"I'm sorry, sir-"
"I know…you've told me".
Abbey grimaced, "I am a terrible driver".
Speirs, who was standing on the side of the road, took in a few deep breaths.
She leaned towards the open window again, "do you need anything, sir?"
He shook his head.
"Nope – this will pass".
Scratching behind her ear, Abbey then asked, "would you like to drive?"
"Yup". Speirs confirmed.
Groaning, he placed his hands back onto his hips.
His eyes were glaring at the grass.
"If I get sick…you're in trouble, Sargent".
Abbey smiled sadly, "sir, would you like me to rub your back?"
Speirs frowned, "what?"
"Well, that's what my friends did for me, sir".
He shook his head, "no, I'm trying not to get sick, Abbey".
She faced the front again, "I blame the roads, sir".
Speirs snorted softly, "yeah? I blame a couple of things".
Abbey smiled a little.
"That's funny, sir".
He went quiet for a few moments.
Abbey turned to face him, wondering if he was going to vomit.
But the man was determined not to.
Taking in another deep breath, Speirs shook his head.
"It's not happening today". He muttered, more to himself.
Smiling, Abbey slid across and sat on the passenger's side.
Two minutes past, before Speirs deemed it safe to enter the car.
"You got lucky". She pointed out, "that could have ended badly".
Humming, Speirs turned on the engine.
And he felt bad.
It wasn't all her fault.
And even if it was, he didn't want her knowing that.
"Your driving is fine". Speirs told her, "I – uh – I ate too much".
Abbey might have known he was lying.
But she seemed happy enough.
"It's okay, sir". She mumbled, "I am tired, anyway".
…
Two hours went by.
The car wasn't happy.
"We need gas". Speirs mumbled, "I'll stop at the next station".
The next station was a few miles down the road.
It sat outside a small town, with only a few houses, plenty of farmland and a corner shop. Abbey thought it looked a little like Austria. With the lake, mountains and grassy fields. She didn't know if it was possible to fall this deeply in love with a place. But it was happening. Abbey leaned against a fence, which looked over a large and grassy plot of land. She could just see the river from her position, though, it was hiding behind some trees.
A man was filling up the car.
So, Speirs joined Abbey.
"Where are we?" She asked him quietly.
"Lebanon". He told her, "pretty nice, huh?"
Abbey nodded, "yes. It's wonderful here".
"You like the sound of a farm life?"
Tilting her head to the side, Abbey shrugged.
"I like the sound of having a house on a large amount of land".
Speirs chuckled, "yeah? Best get saving".
"It will cost a lot?"
"Well – you've 'gotta build a house". Speirs told her.
"I cannot live in a tent?"
He pulled an amused face, "what – no".
Smiling, Abbey looked at him.
"Then I will build a house for us to live in, sir".
Speirs nodded slowly, "with your own two hands?"
"You don't believe me". She stated, "I will just have to prove it".
"Gas is ready, sir!"
The kid from behind them called.
Abbey and Speirs turned around.
Then, they both crossed the road and headed back to their car. Abbey paid the boy, while Speirs got back inside the car and turned on the engine.
"How much is a field?"
The kid pulled a face, "what?"
Abbey gestured to the field across the road, "is it very expensive to buy land?"
"Uh…maybe". He said, "I don't know, ma'am – I'm only sixteen".
Smiling, she shook her head.
"Right…sorry. Have a wonderful day".
His face brightened, "I will! You too, ma'am".
…
They reached Philadelphia later that afternoon.
Speirs was parked outside a large building.
It looked like a warehouse or factory.
Abbey wasn't sure.
But she was sure, they weren't going to see Heffron or Guarnere.
Rubbing her lips together, she looked at Speirs.
"Well, here we are…".
"Yup".
Sighing, Abbey faced the building.
"Why are we here, sir?"
Speirs checked his watch, "you'll find out in ten minutes".
Feeling a little nervous, Abbey's foot started to tap against the floor.
She looked at Speirs again, "will someone walk out of the building?"
He gestured towards the front, "keep watching, you'll find out".
Resisting the urge to glare, Abbey faced the front again.
And her eyes never left the building.
For ten solid minutes.
She almost gave up.
She almost told Speirs that he must have been pulling a joke.
But then, men started to exit the building.
A crowd of them. They all wore the same uniform.
Dark blue overalls.
Some were laughing and waving each other off, while they headed for their cars, or walked over to the bus stop. Leaning forwards, Abbey's eyes caught a familiar set of hair. It was light, as were his eyes. Lips parting, her hand fumbled for the handle on the door. And she pulled it open.
Abbey got out of the car.
Stepping away from the vehicle, she walked for a few moments.
Just to be sure.
Her eyes could have been playing tricks on her.
But they weren't.
She knew that face.
Abbey could have spotted him from miles away.
A hand went over her mouth.
It was so strange, seeing him walk.
Seeing him smile and talk with the men he worked beside.
Seeing him out of a hospital bed.
So much had changed since they last saw each other.
Abbey's hand lowered from her mouth.
She took a few more steps forward, until she reached the edge of the road.
"Alby!"
It was like the world stopped moving.
And whatever was in Blithe's hands, suddenly fell onto the ground.
Blithe ran over to her.
Abbey didn't get a word out, because she was soon wrapped into a fierce hug.
Taking in a deep breath, Abbey's arms went around him.
Blithe held her tightly, eyes shut.
"I thought you were dead". He croaked, "I never heard from you".
"I'm sorry". She whispered, "I'm so sorry, Alby".
Blithe choked out a laugh, "you're here…I can't believe it".
Smiling small, she held him closer.
"I'm here, Alby".
"God…I missed you".
Abbey missed him too.
She just didn't realise how much, until she saw him.
Pulling back, she looked at him.
Blithe smiled, despite the tears swimming in his eyes.
Letting out a shaky sigh, he then looked towards the car.
Blithe frowned, "is that Speirs?"
"Yes". Abbey said, "we live together".
He looked at her, "are you two together?"
Tilting her head to the side, she nodded.
"Yes. We live together". Abbey mumbled, "we travelled here together as well, Alby".
Blithe grinned, "you ain't changed a bit, huh?"
"Everyone keeps telling me that".
"Come on, let's go back to my place".
…
Blithe lived in a lovely apartment with his girlfriend, Sadie.
Sadie was, just as Abbey expected to be, lovely.
She greeted them both with open arms and made them all some iced tea. Sadie even offered them the spare bedroom for the night. And seeing as gin was being poured into their tea, Abbey and Speirs accepted the offer.
"So, how long have you two been together?" Sadie asked Speirs and Abbey.
"Actually, we-"
"over six months". Abbey cut Speirs off, "isn't that right, sir?"
Sadie pulled a face and looked at Blithe.
"Sir?" She mouthed.
Blithe only smirked and hid his smile behind his glass.
Speirs cleared his throat, "uh – yeah, around six months now".
Sadie poured out another glass for herself.
"Anyone for more?" She asked.
Abbey smiled, "oh, yes, please".
"You haven't had enough?"
Speirs snorted, "she's had the strongest booze going". He commented, "Abbey can handle some gin and iced tea, Miss-"
"ah, it's Sadie". She corrected him kindly.
Abbey could settle for gin and iced tea.
She didn't want that "magic booze", again.
"Thank you, Sadie". She said, when her glass was full again.
It didn't take long for the veterans to talk about Toccoa.
Abbey and Blithe had a good time bitching about Sobel.
Just like they were back in training again.
"You lost, in every field exercise". Speirs pointed out.
"With all due respect, sir". Blithe said, with a drunken grin. "Sobel couldn't read a map".
He chuckled, "uh – it's Ron, Albert". He said, "don't listen to Abbey, she refuses to call me by my name".
"It's still strange". Abbey mumbled, "even though we are together, every single day".
Speirs shook his head, "we're not in the army anymore, Abbey".
"I know".
Sadie got up and turned on the radio.
She kept the volume down.
Then, after kissing Blithe on the cheek, Sadie went into the kitchen to make supper. When the door closed, the room was filled with silence. As if Sadie somehow prevented the conversation from turning into anything serious. And now that she was gone, the three veterans remained lost in their own thoughts. Back to the world they left behind. Back to a world which didn't exist anymore. A life with constant fighting, fear and death.
It still felt strange.
Waking up in the morning, knowing they were safe in bed.
Not waking up next to your foxhole buddy.
She missed them.
"You were right".
Abbey and Speirs looked up, when Blithe started to talk.
"I was okay". He whispered, "you told me that, before our jump got cancelled into Normandy. Do you remember?"
She tried to think back;
"You – uh – you think I'll be alright?"
She frowned, looking away from the sky and at Blithe.
"You don't 'gotta lie to me 'bout this-"
"yes". Abbey whispered. "Yes. You'll be okay".
Her lips twitched at the memory.
"You didn't have to sit next to me in the mess hall".
Blithe smiled back at her, "I did". He said, "I wanted to".
…
Lying in bed, Abbey stared up at the dark ceiling.
Blithe and Sadie had a lovely spare bedroom.
The sheets were soft, the pillows were fluffy, and the comforter was warm.
It was a very comfortable bed.
Turning her head to the side, she was met with Speirs.
His eyes were closed, he was lying on his back, right beside her.
They were sharing a double bed.
Abbey refused for Speirs to sleep on the floor or couch.
And he refused Abbey to do the same.
So, after ten minutes of arguing, they eventually agreed to share the bed.
Blithe found it funny.
Abbey called Speirs stubborn.
Which made him laugh.
"Hypocrite". Blithe had told her.
Outside, she could hear rain tap against the window. It made her feel more relaxed, that mattress could have swallowed her up. Abbey really liked this bed and she was so glad Speirs had decided to surprise her with seeing a good friend. Her first ever friend at Toccoa.
Her eyes softened.
Abbey wondered why he cared so much about her.
Caring so much about Speirs was simple to Abbey. He was a great man. And she couldn't imagine her life without him. But Abbey didn't understand why he cared about her. Speirs didn't have to live with her, he could have lived with anybody. He could have met a beautiful woman, who lived anywhere in the world. But Speirs chose to live with Abbey.
It made her smile, when she thought about it.
Abbey carefully placed her head on his chest.
She could hear his deep and peaceful breathing.
And his heart, thumping wonderfully behind his chest.
"Thank you, Ron".
…
Abbey wrote down the house phone number and address, before handing it to Blithe. He smiled and tucked it inside his pocket. They had a lovely breakfast that morning, Sadie wanted to make sure they had enough energy for the journey home. Abbey was stuffed. Luckily, Speirs decided to drive.
"Have a safe journey".
Blithe and Abbey hugged each other tightly.
"I will phone you when we get home".
"Thanks, Abbey".
It was, by far, her favourite trip.
Pulling back from the hug, Abbey smiled at him.
"I will see you soon, Alby".
"Bye, Abbey – goodbye, Ron".
Speirs shook his hand, "nice seeing you again, Alby".
After thanking Sadie one last time, Abbey and Speirs walked back to the car.
Getting into the passenger's seat, she rolled down her window.
Smiling, Abbey gave Blithe and Sadie one last wave, before Speirs drove off.
Moving further towards him, Abbey leaned into Speirs side.
He wrapped his arm around her.
"You're welcome, by the way". Speirs said, with a smile.
Abbey sighed in content.
"Good to know, Ron".
