thanks.” He took a bite from the first one. “I’d like to take the buggy, if that’s all right.”
“Of course. I came in to tell you dinner smells wonderful, Caroline, as usual. Don’t know where we’d be without you in the kitchen.”
Aunt Caroline looked out the kitchen door toward the parlor and lowered her voice. “I know exactly where you’d be with my sister in the kitchen,” she whispered. “Six feet under. All three of you.”
His father laughed. “Sad but true.”
His mother appeared, seemingly out of nowhere. “What’s so funny?”
“Nothing important.” His father left the room, still chuckling to himself.
She watched him leave then turned to her sister. “I came for a cup of tea. I’m feeling rather chilled this afternoon.”
“Wonderful idea. Have a seat and I’ll have one with you.” She set the kettle on the stove.
“I’m going to lie down for a while, Mother. Wake me for dinner.” Harry kissed her cheek.
“No more nightmares, now. Promise me.”
“I promise.” He grabbed another cookie from the jar. “Delicious,” he said, his mouth full. He winked at Aunt Caroline and climbed the back stairs to his room.
* * *
HARRY LAY AWAKE FOR hours that night. He opened a window, lit a cigarette, and sat on the sill to smoke it. He could be wrong, but he had a feeling Jack was up to something. Jack and Alice’s friendship went back years, but he never considered his brother might want more. Perhaps being away for so long gave Jack ideas. Harry held the smoke in his lungs for a moment then blew it out.
Perhaps Jack even wished for him to die in battle. All he would have to do was wait and give Alice a proper amount of time to mourn while playing the role of the understanding, grieving, brother and friend, before moving in on her vulnerability.
Harry snuffed the cigarette and tossed it out the window. The house was quiet. His aunt and parents had gone to sleep hours before. He should do the same. He stared at his bed, debating whether or not to light a second cigarette first. He shook the pack. Only one left. He’d better save it. Hopefully, the quarantine would be over soon and he could go to Erikson’s and buy a pack. The epidemic was messing with his life in more ways than he cared to admit.
All he knew for certain was he needed to get Alice to the altar as soon as possible.