The next two days had dragged along for Virginia. She worked, organised, took care of the patients she was given, following procedures as she had for the last year and a half of being at that particular centre. Despite having seen a handful of young, handsome men over those forty-eights hours, none of them had affected her the way Jack Rose had. As hard as she had tried, removing him from his mind had been an impossible feat. She couldn't stop thinking about the timid, pouty soldier with his smooth skin and rabbit heartbeat. Jack Rose had left such an impact that everything, even a simple checkup, was inordinately romanticised.

The following morning, Virginia made the journey to the centre, although she hadn't come in as early as usual. She had been dismissed from her morning duties, as a group of new girls were training and took over her work. She hadn't made haste with the journey, walking leisurely along the paved roads, stopping briefly to greet familiar faces.

The moment she set foot in the centre, the sense of purpose skittered back up to her, wrapping itself around her neck like a pet squirrel. They had been fortunate in not having any bombings nearby in the past few days, so the centre had fallen into its habitual scuttle.

"Good morning, Miss Thorne." Elizabeth, an older woman who had been working for the centre for what she could identify as 'ages', passed by, giving her a warm smile.

"Morning," she nodded, heading towards the corridor. As if there had been a Thorne-radar put out, Sarah came bustling around the corner. Sarah was famous for being able to carry large quantities of things without colliding into the walls, as she was doing now. Virginia pressed herself up agains the wall to avoid getting in her way. "Morning, Sarah."

"Someone was here for yah this mornin'," Sarah shouted from behind the stack of folded linens which she was carrying. "Handsome too."

Virginia threw herself after her friend, nearly dropped her belongings. "Was his name Jack Rose? Sarah? Sarah! Wait!"

Despite her questions, Sarah had ducked into the next room with not a single word more. Frustrated and clenching her fists, Virginia ran after her, repeating her name. Sarah was a rambunctious young girl who had come from Ireland following her two younger brothers when they had been drafted into service. They were both still alive and well, and visited the centre often. Her accent was heavy and deep, making everything she said sound far cheerier than others. She had a round face with a porcelain complexion, emphasised by the freckles that peppered her entire face. Sarah also had developed a penchant for romance, and involving herself in the romantic affairs of others. Especially Virginia's.

Toeing the edge of the cupboard open with the tip of her boot and balancing the linens with one hand, she began unpacking them, arranging them neatly on the shelves.

"Sarah, please. Was his name – "

"Yes, Virignia! Yes. His name was Jack Rose and he was terribly sorry to have missed yeh'. Is he your new lovah'?"

"New?! Goodness," she pouted. "You make it sound as if I've a new one every week."

"So... he is, then?"

"No!"

Sarah set the final square of fabric on the shelf and twirled round with crossed arms. "Yeh' think I'm daft, do yeh'?"

"Of course not, Sarah, but you... he's just a soldier that was here two days ago. It was probably a courtesy visit."

Sarah threw her head back, fox-coloured ringlets bouncing with each chuckle. "A courtesy visit – oh, yer' funny today. Soldiers don't pay nurses courtesy visits, Miss Virginia, if ye've not noticed."

Virginia collapsed into the wooden chair, both her heart and spirit deflating. It's just as well, she thought. I'm acting like a child, involving myself in a soldier's business. It's none of my mine. Recalling the advice that her mother had told her when she was young; falling in love with a soldier can be a blessing and curse. These are men who haven't seen a living woman in months. Virginia knew that she was not only smart, but fortunate in looks. Most men only saw her beauty, she kept her place and didn't expose her studious side. Believing for a minute that Jack Rose had taken an interest to her for more than that was an outrageous notion.

Not more than two hours had passed before her interest in Jack Rose flared up again, reminding her just why she missed him. She had just sank into her routine of filling out her diary, scribbling down the day's thoughts when the door to the office room was thrown open, hitting the back wall with a clatter. Thinking she had been caught daydreaming on the job, Virginia nervously threw her hand to a nearby document and began filling out information.

"Virginia!" Sarah shouted, bursting into the room. "You've got to come out and see!"

'Please, it must wait. I can't. I'm busy.' Since Sarah had the interest of a child, finding everything and anything fascinating, Virginia thought nothing of this outburst. It was another among many.

"Virginia..." she whined, trying to get her attention. A devious expression had mutilated Sarah's ruddy face, which made her incessant whining even more unnerving. "Nah, yer' not. Is that yer' diary!? Look now, go on and – "

Virginia didn't budge, she continued scribbling furiously at the document in front of her. "Just because I've my diary open on the desk doesn't mean I'm writing in it. It really must wait, Sarah, I just ca – "

"He's 'ere again... with a book, this time. If you don't have him, I certainly will. He's a gift from God, he is. This is his second time comin' today – what's wrong with you?"

Virginia tried to find her sense, although the idea that he had come with a book had completely shaken her. "I-I-I wasn't here the first time, Sarah."

"Right... which accounts for only half of his appearances. Don't be cheeky, Virginia. Go on and talk to Mr. Rose." She drew out the sound of his name, mocking Virginia's already obvious interest in the boy. "Ye've always wanted a soldier. I know it's true. Besides, I've already told him yer' here, don't make me a liar."

Virginia panicked. Her heart rate quickened, her slender fingers began to shake, causing her writing to falter. Sarah had no reason to lie to any man, especially a soldier. Refusing to see him would not only be a lie on Virginia's part, but would undoubtedly cause harm to Jack, considering what he'd been through in the past. Quickly, she lifted her hand and pen to the diary, hurriedly jotting down a small entry.

Bless him, she wrote. Bless his soul if he's reaching out to me, finding companionship in me. I should feel honoured and embrace the opportunity to better a soldier's life wholeheartedly. My heart, I know, wants it as much as my patriotism does. Virginia Thorne, Entry #21

Slapping the book shut as she scooted herself out from behind her desk, Virginia tucked the diary back into her coat pocket. Sending a warning glance towards Sarah, she rounded the corner and began walking down the hallway that led to the main room. Virginia walked steadily, baulking the attempts of her inner young girl, who wanted to show just how excited she was to see him. Had she not, she would've ran down the hallway, flying through the doors and not stopped until she had thrown herself into his arms.

And there he was. Standing stiffly, his hat still on his head. He had something tucked underneath his arm, but from the angle Virginia had come in from, she was unable to see exactly what. She ducked back behind the safety of the door before he had seen her. She flattened her palm against her chest, steadying her breathing. After a moment, Virginia rounded the corner, striding towards him with a graceful confidence.

"Mr. Rose," she said, putting on her best show. As soon as he heard her voice, he turned to face her with the same bright eyes she'd seen before. Virginia wanted to melt into his hands, fall into him and disappear amongst him. As she closed in the distance between them, Jack reached up with his free hand to remove his hat. Courtesy, Virginia marvelled, was something that a soldier always maintained. The usual bustle continued around them, unaffected by their meeting. No one paused to look nor inquire, knowing that they had no place in listening in to a soldier's conversation. Virginia bit her bottom lip and returned her eyes to Jack.

She opened her mouth to speak, hoping to apologise for missing him earlier this morning, but was cut off by Jack's nervous, hurried way of speaking.

"I don't want to keep you, I know you're busy but..." His head dropped down to the book in his hands. "I found this... and I thought you'd want to have it."

He hesitantly extended the book, as though he was embarrassed to have considered giving it to her in the first place. It was a worn copy, but a copy nonetheless. Virginia recognised the words on the front instantly; it was one of the most detailed accounts of psychologies that had been written. She'd heard its name referenced in many other, smaller works and Virginia had only ever dreamed of owning it.

"Oh... my..." Virginia cupped a hand over her mouth. "This is..." Her eyes scanned over the title again and again, as if she was unsure she was reading it correctly. Her fingers trembled with excitement, but instead of taking it and cramming her nose directly into the pages, she shook her head so harshly that her soft, white curls swished across her cheeks. "You shouldn't..."

"If it's useful, please take it."

"Thank you, Mr. Rose. You're so very kind. I haven't, well, I don't have copies of my own, I only read what's made available to me... thank you. Thank you so much."

"It was my pleasure." Looking like the cat that had got the cream, Jack pushed the book into her arms and leaned forward. His hand jutted awkwardly out from his side and Virginia slowly shook it, putting a barrier to avoid getting too interested. She failed, and began nodding slowly as she drifted off into her own thoughts, remembering what his chest felt like underneath her fingers. She nodded again, continuing the handshake for far long than necessary.

In a whisper so slight that she almost hadn't caught it, Jack said, "Okay, goodbye." Virginia still had her fingers wrapped around his, holding on delicately, but firmly enough that he couldn't pull away. Once she realised this, she threw her head down, allowing her curls to fall in her face. The memories scampered away like mice. "Oh, oh... I'm so sorry. Goodbye."

With that, Jack took his hat out from underneath his arm and gave her a gentle smile (which, to Virginia, was as much of a gift as the novel). After putting the hat on and adjusting it to a picture-perfect positioning, he nodded once and turned, heading towards the door.

"Oh," The sound of his boots stopped, and he pivoted back around, looking at her. "One last thing, I found chapter four interesting. Perhaps you will too. Good evening, Miss Thorne." Jack descended the few stairs quickly but heavily, despite his slightness. Virginia stared at the door, clutching the novel to her chest.

"Lordy, lordy," Sarah howled as she shoved passed Virginia, jostling her out of her daydream. Sarah's laughter echoed as she stomped into the next room, obviously expecting an explanation. Virginia wasn't going to say a word, not until she'd steadied her voice, finished her work and returned home to her cat and tea kettle.