D-Day plus two
Easy Company, well what there was of Easy Company, had helped to secure the town of Culloville by very early the next morning. Lieutenant Winters had ordered them to all get some sleep wherever they could until they received orders to move out again. Everyone else seemed to be managing to do just that, apart from Evelyn. She just couldn't settle, no matter how hard she tried. She felt like she was on tenterhooks waiting for more of the guys to show up. Not to mention that sleeping on the cold ground of the town square wasn't exactly comfortable. To be fair, even when they had done countless training exercises back in Camp Mackall or in Aldbourne, she had struggled sleeping then. There was just something about sleeping in the great outdoors that bothered her. Perhaps it was because she was a born and bred city girl? Or more likely because even during training they knew that they had to be alert for possible dangers? And now this wasn't training. The dangers they were staying alert for were actually very real. She sighed. Sleep definitely wasn't going to come. She stood up, her legs numb from having been sat on the ground for so long. She stretched and began to walk across the square. She had just gotten to the edge of the square when she heard a voice in the shadows of an empty shop doorway.
"Damn it, Lieb, you frightened me half to death," she gasped, putting a hand to her chest and feeling her heart thudding wildly underneath it. Liebgott smirked, the glow from his cigarette the only light illuminating his face in the otherwise pitch dark.
"Sorry," he said, shifting over on the step to make space for her to sit down. "Why aren't you asleep?"
"Why aren't you asleep?" she asked, sitting and stretching her feet out in front of her.
"Not tired," Liebgott shrugged.
"Me neither," she said. "Actually no, that's a lie. I am tired but I just can't sleep knowing everyone else is still out there somewhere, you know?"
"I know," Liebgott looked at her, and for a moment just held her gaze until the intensity of it made her look away. He obviously sensed her unease because he changed the subject. "I got a letter from my mom just before we jumped."
"Oh yeah?"
"Uh huh," he nodded, flicking his finished cigarette on the floor. "Remember my sister, Rachel, who I told you about? The one who's fiancé ruined their engagement party and almost sent my mom into an early grave?" Evelyn nodded and chuckled, remembering the story. "Well, turns out they had to get married last month, because she's managed to get herself knocked up."
"That's great news. And such a nice way to put it by the way," Evelyn snorted. "Uncle Joe. It's got a good ring to it. Your family must be so happy."
"You reckon?" he chuckled. "My mom's overjoyed. Not that I'm surprised. She's obsessed with kids, especially babies. She's always harping on about becoming an Oma; that's Austrian for Grandma, by the way. But my Dad, on the other hand, is fuming. He's not happy that they've been doing the deed…" he wriggled his eyebrows suggestively, and smirked when he saw a faint blush creep up Evelyn's neck. He loved the way she blushed at the slightest thing. It was ridiculously endearing. "…and they're not married. Even though they got married before the secret could get past anyone other than the immediate family, my mom said he's still refusing to talk to either of them."
"My dad would probably be the same," she said. "What is it you once told me? That it's a big brother's prerogative to look out for his little sisters? Well, imagine being their dad, and that feeling is probably amplified about a hundred times. And you know what? Once the baby comes, he'll probably have gotten over it. Nobody can stay mad when there's a baby about."
"True," Liebgott agreed. He smiled. "I can't believe it though. My little sister is gonna be a mom. It's so strange. It doesn't seem that long since she was carrying dolls about, and now she's gonna be carrying a real baby. I just hope she remembers that she won't be able to carry this one around by its feet or not hit its head on the door frame."
The two of them broke into soft laughter.
"Are you sad you won't be there when the baby's born?" Evelyn asked him.
"A little," he shrugged. "But I'm not all that good with babies anyway. In all honesty, they kinda scare me actually. I remember when my youngest sister was born; she's ten years younger than me. She was so floppy and I was terrified of breaking her but as soon as she could crawl about and move, I was fine."
Evelyn smiled watching Liebgott talk about his family. She loved seeing this side of him. How soft and caring he was. It made her heart leap and stomach jolt; in a good way.
"Any of your brothers or sisters got kids yet?" he asked.
"No, much to my mom's disappointment," she shook her head. "None of my brothers apart from Bill have even got girlfriends let alone thinking about getting married and having kids, and my second oldest sister Clara is far too ditzy to have a child. She would go shopping and lose it or something. As for my older sister, Gina, the only one of us that is married. Well, I don't think a child really suits her lifestyle. She always looks immaculate and I just couldn't picture her wiping snotty noses and poopy butts."
"What about you? Could you imagine yourself doing those things one day?"
"Absolutely," she said without hesitation. "One day, that is. Well, obviously," she snorted, motioning to their surroundings. "I'm gonna have an entire brood of kids one day. But before that, I wanna enjoy everything life has to offer."
"Like what?" Lieb asked, looking at her intently.
"I dunno," she shrugged, once again feeling unnerved by his dark brown eyes on her. "I wanna travel, and perhaps go back to school."
"To study what?"
"What is this? The Spanish Inquisition?" she asked with a smile.
"Sorry," Lieb smiled back. "Just curious. It's not often we get time like this to just talk."
"Well, we have been rather busy training for a war you know," she teased, nudging him gently. "And then there was the small matter of actually jumping into the war. I'm sure if you ask them nicely, the Germans will pause the war just so you and I can make more time to talk."
"Yeah yeah, alright," Liebgott nudged her back, making her giggle. "Always such a smart ass, aren't you?"
"Guilty," she grinned. And then yawned.
"You really should try to get some sleep."
"I know," she nodded, covering up another yawn. "But I just don't think I can switch my brain off."
"You mean there's actually a brain in there?" Liebgott grinned, patting the top of her head. She punched him playfully on the arm and he just grinned. "Was that supposed to hurt?"
"Six minutes," she said, glancing at the watch on her wrist. Liebgott frowned. "It's taken you a whole six minutes of conversation before you started insulting me. I'm pretty sure it must be a new record."
Before he could reply, she yawned again.
"Right, that's it," he said, shifting back so he was leaning against the boarded up shop door. "If I have to see your tonsils one more time, I'm gonna scream. Just put your head here and try to go to sleep, will you?" He stubbed his cigarette out and patted his shoulder. Now it was Evelyn's turn to frown. Surely he wasn't suggesting that she sleep here with him? But then why wouldn't he suggest such a thing? All of the guys were huddled in small groups around the town square, and she was pretty much just one of the guys, wasn't she?
"I'm not gonna bite you," Liebgott smirked and she smiled.
She shifted herself backwards until she too was leaned up against the door, and tentatively leaned her head against his shoulder. She expected to feel at least a little bit awkward, but instead it just felt, well, right. Despite how dirty his uniform already was, she could smell his distinctive scent as it invaded her nostrils. She had always thought it was cologne but she realised now that it must just be him. She smiled to herself, feeling finally content as her eyelids dropped.
Joe smiled to himself when he heard a soft snore less than two minutes later. He looked down at Evelyn who was already sound asleep. Her mouth was turned down almost into a frown and her brow was furrowed. Her face was covered in camouflage paint and dirt, and she had wild wispy bits of hair sticking out almost like a halo. She had never looked more beautiful. Moving carefully, so as not to wake her, he put his arm around her shoulders and her head lolloped onto his chest. Sighing contentedly himself, he closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.
… … …
Evelyn awoke with a start when she felt something kick the sole of her boot.
"Would you look at this? Love's young dream."
She opened her eyes and blinked. Once. Twice. Staring down at her was the beaming face of George Luz.
"George!" she smiled, jumping up and headbutting something hard.
"Ow, what the fuck!"
Liebgott. Of course. She had completely forgotten.
"Christ Ev, is your head made of fucking marble?" he grimaced rubbing his chin.
"Lieb, I am so sorry," she apologised profusely "Are you alright?"
"What do you think?" he muttered snarkily, still groggy from sleep. One look at her crestfallen face told him that he was being slightly unfair to her. "Let's just call it payback for the time I elbowed you in the face, yeah?"
She smiled at that, seemingly relieved and he smiled back. Truthfully, he wasn't really annoyed at her. Well, perhaps a tiny bit for having headbutted him, even though it was accidental. But he was more annoyed at George for interrupting what had been the best sleep of his life. Despite the bizarre surroundings and circumstance, having her in his arms had been something that, as far as he was concerned, had ended too soon. A hint of jealousy crept into his veins as he watched Evelyn fling her arms around George's neck, the pair of them utterly overjoyed to see one another. Muttering something about needing the toilet, he sauntered off trying to pretend he didn't want to rip George's head off. If Evelyn noticed his strange behaviour she didn't comment. Then again, she probably hadn't noticed because she was too preoccupied with George fucking Luz.
"You and Lieb, eh?" George winked at Evelyn when she finally let go of him. "The second my back's turned you cast me out for a newer model, huh?"
"Shut up, George," Evelyn screwed up her nose, hoping her face wasn't as red as it suddenly felt.
"I'm just kidding with you," George chuckled, taking a drag on his cigarette. Evelyn noted how tired and worn he looked. He had bags under his eyes. She felt sorry for him because the sun was coming up and it was highly unlikely he was going to get any sleep now. They would probably be moving out again soon. However, her sympathy was short lived when he decided to blow a huge puff of smoke right in her face, sending her into a coughing fit that, judging by the look on his face, he found to be rather amusing.
"And to think I was worried about you," she narrowed her eyes. "Did anyone else come back with you?"
"Why yes actually, Evelina," George nodded, pointing across the square. "Right over there, you will find our favourite pint-sized Italian, Frank Perconte along with Faye Tanner's very own blonde haired Romeo in the form of one Skip Muck."
Evelyn shook her head at George's, well, George-ness, and without waiting for him ran over to the group that was finally growing larger hour by hour.
"Where the fuck have you been?" her brother asked as she gave Skip a small hug. "You were there when I fell asleep and then when I woke up you were gone."
"Oh yeah, I couldn't sleep so I just went for a walk," she answered vaguely.
"You were walking about all night?"
"Obviously not, no," she scowled.
"She went for a walk and landed in Joseph Liebgott's arms," George said gleefully, coming up beside her. She turned and glared at him as Malarkey began to make kissing noises.
"Fuck off, George," she huffed. "I was talking to him last night while you were all snoring your faces off," she flung her arm in the direction of her brother and the others. "And then we fell asleep. It's hardly a big fucking deal."
"Nobody said it was, you fucking drama queen," Bill exclaimed. "Jesus Christ, you get more and more like mom every day. I only asked where you were. Sorry for caring."
Evelyn sighed, realising she may have slightly overreacted. The thing was, she hadn't wanted anyone to get any funny ideas about her and Liebgott, so she had gone on the defensive. Way to go, you idiot. You've probably done the exact opposite of what you wanted to. Just try and play it cool, moron.
"No, I'm sorry," she said. "I just thought you were gonna get all funny and start off on one of your rants about Liebgott, and I'm really not in the mood."
"Well, you're half right," Bill conceded. "I can't say I'm particularly thrilled that you fell asleep next to that schmuck, but considering where we are I'm just glad you got any sleep at all. And at least you didn't have Malarkey and his rank ass beside you all night."
Malarkey with the rank ass just shrugged and grinned, not in the least bit remorseful for the foul odour that had obviously radiated from his rear end all night.
Evelyn raised an eyebrow. Was her brother feeling alright? Maybe he had a temperature because that would certainly be the only explanation for his rather easy going behaviour. Don't question it Ev. Just move on before he can say anything. Oh, and don't forget to punch George somewhere it really hurts when he's least expecting it. Her stomach started to rumble loudly and she realised that she hadn't actually eaten anything since Malarkey's cordon bleu offerings the night before.
"You guys had breakfast yet?" she asked.
"Oh yeah," Malarkey nodded. "Ev, you missed a real treat. This absolute goddess of a French woman came out of her house and brought us all kinds of things to eat; cakes, bacon, sausages, eggs, you name it. But the best bit was that she was wearing this flimsy little nightgown that was almost see through. Ain't that right Bill?"
"Oh yeah," her brother joined in with a smirk, and Evelyn internally rolled her eyes. Men. "She asked me to go back inside with her but you know, I didn't think it was fair on these guys if I was gonna get some action and they weren't."
"Really?" Perconte's jaw dropped and Evelyn thought his eyes were about to burst out of his head.
"No you idiot, they're having you on," Evelyn tutted and cuffed him on the ear. "You're far too gullible, Frank. And anyway, out of all these guys do you really think she would choose Bill?"
"Hey," her brother exclaimed indignantly. "I'll have you know that the ladies can't resist Wild Bill."
"I think the less said about that the better, don't you?" she raised an eyebrow at him. "I don't think we need to get into another argument about all of that, do we?"
Before Bill could answer her, Liebgott walked over to them and Malarkey took the opportunity to rib him a little.
"So Liebgott, what's this I hear about you and our Evie hooking up last night?"
Liebgott frowned at her and she wished the ground would swallow her up. So she did the only thing she could think of, and that was to make a joke of the whole situation in the hopes that they would all just give it a rest.
"You're just jealous it wasn't you I was hooking up with Don," she said as casually as she could and all of the guys around chuckled when Malarkey's face flushed red. Even Liebgott's lips twitched. "Now, I'm off to find Gene and do some work instead of standing around here listening to you guys gossiping like a bunch of old women."
… … …
It turned out Eugene was rather hard to find. Nobody had seen him. It was like he had disappeared. So she went to the only person she could think of who might have a clue.
Evelyn found Lieutenant Nixon on the outskirts of the town discussing something with Winters and Welsh. She caught his eye and he excused himself from the group.
"Corporal Guarnere," Nixon gave her a wide smile as he took a drink from his canteen. He was always taking a drink from that canteen. Evelyn and the rest of the guys had a sneaking suspicion that there was something a little stronger in it than water, but they didn't overly care. They liked Nixon so what did it matter? "To what do I owe this pleasure?"
"I seem to have lost Eugene," she said.
"And you came to me because?"
"Because you're the intelligence officer so if anyone would know where that sneaky little Cajun had disappeared to it would be you, no?" she smirked.
"This is true," Nixon grinned, showing off his perfectly straight white teeth. Lewis Nixon really could have passed for a Hollywood movie star. She knew that if either of her sisters were to ever see him, they would most likely get all giddy as soon as he flashed a smile in their direction. Evelyn of course wasn't blind. She appreciated his handsome features but merely just as a passing observation and nothing more. "And you are in luck actually. See that rickety looking house over there?"
She did.
"He's in there. One of the townspeople came for help about twenty minutes ago because their little boy had taken ill, so Lieutenant Winters sent Doc. He was the better choice because he speaks French. And also, he wasn't asleep in a shop doorway with Joseph Liebgott."
Evelyn felt her face flush as Nixon smirked.
"I'm the intelligence officer, remember," he tapped his nose. "I know everything."
What was with everyone making such a big deal out of this? If she had fallen asleep in a shop doorway with George or Malarkey or any of the others, would they all be so interested? Was she being completely transparent about her feelings for Liebgott? Did everyone know she liked him? Did he know? No, of course they didn't. She was being absolutely ridiculous. It was just a joke, one that obviously everyone was getting in on.
"They'd make quite the couple though, don't you think?" she joked, hoping to deflect the attention once again from herself and Nixon laughed heartily.
"I wouldn't let either of them hear you say that though."
"True," she conceded with a small smile. "Well, thank you Sir. I'll uh, be on my way."
Nixon took a long drag on his cigarette as he watched Evelyn head off towards the crumbling down house where Doc Roe was. He knew he had embarrassed her with the comment about Liebgott but he just hadn't been able to help himself. He had seen the way the two of them looked at each other when they thought the other wasn't watching. He wondered how long it was going to take them to realise they both obviously felt the same way. He and Welsh had a bet on how Bill was going to react when that day eventually came. He snorted to himself. Of all the men in the company she could have set her sights on, it would have to be the one that her brother had a tremendous dislike for. Still, it would make for good entertainment at least when Bill found out.
"Something funny?"
He looked beside him to Dick who was crunching loudly on a ruby red apple.
"What did Guarnere want?"
"Just looking for Doc," he answered.
"How did she seem?" Dick asked, as the ebony haired medic disappeared from sight.
"Fine, why do you ask?" Nixon frowned, throwing his cigarette onto the ground and stubbing it out with the toe of his boot.
"I was just checking," Dick took another bite of his apple. "You know they found out that their brother died before the jump, right?"
The look on Nixon's face told Winters that he obviously hadn't known.
"And you call yourself the intelligence officer," Winters smirked. "Anyway, Bill didn't react too well to it, but his sister on the other hand. She's taken it remarkably well. In fact, a little too well. I'm worried that the feelings she's suppressing are all going to come spilling out when we least need them to."
"We'll just have to hope that they don't then, huh? Now are there any more of those apples anywhere? I'm famished."
… … …
"Eugene, are you in here?"
"In the living room Evelyn," his voice called out, followed by something in French that she didn't understand a word of.
Walking tentatively through the house, she noted how similar it was to her own home back in Philly. It was plain to see that someone had taken a lot of time and care in creating such a lovely home only for it to be ruined. There were bullet holes in the walls and dust and debris everywhere. She didn't know why but it made her feel sad to think that on this side of the world, people had been living under oppression and having their homes and belongings blown up for almost five years, while back home they had been oblivious to it all for two of those years. Well, not oblivious, but happily ignoring the fact that they remained untouched by the horrors of war. It actually made her feel a little ashamed.
Walking into the living room, she saw Eugene leant over a narrow couch where a little boy, no older than five or six, sat upright. A woman she presumed to be his mother was watching them intently.
"Do you need some help?" she asked, walking over to the couch.
"I think we're actually just about done," he answered, gathering up his things into his satchel. Evelyn came closer and the little boy gave her a toothy grin. Eugene said something to the mother, who nodded and smiled gratefully. He ruffled the little boy's hair as he stood up. "Au revoir, Phillipe."
"Au revoir."
"What was that all about?" Evelyn asked as they headed back out into the square.
"His Mom thought his appendix was about to burst," Eugene explained. "I was thinking the worst until he let out the biggest gust of wind you have ever heard in your entire life about two seconds before you walked through the door."
"Must be something in the air, pardon the pun," she snorted, thinking about Malarkey. "So I take it he's alright now?"
"Yeah," Eugene said, his lips twitching. "I think his poor mother was mortified though that she had created such a scene over nothing."
"I'll bet," she chuckled, taking hold of his arm. "Well, I'm off to try and find breakfast. Care to join me? I've heard there's a delightful little joint just across the square that serves only the finest K-rations in the land."
"Sounds irresistible," Eugene snorted. "And while we're eating you can tell me all about your romantic little rendez-vous with Liebgott last night."
"Not you as well Gene," she slapped his arm. "Does nobody in this company have anything better to talk about?"
… … …
Later that day
"Easy's moving out! On your feet," Welsh shouted.
Beside Evelyn, George groaned. Not that she blamed him. He hadn't had the same rest as some of them had and he must have been exhausted. Holding out a hand, she helped him stand up reluctantly to his feet to gather around Welsh.
"Listen up! It'll be dark soon. I want light and noise discipline from here on," Welsh ordered. "No talking, no smoking, and no playing grab fanny with the man in front of you, Luz."
"He only said man. That still leaves you then, Evie," he chuckled to himself, grabbing her ass. She slapped his hand away and gave him the middle finger.
"Where are we headed to Lieutenant?" someone asked.
"We're taking Carentan," Welsh replied. "It's the only place where armour from Omaha and Utah beach can link up and head inland. Until we take Carentan they're stuck on the sand. General
Taylor's sending the whole division."
One, two, three.
"Now remember boys," George grinned, starting his General Taylor impression right on time. "Give me three days and three nights of hard fighting and you will be relieved."
Even Evelyn chuckled and looked at Talbert who, despite an amused smile, was pulling at his bottom lip. Something she had noticed he did subconsciously when he was nervous.
"First platoon, fall in behind Fox Company. You people from second and third, follow us," Welsh ordered. "Shake a leg."
"Another thing to remember boys," General Taylor, sorry George, began again. "Flies spread disease.
So keep yours closed."
They all chuckled again until Welsh told them to shut up. But even he was grinning when he said it. Evelyn wouldn't realise it yet, but it was these small moments of humour that would keep them all going through the dark times that were still to come.
