Three months on the dot since I last updated... unbelievable. Time flies like crazy. Honestly, it was mid-August, then I blinked and now it's suddenly October. And the weather seemingly also just realised "OH, WAIT, IT'S AUTUMN NOW" and in the span of two weeks, we went from 28 °C to 7 °C.
We're slowly but surely coming to the end of this fic. Two more chapters are still to come, maybe three. When? I have no idea. Hopefully before the end of the year, but I make no promises. If you have any suggestions for what you want to see as the women return to civilian life, feel free to leave a comment or send me a PM.
As always, a big thank you to all of you, thank you for reading, leaving comments and being so patient and kind.
In the first days of October, three women stepped back onto US soil for the first time in two years. They moved with the crush of troops flooding off the ship, fought their way out of the crowds and looked at each other, unsure of what to say or do.
"Should we go and see when the trains leave?", Mia suggested quietly.
They hoisted up their bags and started making their way towards the station.
"When I get home, I'm going to take a long, hot bath", Theresa said. She wrinkled her nose at herself. "I can't wait to get the troop ship smell off me."
Louise laughed. "You'd have to use up all the hot water."
"I'm happy to use up the hot water of a city block."
.
Grand Central Station was a madhouse; hundreds of people wanting to buy tickets or get information or rushing to catch a train. A large cluster of returning soldiers was crowded in front of the ticket counter, all desperate to get home – or at least a step closer to it – as soon as possible. The three had to plant their feet and make liberal use of their elbows to keep their spots in the line and Louise had no qualms threatening a corporal who tried cutting in front of them.
"If you try that again, I'll be very unhappy and you'll find that extremely unpleasant", she told him, flashing a smile that showed just a few too many teeth.
Theresa and Mia chuckled, thinking of the numerous instances where she'd thoroughly and vehemently expressed her unhappiness.
Glaring at them, the corporal opened his mouth to snap back when his gaze skimmed over the ribbons, badges and jump wings on their uniforms. His jaws snapped shut as he changed his mind and grudgingly stepped back.
Once they finally reached the front of the line, it took no time at all to get their tickets. Mia would return to Vermont via Boston while Louise and Theresa wouldn't part ways until Chicago, from where Louise would travel north to Wisconsin and Theresa further west to Nebraska.
.
Since they still had a few hours to kill before Louise and Theresa's train left, they decided to find a restaurant and have a late lunch.
"'A German, a Brit and an American walk into a restaurant'. Sounds like the opening line of a joke, doesn't it?", Louise remarked off-handedly as they waited to be seated.
"What's the punchline?", asked Theresa.
"No clue."
"Probably something about all three wearing the same uniform", Mia said, making them all snort.
After some deliberation over the menu – there were so many dishes to choose from and the prices gave them pause, even though their last month's pay was more than enough to cover the expenses –, they ordered and were soon enjoying the fine meal, savouring the variety of flavours and textures. Conversation trickled along as they ate, but the finality of their fast-approaching parting left them a bit subdued.
When the waiter had cleared away the used plates and cutlery, Louise reached for her glass of wine and said: "I propose a toast. To a peaceful future."
Smiling, Theresa lifted her glass as well. "To us, and absent friends."
"To family", Mia finished, "given and found."
Their glasses clinked together.
Almost too soon, 3 o' clock rolled around and the three women returned to the train station. They chatted amiably as they navigated the bustling stream of travellers, laughing over a strange story in the newspaper Louise had bought on the way. When the train pulled in, they stood on the platform, a solemn and hesitant silence settling over them.
Adjusting the strap of her bag on her shoulder, Louise cleared her throat and said: "I… uh… I suppose this is it, then."
Mia nodded, her small smile not enough to hide the sadness and reluctance shining through in her expression.
Sniffling, Theresa stepped forward to engulf her in a hug. "God, I'm not ready for this. I'm gonna miss you."
"I'll miss you too", Mia mumbled into her shoulder.
"Take care of yourself, you hear?"
"Of course. You too."
Theresa squeezed her tight before letting go and wiping at her glistening eyes. "I've really come to enjoy having sisters", she said, drawing teary laughs from the other two.
.
When it was Louise's turn to hug her best friend goodbye, she didn't say anything for a long moment. Instead, she closed her eyes and tried to soak it all in and commit the moment to memory.
"This isn't goodbye", she whispered eventually, referencing a late-night conversation from a week ago when they'd talked about their ways parting in New York.
"No. It's just until we see each other again."
She swallowed against the lump in her throat at the waver in Mia's voice and insisted: "Promise." She pulled back to look into the younger woman's eyes. "Promise me."
Mia promised, two small words carrying the weight of a binding oath.
.
They all hugged one last time, then Louise and Theresa had to get on board.
Leaning out the window as the train started pulling out of the station, Theresa shouted: "Get home safe! And don't forget to write!"
"There better be a telegram waiting when I get home!", Louise added, the sentiment underneath the joking threat clear as day. "Else I'll have to come to Vermont and track you down!"
Laughing, Mia waved until they were out of sight and she was left alone on the suddenly empty platform.
Louise
Got home safe –(STOP)– Hope your trip was OK –(STOP)– Sebastian taller than me now –(STOP)– Cousins here too –(STOP)– Tell you more in letter –(STOP)–
Mia
.
Mia
Good –(STOP)– Trip was fine –(STOP)– Train f. Chicago crowded –(STOP)– Little cousins grown a lot too –(STOP)– Looking forward to your letter –(STOP)–
Louise
.
Reese
Made it home –(STOP)– Train was packed –(STOP)– Little cousins grown a lot –(STOP)– Still menaces –(STOP)– Letter to follow –(STOP)– Advise when you arrive –(STOP)–
Louise
.
Louise
Arrived safely –(STOP)– Sam met me at train station –(STOP)– Family mostly the same –(STOP)– Took long hot bath –(STOP)– It was heaven –(STOP)–
Theresa
.
Reese
Got home safe –(STOP)– Hope your trip was OK –(STOP)– Family changed a bit –(STOP)– Tell you more in letter –(STOP)–
Mia
.
Mia
Glad to hear it –(STOP)– Trip was OK –(STOP)– Sam met me at train station –(STOP)– Family mostly the same –(STOP)–
Theresa
PS: We're old enough to buy drinks now –(STOP)– Mom and Dad will get a shock when S. & I go to bar –(STOP)–
During the three-hour drive from the train station in Burlington to Barton, Mia was quiet. The car was filled with constant chatter and she was content to let the familiar voices wash over her. Her gregarious father alternated between catching her up on three years' worth of news and gossip, clucking over her appearance – "did they not feed you in the army, there's not a gram of fat on you", "your hair, your Mama will tell you that you look like a boy" – and grumbling about the other road users with animated hand gestures that betrayed his Italian heritage just as well as the mixture of German, Italian and English swear words he used.
Her younger brother, now 15 years old, was eager to tell her just as many stories and things she'd not been there to witness, and her sister Letizia couldn't stop talking about her engagement and upcoming wedding. Between them, Mia didn't have to do more than nod, smile and make the appropriate "mhm" noises in the right places.
She reacted more strongly, though, when she heard about Rolf and Adrian. They were an hour away from home when her father asked: "Have you heard anything from your cousins?"
She shook her head. "Our intelligence officer said they were sent to a prison camp in the States. That's all I know."
"They never wrote to you?"
"If they did, the letter never reached me."
"They're living with us now!", Sebastian crowed from the backseat, a wide grin on his freckled face.
Breath catching in her throat, Mia stiffened, tension threading down her spine. "What?" She turned to her father. "Since when?"
"Hmm, a month now, I would say? They were released at the end of August."
A tiny frown puckered her eyebrows. "They weren't sent back?"
Her father shook his head, admitting that she would be better off asking them directly since it was quite a story and he couldn't remember it all in the right order.
Absorbing the information, she sank back into her seat, mind turning to the last time she had seen her two cousins, battered and bloody in a basement in Haguenau. Rolf cradling his wounded little brother, gentle and protective and terrified. Adrian, nearly delirious with pain, staring at her in confused wonder. Finding out about her uncle's death while her cousin's blood was still slick on her hands.
She looked down at her hands, clean and free from rusty shadows in the lines of her palms and along the edges of her nails. "It will be good to see them again", she said softly.
"They have missed you", her father offered, taking one hand off the steering wheel to give her knee a pat. "Just as we did."
It took three days before one of Louise's cousins asked her about the war. Melvin and Jimmy had done a good job of curbing the younger kids' innocent curiosity, but even their efforts couldn't stop the questions forever. Louise didn't hold it against them, neither the little ones being inquisitive nor the older ones trying to let her set the pace.
"Will you tell me a bedtime story from the Army?", Charlie asked as they sat in the living room that evening, playing cards on the rug in front of the fireplace.
Hazel tried to shush him, Melvin and Jimmy darted apprehensive glances towards their older cousin while Anna, the youngest of the bunch at 8 years old, looked between them with a mix of interest and confusion.
Louise shared an amused look with Gramps, who just smiled knowingly and leaned back in his chair, watching his grandkids over the rims of his glasses.
"You don't have to, you know", Melvin said.
Smiling at his concern, she waved it off. "Well, alright", she told Charlie. "But only if you promise to go to bed on time and not make a fuss about brushing your teeth."
The bribe worked like a charm on the 10-year-old and after two more rounds of Go Fish, Charlie obediently said good night to everyone before scampering up the stairs to brush his teeth, Anna right on his heels, the little girl just as eager to hear a story from her big cousin.
With a fond eyeroll, Louise climbed to her feet to follow them.
.
Settled comfortably on Anna's bed, her back against the headboard, the two kids cuddled up against her, she told them a slightly edited and heavily sanitised version of the Great Fence Incident of '44. She hadn't been there to witness it in person, but the story had been told many times since and Luz' retellings had of course always been highly memorable, his voice impressions leaving everyone in stitches.
Louise didn't have Luz' gift for narration or imitating voices, but the kids didn't seem to mind. They giggled and snickered as she told them how the combined sly cheekiness of Luz and Tipper had made Sobel look like an utter buffoon – not that the man had needed much help in that department.
"Did he find out? That it was a prank?", Anna wanted to know.
"He suspected that we had something to do with it. But he couldn't prove it, so there wasn't much he could do."
"So you didn't get in trouble?" Charlie's eyes were wide with awe.
She chuckled. "Not really, no. And Sobel soon got transferred somewhere else." She decided not to mention the whole business with the bogus court martial for Winters and the noncoms risking their lives by turning in their stripes.
Pleased with her answer and tired from a long day, Anna and Charlie didn't protest when she declared it time for them to sleep. Eyelids drooping, the two crawled under their covers, said their prayers through a yawn or two and were halfway asleep before Louise had even closed the door.
.
Returning to the living room, she sank into one of the armchairs and told the story again, this time without the edits she'd had to make to keep it appropriate for children, making them all laugh at the image of the inept officer floundering with a map and wire cutters. And Louise also grinned at the memory of Theresa and Helen nearly crying with laughter as they recounted the events, both of them struggling to get the words out in between bursts of hysterical giggles.
Once Hazel was in bed, too, Gramps studied his oldest grandchild, shrewd and serious, and said: "You don't have to tell us anything, you know? I don't want you feeling as though you do."
"I know." She looked at Jimmy and Melvin. "You told the kids not to ask questions, didn't you?" It was less a question than it was an observation.
Melvin shrugged. "We didn't want to make you uncomfortable."
"Don't worry, you'll know if that happens", she assured him with a playful grin. The gratitude in her tone belied the words that could almost be taken as a threat.
Amusement flitted over their faces, all of them familiar with Louise's temper and readiness to give voice to her disapproval.
Sobering up, Louise told them: "You can ask. All of you. I may not answer, though."
Gramps nodded solemnly. He was regarding her with that knowing look again. Its weight wrapped around her shoulders like a hug. "I'll make sure the kids understand."
A soft smile accompanied her quiet, heartfelt "Thank you".
Three weeks passed before Theresa had her first nightmare. She woke up with her heart in her throat, gasping and clutching at a bullet wound that wasn't there. The dream's impression was already fading to a few diffuse images and a lingering feeling of horror, a shakiness clinging to her very bones. She sat for a moment, focusing on catching her breath. Then, pushing the tangled covers back, she blindly snagged her dressing gown from the chair and tiptoed out of the room.
She paused in the hallway, having half a mind to wake her brother to talk to him. She shook her head, walked past his room. The chill of the slight draught that always came up the stairs from the ground floor cleared the last remnants of sleep from her mind but couldn't whisk away the echoes of the nightmare. Flashes and blips of fire and blood, an out of tune piano, the yawning jaws of a shapeless monster. She shuddered and wrapped the dressing gown tighter around herself.
Wandering into the kitchen, she made herself a cup of tea. The grandfather clock in the living room ticked away in its steady rhythm. Rain pitter-pattered against the windows. If it hadn't been for these ambient noises, the stillness of the night would have unnerved her. Even so, she went to check the locks on the front and back door, steaming mug of tea in hand.
After making sure the deadbolt was firmly in place on the front door, she shuffled into the dark living room and sat down on the couch, thoughts still circling around her dream. Elizabeth and Jessica had been in it, as had her ex-fiancé Tommy, for some reason, and there had been something about a building that was more ruin than house.
Stop thinking about it, she told herself firmly, taking a sip of her tea. It was a dream. Dreams don't make sense.
"Mew."
Her head snapped up, eyes zeroing in on the source of the sound: Lilah, the grey and white cat that had joined the Nolan household as a lost kitten 5 years ago. With a little sigh, she relaxed back into the couch cushions.
The feline hopped up onto the couch, leisurely sprawled into her lap and promptly began purring up a storm.
Lips twitching with the beginnings of a smile, Theresa ran her fingers over the soft fur.
She didn't keep track of time, content to sit in the dark, drink her tea and pet Lilah. Eventually, a slight chill started creeping into her extremities, so she wrapped herself up in the quilt that was always draped over the back of the couch. Happy in the cocoon of warmth, Lilah purred even louder and kneaded Theresa's thigh with her front paws. When her mug was empty and drowsiness spread through her, she lay down, mindful of the cat who relocated to the crook of her neck.
Closing her eyes, she listened to the rain. With Lilah's purrs in her ear, she drifted off to sleep.
The grandfather clock chimed three.
Theresa slept on, her features relaxed and peaceful.