Chapter Two: The Film Critic Who Met Her
Lieutenant Archie Hicox sat at his desk and sighed, holding his head in his hands. The bright lights in his room were stabbing him in the eyes it seemed, and he had a raging headache on top of it. "That's it," he thought, "no more vodka for this old chap." He groaned and stood, trying to get over his hangover. Archie had to escort a ship of French refugees to their designated dwellings, and he wasn't quite ready yet.
He walked to his bathroom slowly and turned on the cold water in his shower, getting undressed as he did so. He set out his shaving kit and towel, retrieving his soap and everything he would need to be properly cleaned up from his cabinet. It looked dismally bare. Archie sighed and hopped in the shower, gasping at the sudden contact of the cold water on his skin. He started to wash himself as he got used to the feel of the water on his skin, slowly starting to feel his headache retreat as he became more alert. When Archie finished he turned off the water and toweled himself down.
Wrapping the towel securely around his waist, he stepped out and prepped his shaving kit, spreading the aftershave onto his chin and jawline, around his mouth. He took the razor and started to shave, whistling a little tune to himself as he did so. His hand slipped a bit and sure enough there was the red dot of blood that signaled he had cut himself yet again. "Goddamnit!" he swore as he dug a plaster out of cabinet. Luckily he was almost done shaving. He put it over the cut and continued shaving. Needless to say, Archie was much more careful and focused for the rest of this process. He put the razor and splashed some water on his face to rinse it, and then he put on a bit of aftershave and cologne, letting the welcome sting signify a job well done. He looked in the mirror for any missed spots, and was pleased to see that he had missed nothing.
He nodded and turned out the light, stepped into his bedroom, and set out his uniform as he went over the names in his head. The Ducards, a family of three, the only child just an infant; the Blanchards, an elderly couple; the Montpieres, a family of six, with two girl children at the ages of 13 and 5, and two young boys at the ages of 9 and 1; and a solitary young lady named Cara Espẻrer, just 19 years old. She travelled on her own, and Archie wondered why this young girl would be on her own during such dangerous times. There was a war on after all.
He sighed and finished drying the last remaining water droplets, put the towel in with the dirty laundry, and got dressed. He brushed his hair and styled it the way he liked it, and then set out the door with his orders and list of names. He had pictures of each person he was to escort, and he had spent some time pondering Cara's picture. She was so damned beautiful, it was hard to believe that she would flee her country and her home; surely she had a beau back home she left behind.
Archie put on his beret and waited by the docks for The Nadine to release her passengers. He could see the Montpieres on the deck, as well as the Blanchards and the Ducards, but he couldn't spot the girl whose last name meant hope. It was fitting, as she would need as much hope as she could muster to make it through this war. Then he spotted her. Good God, the girl was more beautiful than her picture suggested. Her red hair shone even in the cloudy drab of England's sky, and her blue eyes sparkled in a tone that matched the Mediterranean Sea. Archie felt his stomach turn as he suddenly got nervous by this girl's very presence. He looked at his paperwork and saw that she had not yet been assigned to a home. "Good. I'll take her in." Archie was startled at his own thought. He take in a 19 year old girl? The mere thought was ridiculous. Besides, he barely knew her. For all Archie knew, she might have an atrocious personality. But nevertheless, Archie knew the thought was hiding in the back of his head, like of all his inappropriate thoughts did. He sighed and shook his head, and finally the boat set out its boarding plank.
Archie straightened his back as he corralled the families to one side of the dock. The only person left was Cara. He kept an eye out for her, and a few minutes later she stepped out onto the dock carrying only a tattered rucksack, a purse, and a small suitcase. She looked exhausted and lost, and then she caught his eye. Archie gave her a reassuring nod and beckoned her over. She walked to him, and he offered his hand.
She gently took it and said quietly, "My paperwork says a different last name than my real one. I had to change it to escape. Is that alright?"
Archie nodded. This wasn't a strange occurrence. "Just tell me your real last name and we'll take care of it, alright?"
"Dreyfuss. My name is Cara Dreyfuss. I am 19, but I will be 20 in a few weeks."
Now Archie knew why she had to escape. The girl was Jewish. God, she had probably lost all of her family. It didn't matter if she had a beau, he was probably dead if she did have one. He could see the tears in her eyes, gently took her hand, and gave it a gentle squeeze. "You're safe now Miss Dreyfuss. I promise no harm will come to you so long as I live. Archie Hicox is at your service."
Cara looked into his eyes and saw he was telling the truth, and nodded. "Thank you sir."
Archie nodded, gently removed her suitcase from her grasp and loaded it and the other families' luggage into the vehicle, and then got them comfortably seated. Cara he placed in the passenger seat, next to him. He gave her hand another squeeze, and then drove to the Blanchards' next place of residence. After unloading their luggage and making them comfortable, he returned to the vehicle to see Cara fast asleep. He chuckled softly and drove to the Montpieres' new home, doing the same for them. The Ducards' baby began to cry, and despite how much they tried to quiet her, Cara woke. She turned toward them, and gently offered a hand.
"Please, let me see her," she quietly offered. "I used to take care of babies back home. I can calm her."
The mother handed Cara the child, and she began to rock her, singing her a soft lullaby in French, her voice beautiful, lilting and full of longing. The baby slowly quieted and listened to her voice, entranced. Archie could do no better. This girl had bewitched him and he had known her only an hour. He cursed himself in his head and listened to Cara sing. The baby fell asleep, and Cara gave her a quick kiss on the forehead before gently returning her to the mother. The woman nodded at her, mouthed her thanks, and the car came to a stop at the Ducards' new home.
Archie got out, retrieved their luggage and showed them around before returning to Cara, who was patiently awaiting his arrival. "Miss Dreyfuss-"
"Cara. Please, call me Cara."
"Very well Cara, I regret to inform you that you have not yet been assigned to a permanent home."
"Oh. Then where shall I live?" The girl's shoulders slumped, and she seemed hopeless. Archie hated to see her that way.
"May I offer a solution? I currently live alone, and I can make some room in my flat. It could use a woman's touch anyway. You could stay there if you like, at least until you found something more permanent." Archie held his breath waiting for her response.
Cara nodded. "Only if you're sure."
He grinned. "I am very sure."
"Then I'll stay with you."
Archie drove home with Cara, humming a soft tune his mother used to sing to him when he was a boy.
"I know that song!" Cara grinned and joined in with his humming, her soprano harmonizing with his tenor.
Archie parked the car in front of his flat and retrieved Cara's suitcase, while Cara carried her rucksack and her purse. He offered her his free arm, and she took it. Archie escorted her inside, and set her suitcase down in the sitting room to go and prepare the guest room with new sheets and a warm blanket.
Cara walked around the sitting room, taking in how bare and cold everything seemed. Archie was right; his flat did need a woman's touch. Her touch. She shivered slightly at how her mother and father would react if they knew she was living with an unmarried man while she herself was unmarried. They had told her to marry an English soldier, and this one seemed rather nice. He was very handsome besides the fact, and not many men would open their home to a complete stranger.
Archie returned to the sitting room, picked up Cara's suitcase, and showed her to the guest bedroom. He helped her unpack her things, among which included several valuable pieces of jewelry, quite a bit of cash, and pictures of her family. She hid the jewelry in a drawer, and put the cash in her purse. The pictures she put on the small desk in her room. Lastly, she took out two wedding rings; one belonging to a man and the other one belonging to a woman. She put them in her drawer after giving them each a quick kiss. She finally allowed herself to sit, and Archie realized she must be starving. "How about I take you out to lunch today? Unless you'd rather rest."
Cara shook her head and stood. "I could go for a bit of lunch."
He grinned and offered his arm. "Anything for the lovely lady."
Cara blushed furiously and took his arm.
