Chapter Twenty-One (Do You Believe In Miracles...)
"So.." Hanley sat the beer down in front of Saunders, taking the seat next to the man. He glanced at the men at the bar, his interest superficial. "This was a good idea, yeah?" He motioned toward Kirby and the other men. "They seem to be having a great time."
Saunders nodded, lifting his glass in mock 'salute' before he brought the frosty foam to his lips, tasting the bitter brew with a long sip. "Kirby can find a good time anywhere...anytime." The Sergeant smiled for the fact. "Add some beer to the equation and..it's like magic."
Hanley grinned for the analogy. "I'm still reeling from the fact..we're here." He sought the noise and laughter surrounding them, moving his outstretched leg for a woman to pass by, offering a gentlemanly apology and a slight lifting of his lanky torso, in a respectful gesture.
Saunders would have arisen but the woman was tugged away by the 'gentleman' she was 'with' even though she threw Hanley a rather 'come hither' glance before the incident was completed.
Hanley lifted a brow when he was finally able to return his interest to the Sergeant. He shrugged his well-formed shoulders, grinning amiably. "Doesn't seem real, does it? Or is it just me."
"It's hard to acclimate..or so I've been told." Saunders sought solace in his beer. "By those that are in the know."
Hanley had studied the other man for some time now. He thought it might be a good time to bring up the subject. "Speaking of which..how is our good Doctor Taylor doing these days?"
Saunders moved carefully but truth told, he didn't mind a sounding board along about now for the problem had plagued him all night, although he thought he had hid the fact well. "...Well, when I left her she was doing just fine." He sat his beer down staring at it morosely. "It's me that is .." He didn't want to have to admit it, even in his own mind.
"I thought something was amiss." Hanley leaned closer, his elbows on the table. "Look..it's none of my.."
"It's ok, Lieutenant." Saunders didn't feel 'violated' in any way, shape or form by this man's interest in his problems. "I guess..it just wasn't meant to be."
"How so?" Hanley was puzzled. "I thought..all these months, everything was..ok between you guys. You seemed..happy."
"It was..great but.." The young man shook his head. "I don't know. Things just didn't..jell."
"Your feelings changed toward her?"
"No." That certainly wasn't the problem. "My feelings.."
Hanley knew he would have to pry the information from the man but he didn't mind. If he could help someway. "...So, you guys have a fight or something? Where is she?"
"..Back at the hotel, I guess."
"You guess..I would find out." Hanley suggested..strongly. "Look, Saunders..like I said. Not my affair but..this woman. She's kinda..special. I'm sure you picked up on that and if it's just a matter of..a disagreement or.."
Saunders sit, silently nursing his beer.
"You don't seem exactly thrilled that..she might be out of your life. Am I right on that assumption?"
"I don't know." Saunders was getting restless.
Hanley tried a hunch. "Well, if it's just female companionship you want..the blonde at the table in the back has seemed interested all evening long." He sat back, his long fingers playing with his glass of merlot. "This is a dame's drink but I have a long drive tonight. Leaving for Maine soon. It'll be good to see the family again."
Saunders nodded his understanding. "Yeah, I am out of here tomorrow. Taking the train to Illinois."
"Train?"
"I want some time to.."
"Acclimate?" Hanley grinned. "Caje is headed for New Orleans, Kirby wants to hang here for a few more days, I hear." He glanced at the two men who were dancing with a couple of pretty women. Little John and Nelson had some female companions but they were content to just sit and talk over by the large plate glass window which overlooked the street. "Not sure about the other two."
"Doc already left." Saunders had said goodbye to the young medic, wishing him luck. They had exchanged numbers and addresses, as had they all. "It's good., being home but..not having these guys around?" He shook his head. "I've dreamed about this day for ..ever and now."
Hanley got it. "Yeah." He felt the same emotions. "We've been a unit for a long time. Not going to be easy..letting that go, I suspect."
The silence came as each man contemplated the 'letting go' part.
"Saunders..for what it's worth." Hanley sighed lightly, reaching for a cigarette, offering the other man one absently. Saunders shook his head which surprised the Lieutenant but he put the pack back in it's proper place, inside his jacket pocket. "..If I had a woman waiting for me..like Darcy Taylor? I would make it priority to get my ass to where she is. Just a friendly statement."
"I'm not sure I'm ready for..all that entails. I have ..obligations." He had always know that. "Everything is up in the air, Lieutenant. We don't know where we'll be stationed..what we'll be going into.. "
"You can always find excuses." The man arose, smiling down. "But..only you know what is best for you so.." He offered his hand. "You have my number if you need me..for any reason."
Saunders stood, shaking hands. Hanley grinned, slapping the man on the back then crushed his smoke in the tray that already overflowed. "I'll say my farewells to the men..hope everything turns out for you. Keep in touch. I mean that."
Saunders nodded. "You too, Sir." He watched the man make his way to the table by the window. It was one of the saddest moments of his entire life to date and that was saying something. He felt he was losing a part of himself.
These men meant so much to him. So much.
They had formed a strong bond..unbreakable, as far as Saunders was concerned. If he had any pull at all where he was going, he knew he would try to get them transferred to his squad..wherever that may happen to materialize.
That wasn't always possible though, he also knew that.
He watched Kirby and Caje for a long time. Just sitting and watching. Nelson was getting ballsy, he was even trying to slow dance this evening. The kid wasn't doing half bad.
The man glanced at his watch. Looking up, he caught the eye of the blonde Hanley had mentioned. She smiled at him. She was pretty and stacked to the nines. He looked away, not in the mood. He arose, threw some bills on the table and made his way to his men.
He lingered longer than he had intended because, he simply did not want to leave. But in the end, it was time and..he forced himself to say goodbye to the finest group of men he had ever served with.
He grabbed a cab, outside the place, heading for the hotel. He took the time to think. The streets were hectic and crowded and the driver had to go slow. It was alright with the Sergeant. He needed the distraction. But finally, they pulled up outside the fancy digs. He paid the fare, entering the building.
He crossed the lobby, heading for the elevator. His heart thudded heavily in his chest. He was determined to get to his room, to sleep. He had to get up early..for the train. He passed Darcy's room then..his footsteps halted of their own accord. He found himself retracing his steps, knocking on the door.
A stranger answered. A man. Saunders glanced at the room number but..it was the correct one. "..Sorry, I thought..my friend was here earlier."
"Oh..I eh..got in about two hours ago. Guess he checked out..did you ask the desk? Oh and..soldier. Thanks." The overweight guy put out his hand, which Saunders took. "You guys did a hell of a job over there..kicked those Kraut asses! We're proud of you, son!"
Saunders smiled and nodded his 'thanks'.. "Just doing a job, Sir."
"A damned fine one! Just wanted to say so."
Saunders made his way to his room, his mood as low as the day he got his draft notice. It had been one fucking hell of a day. And it seemed like it was only going to get worse.
Darcy Taylor had walked to the phone, picking up the black receiver. She waited for the familiar click.. It meant, the recorder had started. She was used to the 'monitoring' now. All calls were subject to scrutiny. It was merely a fact of life. Even here in another state.
"Tell Groves I want out of here. I need a ride to the airport. I want to come home." She knew someone was listening just as she knew..no one would acknowledge her words. "Get me the hell out of here! I'll be packed in an hour..." She glanced at her watch. "It's ten forty now." She hung up the phone.
She had waited for the man to come to the door..to talk. To make everything better but..he had not come back. She had heard him go out. It took all she had not to open the door and apologize. She felt horrible. It was his first day back, for God's sake.
This is what he came home to?
She had wept a little, cursed him a lot and..finally, in the end. Decided to make it easy on him.
She was packed and ready in twenty minutes, then sat..waiting for whomever would show up at her door. In exactly one hour...eleven forty..a knock came and Lt. Adams was outside the room.
She was whisked to the airport, a military jet was waiting and..by early morning, she was back at Los Alamos..or as the site was affectionately known to those who lived and worked there.. 'the hill.' It was a secret to most people, referred to as 'Site Y' by the military. Babies born there had the address of P.O. Box 1663 Santa Fe, New Mexico. Taylor admired the scope of the project but moreso..that Groves had managed, all these years, to maintain the anonymity of such a massive undertaking.
At first she had hated the restrictions and military rules but one learned to live with them and soon, she felt a sense of protection and affinity with the place.
The Trinity test was coming up. She could, if she wanted, be part of those privileged enough to witness the procedure. In the end, Eugene asked her to accompany him and take notes. The preparation took her mind off Saunders and helped pass the time. She used drugs to sleep and drugs to keep sharp in mind. Such things were readily available on site. If the pharmacist couldn't..or wouldn't..prescribe the pills, the scientist themselves could..and would..concoct some chemical equivalent to help out in a pinch.
And so the days passed. If she thought about the soldier, her moods dropped lower than Eugene's and that wasn't good for anyone. Eugene had taken a romantic interest in Oppenheimer's secretary, Gail Sumptner. Against all odds, they clicked and an engagement materialized out of an impossible pairing. The upcoming wedding kept everyone occupied and happy..for the most part.
And so the days passed.
"Son..is there something wrong you're not sharing?" Thelma Saunders caught her son's wandering attention.
Saunders glanced up from his musings, standing straighter. He had his foot propped on the bannister of the wrap around front porch, his thoughts, of late, centering on Darcy Taylor. He put his cigarette out, stubbing the butt on the wood deck.
"Hey, Mom.." He kissed her cheek affectionately. "What do you mean? Everything is great."
He rubbed the slender shoulders. But the woman was having none of his cajoling this evening. "Now, you stop that and answer the question. I know something has been bothering you. Is it..that you have to go back to War?"
"Mom..nothing is bothering m.."
"I said.." The still pretty features pulled into a stern scowl. "The truth. You have not been yourself ever since your return. Now, you tell me and you tell me now, boy."
Saunders smiled for the chastisement. "You're one mean broad, Mom..has anyone told you how intimidating you can be?" He teased.
"Is it a girl, son?" The woman was too intuitive. "I ask because. I've tried to set you up with any number of nice women and you've found reasons to bail on me." Thelma was a no-nonsense type of woman. "One or two, I could see but..all of them?" She folded her arms, which meant..she was prepared to stay for the duration. "Chris told me you mentioned a woman..he thinks you're sweet on her. Who is she? And why have you kept her from me?"
"..Chris has a big mouth." The man shook his head, regretting confiding the little he had to his younger brother who had come home a week after Saunders..not because the Marines were a thoughtful group of men but..because Chris had been wounded while over in the Phillippines. It had been a million dollar shot to the chest. The kid had spent three weeks in hospital with a raging fever and infection before fighting his way back. It had been touch and go for a while and no one in the family had been notified of the injury, so screwed up was communication in that part of the world.
Chris had shown up one night, out of the blue, brought to the door by an ambulance. He had insisted coming home when the Military had said..hospital stay in the States. He had gone back to the base the next morning but..that night, he had stayed where he needed to be.
Saunders had visited the kid daily and they had talked about..lots of things. Chris had grown from a snot nosed kid just short of graduating from high school to a mature, responsible..capable young man. Chip was proud of him.
He respected him enough now to confide some things that only two veterans of a war could comprehend.
"It isn't Chris' fault..it's your's. We concerned for you." Thelma scolded. "Now..what's up? Get it off your chest."
"..Well..yeah." He knew better than to disrespect the woman. "There was a ..woman but..that's in the past, Mom. It's over. I'm just..you know." He fidgeted. "Wanting it over. I wish I could get going and get it done, that's all." He had often lied to his mother, if only to protect her from the harsher things in life. "My life seems to be 'on hold' and it's ..making me crazy." He smiled to lessen the words. "I thought about something today though..wanted to run it by you."
"What is that?" She sat on the railing, giving her full attention.
The house was quiet. Louise had gone out with that pimply faced Jock from school. They seemed to be an item these days. They had gone to a football game.
"..When I do get back..finally. I thought about checking out the police department."
"You want to be a police officer?"
"The pay isn't great but..I think it's a line of work I could do now." He nodded.
"It's dangerous son."
"Mom.." He laughed softly. "I just got back from a War."
"Which was more than dangerous and by the Grace of God..you survived..both my boys." She crossed herself. Thelma Louise Saunders was a religious woman..a staunch, practicing Catholic who never once missed Mass. She was sorely disappointed in her sons..who never once attended Mass..well, not any longer. Not since they were old enough to make such decisions for themselves. "But.." She held up a hand. "I'm not one to butt in to your lives. If that's what it must be, then..I will learn to accept your choice."
Saunders was pleasantly surprised. "I've heard from the base. My orders will be forthcoming, they say. Which probably means..Fort Hood in Texas."
"Texas..those people talk funny." The woman frowned her concern. "Don't you come back with an accent. But, that's not the issue. Who is this woman you didn't even bother to tell me about? What's her name? Where is she now? How long did you know he..."
"What is this? An inquisition?" He spread his hands, teasing again.
"Who...is she? Where did you meet her?"
So..the man told her a few things. Just a very few.
"..She's a doctor you say?"
"Not a real one..she's just a scientist..she holds a Bachelor's I think." Saunders shrugged. "She's kinda smart, Mom. Too smart for me."
"That's stuff and nonsense. You were always bright in school..when you decided to show up."
"Well..she is working out West somewhere. It wasn't serious or anything."
"Then why are you so affected by it."
"I told you.." He softly reminded. "She has nothing..."
"You told me.." Thelma arose. "Now, try the truth. Something is eating away at you. Now, you talk to your squad daily..one or more of those young men. This Kirby fellow is on his way to visit..it can't be that."
"There might not be an opening here. What would you think of relocating to Chicago?" He had talked to Kirby. They would join the Force together. That's why the man was coming down. They would drive back and check out some of the town before they had to report to Hood. It had been decided.
"Leave my..home?" Thelma's hand came gracefully to her throat, her brow concerned and..fretful suddenly.
"Mom..we don't own this house." Saunders reminded. "I want to be able to get you a real home..where we can all be together. This place is too small. Always has been."
She glanced around. "Well, there's my Victory Garden but..heck, I can plant one of those anywhere, I suppose." She smiled at her son. "You do what you think best, Chip. We will go if that's what you want. This neighborhood has seen better days. A lot of 'iffy' people have moved in since you left. I wouldn't mind getting Louise away from that Jimmy MacCleon, either, I can tell you."
"Then..that's a plan." He breathed easier.
"Did you love her, son?"
"Ma..." Saunders was embarrassed to say the least.
"Was she a good Catholic girl?"
"She's part Jewish, Mom."
"Ohhh!" Well, that was a point against Darcy Taylor, he saw. "My goodness.." The woman tried to tone down her reaction. "Oh, not that there is anything wrong with that..not at ALL!"
"But..she sure isn't Catholic...is she."
"Oh, stop it." She swatted at him. "You know what I meant. Anyway. If you want to talk about her..or anything..ever...you just remember. I'm here."
"Yes Ma'am."