[ MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1940 ]
Sharon woke with her nose bent up against the floral pattern of the wing-backed chair. She heard Sean snoring. She sat up and looked at her wristwatch. “Shit!”
She kissed Sean on the forehead, tucked the blanket more tightly around him, grabbed her kit, and stepped out the door.
By the time she returned that evening, her uniform carried the telltale signs of having spent at least part of the day in a slit trench.
Linda opened the door. She was wearing a white blouse and baggy black trousers. Linda looked at her friend. “What happened to you?”
“I delivered a Spitfire to Kenley. I’m surprised you didn’t hear all the noise. The Luftwaffe arrived, and I headed for cover.” Sharon looked around her friend. “Where’s Sean?”
“In the loo. Come on. Get cleaned up. We’re going out for fish and chips. No more suffering through my disasters in the kitchen.” Linda stood back from the door.
Sharon stepped past her. “Sean! Hurry up and let me in the bath. I need to get cleaned up.”
Linda closed the front door.
Sharon turned. “What did the doctors say?”
Linda smiled. “They say I’m healing well, and I need to come back in three weeks to see about another skin graft.”
Footsteps pounded on the floorboards. Sean appeared in the hallway. “Where are we going?”
“Out for supper. There’s a wonderful place just down the road.” Linda looked at Sharon. “We’ll eat after your sister gets cleaned up.”
In half an hour, Sharon was back downstairs, wearing a clean pair of trousers and a blue blouse.
“Let’s go!” Linda limped her way out the door and down the road to the pub.
Sean ran ahead, then ran back until he could smell the food. He met them at the front door of the pub.
They ate outside, using their fingers to eat the chips and fish.
Linda licked her fingers. “God, I’ve missed this.”
“I’m sorry about Michael and me. I don’t know what to say when I’m around him. He’s always so nice to me, and he’s your brother. The problem is, when I’m around him, I can’t think clearly.” Sharon stuffed a chip in her mouth. Just shut up. Things were going so well. Why did you have to bring that up? Now Linda will be upset.
Linda turned to her friend. “What did you say?”
“About what?” Half a chip fell out of Sharon’s mouth.
Linda and Sean began to laugh.
“This is the first time in a long time I’ve felt like maybe I’m. . .” Sharon said.
“Normal?” Linda asked.
“Full?” Sean asked.
“At peace. Just right now, at this moment, I feel at peace. I think that’s what I’m trying to say.”