Chapter Seven
1944
A year had gone by since I had received the first letter about Bucky from the military. I hadn't received any letters about him since. I had, however, received letters from him and Steve. We wrote to each other as often as we could. Steve had started an elite group called the Howling Commandos. They worked to take down H.Y.D.R.A bases across Europe. Once they successfully got rid of another base that was typically when I would receive a letter. That was really the only free time that they had to write. I cherished every letter, no matter how long it was.
I had started making a point to spend more time with my family. My brother Thomas' wife, Evelyn, had a daughter who they named Jane. If I ever didn't have anything to do for a day I would offer to babysit her so Thomas and Evelyn could have some time to themselves. I enjoyed being around them, it gave me a taste of what it was like to have your own family.
Eleanor had started going steady with a boy named Henry pretty soon after the whole incident with the letters. I could tell that they were really in love. They had even moved in together in an apartment in the city. Their apartment was only a few minutes away from Bucky and I's apartment so I was able to see her more frequently.
One bright Monday morning I was standing in the kitchen preparing scrambled eggs and sausage. I couldn't cook much but I had picked up on cooking more after Bucky left so by now I was pretty adequate. This was one of the dishes that I had been able to prepare before Bucky left and he told me that it was pretty good. I liked to imagine that I was making it for Bucky and I.
I had finished cooking and dished up a serving for myself. I set my plate down on the table and a glass of water alongside. The sound of the wooden chair legs scraping against the wooden floor overshadowed the metallic ringing of the phone. It wasn't until I was about to sit down that I heard the shrill clanging. I rushed over to the phone and picked up the receiver. "Hello?" I answered quickly.
"Violet, it's Eleanor." The feminine voice answered from the other end of the line.
"Hello, dear sister. How are you?" I asked in a perky voice.
"I'm very well, actually. Is it possible that you are free for lunch this afternoon?" She inquired sounding very excited about something.
"I have to go to work at two-thirty so is it possible that it could be before then?" I asked.
"Yes, of course." She obliged.
"Then that sounds good. What time should I be over at?" I inquired.
"How does twelve thirty sound?" She offered.
"That sounds great. I'll be over then." I smiled.
"I'll see you then, sister." The line cut off and I set the phone down on the base. I went back to the table and resumed eating my breakfast. I was excited for lunch at Eleanor's. I figured I should bring a pie or another dish. My pie baking skills weren't top notch but it was better than nothing.
A few hours later I was in a cab to my sister's apartment. The cabbie pulled up along the building and I paid him the fair plus a little extra. My sister came to answer the door almost immediately after I knocked. "Vi!" She cheered and pulled me into a hug. I smiled and patted her back.
"Thank you for having me over." I thanked her and placed the pie on the counter.
"Violet, dear. Come say hi to your mother." I saw my mom stand from the couch followed by my father. I grinned and them and walked over to them. My mother wrapped me in a warm embrace followed by my father, who I had to stand on my tip toes to reach his height.
"Are Thomas, Evelyn and Jane here yet?" I inquired setting my purse down on the couch.
"Not quite yet but we think they'll be here soon and then we'll eat." My mother smiled and motioned for me to sit next to her on the couch. We engaged in pleasant small talk until there was a knock on the front door. Eleanor stood and rushed to the door, her heels clicking against the wood floors. We watched as the doors swung open to reveal my brother, his wife, and his infant daughter all with big smiles plastered across their faces. I grinned seeing my family all together in one space. I stood to greet them. Jane started bouncing up and down in her mothers arms and reaching toward me. I walked to them and Evelyn handed me her daughter. "Hello, Evelyn." I smiled at my sister-in-law. "And hello Janie." I cooed at the small baby. She smiled and put both her hand on my face in little fists. I greeted my brother and followed the family over to the couch. Jane sat on my lap and entertained herself by attempting to clap.
"Should we eat?" Violet asked after we had all caught up with each other.
"Yes!" I cheered and stood from the couch, handing Jane to my brother. We all took a seat at the crowded table and waited for the food to be set out and to say grace. We all served ourselves and began eating. I helped Evelyn feed Jane small spoonfuls of peas. I was cooing at the baby when I realized the entire table had gone silent except for me. I turned and saw every pair of eyes focused on me. "Am I missing something?" I laughed and ate a spoonful of potatoes.
"We just wanted to talk, see how things are going." My mother said politely folding her hands in front of her.
"With just me?" I asked skeptically.
Everyone exchanged weary glances and settled their gazes back on me. "We just, wanted to know how you're holding up… with Bucky being gone and all." Thomas spoke up for the first time.
"I'm fine." I said knitting my brows together, wondering why this was suddenly coming up.
"Are you okay with him being gone?" My mother chimed in again.
"I mean… would I prefer to have him here, yes. Do I mind him being gone? Not really." I shrugged.
"What about postponing the wedding?" Eleanor asked quickly as if keeping it in for so long was going to make her burst at the seams.
"I love him so waiting doesn't really bother me." I said firmly. "Why is this just now coming up?"
"We're just worried about you. You're 25 years old and… there's no telling when the war will end." My mother added the last part tentatively.
"Are you saying I should break off my engagement because by the time Bucky gets back I might be too old?" I questioned in an incredulous tone.
No one spoke; I think they were too afraid to. I looked around the table at all the familiar faces that now seemed foreign and hostile. "Yes, that is what we're saying." My father added for the first time. I stared at him with wide eyes, unable to believe what I was hearing. I thought he would be the one to remain on my side.
I shook my head and tried to think of something to say. "I love him." Was all I could think of to say.
"You're a beautiful young lady," my mother smiled at me. "I'm sure you could find someone you love just as much as Bucky." She tried to reason. I felt my anger spike and I tried to restrain myself from yelling at them.
"I don't understand, you all love Bucky." I said weakly.
"We do honey, we truly do. We just don't think it's in your best interest to remain with him." My mother added.
I scoffed and scooted my chair out with a loud screech. "Excuse me, I think I need to go home now." I said simply, standing to grab my purse of the couch and walking over to the door.
"Violet, wait." Eleanor stood from the table and grabbed my wrist before I could leave.
"What, Eleanor?" I questioned, turning around and yanking my hand away sharply.
"I saw what it did to you when you thought Bucky had died. I don't ever want to see you go through that again." She said almost tearfully.
"What makes you so sure I will?" I shouted at her, feeling tears fill my eyes.
"War is dangerous, Violet!" She shouted back but lowered her voice shakily when she reached the last syllable of my name.
I looked at her with tears in my eyes and preempted a tear falling from my eyes by wiping it away with the back of my hand. "He's going to be fine. I believe he is." I sniffed and turned, opening the door. This time Eleanor let me go. A sudden pang of guilt washed over me and I turned to face my family. "I love you all. Thank you for being worried about me but… I love Bucky and I'm willing to wait for him." I said simply. I only focused on my mother, who set her lips in a straight line and nodded solemnly. I turned and walked out the door, letting it close behind me. The entire way home I sat in contemplative silence. When I reached the apartment I sat down on the couch and stared at the painting that was hung above the fireplace. There was a framed picture of Bucky and I that caught my eye on top of the mantle. I stood and retrieved it, sitting back down.
The picture was of Bucky and I the night we got engaged. We were both beaming, wearing matching smiles. Bucky's arm was around my waist, pulling me close to him. My body was turned toward him, the hand adorned with the new engagement ring rested on his chest. I missed being able to be close to him, feeling secure. I didn't realize I was crying until a tear fell on the picture frame.
I don't know why I was crying. I had already cried too much from simply missing him. It wasn't because I missed being able to hold him. It was because a part of me, somewhere in the back of my mind… I knew Eleanor could be right.
A/N: Hello everyone! Thank you all for reading this story and all the feedback and support. This has been one of my favorite chapters to write so far so I hope you all enjoy it! I'll try to have an update up soon. I'll see you all in the next chapter!
- xlovelylunax