More Time Alone
When Charlie walked away from the car, he was smiling too. His love for Emily was deep; he did want to spend the rest of his life married to her. And he really did want her to have a baby one day. He couldn't have been happier.
He entered his suite and placed his bag on the floor. He removed a box from a chair and sat to remove his shoes. His eyes were drawn to a piece a paper leaning against a bottle of liquor.
His curiosity got the best of him. He got up to read it. And he didn't like what he read one bit. He left his suite and barged into Bus's room. He was entertaining a lady. He was none too happy to see Charlie.
"What's this, Bus?" He waived the sheet of paper in front of his eyes.
"I had to do something. The admiral came into my office yesterday and gave me an order to have you assigned to a demolition unit."
"I can read. Your orders make this movie official navy business."
"Charlie, I had no choice. Now listen to me. We have almost another full week before we head to Portland. I'm going to have you transferred to another base to help keep you from worrying so much.
"If Admiral Jessup asks me where you are, I'll tell him you are learning how to make his movie. Meet me before breakfast and I'll have your orders ready."
Charlie left Bus's room thinking. Another few days alone with Emily is not such a bad idea. She's going to be so surprised.
Charlie woke early the next morning. He met Bus in the office. He heard. "Charlie, I'm sending you Falmouth."
"Where's that?"
"It's in Cornwell, Lands End to be exact; our combined services have been helping to get it ready for D-Day. The place sits on the farthest point east into the Atlantic Ocean. You and Emily should have a good time there. Here are your orders."
"I suppose I should thank you. At least being away from here keeps me from thinking about that cockamamy movie. By the way Bus, I'm marrying her."
"That's great. She's a wonderful girl. I'll plan you an Annapolis wedding, saber arch and all the rest."
"Okay if you insist."
Charlie left the office with a smile. He couldn't wait to tell Emily.
Little did he know that Emily had woke early that morning. She missed Charlie. She had driven her car and parked in front of the hotel. She was standing beside it.
Charlie was ecstatic when he saw her there. They rushed to each and hugged right there in front of the hotel. They really didn't care if anyone saw them. Charlie broke the hug and spoke.
"Emily, you need to pack your bag again. Bus is sending us to Lands End for a few days."
"Why? I thought you would be busy learning how to make a movie."
"The camera we will use may be different from my parent's thirty-five millimeter camera but it works the same way. You look through the view window at what you want to film and pull the trigger and it begins to run. It's that easy."
He didn't tell her he had been assigned to a demolition unit and that the movie was now official navy business. He didn't want her to worry. Instead he asked.
"Have you ever been there before?"
"When I was in secondary school my class went there once to see the lighthouse. I remember the view from the bluffs was spectacular. We also saw beautiful native flowers and lots of birds. I'm sure the sunsets over the ocean are awesome."
"Your description, Emily, tells me we're really going to enjoy it there. We'll leave at sunrise tomorrow. I have permission to drive one of the motor pool cars. It's not as romantic as the convertible but it will get us there."
Charlie and Emily spent the remainder of the day in his suite. They played two person Bridge for most of the time. After dinner, they walked to a nearby theater to see the movie, A Yank in London; a movie which almost mimic their love story. They didn't return to the suite.
"Emily, we need to get some sleep. I'm sure we'll both wake before sunrise."
"Yes, you're right. I'll be waiting for you."
Charlie watched her drive away until he could no longer see her car. He returned to his room to try and get some sleep.
Early the next morning Charlie arrived at the building which housed the motor pool. He saw Emily waiting outside.
He parked and got out. They rushed to the other for that first kiss of the day.
"Charlie, I still can't believe Bus gave you leave again."
Charlie still didn't tell Emily the real reason. "He's being generous, Em. Let's get going. We can have breakfast on the road."
Once out of London they drove through miles of fields planted with a small yellow flower which produced eatable oil. When they arrived in the small town of Reading, they found a café where they could have breakfast. They didn't linger. Both were anxious to get to Lands End. They drove the remainder of the trip with only one stop.
They drove along the coastline. They saw the turquoise water and signs pointing to hidden coves. When they arrived in Lands End, Charlie parked and they got out to take in the amazing views of the Atlantic Ocean. They were mesmerized by the sight of the twinkling water which seemed to stretch to infinity.
"Charlie, this is even more beautiful than I remember."
"It is spectacular. We need to continue on to the base. I need to report in."
This base had only one structure. Charlie clearly saw the sign, Headquarters. He parked.
"I'll only be a minute, Emily."
She watched him enter as she looked all around at the mass of tents and a few huts.
Charlie reported in and soon appeared with a junior officer who pointed him in the direction of their lodging. Charlie thanked the officer and joined Emily.
"We've been given a hut on the edge of the cliff. We'll have a bird's eye view of every sunset."
"How lovely, I really didn't want to stay in a tent."
They soon learned their meals would be brought to them by a sailor. It was over four hours since they had breakfast; they happily accepted their food. It was nothing special but it was satisfying.
They took their first walk as the afternoon sun was heading for the horizon. They came upon one of those strange rock formations where a large one is balanced on a tiny one; and they have been that way for centuries. Neither had an explanation for how it happened.
When they returned to their hut, dinner was brought to them. They sat outside to enjoy the sunset. It put them in a romantic mood; they went inside for romance.
Each day they found some new place to explore. It was the afternoon of their third day that a storm kept them inside. This wasn't an ordinary storm. Even Charlie hadn't seen anything like it.
The entire surface of the sea became one dizzy whirl or rushing, writhing, tortured undirected rage. The water was crashing and coiling and unleashing its enormous power against the fortress on which the lighthouse was built and the lighthouse itself.
They could easily understand why so many ships had been lost in heavy seas and poor visibility during storms in the area.
They continued to watch and soon the sea calmed; the storm clouds blew away and a beautiful sunset appeared with those romantic colors of pink, reds and purple.
Near the end of their five day stay the commanding officer paid them a visit. He spoke to Charlie. "Commander, this place is going to be inundated with American military. It's a staging area prior to going on to Portsmouth to wait for the balloon to go up. The road will be jammed with vehicles. You and your girl can take a flight back to London. Are you assigned to the invasion?"
"Only in an advisory role to the photography teams, Admiral Jessup wants to be sure navy men are photographed. Emily and I will be ready to leave in the morning."
"I'll send my jeep to transport you to the landing strip. Enjoy the rest of you day."
"We plan to, sir."
After he left, Emily asked. "Is this invasion as large as I think it is going to be?"
"It is. Just from Portsmouth alone four thousand vessels, battleships and even private yachts will carry over 150,000 troops to Omaha Beach. And from Portland the number is about the same. It's been in the planning for over a year. The Supreme Commander has thought out every detail. It should end the war in Europe."
"And what about the war in the Pacific?"
"From what I've been told the Japanese warlords are a ruthless bunch, it may take a devastating event to get them to surrender. They don't seem to care about how many of their own people might die."
"What a horrible thought. Let's walk back to the bluffs and enjoy our final sunset."
"And then we can romance the night away until we fall asleep."
That night the wispy clouds were once again painted in shades of pink, red and purple as the sun fell below the horizon. It set the mood for their last romantic night there.
When they woke the next morning, Emily had a confession. "Charlie, I've never been on an airplane."
"I'm not surprised. The take off and the landing are the scariest. When the pilot rev's up its engines to gain speed to be able to lift off the ground, the sound can be deafening and the speed freighting. But once the plane lifts off the ground, you don't notice its speed but the noise is still there. You won't think the plane is flying it is so smooth."
"Okay, I think I can handle lift off. Tell me about the landing."
"Descending from a high altitude isn't scary. It when the pilot touches land and the plane might bounce once or twice and then when he applies the brakes you feel like you are being shoved into your seat. You then wonder if it will stop. But I assure you, the plane will stop."
"Not so sure I'll like that bouncing part."
"Maybe our pilot will be able to set her down without a bounce."
Emily didn't have long to wait to experience her first airplane ride. Shortly after breakfast the next day, the couple was waiting at the end of the landing strip to board the plane. Emily survived the takeoff and the landing was made with very little bouncing. She even thanked the pilot.
After finding Emily transportation back to the motor pool, Charlie reported his arrival to Bus. He was as excited as a boy in a candy shop.
"I'm joining you on this assignment. Now I'll have something to tell my kids about how daddy helped win the war."
"Please don't expect me to jump for joy. I live in reality. This is no cake walk, it's a death walk."
"Charlie, all we need to do is get that picture the admiral wants of the first dead man on Omaha Beach being a sailor and then we can hightail it back to the landing vessel."
"Yea, I know. I just pray it's not me."
"Of course it's not going to be you. Remember, we need to be on that nineteen hundred flight to Portland this evening. You have time to say goodbye to Emily; take her out to lunch."
"I don't know how much of your Annapolis enthusiasm I can take. Try and tone it down."
"I will buddy. I'll see you later."
Charlie mumbled as he left the room. "Good grief, now I'm his buddy."
A/N: I'd like to thank Dasie for her review. It was very much appreciated. I hope you will continue to read my story. I'm enjoying writing it.