Chapter 51

May Bailey to Jessie Buchanan May 5, 1938

By tomorrow, after a short visit to the Saarinens' farm outside of Sudbury, Grace and Van will be in Toronto. I know the Saarinens must miss their son Oscar terribly. It was bad enough for them before the war when he was living in Port Arthur with his aunt and uncle so he could find work as a lumberjack. Now he's on the other side of the Atlantic in far more danger than he ever was in the woods. Hopefully, the fact that Van will be back with the Mac-Paps and able to keep an eye on him will be of some comfort.

It would be more of a comfort to me and Grace both if Van weren't going at all. I think it is very brave of Grace to accept and make the best of what she cannot change. Heaven knows, I can't change it either. I told Van before he and Grace left that I couldn't believe that he wanted to put Grace through more fear and anxiety. If he changed his mind about going back, no one would blame him. I knew it was probably a hopeless gesture, but, for Grace's sake, I had to ask.

Van, although regretful, was firm in his decision. "The man I was before I met Grace would have no problem turning away from his comrades. He could easily pretend that his skills and experience aren't needed in Spain. He wouldn't hesitate to enjoy the good things of life and ease his conscience with a checkbook open for the Republic. That man betrayed the woman he loved and almost destroyed everything there was between them. I can't be that man again."

Grace Mainwaring to May Bailey May 7, 1938

Little Jimmy couldn't be more adorable. He has the most beautiful brown eyes full of life and curiosity. Also, strong lungs and a stubborn streak. Diana remarked that he wants what he wants when he wants it. I couldn't help remarking, "just like his father as a child."

"Untrue," Bob retorted with a mischievous twinkle in his eye that made him look very much like Father. "I was a very well-behaved and agreeable little boy."

I couldn't let that pass. "You were a shameless liar when it suited you."

Bob is practically walking on air, he's so happy to be a father again. He bent my ear about how a man needs a son to follow in his footsteps and carry on his name. Diana is feeling better, but is still a little tired after her labor, so I have pitched in to help her with Jimmy. Fortunately, I haven't forgotten everything I learned minding Doris for Bob and Toppy when she was a baby.

Speaking of Doris, she is actually tolerant of her new brother. She even allows that his smile makes him look halfway human which, for her, is extravagant praise. She is much happier these days. Learning that her fiance's new secretary is the middle-aged motherly type did wonders for her morale. Jerry followed that right step by paying more attention to her. Both are keyed up with excitement about their upcoming wedding. I have to admit to being in somewhat the same state about Van's and my second honeymoon.

… Van consulted today with his lawyer about the progress of his arrangements to offer reimbursement including interest to everyone he swindled during his career as a con artist. He is glad to have completely repaid nearly all of his victims. The arrangements for the last two should be completed within the week. The statute of limitations has expired on every swindle he has ever committed except for his last. The Easterbrooks have already been repaid and can be relied on to keep silent, if only to avoid the embarrassment of admitting that they were taken.

Even without the possibility of criminal charges hanging over his head, Van is happy that he is about to clean the slate once and for all where his past wrongdoing is concerned. I still have reservations about his refusal to repay the Nazi businessman to whom he and his friends sold a fake Rembrandt five years ago. However, I can hardly blame him for not wanting to give a Nazi anything but the back of his hand.

At least he has made an anonymous donation equal to the amount of money his victim paid plus interest to the Jewish Immigrant Aid Society so he can no longer be said to have profited by his crime. Of course, what you and I have in mind to help Hitler's Jewish victims may be only a little more acceptable to the law.

… Bob has been cordial but has tried to persuade Van that he shouldn't leave me to go back to the front. That was well-meaning of him, but he didn't have to say of me, "She can be stubborn, and she minds everybody else's business, but she is slightly better than a war."

I thanked him sarcastically for thinking so highly of me. He just grinned and said that was what brothers were for. I don't think I would have thrown something at him, but it was probably a good thing that he immediately looked away from me and said to Van what he said next. "Seriously, my sister is a wonderful person, kind, thoughtful, loving, and she's crazy about you. I don't understand why you want to leave her. If I had been discharged after being wounded at Passchendaele instead of just being sent home on medical leave, nothing could have torn me away from Toppy. Nothing would tear me away from Diana."

He gestured towards his wife rocking Jimmy in her arms. This time next year, that could be me with a baby of my own if Van would only stay and be the husband I deserved. The smile Van gave me when Bob said that was one of the most beautiful and one of the saddest things I have ever seen. Then he looked back to Bob. "I know I'm idiotic to leave Grace to go back to war, but the sensible people have either given up the fight against the fascists or don't think it even matters. Fools like me are all that's left to carry on."

Bob cast a disbelieving look in my direction. I shrugged my shoulders. "He may be a fool but, whatever comes our way, he's my fool."

Robert Bailey to May Bailey, May 8, 1938

… I was glad to learn that Van and Grace finalized the purchase of a majority share in the Alawanda Lumber Company before leaving New Bedford. It was generous of Ernest Smith to agree to stay on as manager and company president for at least the rest of the year. If Van returns to Canada before that time, he will wait until he can teach him the business before retiring.

Otherwise, Vice President Elton Crane will succeed him. Neither Smith, Crane, nor their other two partners were happy about Van's plans to rejoin the International Brigades. However, in the current economic climate, there are no other prospective buyers, and they very much want new investment.

Diana's old school friend, Lettie, is far more impressed by Van. She is in Toronto for the week and came to congratulate Diana on her new son. It wasn't just Van's looks and charm that struck her. That might have been expected. She couldn't believe that he not only tolerated his wife working but was willing and delighted to sing Grace's praises for it. Grace looked on, quietly pleased at her husband's pride in her.

… Jerry Belham is a pleasant young man, but he isn't very bright when it comes to anything outside his family's shipping business. He actually asked Van a question, in a boyishly eager tone, that might have provoked a less easygoing veteran to sharp sarcasm. "What's it like to be a soldier?"

Van just gave him a tolerant smile. "When I was your age, I used to think that a soldier's life was bad food, sore feet, low pay, constant orders, and being shot at every now and then."

Jerry was intrigued. "What happened?"

Van answered dryly. "I went to war and found out how right I was."

In two weeks: Silver threads and golden memories.