Chapter 11

April 1918

Tom didn't lack in straightforwardness, but this time he thought he had to gather together all of his strength. Once the briefing was over, and only Matron Carter and Colonel Brett were left in the office he spoke up.

"May I have a word with you?" He said shyly.

"You need both of us?" Matron asked.

"Yes ma'am. It's a personal matter. Very important"

He stood up all the time with the cap in his hands. He kept turning around it while talking and Colonel smiled with fondness while looking at him. He and Matron Carter glanced quickly at each other and they knew what their answer was going to be. It was a fair decision for them.

When Tom left Colonel Brett's office, he took a very deep breath and leaned on the wall for a minute, happy and eased. He reached the canteen and took a plate of soup. Miles was waiting for him and Tom sat in front of his friend.

"So?" Miles asked. Tom kept spooning the soup.

"Come on Tom!"

Tom straightened his back and smiled "They gave me the approval. Both of them!"

"YES!" Miles punched the table, gathering the attention of the people around them.

"Sorry!" He said a bit louder. "Oh dear friend, I knew they wouldn't deny it to you!"

"I thought Matron Carter would have been more resistant, but she didn't even bat an eyelid before saying yes" Tom said chuffed. Then he added "And guess what? They even granted me a 3 days leave!"

"Three days? It means you can't leave France, though"

"It doesn't matter! I was thinking of Paris for that…." He said pensive.

"Paris? Well…in another circumstance it would be quite perfect for such an occasion"

"That occasion needs to happen first…" Tom raised his eyebrows.

Miles stood up and patted on his friend's shoulder.

"I am pretty sure you'll get the answer you wish. And you know I'm basically always right!"

Kitty was surprised when Tom told her only a few minutes before leaving, that he was going to town for the afternoon. He told her he had a few errands to do that couldn't wait. He had winked at her and then quickly jumped into the truck with two orderlies who had an afternoon pass like him.

As mysteriously he left, as happily he came back right before dinner was being served in the canteen.

"Well, don't you look satisfied?" Kitty said amused. "You did everything you had to do?"

"Yes, exactly what I wanted" He said "Would come with me for a walk?" Kitty nodded. He took her again into the woods and made her sit on the trunk that had witnessed so many moments between them.

Tom placed his cap near his side and turned his face to her.

"Kitty, when I got my memory back I told you that here was the place where I hoped I could tell you all the things I had in my heart"

She nodded trembling. Tom looked down grinning and then stared again into her eyes.

"My heart is full of love for you. My heart and my soul are yours. If you allow me, I would like to spend the rest of my life with you and make you happy"

Kitty's jaw dropped. Tom got down one knee.

"Katherine Trevelyan, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"

Kitty stopped breathing.

"I'm a divorced woman" She objected.

"I know"

"I already have a child"

"I know that too"

"In London, or even in Glasgow, I wouldn't be considered an honorable woman" She objected again.

"Do I look like I care what Glasgow or London consider?" He said with a bit of impatience.

"No, of course. My past has made me so miserable, and I'm just afraid it would ruin things"

"Kitty, we have discussed this so many times. Your past is your past, you did what you have to do and only a fool would come to judge you for that. For much hurting it was, it made you the strong and wonderful woman I love! I'll tell you one more thing. I promise you I'll do everything I can to get your daughter back. I won't give up until she is with you again!" He said with all the passion he had in his voice.

Kitty swallowed and closed her eyes for a few seconds. Four years ago she thought she would never marry again and was desperate for having lost her daughter. Then the war happened and had taken her away from that hell to another one. Unexpectedly it was the place where she found love and hope again. She believed in Tom and she realized she wanted and wished to place her trust in him. She kneeled from the trunk in front of him and took his hands.

"Tom Gillan, how can I tell you how much I love you? You make me believe a future is possible despite this war. I want this future with you, as long as I live. Yes, I want to be your wife!" She took his face in her hands and kissed him. Tom cheered so loud Kitty wouldn't be surprised if they had heard him in the tents.

"Oh my God, I forgot"! Tom said suddenly. He searched frantically in his pocket and took out two little boxes. One had a small but beautiful ring. With trembling hands he put it on Kitty's finger.

"Tom, you shouldn't have to!"

"Why not? I want you to have an engagement ring. There isn't another option!" Then he took the other box and took out a golden chain.

"Since you are not allowed to wear rings here, I thought you could place it here…" He said.

"So I can keep it close to my heart. Thank you!" She concluded for him smiling.

A few weeks later

They married in what was supposed to be a small ceremony, but in the end all the staff of the hospital came to cheer for them. Peter was standing near Miles and commented:

"I think I've never seen Captain Gillan smiling so much. He's smiled more in this past hour than in the past three years"

Miles laughed "He's turning into a soppy lad. I might need to have a few words with him when he gets back"

"I'm happy for him, he is a good man. We all deserve happiness, don't we?" Peter said melancholically.

Miles looked at him pensive "We do. Sometimes it comes easily, sometimes it doesn't".

Tom surprised once again Kitty the day before the wedding by telling her they were going to a honeymoon in Paris.

"How did you manage?" She asked in disbelief.

"Thank Matron and the Colonel. It was their idea!"

"How kind of them" Kitty was overwhelmed.

"We'll leave at two, just after the ceremony. And we will be back on Monday night. How does it sound?"

"Like a dream" She whispered flirtatiously.

The night before the ceremony, Kitty and Flora were adamant to have a moment with her.

While Flora was brushing Kitty's long locks, Rosalie sat on the other side of the bed and gave her a box.

"Girls, what is it?"

"Open it" Rosalie invited her.

Kitty opened the box and found a beautiful night gown. She touched it delicately, it was made of silk and lace and it was the color of pale pink.

"This is stunning" She said when she took it out "Thank you, but really? It must have costed you a fortune!"

"Don't worry about that" Rosalie assured her.

"We thought you needed something special for your wedding night" Flora said giggling.

Kitty blushed "It's more that I could ever wish for" She paused for a while and took both girls hands "Rosalie, Flora, you have been like sisters for me. I cherish so much the time we have spent together"

After the ceremony they left for the train station, both wearing civilian clothes.

"I think I've never seen you in anything else than your uniform" Kitty noticed when climbing into the truck.

"And you won't see me only in my civil clothes I dare say" Tom whispered in her ear while following her.

"Tom!" She said louder. "I didn't know my husband was a naughty man" She whispered back grinning.

A bad news was awaiting them at the station. The train was running late and the station master was helpless as he didn't know when it was coming. Kitty and Tom couldn't do anything else than wait there, sitting on a bench.

Two hours later the train finally arrived, but it was stuffed as they had never seen before. Somehow the newlyweds managed to get into the train and juggled between people and luggage in search for a place to sit. Their chances to find two nearby seats were equal to zero, so finally Tom, close to lose his temper, decided that he would sit down and let Kitty sit on his lap. He placed their bags on the rack upon them and then helped Kitty. Kitty made sure her wedding band was visible, since a woman in front of them was looking at them in disdain.

Just when they thought they were finally reaching their destination, the train started to have problems, and had to stop a couple of times in the middle of nowhere.

Kitty and Tom were both tired, especially Kitty, who felt uncomfortable for having to be a weight on Tom.

She leaned on his shoulder and closed her eyes. It was almost eleven when the lights of Paris started to appear outside the windows.

"I'm so sorry Kitty, this is not how I wanted our first wedding night to be" He whispered in her ear. Kitty rubbed her nose on his cheek and said "Don't be. We are together, it's all that matters" She assured him.

Their pension was nearby the station, so it didn't take much to reach it. An annoyed receptionist gave Tom the keys to their room and left without any explanations. Tom asked Kitty to wait in the hall, which was already empty and rushed upstairs with their luggage. Their room was on the first floor.

Then he rushed back, but walked the last meters very slowly. He had a seductive look on his face, Kitty noticed.

"What are you thinking Tom?" She said stepping back. She didn't have time to blink when he lifted her up in his arms and started to go up the stairs.

"What are you thinking Tom?" She asked again.

"Oh, I'm going to show you how much I love you" He said with a low voice.