Chapter Four
Gabrielle looked out on to the street. Isabelle left the building with Sergeant Luz, they left just after three nurses rushed out. Gabrielle had heard the girls run past her door catching her attention.
Through her window she could also see Joe be instantly surrounded by the three girls. The sight bothered her immensely. She turned from the window.
It was strange that she was actually worrying about normal things a eighteen year old should worry about like the attentions of a boy…even if he is a soldier in a war and he saved her life.
Gabrielle wandered down stairs and found the kitchen. There were two nurses left in the house. One was standing at the stove the other was sitting at the table writing a letter. They both looked up when she walked in.
One had almost white blond hair with big blue eyes, the other had jet black hair. "Hello," they both said in unison cheerily.
"Hello," Gabrielle said thankful for the warm welcome.
"My name is Angelica," Said the girl with blond hair, she pointed at the other nurse. "She Nicola. We're sisters." Gabrielle looked at her when she said this.
"You are kidding me." Angelica smiled at Gabrielle's words.
"Nope," Nicola answered, "What is even stranger is that we are twins." She said enthusiastically.
"God lord." Gabrielle said sitting down next to Nicola.
"Yeah I know, here." Angelica slid a plate of scrambled eggs at Gabrielle.
"Oh thank you but I am not really hungry." Gabrielle said sweetly.
"Yeah, well, Miss Toye said that when you woke up to get you something and I am not about to go finding trouble with Miss Toye." Angelica said.
"Okay, then if you insist." Said Gabrielle smiling, tasting the eggs. They were perfect.
"I don't suppose Miss Toye will be Miss much longer." Nicola said with a far away look in her eyes. Angelica and Gabrielle looked at her.
"What do you mean?" asked Gabrielle, eager to find out all she could about the woman who took her in.
"Well, she's with Sergeant Luz isn't she?" Gabrielle shrugged not knowing if she was supposed to answer or not. "They met in Paris and he found her here. Terribly romantic." Nicola said looking at her letter.
"Yes it is." Angelica said nodding. Gabrielle wondered what it would be like to love someone that much and have them find you. Her mind slipped back to yesterday when Joe had kissed her.
"Are you going to the dance tonight?" Gabrielle had thought the question from Nicola had been directed at Angelica and was surprised to see them both looking at her expectantly.
"I…I don't know…I am not invited."
"Oh pish!" said Angelica with a wave of her hand. The three girls attention was drawn from their conversation when a group of people entered the kitchen. Gabrielle recognized the three nurses with them, Rebecca, Elizabeth and Rachael. She also instantly recognized Joe Liebgott who was looking directly at her, but the other three soldier's she didn't know.
Gabrielle had been very proud that she had put on the red Capri's (A/I: not sure if they had Capri's back then but I say they are so it shall be done…bare with me here.) and white blouse. She had been given some clothes from the other nurses. Her blond hair was pulled into a ponytail on the back of her head. She could feel Joe gaze on her; it seemed to make the room a thousand degree's.
"Where's Miss Toye?" Nicole asked looking at the group. Elizabeth, a blonde nurse answered her.
"She is up stairs getting dried off, Sergeant Luz took her for a dip so to speak." Elizabeth sat down at the table next to Nicola.
"And who is this vision of loveliness?" asked a soldier Gabrielle wasn't familiar with. He rested his fore arms on the table beside Gabrielle, she blushed at his comment and darted a glance at Joe, he looked extremely aggravated…now that confused her.
"This is Gabrielle Loehmann," Angelica answered. "Gabrielle with is Technical Sergeant Donald Malarkey, that is Sergeant Frank Perconte," She pointed to a shorter man with dark hair, he waved at Gabrielle who sent him a smile in reply. "And that is Sergeant Bull Randleman." She pointed to a big guy in the corner with cigar in his mouth. He inclined his head towards her. She smiled.
"Nice to meet you all." She said politely.
"Not half as nice as it is to meet you." Gabrielle let out a laugh at Sergeant Malarkey's words.
"Lightning will strike you down where you stand for telling lies Mr. Malarkey." Gabrielle said back. He opened his mouth amused.
"Me tell a lie? And it's Don to you." Gabrielle rolled her eyes at his words. She noticed Joe was glowering in the corner. Rebecca was standing in front of him prattling on about something. Gabrielle never liked Rebecca, now she knew why. Gabrielle could also tell that Joe wasn't listening to a single thing Rebecca was saying.
"Oh, Don maybe you could help us convince Gabrielle to come to the unofficial USO tonight with all of us." Angelica said from the stove. Gabrielle's head swivelled around to look at the back of her new friend.
"You are actually considering not coming!" said Don looking at her.
"I don't have anyone to go with." Gabrielle said shrugging her shoulders.
"Sure you do, me!" He said quickly. Gabrielle stared at him with her mouth open.
"I have nothing to wear," Excuses were quickly flying from her mind.
"Oh I am sure we can scrounge up something." Nicola said Elizabeth nodding in agreement. Gabrielle stared at the two helplessly.
"Are you up to it?" Gabrielle's head snapped around to look at Joe who suddenly spoke. Rebecca looked extremely offended; she had been in mid-sentence when Joe had spoken. Gabrielle started to get annoyed, why didn't he want her to go? He was probably just concerned a small voice said in the corner of her mind said. Some how it was easier for her to believe he didn't want her there.
"Sure I am, I'll come." She said looking at Joe as if challenging him. He opened his mouth but Don spoke before Joe could. He obviously hadn't noticed the way Gabrielle had been looking at Joe.
"Brilliant, I'll pick you up seven." Don said smiling at her. Joe shut his mouth and watched her. Gabrielle couldn't very well turn Don down; he had been nice enough to ask her after all.
"Alright," She said. Don nodded.
"Come on Boys we gotta go get cleaned up." Perconte and Bull left then Bull. Joe stood up from leaning against the walk and walked out not taking his eyes off of Gabrielle. Rebecca ran out the room after the boys.
"How long have you been sweet on Joe?" Gabrielle turned to Angelica who was sitting beside her and speaking in a low voice so only Gabrielle could here her.
"Pardon?" Gabrielle said trying to hide her smile.
"Oh don't tell me you don't like him, you could have cut the tension between you two with a knife." Angelica said with a coy smile. Gabrielle rolled her eyes. She wasn't sure if the girls knew about where she came from so she kept her answer simple. She assumed they did since they knew here last name.
"Since I got here." Angelica's face filled with glee. "But don't tell Rebecca, or Rachael, or Elizabeth. I know they all like him, and I don't want to cause trouble." Angelica nodded.
"Mum's the word." She said winking.
Rebecca ran into the kitchen with a goofy looking grin spread across her heart shaped face.
"What's got you so please?" Nicola asked the girl.
"I asked Joe to the dance and he said yes!" She said bouncing on the balls of her feet. Elizabeth and Rachael went over to gossip and Nicola went back to her letter. Angelica looked at Gabrielle who shrugged and looked at her hands.
"Come on, we have to get you something to wear." Angelica said grabbing Gabrielle's hand and dragging her up stairs.