That Is How Long I Have Loved You: Chapter 10
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Hiya! Okay, this is a bit of a long chapter but I've realised that I'm ten chapters in and the story is still in Toccoa! So I wanted to make sure this would be the last Toccoa chapter. Thank you so much for all of the lovely comments on the last chapter, and I hope you like this one.
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Amy swallowed hard, her eyes darting between April and the letter in her hand. Her letter. "Where…where did you find that?"
"I can't believe that's your first reaction to this, about where I got it," April ignored the question. She held the letter up a little higher. "I suppose this explains why you came home from New York so quickly, rather than, how was it you put it again? Oh yes, the family were mean to you…"
"April…," Amy took a step or two back down the stairs, her words sticking hard in her throat as she looked into her sister's hurt, torn eyes. She'd done that. "…I can explain everything."
"I think that this letter says it all," April said, glaring into her sister's eyes. She'd had a whole week to work up this anger.
"I can explain…," Amy insisted, holding up her hands pleadingly. "If you'd only let me-"
"Explain what?!" April's voice grew louder as her anger intensified. She cut her sister off once again. "Explain how you lied? Explain how you've decided to put yourself in dangerous situation? Explain that you might die?"
"April," Amy repeated, shooting her sister a warning glance as she grew uncomfortable at how loud her sister was speaking. "I'm really sorry, and we can talk about this later, of course…but please, I don't want mom and dad to know. Not yet."
April disregarded this comment, her voice just as loud as her anger reached it's peak. "What about me? Would you have left me in the dark, too? Were you just going to wait until the day before you left before casually calling over your shoulder that you were leaving?!"
"April…,"
April's anger thawed for a moment, cracked by emotion which showed through in the form of a few watery teardrops which collected in the rim of her eyes. Her voice cracked slightly as she choked out. "After everything you promised me? After everything I've given up for…."
It was too late. The noise had alerted Mrs White, who appeared in the hall. Her brow furrowed in concern as her eyes darted between her two daughters, both with ghastly pale faces, one with tears running down her cheeks. "What's going on here, girls?"
David followed soon after, keeping a respectable distance behind but watching with interest all the same.
Amy shot April a pleading glance, indicating towards the letter with her eyes. A look which implored her not to draw attention to the letter. Shaking her head in disgust, April threw the letter down in front of her, watching it fall gently to land on the first step of the staircase. "I'm done with this."
Mrs White's eyes honed in immediately onto the folded up letter lying atop the stair. She looked back up at her daughters. "What is that?"
"Mom, no!" Amy shook her head in fear as her mother reached forward for the letter. She lunged forward to try and grab it herself. Her mother was too quick, however, and deftly grabbed the letter with one swoop.
Mrs White opened the letter and spent several seconds reading it over. Her eyes raised slightly before, clearing her throat, she looked at her daughters with an icy coolness to her stare. "To which Ms White is this letter referring?"
There was nothing that she could do. Her secret was out. Amy meekly raised her hand and, unusually for her, her voice came out in an almost-frightened squeak. "Me."
"Right, then Amy I'd like to speak with you in the front room, now please," Mrs White said, managing to keep her composure with an incredible amount of class. She turned her attention to David, casting him a cool smile and placing a hand on his shoulder. "I'm so sorry to cut your visit short, David, but I'm afraid Mr White and I really need to speak with Amy. April, could you please see David to the door."
"Sure," April mumbled as she looked down at the ground.
"Amy, sitting room, now," Mrs White repeated firmly, wagging her finger to indicate her daughter to follow her.
As Amy began to trudge down the stairs she caught April's eye, a distance showing itself between the two sisters which had never presented itself before in their lives. As she continued to walk past David towards the front room, he discreetly reached out and gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. She gave him a small, appreciative smile over her shoulder as she disappeared into the front room, quickly followed by her mother. Suddenly, he and April were alone in the hallway.
April, slightly overcome with the confrontation, turned away from David and put both hands over her face, taking deep breaths as she tried to keep her tears at bay. Satisfied that she wasn't going to burst into tears she cleared her throat, turning back round to face David. She motioned to the front door. "I'll walk you to the door."
Silently, he followed her, stepping out onto the porch and closing the door shut behind him. She stood awkwardly on the porch in front of him, her hands folded in front of her. "I'm sorry that you had to see that."
"Don't worry about it," He said, agitatedly, reaching into his pocket for his cigarettes. He exhaled deeply as he drew from his cigarette. "That was really wrong."
"I know, I know," She sighed, nodding in agreement. "Well, she shouldn't have lied, I suppose."
He narrowed his eyes at her. "No, actually I was talking about you. What you did was really wrong."
"Excuse me?" She asked, taken aback. "What do you…."
"You didn't have to do what you just did to her in there, not like that," He challenged, flicking his ash angrily. "I didn't think you could be so mean."
April stared at him with large, confused eyes. "But I…but she lied to me."
David shrugged blankly as his eyes flashed with frustration. He shook his head disdainfully. "Didn't it occur to you that the reason she didn't tell you was because she was scared to? Scared of letting you all down, scared of what you'd say to her?"
April felt herself shrinking back slightly at the tone of his voice. She was completely taken aback by his reaction, and it made her feel ashamed that he could be so angry at her, that he could think so lowly of her. Before she knew what was happening, a flurry of tears began their descent down her cheeks.
David recoiled a little at this sight, sensing he'd come on bit strong. He shrugged nonchalantly, softening his tone. "I…I didn't mean to make you cry I just know that she was really nervous about telling your parents about this, and most of all you."
April stopped, opening her mouth in surprise. He'd known about this? Any shame she'd felt at David's reaction quickly replaced itself with anger. "Oh, you already knew about all of this…before she told anyone in our family?"
David grimaced slightly. "Well…yes."
"Figures," April rolled her eyes, walking back into the house and uttering disdainfully before she shut the door on him. "You deserve each other."
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Sunday 6th October, 1942- Toccoa, Georgia
Ruthie tapped her fingers distractedly on the formica in the diner, oblivious to Bill snapping his fingers in front of her as she stared worriedly at April, who sat alone in a booth, her face crestfallen as she watched the rain fall rhythmically outside the window.
"Anyone in there?" Bill snapped his fingers louder, making her notice him.
"Oh, sorry," Ruthie shook her head apologetically.
"What are we lookin' at?" Bill asked, following her gaze and clucking his tongue sympathetically as he looked at April. He motioned to Amy sitting with David a few booths over. "I take it those two girls aint spoken yet?"
Ruthie shook her head. "This is bad, Bill."
"That bad?" Bill asked doubtfully.
Ruthie nodded firmly. "I've never known those two to not be speaking to each other. I've never seen them like this."
"Want me to talk to them?" Bill offered. "I'd bet I could knock some sense into them."
"Is that right?" Ruthie raised a sceptical eye.
"Ol' Bill Guarnere has been known to break up a few fights in his time," He praised himself.
"Probably started a good few, too," She added sarcastically, flashing him a smile.
He made no attempt deny this accusation, merely coughing, looking away for a brief second before asking: "You want my services or not?"
"I suppose it couldn't hurt," She shrugged, sighing.
He held up a hand. "Afraid you gotta pay the price?"
"Free cola?"
"Free cola? Don't be stupid," Bill laughed mockingly at the notion.
"Hamburger?"
"Pffft, hamburger," he waved a hand, swivelling round to face her directly, a solemn look on his face. "No. I'll help you if you do one thing for me."
"Which is?"
"Tell me what happened with Perco," He smiled mischievously.
She rolled her eyes, tossing the cloth she'd been using to wipe the counter at him. "No thanks, I'll take care of it myself."
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Saturday 12th October, 1942- Toccoa, Georgia
Their last Saturday together that October was unusually sunny, a slight breeze blowing through the trees as Amy and David lost themselves in each other against a large birch tree amidst a secluded thicket of trees deep into the park. Amy didn't even care about the small shavings of tree bark entangling itself into her hair as her lips interlocked with his in a series of passionate kisses. She lost all sense of where she was and what time it was as his lips trailed their way from her lips, along her jaw line and slowly down towards her neck. She felt her body contorting towards him in response, excitement growing within her. He surely was feeling the same as his hands began to roam, exploring the curves of her body. His lips found hers again and they kissed a few moments longer, before she had to pull away, gasping for her. "David…"
"Amy…"
"We should be careful," She whispered, closing her eyes against the pleasure of his lips floating down her neck once more.
"Why?" He breathed against her skin. He looked up at her. "Is this moving too fast?"
She shook her head, running a hand through his hair as she looked at him fondly. "Of course not, it's just…."
"You don't want to?" He looked down.
"I…I do, I really do," She admitted, kissing his nose and laughing slightly. "Believe me, I do. This isn't the place."
He looked down at the pile of leaves that his left foot was sunken into, conceding with a smile and a laugh. "I suppose that's true."
"Maybe it's for the best," She groaned, rolling out from under his arms which stood on either side of her on the tree bark and looking at him flirtaciously, adding with a joke. "Wouldn't want to get used to a good thing just as we're about to leave now would we? Besides, I'm not that kind of girl."
"Oh, well I do apologise," He played along, putting his arm around her and pulling her in for a cuddle. He took a deep breath as he buried his head in her hair, taking in the scent. He sighed. "Do you have to leave me tomorrow?"
"I'm afraid so," She patted his cheek.
"So inconsiderate of you," He teased, pulling her back into his arms.
"Isn't it, though," She giggled as they began to kiss again. She pulled away. "Hey, careful or you'll make me change my mind."
"Uh oh," He released her from his grasp. "Wouldn't want that to happen."
She laughed, planting a peck on his lips.
"Come on then," He said, holding out a hand to her. "Why don't you let me take you for dinner at the diner one last time."
"The diner? Spoil me why don't you," She teased. "There are other, better restaurants in Toccoa."
"I know, I walk past them on the way to the diner every weekend," He teased, slipping an arm around her waist as they made their way toward Mimi's. "What do you want? I'm not a paratrooper yet. I'll take you somewhere nice when I am."
"That'll be the day," She laughed, stopping suddenly as a thought struck her. "We can't go to the diner. April's working today."
"Don't worry, don't worry," He reassured her with a gentle squeeze to the waist. "We'll sit in the back."
"Hmm," She said doubtfully, but following him all the same.
"I take it she still hasn't spoken to you since last weekend," He asked cautiously, testing the waters.
She shook her head, look down, hurt. "Not a word."
"Well if it's any consolation," He shrugged. "She's mad at me too."
"Yes, that helps," She said sarcastically, rolling her eyes. She bit her lip. "You know, from since we were little, we've never fallen out this badly before."
"Never?"
"Nope," She shook her head wistfully. "She won't even look at me most days."
"Have you tried talking to her?"
"Of course I have," She nodded firmly, shrugging her shoulders. "She just turns away. I don't know, is it wrong of me to think that by now she's overreacting?"
"I don't know, maybe," He nodded, shrugging his shoulders. "If I was going to make any guesses though I'd say it's not the fact that you didn't tell her, just that she's worried about what you're going into."
"I'm not so sure," She shook her head.
"Well I'll be sure enough for the both of us," He said, changing the subject. "So how are your parents coping with the news.
"A little better. They're still not happy about it, mom more so, and they didn't start talking to me again until midweek," She said, shrugging her shoulders. "They've accepted that it's my choice though, and there's nothing they can do about it. I told them that, at the end of the day, I'm 19 and they can't stop me so I'd really appreciate it if they could try to be supportive."
"That's very mature," He nodded approvingly.
"I like to think so," She said, breathing in anxiously as they stopped short just outside of the diner. "…in the back, right?"
"In the back," He nodded, smiling at her nervous facial features as he leaned forward to plant a gentle kiss on her lips.
She reeled back with a small smile. "What was that for?"
"Because you look cute when you're nervous," He smiled, biting his lip as he stroked her ear. "…and because I think I might just be crazy about you."
"David…," She said, warningly. She'd tried her best not make this thing between them too heavy, yet she couldn't deny to herself that she was feeling the same. "Remember what we talked about?"
"I know, I know…," He rolled his eyes. "I can't help it, though. You're quite a woman, Ms White."
"I've had a great time with you, David," She said, putting her arms around his waist and laying her head on his shoulder, closing her eyes.
He frowned, pulling back a little. "So…is that it? Does this end after you leave?"
She grimaced a little, taken aback by the blunt question. "Well, we're both going away. Who knows when we'll see each other again, or if we even will see each other again."
"Oh," He said, pretending be joking as he put a hurt hand to chest in pretence of offense. His eyes showed glimmers of genuine worry, however. "Might not want to see me again, huh?"
"I didn't say that!" She cried. "I just meant…who knows if we'll even make it back alive, David?"
"Positivity," He remarked dryly. "I like it."
"David…," She smiled sternly at him. "Stop frowning. Will you write to me?"
"Of course I will," He nodded, pausing as though he had something else to say.
"What?" She pressed.
"It's just…we get a furlough at Christmas and I was just wondering if you wouldn't mind if I stopped by Toccoa for a while to visit you," He proposed to her, gently mocking the words she'd used earlier. "I know that's not exactly keeping things light, but…."
She playfully hit him on the arm before placing a silencing finger over his lips. "I'd like that."
He smiled triumphantly, holding the door handle of the diner and motioning her inside. "Shall we?"
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Ruthie grabbed her order pad, looking at Amy and David sitting in the back of the diner, holding hands across the table. She began to walk over to them to take their order, but stopped, turning back instead to the counter where April was refilling the napkin holder. Ruthie tossed the order pad down onto the counter, jerking her head back towards their table. "Your turn."
April simply looked at her in surprise, shaking her head and pushing the order pad away. "I am not serving them."
"Yes you are," Ruthie slid it back across the counter. "Jeez, April. She's your sister and she's leaving tomorrow!"
"I won't get into this again, Ruthie," April shook her head firmly, looking at her friend pleadingly. "I am not going over there."
Ruthie frowned as April walked into the back pantry, slamming the door behind her. She growled in frustration.
"Sure you don't want ol' Guarnere's help?" Bill said, smiling from the other side of the counter. "Havin' some trouble?"
"I'm doin' just fine, Bill," Ruthie narrowed her eyes at him and she slammed a hand on the table. "I'm not defeated so easily."
"Then what's your next plan?" He challenged.
Ruthie thought for a moment, before a smile triumphantly spread itself over her face. "I've got just the thing, actually Bill."
April reappeared from the pantry and set some unopened boxes down on the counter. She looked up in surprise as she saw Ruthie stalking over to her angrily. "What?"
"I'm just trying to help you, April. I don't want you to let your sister go without making things right with her! What's more, it's your damn turn to bus the tables," Ruthie said, pretending to be angrier than she actually was. She reached under the counter and pulled out some cleaning produce. "But since I have to take their order, then you can clean the bathroom for me."
"Fine," April said indignantly, grabbing the bottle off of her. "I'd rather do that than serve them anyway."
Ruthie watched April march off into the female lavatory, before turning and making her way over to Amy.
"Ruthie," David nodded politely at her before looking back down at the menu. "Could I get…."
"I'm sorry, David," She said, holding up a hand to stop him. "I'll take your order in a second. I'm sorry to interrupt, but I actually came over to tell Amy that April isn't doing to good. I don't know what she's eaten but she's in the bathroom and she's not well at all."
Amy's eyes flashed a glimmer of concern, before glossing over. "I don't think she'd want to see me."
"Well, that's funny because she asked for you specifically," Ruthie lied with a smile.
"She did?" Amy's eyes lit up.
"Yeah, she's in the bathroom," Ruthie motioned in that general direction. "Why don't you go see how she's doing?"
"Okay," Amy said, tentatively rising from her seat and making her way into the bathroom.
Once she had both sisters inside the bathroom, Ruthie turned back to Bill, clapping her hands together in triumph. "…and there you have it."
"Ruthie, you know that they can just walk out?" Bill raised an eyebrow.
"Well I just happen to have that covered," She held up a finger, swiftly reaching below the counter, pulling out a set of keys and locking the bathroom door.
"Good job, Bill said, nodding his head in genuine approval. He turned back to his paper, but looked up again, a sparkle in his eye as he took out his cigarettes and pointed to the No Smoking At The Counter sign. "…try stopping me now, April."
Both sisters began to thump on the door once they'd realised what had happened.
"Ruthie, open this door!" April said, banging on the door with her fist.
"No," Ruthie shouted back. "Not until you both resolve this stupid argument."
"Ruthie, I mean it…," April cried out again, more warningly. "I'll bang this door down!"
"I'm sorry," Ruthie put her fingers in her ears. "I can't hear you!"
Both girls began banging the door even louder in tandem. It was actually quite loud and attracted a lot of attention from the other diners. Ruthie held up her hands, frowning slightly. "Nothing to see here, folks. Back to your meals!"
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"I cannot believe her," April said, giving the door one final thump before giving up with a despairing grunt, sliding down the wall and taking a seat on the floor.
"Well, if it's any consolation she tricked me too," Amy said dryly, sitting down on the floor and playing awkwardly with her fingers. An ominous silence settled between the two of them. Amy sighed, not sure of how much more of it she could take. "What, you're still not going to speak to me even though we're trapped in here."
"Not through choice," April said coldly, looking at the ground.
Amy sighed again. This was a ridiculous situation, she knew that, and neither of them were even close being as mature about it as they should be. Well, that was something that she could change there and then. She decided to bite the bullet. "What is it that's bothering you so much, April? Is it because I didn't tell you? Is that all it is? Because if that's the case, then surely you must know it's because I was scared of letting you down."
"Then why are you letting me down, then?" April piped up quietly, her voice catching in her throat.
"Because I have to do this," Amy said, imploringly looking into her eyes as she tried to justify herself. "I'm 19, April, and there's a war out there. I want to do something to help. I want to make my mark!"
"Well, that's great," April said, dryly. "I'm sure you'll do a lot."
"April, please don't look at me like that," Amy frowned, biting her lip. "Every time you look at me like I've betrayed you so much, it breaks my heart. I'm sorry that I didn't tell you and I'm sorry that I won't be going to Sarah Lawrence with you…but you know me, once I have my heart set on something then I have to go for it. I wouldn't be happy otherwise."
"I thought I knew you," April shook her head, looking away, unable to stop a solitary tear from rolling down her cheek. "But now…you're a completely different person to me."
Amy shrugged her shoulders, uttering. "I'm still me."
"No," April shook her head firmly. "The sister that I knew would never decide to do something like this without even telling me first or without telling her family first. Army nurses are trained to go into war zones, Amy. You could die! Haven't you thought about that? What? Were you just going to leave quietly without telling us? Were you hoping that we wouldn't find out until a letter arrived telling us that you'd been in who-knows-where?"
Amy sighed, knowing that this was the reality of what she'd signed up for. "I was just waiting for the right time."
"The right time…," April spat out, unable to stop herself from laughing incredulously. "It is so disrespectful of you, Amy. I don't believe for a second that you had any intention of telling us. You have enough chances! After all of the saving mom and dad had to do to send us to Sarah Lawrence. After everything I've given up…" She stopped.
Amy frowned, cocking her head to the side. "What have you given up?"
April narrowed her eyes at her sister. "I gave up an apprenticeship with Epoch magazine working under Judy Orr in New York so that I could follow you to Sarah Lawrence. Do you know why I did that? I did it because I didn't want to let you down, Amy. Goodness knows why I bothered, since you clearly didn't give a second thought to any of us here."
"Why did you do that?!" Amy asked incredulously. "Why would you turn down something like that? That's a fantastic opportunity!"
"I know that," April said through gritted teeth. "But that opportunity is gone now, unfortunately."
"I'm sorry," Amy said, deflated. She clung desperately to her argument, trying to persuade her sister. "I know I'm doing the right thing here, April…."
"The right thing?! How can you be so selfish?!"
"Selfish?" The word struck something in Amy and her anger flared. "So volunteering to help my country is selfish is it? Oh, and April, don't pretend that you said no to that apprenticeship because of me."
"Excuse me?" April said, her blood boiling.
"You're too scared of standing on your own two feet and doing something on your own for once, without me," Amy said, knowing that her words were harsh but her anger making it impossible to stop them from coming out of her mouth. "That's why you wanted to go to Sarah Lawrence together, because you don't want to do it on your own! Should I continue?"
"I think you've said everything there is to say," April said quietly, her eyes closed in resolve. She stood up, turning back towards the door.
"Wait," Amy said, softening a little as she reached out and placed a hand on her sister's arm, who turned back round to look at her.
"What?" April asked, giving her a blank stare.
"I'm sorry. Emotion got the better of me there. I didn't really mean that," She said, apologising.
"Yes you did," April whispered, tears running freely down her cheeks at that point.
"April," Amy implored again, wiping the tears from her sister's eyes whilst trying to stop her own from flowing. She swallowed hard. "I love you. I love you so much, but I'm doing this. I'm sorry that it affects the plans we made, but I'm doing it all the same. Before I go, I'd really appreciate it if you could understand and give me your blessing. Can you do that for me."
April paused, seeing the pain in her sister's eyes and almost wanting to meet her demands, but she knew inside that she simply couldn't. She sombrely shook her head. "I'm sorry, I can't."
Amy released her arm from her grasp, defeated. "So that's it then?"
April shrugged. "That's it."
Wiping her face quickly and taking a deep breath, April pounded on the door. "Ruthie, we're finished. Let me out now."
Ruthie opened the door from the other side, the triumphant smile on her face dissipating as she saw the tears. "Didn't you two…?"
April simply shook her head, making her way wordlessly to the counter.
Amy left the next day.
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Friday 18th October, 1942- Toccoa, Georgia
It was April's last day of her internship at the Toccoa Enquirer, and she spent her lunchtime sitting outside glumly eating her sandwich on the front steps of the building. Amy had been gone a week but the stain that their last encounter left was still evident. Part of April couldn't believe that she'd actually gone, the other part couldn't deny that, however angry she was with her sister, that she missed her. Moreover, she was at a loss for her own future
"Last day on the job and you're eating lunch on your own?" Hank's voice rang out as he appeared on the stairs behind her.
She craned her neck to look at him. "Oh, hi. It was a little too loud inside, I suppose."
"It's press day I suppose, but my sentiments exactly," He said gripping his coffee mug. "Mind if I join you?"
"Go ahead," She said, scooting over a little on the step to make space for him to sit down next to her.
"So how are you doing? Hank said. "Sad to be leaving?"
"A little," She said, mustering a grateful smile. "This has been a wonderful opportunity for me. Thanks, Hank."
"Not a problem, it's been a pleasure to have you," He nodded, smiling politely. He asked, nonchalantly. "When do you leave for Sarah Lawrence?"
She shifted uncomfortably in her chair. "…s'posed to leave this week."
"Supposed to?" He asked, as though pressing her for information.
"I…I'm not sure that I'm going anymore," She said quietly, taking a bit of her sandwich.
"Yes," Hank said tactfully. "My wife met your mother in the supermarket yesterday. She mentioned that your sister had decided to join the Nurse Cadets."
"Yes, she did," April said simply.
"That's a shame," He said, remarking without trying to cause any offence. "I know you were looking forward to going there together with her."
April simply shrugged.
"And…," he continued. "You expressed that that was the only thing holding you back from the internship at Epoch."
Amy winced. "Well, I suppose it's too late to worry about that now."
"Is it?" He asked, putting a finger to his lips. "Tell me April, what would you say if I were to tell you that I didn't let Marv send the rejection letter to Judy Orr?"
"What?" She asked, surprised. "Are you serious?"
"I'm afraid not," He said, unable to contain a small smile as he took out the folded letter of rejection that she'd given him to send to the magazine. "I'm sorry April but I knew you'd change your mind. It was too good an opportunity for you to turn down."
"Wow," She breathed, looking down at the letter. She looked up. "But wait, isn't it too late to respond now?"
He shook his head. "Marv can phone up today if you want him to, and you'd start next Monday."
"Next Monday?" She frowned. "That's so soon. There would be so much to organise. Accommodation for a start. Where would I stay?"
"Interns are provided with accommodation," He explained, frowning back at her. "Didn't you read the information pack.
"No," She grinned sheepishly. "I…I threw it in the trash actually. Ruthie has it though!"
"Then I'd start by getting that off of her," Hank shook his head at her. "What do you say?"
April bit her lip, thought after thought racing through her head trying to talk her out of it. It's too short notice. I've never been to New York City. I'm not good enough to work with Judy Orr. Suddenly Amy's thoughts returned to her about how she was afraid to do things on her own. She winced, thinking about how she was only proving Amy right with these thoughts. Who was she kidding, this was an incredible opportunity. She really wanted to do it, and really wanted to prove that she could do it on her own. "I'm in!"
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Saturday 26th, 1942- Toccoa, Georgia
"Three cheers for April," Ruthie called out, holding up a glass and shouting above the music.
Three cheers rang out around April, who blushed slightly as she took a drink from her own glass. She'd worked her last shift at the diner and was leaving for New York City the next day, but unbeknownst to her Ruthie had arranged a small surprise leaving party for her in the diner that evening. Nothing big, just a bottle of fizzy donated by the staff at the Toccoa Enquirer and attendance from whoever happened to be in the diner that evening.
"Off to the big city, huh?" Bill asked, topping up her glass. "Good for you, kiddo."
"Thanks, Bill," She said, smiling. "Make sure you take care of Ruthie for me, alright? At least until you leave Toccoa, anyway."
"Course I will," He nodded, leaning into her. "But I just need to know one thing so that I can do that?"
"What's that?" She asked, confused.
"I need to know what happened between her and Frank," He shrugged his shoulders.
"Oh," Her eyes lit up. "You mean she still hasn't told you."
"She's told you?" Bill demanded, sighing heavily. "Everyone knows but me, huh."
"Stop it, Bill," Ruthie said, appearing behind them. "The more you want to find out makes me more determined that you'll never find out!"
"Drivin' me crazy," He rolled his eyes.
"Anyway," April spoke up, standing up and motioning towards the door. "I should really get going. I still have some packing to do."
"Ohhh," Ruthie pouted. "Don't leave me yet."
April smiled. "I'll be home for Christmas, Ruthie."
"I know, I know, but still," Ruthie said, pulling her best friend into a hug. Her voice cracked with emotion, which was unusual for the hardened Ruthie. "I'm going to miss you."
"Hmmm," Bill frowned, shifting his shoulders uncomfortably as the two girls pulled apart. He motioned behind him. "I'm not so good with emotional broads so I'm gonna…you know, leave you both to it. Good luck in New York, kiddo."
"Thanks Bill," She waved him away. She turned back to Ruthie, pulling her into a hug again. "I'll write you, I promise."
"…and bring me a present home from the City at Christmas?"
April rolled her eyes.
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Closing the door behind her, leaving the swirl of noise coming from inside the diner and enjoying the sudden peacefulness of the street, April folded her hands against the cold as she prepared for the walk home. She heard the door open behind her, followed by David's voice calling her back. "April."
She slowly turned round, smiling politely at him. "David."
He took a step towards her, putting a hand to his chest. "I know you probably don't want to speak to me, but…."
"It's alright David," She smiled. "I'm sorry I've been so cold to you recently. I didn't mean for you to get caught up in the crossfire of everything that happened."
"That's alright, I shouldn't have been so confrontational about it," He apologised. "Have you spoken to her?"
She shook her head, offering him a tactful smile. "No I haven't. With all due respect though David, I don't want to talk about it."
"Understood," He held up his hands defencelessly. "I really just wanted to congratulate you on the internship. You're going to have a great time in New York."
"Here's hoping," She smiled, noticing a small package in his hand. "What's that?"
"Oh," He held it up, handing it to her. "Just a little something I got you. I saw it in a shop today in town and I thought you might like it."
"Oh," She smiled, blushing slightly, taking it from him and opening it to reveal an ornate, empty photo album. It was beautiful. "This is beautiful David, thank you. You didn't have to do this."
"I thought you'd like it," He smiled, before adding as tactfully as possible. "Plus I thought you could put all of your photos from New York in it, so you can show everyone what you've been up to. Plus, it was also to say thank you…thank you for the library card."
She couldn't stop herself from smiling as she look from the album up towards him. He was such an incredible, thoughtful man, and her feelings for him hadn't lessened any. She couldn't hold herself back from uttering: "She doesn't know how lucky she is, you know…to have you."
"Aww," He rolled his eyes, waving a hand at her and joking. "I know, I know, if only you'd gotten to me before Amy, right?"
She raised her eyes slightly, thinking to herself "if only you knew". She simply held her arms open towards him. "Come on then, give me a hug goodbye."
He gently leant in, pulling her in close for a hug. Bad idea, she thought to herself, breathing in his masculine scent and liking it immensely.
"Long hug," He remarked, laughing.
"Oh," She hadn't even realised, so lost in the hug. She pulled back quickly. "Well, goodbye David."
"Have a great time over there," He smiled again.
She suddenly felt sad, not knowing when or if she'd ever see those beautiful brown eyes again. She wondered if he would ever know how she felt about him. Without thinking, she leaned forward and placed kiss on his cheek. "I'll miss you. Take care of yourself over there, wherever you end up."
With that, she left into the night.
She left for New York the Next day.
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November 19th, 1942- Toccoa, Georgia
Ruthie couldn't believe the sombre atmosphere in the diner as the troopers slowly shuffled in one after the other. She had a nervous feeling in her stomach that she knew what the atmosphere meant. She'd been dreading it for some time now. When she saw Bill's face as he came into the diner, she knew it was true. He came over to her, smiling simply at her as he sat down at the counter and pulled out his cigarettes. "How we doin', Ruthie?"
"You're leaving, aren't you?" She asked, wiping the counter with a frown on her face.
"'Fraid so. We're moving out this week sometime," He told her, giving her a joking pout. "Passes revoked for tomorrow."
"That's a shame," She patted his shoulder sympathetically. "I liked havin' you fellas around. The atmosphere in here won't even be half as good once you leave."
"Oh Ruthie…you're right," He joked, beaming at her.
She playfully hit his arm.
"Say, since we're leaving and I might not see you again," He gestured with his hand. "Why don't you do me a favour and end my torment by tellin' me what happened with Perco."
She took a deep sigh. He wasn't going to give on this, was he? Relenting, figuring he was right, they'd likely never see each other again, she leant into his ear and whispered the information that he wanted to know.
His eyes grew wide as he recoiled in disgust. "What?!"
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