Who knew that the sun could shine so beautifully in England during wartime?
The sky was blue, the grass was green, birds were singing, and an army medic seemed to always have a smile on his face. As did a volunteer woman on the military base.
This young couple seemed to always find time to sneak away into closets or storage rooms to be alone. Often emerging giggly with hair and clothing askew.
Even if they couldn't sneak away, they would still sit together while they worked.
Alice would be peeling potatoes or carrots while Eugene would be reading up on types of arteries, infections, or symptoms of diseases.
Their favorite spot was by a wall near the end of the base. Eugene would smoke a cigarette while Alice sat and wrote letters to her family. But every man in Easy Company testified to seeing the couple necking against the wall.
In fact, necking was what they were caught in the act of the majority of the time they were spotted together.
More often than not, Eugene would be caught with lipstick smeared on his face and his hair slightly disheveled. Thankfully, Lt. Winters would be understanding and advise Gene to clean himself up before risking getting caught by anyone higher in rank.
Time seemed to have sped up during their new love bliss. Before Gene and Alice knew it, it was near the end of April, and murmers of the Day of Days were traveling throughout the base.
Gene had started becoming more stressed, which affected Alice. Alice had also began feeling more anxious, fearing every day would be the last she'd see her Love.
The tension began to reveal itself one day in the beginning of May.
Alice walked into the infirmary, a towel wrapped around her hand
Gene was prepping for a training jump. So the surgeon, Doctor Arthur rushed to look at it.
"Ah, Miss Black. What brings you in today?" Doc Arthur asked.
"I was a bleedin' idiot, no pun intended." Alice snickered, holding up her hand.
"Let's have a look-see." Doc Arthur offered, gesturing for Alice to give him her hand.
She complied and he unwrapped the towels.
"So, what attacked you?" Doc Arthur asked, reaching for gauze and bandage wraps.
"A bread knife. I had baked me ma's sourdough bread recipe for the ladies I work with in the Kitchens and laundry. Something different from th' depressing loaf we 'ave t' eat these days, ye know? It only takes starter, flour, water, salt, and time. Nothin' on ration.
"Anyways," Alice sighed. "I got t'the end-piece of th' bread and thought I could get one final slice from that. Th' knife slipped, proving me wrong, and here I am."
"Here you are." Doc Arthur smirked, wrapping Alice's hand. "Now we know not to that again."
"Definitely." Alice giggled, looking up as Eugene walked in, geared up to head to the jump.
Gene looked surprised and concerned when he saw Alice.
"What happened? Is she okay?" Gene asked the Surgeon.
"Just a knife fight." Doc Arthur joked.
Alice laughed. "I picked a fight with th' bread knife an' lost."
Gene looked annoyed. "That's not funny."
"It wasn't, in th' moment, Love. But ye can't help but joke about it." Alice giggled. "Tis only but a small cut. Nothin' t'be serious about."
"Well sorry if mah immediate reaction to seein' mah lady in the clinic, gettin' patched up is concern." Gene snapped.
"I didn't say ye needn't be concerned..." Alice said softly.
"Yet, ya'll laugh when I am." Gene raised his voice.
"Woah there!" Doc Arthur said, standing up between them. "Roe, you need to go jump, remember? How about you go do that before people start looking for you. Maybe it'll help you clear your head, okay?"
Gene huffed. "Fine. See you latah, Alice." He said before stalking to the door.
"Oi! Trooper, forgetting somethin'?" Alice asked.
Gene paused and sighed heavily before walking back to her and pecked her lips.
"Be safe, Love." Alice whispered.
Gene grunted and marched out of the building.
"Don't mind him, Miss Black." Doc Arthur said, picking up his tools. "He's been like that all day. He's probably just nervous about the potential invasion jump I keep hearing about. Nobody knows the day other than the higher ups." He sighed. "Everyone seems jittery these days."
Alice nodded. "I suppose that could explain a lot." She hesitated. "I must confess I am nervous as well. These boys mean a lot t'me, especially Eugene, which I am sure you are aware of."
Doc Arthur winked and smiled. "I'm glad you two are together. All of October and November, he would stare out the windows if he knew you were outside, I would have to pry him away to continue his training as a medic."
Alice snickered. "Yet he seems like a such a focused man."
"He's much better focused now. Just as he was before you met." Doc Arthur grinned. "The man may not have told you yet, but he's in love with you. This ain't no passing fancy. He's got all the signs of a man with marriage and children on the mind."
Alice smiled. "Does he now? Well, I've no plans to marry until the war is over."
The surgeons smile faltered. "Really?"
Alice nodded.
"I hope you've discussed it with him."
"How would I? We barely get any time alone and I'm worried if I bring up the topic, he will think I'm trying to pressure him. I'd much rather he bring it up. But I am sure he feels the same. This is a private conversation, not one to be overheard by George Luz or Donald Malarkey... or worse Hoobler." Alice shuddered.
"He has a weekend pass, perhaps you two could discuss it at your flat. Where you are guaranteed alone." Doc Arthur suggested.
Alice pressed her lips together in a thin grimace and nodded. Mulling over the idea. "Thank you, Arthur. I will think about it." She said as she stood up and meandered to the door.
Alice felt nervous as she sat in the mess hall, filling out inventory forms. She would have finished an hour ago if she wasn't so distracted and worried.
What if this wasn't a practice jump but the real thing?
What if Eugene wanted to propose today but knew he was jumping into German occupied territory, and this was why he was upset?
Alice set down her pencil and rubbed her eyes. She knew she had to get out of her own head.
She sipped her cold tea, closed her eyes and rested her head against her clasped hands.
Alice listened to all the sounds around her. Busy voices of men, the rumble of army vehicles coming and going, footsteps here and there. A light patter of rain had begun.
She heard the clunking of army boots in the hall. She didn't open her eyes, she begged God to make her invisible. She wanted to be left alone.
Familiar, gentle hands touched her shoulders. She stiffened.
She felt lips press on her head.
She took in a deep breath and let it out. She could smell a familiar musk and felt comfort in it.
"Are you upset, mon Chérie?" Eugene's all too familiar voice husked into her ear.
Alice could only nod in response.
She heard him sigh as he sat next to her. He pulled her to him and he held her tight.
"I'm sorry about earlier." He whispered placing gentle kisses on her cheek and temple. "I had a lot on my mind an' I took it out on ya."
Alice opened her eyes and looked up at him.
"I wasn't upset with ye, Love." She said, reach up and stroking his cheek. "I was worried that today might be th'day an' th' last time we spoke was a silly little disagreement."
His face fell even more. "Oh!" She felt the pain in his voice. "Oh, Chérie." He murmured.
"I even told ye t'be safe an-"
"I love you." Eugene interrupted.
Alice blinked in surprise. "What?"
"I. Love. You." Eugene repeated more slowly and profoundly looking deep into her eyes.
Alice felt a warmth grow in her chest and smiled. "I love you too, Eugene." She croaked, only just noticing the tears falling from her eyes.
Gene kissed her softly on the lips, holding her close. "Je t'aime ma chère."
Alice beamed before kissing him deeply.
"I promise to always kiss you goodbye and to tell you how much I love you whenever I'm about to jump." Gene vowed in a murmer, looking into her eyes.
"Don't make promises you can't keep, Love." Alice warned.
Gene placed both hands on her face. "I promise. I want my possible last words to you-"
"Don't!" Alice gasped.
"Alice, please. Let me." Gene begged, his voice still soft.
"I love you, I want you to remember that."
"I will."