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Nelly had been okay up until a point – where it all just dawned on her, that she was going to see Eindhoven again, the first jump she ever made, the same city where they were captured. It was a mixed bag of emotions. Locked inside the marshalling area once again, there was no way for a man to leave – not unless he got injured and couldn't jump. Upon arriving at Membury, the men were briefed. And like last time, they had maps, recon photos and sand tables. Once again, Nelly drew out her own map and coloured in areas – towns, cities, bridges and rivers. If she got lost again, at least she'd have a map. But it was a daytime jump, Nelly wasn't worried too much about getting lost again. Still, she made her own map anyway. Just in case.
And while Nelly drew out her map, Alex wrote a letter to his sister.
"Dear sis,
I guess I should say I'm sorry, but you know how it is when you're busy, don't you? I got one letter from you since D-Day and that was the other day. I didn't get much of a chance to write while I was in France. And the same goes now. I'll try my best.
Hey, I'm still waiting for that big package of apples and some good fudge. The fudge here ain't so good. It gave me stomach issues for three days. My friends stayed far enough away from me (ha ha ha)
Boy, I sure am smitten with Nelly. Oh, I didn't tell you. Me and Nelly are a thing now. She asked me, I waited until she was ready. I didn't want to pressure her into anything. Right now, we're in love and it feels great. You'll love her, Eve.
Boy, when all of us guys get home, we're really going to give one hell of a big party. I'm just waiting for that day, sis. They're hoping it'll be soon. I hope they're right.
Well, I guess I'll close this now.
Write soon.
Your brother,
Al".
Nelly left the hangar, just as Alex was walking toward her. They met halfway and smiled, upon reaching each other. It was getting dark. The sun was in the process of setting, and it cast its red and golden rays onto the marshalling area.
"I told my sister about you". Alex said to Nelly softly.
"You did?" She whispered.
Alex nodded and his smile softened. "You know, we never did get that date".
"Date?" Nelly appeared confused.
"Yeah – like – uh – a boyfriend and a girlfriend doing something...just the two of them".
She shrugged slightly. "No one is here...Alex...maybe...this is a date".
Alex smiled again. "It could be, huh?"
Nelly took his hand. "Come with me...please".
Wordlessly, Alex nodded and followed Nelly. Membury used to be a place to keep racehorses. Not too far from them, they could see those horses grazing in fields. And among tents and huge aeroplane hangers, were barns and old stables. Nelly opened a barn door and walked inside – Alex followed in after her, mildly confused. The barn was used for storing straw and hay. Nelly let go of Alex's hand and lit a few oil lamps. And he stood in the centre of the barn, not knowing what was going on.
Standing by the last oil lamp she had lit; Nelly took in a deep breath. Lips pursing together, she turned around and looked over at Alex. And she stood up. Taking off her cap, Nelly tossed it on the ground. Then, nervous and sweaty hands began to unbutton her jacket. Eyes a little wide, Alex quickly closed the distance between them, and he took her hands.
"Nelly you...you don't have to...do this if you're not ready". Alex softly assured her.
But she smiled small. "I want to".
"I would've waited". Alex said, "For as long as you wanted".
"I know". She whispered. "But...I want to, Alex".
Her voice held a serious tone. Alex believed her words. Smiling, he let go of her hands and set a tender hand on her cheek. "I love you, Nelly". He said gently, "Today. Tomorrow. Next week. For as long as we're both still here. I'll love you".
Smiling again, Nelly could feel her cheeks warm with a blush.
Alex kissed her forehead. And then whispered, "Okay...we're taking this slow".
"Okay". Nelly said back softly. And asked, "You've...you've done this before, right?"
"I have". Alex confirmed. "But...it means more with you".
"I trust you".
A lot of long passionate kisses were shared between the couple. And tender touches. Once they got comfortable and felt ready, clothes were left for the hay, and they lay down on the straw. Nelly felt completely safe with Alex. He was very attentive and made sure she was okay. Because there were a lot of feelings Nelly had never experienced before and it almost overwhelmed her. At one point, Alex thought they'd need to stop.
"Are you okay, honey?" He whispered, eyes softly staring into her eyes.
Nelly nodded. "Yeah". She whispered back, "I'm okay".
Alex smoothed back sweaty curls from her forehead.
"It's...fun". Nelly admitted to him lightly.
Smiling, Alex nodded. "It is, huh?"
"I don't feel...embarrassed".
"You shouldn't". Alex said to her softly, "You're so beautiful".
Tears reached her eyes. Nelly let out a tearful hum.
Alex frowned softly. "Nelly?"
Letting out a small breath, she mumbled, "I just...I feel lucky because...I'll bet...other girls aren't as lucky as me".
When a tear rolled down her cheek, Alex wiped it away with his thumb. "It's your first time. And I 'wanna take care of you".
Nelly sniffed. "Well...". Came her wobbly voice. "You do...always".
"I'll never forget this". Alex's own eyes filled with tears. "I'll never forget this feeling of being this close to you...and feeling so much love".
Clearing her throat, Nelly rubbed her eyes. "Why do...we always cry?"
Alex huffed out a tearful laugh. "We're a sentimental pair, huh?"
With a tiny smile, she rubbed her thumb against his cheek. "We're naked...Alex".
Alex smiled. "We are".
They both chuckled quietly.
...
She'd always be their kid sister. But Nelly felt different after that night with Alex. She felt like a new woman. It was always on her mind. And it was hard to focus on anything but Alex. Nelly did her best to remain focused. Inside the hangers on the 17th, men collected harnesses and chutes – all their gear was packed up on trucks and would meet them by the planes. Leaving the hangers, they marched toward the C-47s, just as the mist was leaving and the clouds parted. A sky of blue greeted the troopers – it was a beautiful day.
"Hey, guys!" A cheerful voice greeted the troopers of 2nd Platoon.
"Punchy!" Guarnere grinned, "How's it going, Lieutenant? How's Fox treating 'ya?"
Punchy shook Guarnere's hand. "Great, Bill. But I miss you guys".
"We miss you too, man". Toye shook his hand next.
"Where's Nelly?"
"Here". Nelly smiled up at Punchy. "Hi, sir".
"Aw, bub...how're you doing?" Punchy had a soft spot for Nelly. "Did you get taller?"
Huffing softly, she shook her head. "Did you?"
Punchy chuckled. And asked, "How're you feeling about seeing Holland again, bub?"
Nelly bobbed her head. "Fine, sir". Nelly replied evenly. "It's different from the last time...I'm not scared".
He smiled softly. "You're one brave kid, Nelly. I wish I was jumping with you guys".
"Ah – come on, sir". Toye smiled. "Better pay, right?"
"It ain't worth it, Joe". Giving Nelly's shoulder a clap, Punchy gave a nod to the three of them. "Tell Winters I said good luck?" He asked.
"We will". Guarnere promised him.
"I'll see you guys in Holland". With one last smile to the three of them, Punchy turned around and walked back to Fox Company.
"Okay". Toye said, "Let's get suited up".
It was a lot like last time, Buck was doing his rounds on his men, helping them gear up and put on harnesses and chutes. Nelly didn't have to wait for Buck, Winters turned up. To start with, he strapped on the harnesses. All Nelly had to do was stand there, legs apart and arms to the side. As always, the harness was uncomfortable. Winters yanked on the straps until Nelly found it hard to even stand properly. But that's when they knew it was tight enough. Next, came the chute and all her gear. The chute went around her back and her gear was sat just under it. Nelly leaned back a little at the sudden one hundred-odd pounds strapped to her body.
"Woah there". Winters joked lightly.
She smiled a little. "Almost fell there".
"Yeah, you did". He then said to himself, "Where's that vest...oh, there it is".
Nelly shifted. She felt uncomfortable.
Still kneeling in front of Nelly, Winters looked at her. "Okay?"
"Yeah, sir".
Winters pulled the vest over her head and snuggly set it over her shoulders. He noticed her left leg was jiggling. "You nervous, kiddo?" Winters asked softly.
Nelly scratched her forehead. "Just feel a bit...uncomfortable, sir".
"Sorry, trooper. Not much I can do that about that". He sounded apologetic. "If it helps, you're not the only one".
She huffed softly and nodded. "Yeah...".
"Right, let's see...".
Hands covering her face, Nelly let out a shaky breath. It was more nerve-wracking than last time because they knew what was coming. And Nelly was anxious to see Eindhoven again. She feared someone would recognise her and blame Nelly for failing their city. From the way her body was acting, Winters asked her.
"Do you need to use the restroom?"
Nelly's hands uncovered her face. "That would be...a bad idea, sir".
"Well, the timing wouldn't be perfect". Winters said with a small and amused smile Though he then told her, "But I could do all this again".
Nelly's eyes anxiously cast a quick stare at the plane. "Okay, sir".
"Yeah, probably best go". Winters then set about quickly taking everything off. "It's a longer flight this time". He said as he took off Nelly's chute and pack. "Nerves can't be good for the old bladder".
Nelly snorted softly and agreed. "They're not, sir...". She knew that all too well. And then she asked him with a note of confusion, "Where do I go?"
"Behind the plane". Winters said, "Don't worry, I'll make a shield".
She tried to joke but her voice sounded too nervous, "You take...good care of us, sir. Leader and shield".
Smoking a cigarette, Toye wandered over to the pair of them – puzzled. "Everything alright?"
"Pee break". Winters said, "Putting on gear is hard work, you know?"
Toye huffed out a laugh and said, "Christ, I thought my best kid wasn't making the jump".
"Oh, I'm...I'm jumping". Nelly mumbled.
Toye joked, "In your own time, huh?"
Letting out a shaky sigh, Nelly scratched her forehead again.
Toye and Winters cast each other a tiny frown. Pressing the snap-release button, Winters then shrugged off Nelly's harness. "Alright – you're good to go".
Nelly stepped over her gear and stood next to Winters.
"Joe? Are the men from your squad all squared and ready to go?" Winters asked.
"Yes, sir". Toye replied and then gave Nelly a nod, "Nelly's the last one".
"Good work, Joe".
"Thanks, sir".
Walking with Winters toward the back of the plane, Nelly spotted Alex and Skip sitting on the ground with their gear on. During their briefing, the men were told three things; they wouldn't be coming back to England. They were under British command. The war could end by Christmas and Nelly didn't believe that one. For her friend's sake, she hoped for the war to end by then, but she doubted it. Nelly gave Alex and Skip a tiny smile before she rounded the back of the plane – she hoped everyone landed safely in Holland.
As promised, Winters turned his back to Nelly and created a shield.
"Sir?"
He didn't expect her to talk. Winters cleared his throat. "Yeah?"
"Is your dad like you, sir?"
Winters was a little surprised by the question. "I think we're somewhat alike".
"Are you...more like your mum, sir?"
And he began to find the timing of her questions amusing. "Uh...yeah, I guess". Winters said with a smile. But then his smile softened when asking, "Were you like your mom, kiddo?"
"My mum...she was...kind and...before she got sick, she would smile...even when her heart hurt. Even when dad hurt us...mum would smile".
A soft frown formed on his face. "She sounds brave, trooper. Just like you".
There was a spell of silence.
Then Nelly said, "Weird conversation to have right now...sorry, sir".
Winters huffed out a tiny laugh and shook his head. "It's okay, trooper".
Standing and hiking up her trousers, Nelly fastened her belt and button. She made her way over to Winters while doing up the zipper. "Glad I did that, sir".
Winters chuckled again and nodded. "Yeah, I'll bet – come on, let's you geared up".
Approaching the front of the plane, Winters began strapping everything onto Nelly once again. She stood still, legs apart, arms to the side. In a matter of minutes, it was over. Winters left for his plane and Nelly sat on the ground because standing with heavy gear was impossible. Malarkey's mortar squad and Toye's squad were in the same plane, along with Guarnere and Buck as their jumpmaster. No anti-airsickness tablets were handed out this time and they didn't need their reserve chutes. They were also told not to bring a gas mask.
Before boarding the plane, Nelly briefly wondered if she'd ever see England again.