"like sands through the hourglass so are the...Days of our Lives"

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"The Teens" Fan Fiction Site

Waiting For You - Chapter 28

Monday, January 3rd, 1944 – 1:00pm

"Tell me, Sami, doesn’t anyone in this crowd know how to pack lightly? Every time I’ve come to Grand Central Station lately, it’s a wonder I haven’t been in traction to straighten out my back after helping with the bags. What in the world has Lucas got in here, anyway?"

"It’s all the things he bought as gifts for everyone in England through the months he was there. He had me help him wrap everything in Christmas paper when he surprised me and came to spend the day yesterday. It’s a good thing Carrie saved so much of the wrapping paper from her gifts or we wouldn’t have had enough. Maggie told him on the phone late last week they were going to have another Christmas just for him since he didn’t get home in time. He’s awfully excited about going home."

"Yeah, I could tell when he showed up at my room a little after six this morning and we weren’t due to get to the apartment until eleven. I had late duty and didn’t get to bed until nearly three this morning and thought I was going to get to sleep in until at least nine."

"Mike, be honest. Do you think he looks better than he did last Wednesday when he got off the train?"

"Only about a million times better. He’s got color again; the burns are healing quickly on his fingers. I think there may not be any scarring at all. He’s got mobility in them already and the physical therapy will completely restore use of them. The bones in his arm, according to the x-ray we took yesterday morning, are mending the way they should. He’ll need to do the exercises to regain the movement and strength in the arm but I don’t see any complications. I already called Dr. Craig Wesley at University Hospital and scheduled an appointment for Lucas to get in to have a check up and be assigned to a physical therapist while he’s in Salem."

"I’ll make sure he gets to the appointments and does the exercises without overdoing it."

"Of that I have no doubt, Sami. Honestly, you’re the best medicine Lucas could have. I can tell he’s already putting back on some of the weight he lost. Every time we‘ve been at the apartment, he’s constantly munching on something."

"You noticed that, too? I have a confession to make, Mike. I called Alice Horton and asked her what some of his favorite snack foods were and fixed a few. I figured I’d just put them where he could find them and he’d eat."

"And eat and eat. That’s very clever of you, Sami. May I add I gobbled up a few things, too, and I didn’t need to put weight on? Seriously, I don’t know if he’d be in as good a shape as he is going home if you hadn’t come to New York to meet him and I don’t just mean physically."

"I know. Strange, isn’t it?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, I didn’t exactly come here with the purpose of welcoming him home, Mike. I was going to just blurt everything out about the letters and let him deal with it. I had spent four years telling myself over and over that I could never have Lucas in my life again. Suddenly, Belle was forcing me to face him and I was terrified."

"Why terrified?"

"Because, I knew the longer I stayed around Lucas, the more difficult it would be for me to keep the promise I had made to Kate about not letting him find out that I still loved him. I had lied for so long to everyone about not loving him, most of all to myself."

"You don’t have to answer this if you think I’m being too personal, Sami, but what made you decide to not tell him about the letters right away? I mean, you said you were just going to lay it all out for him and be done with it."

"It wasn’t just one thing. The first was Belle giving me the box of letters Lucas had written before I left and making me pinky swear to read ten of them before I saw Lucas. She knew if I pinky swore, I wouldn’t back out of the promise. Smart girl, huh?"

"Yeah, I have to hand it to her, she certainly has learned how to handle people. Marlena may find her daughter following in her footsteps as a psychiatrist."

"Once I read that first letter…really read it…ten times to be exact, on the train, nearly all my resolve was scattered to the wind. I didn’t read ten letters…I read them all before I saw him at the train station. I realized in doing so I had an advantage over Lucas. I knew what he felt and thought about me…about us…it was all in the letters. He hadn’t held anything back. Lucas knew nothing of what I felt…except what Belle made up in the letters she wrote to him. I hate to say this but it was a feeling of superiority…power, in a way. I actually understood how Kate must have felt when she set Lucas and me up that night at the prom. I held someone’s future in my hands just as she had done."

"There’s a big difference, though, between you and Kate, Sami. You did everything out of your love for him. Kate did it out of jealousy and possessiveness. You gave him up…set him free the way he wanted…or so you were led to believe. Kate wanted to make sure she wouldn’t have to share him by getting rid of you. The strange thing is if she had just let you two be together, she never would have lost Lucas’ love at all."

Sami nodded and looked down at her shoes, regaining her composure before she continued. "I still had this image of Lucas being the joking, light-hearted person he’d always been when we were together. I saw the photos he’d sent Eric from England when he was with his buddies and the girls he’d dated. That’s why when he stepped down from the train I barely knew it was Lucas. That was the other thing that made me change my mind about telling him everything right away. He was so…fragile…not just because of the visible limp or the cast on his arm or even the circles under his eyes. It was something in his eyes…no, something that wasn’t in his eyes. It was as if he were dead. It frightened me to see him like that. I just knew if I told him everything right then and there, I’d be killing him. I know that sounds dramatic but it turned out I was very nearly right, Mike. I do believe if I hadn’t followed him out to the terrace at the hotel, he might have done something drastic."

"But he didn’t because you followed your heart that night and now you two are going back to Salem together the way you should have been all this time."

"Isn’t it wonderful? We know we’ve got some things to work out but I’m not afraid any more."

"Would one of those things be seeing Kate?"

"I’ve mentioned to Lucas about seeing her. She is his mother and she’s already been nearly destroyed by the death of one son. I won’t keep Lucas away from her no matter what she’s done to me. He is adamant about not having any contact with Kate. I’ll encourage him but I won’t force him."

"I think that’s best. He can be stubborn when he’s been hurt."

"I know. It’s one of the characteristics we share. It should certainly make for a lively future together, don’t you think?"

"Well, I suspect the disagreements should be interesting."

"They were before so I doubt that will change!"

Mike smiled as he looked at his watch and noticed it was nearly time for the train to depart.

"That watch Carrie gave you is beautiful, Mike. She was so excited on the phone telling me before Christmas what she was getting you."

"I couldn’t believe it when I opened the box. Did she tell you about the engraving?"

"Yes, she kept trying out different phrases while she talked to me so she’d get just the right one. Do you have any idea how much my sister is in love with you?"

Mike stared at Sami before lowering his gaze and nodding.

"Good, because she waited ever so long for you to know. I’ve never seen anyone happier…well, except maybe Jenn when she introduced Jack to the whole family at Christmas or myself these past few days."

They smiled a knowing smile at one another – words seemed superfluous. Mike looked over the top of Sami’s head down the long concourse for signs of Carrie and Lucas amid the swarming crowd of travelers. The time to board the train was fast approaching.

"Any sign of them, Mike?" Sami asked as she turned her head following where she’d seen Mike’s eyes scanning the throng.

"No, and it’s about ten minutes before the train pulls out. Usually, Lucas wants to be early for everything. I wonder what’s keeping them?"

"If I could hazard a guess, maybe they’re talking in a similar way as we’ve been. They have been close friends for almost as long as I’ve known Lucas. I’m hoping that maybe you and I can be good friends now, too, Mike."

"I’d like that very much, Sami. Something tells me you’re right about them talking somewhere. Let’s start heading toward your train car so you can board as soon as they get here."

"Lucas, don’t tell me you’re still buying things to take with you back to Salem. You’ve got enough gifts for everyone."

"I couldn’t resist this. It’s for me. I found it in a shop in the train station. It’s a miniature Statue of Liberty. I never got to see it this trip so this is the closest I’m going to get until I come back in mid-February."

"I’m sorry. I didn’t know you wanted to see her."

"Oh, yeah, Carrie, all of us coming back want to see her standing there in the harbor. She’s welcoming us home. We flew over her on the way to Langham Field but I couldn’t get a good look because my seat was on the other side of the plane."

"When I get home today, I’ll write down on the calendar in the kitchen that one afternoon we’ll go out so you can see her as close as you want when you’re here next time. That’s a promise."

"Thanks, Carrie. With everything that happened there really wasn’t time to go and I don’t think I’m quite ready to climb the stairs inside her just yet."

"Are you feeling all right?"

"I’m fine…just still a little shaky. I need to work on building up my strength a little more. Mike’s got me all set up to start my physical therapy at University Hospital and Sami’s going to drive me to my appointments."

Carrie smiled at Lucas as he talked.

"What’s that smile for?"

"You know."

"What?"

"You’re sounding so domestic all of a sudden…you and Sami."

"Domestic? That’s probably one word I hadn’t thought of to describe us. It almost makes us sound boring."

"Oh, boring is something that will never be used to describe you two - you can count on that."

Lucas pretended to be offended for a few moments and then broke into a broad smile before returning to a serious mood.

"Actually, Carrie, boring might not be so bad after what we’ve put each other through the past few days…hell, years. Everything I tried to do to get over Sami never worked. I kept wondering what was wrong with me that I couldn’t just accept that she didn’t love me any more. It drove me crazy and I did some pretty stupid things. I used to sit on the curb late at night across from the penthouse and stare at Sami’s window wondering what she was doing, or even worse, who she might be doing it with."

"Well, spending a certain length of time growing up around a psychiatrist, I’d venture to guess you were punishing yourself for what happened at the prom. Guilt can make people do terrible things, especially to themselves…which leads me to a question I hesitate to ask but I’d like to know the answer, if you’re willing to tell me, that is."

"A question? Sure, Carrie, you’re one of my best friends. You know you can ask me anything."

"I’ve know, but I’ve never asked you anything like this before."

"Okay, lay it on me."

"On New Year’s Eve…when you realized Sami hadn’t written the letters and you left the ballroom…did you…would you…I mean…could you…"

"Yes, Carrie…I thought about taking my life."

"Oh, Lucas…I was afraid of that."

"Carrie, it only was a fleeting thought, really. Mike probably told you what happened involving the bomber?"

Carrie nodded as she fought to keep her vision from blurring by restraining the tears that threatened to appear.

"It’s what they call ‘survivor guilt’. Learning about the letters didn’t cause me to have it I came home with it deep inside me. Sami told me she knew something was wrong when she saw me initially. That’s why she didn’t say anything about the letters, then. I admit, coming home knowing I was going to see Sami was what made me keep going for the first few days I was in the hospital in England. When she met me here last week, though we’d been apart for four years, I could still sense something was wrong. I think I knew even then she wanted to tell me something and it wasn’t ‘I love you.’"

"True, but you know what?"

"What?"

"I think that’s exactly what she wanted to tell you that day. When she first called me and told me about the letters on Christmas Day, there was a lilt in her voice that had been missing for a long time. Whether Sami admits it yet, I think Belle gave her the excuse she’d so desperately wanted so she could see you again."

"Hey, you seem to be becoming quite the expert on love, Miss Brady. Would it have anything to do with a certain older brother of mine?"

"It most certainly would, Sergeant Roberts."

"I thought so. He gave me nearly the same analysis when we were talking about Sami."

"He did?"

"Yup. I can only guess you two consulted on this case."

"For hours. Really, Lucas, we just wanted you and Sami to finally be together again…if that’s what you wanted, too."

"Oh, I wanted it…I’ve wanted it so badly since the moment Sami walked away from me at the prom four years ago. Now, I have her back and nothing or no one is going to ever take her away from me again…not even the war."

Carrie seemed to visibly shudder as Lucas finished his declaration.

"Are you all right, Carrie? You look pale."

"I’m fine, Lucas…it’s just getting chilly. Come on, we have to hurry. I haven’t been watching the time and it’s less than ten minutes before you and Sami need to be on the train. Follow me, I know a shortcut through this crowd to get us to the platform."

Carrie took Lucas’ left hand, dodged the incoming crowd from the platforms and eventually was walking beside the train that was to take Sami and him to Salem.

"There they are. Hey, where have you been? It’s nearly time for the train to pull out."

"I’m sorry, Mike. Lucas and I got to talking the way we always do and time got away from us. Where’s Sami?"

"She’s waiting down the platform near the train car they’ll be riding in. Looks like you’ve been shopping again, Lucas. I don’t think you can get another item in your duffel bag with all the cramming in the world."

"That’s okay. I bought this in the train station. Pretty neat, huh?"

"A Statue of Liberty? Somehow, I don’t picture you as the tourist trap merchandise kind."

"Normally, that would be true, Mike, but this little lady means a lot to me. She represents being home in a lot of ways. I’m back on US terra firma - I’m heading home to be with the family who from the first day I arrived in Salem made me feel wanted, and, I’m free again to love and be with the girl who’s had my heart since I was sixteen years old."

"Well, no wonder you had to buy her. I have to admit I never grow tired of seeing the original Lady in the Harbor standing steadfastly out there each time I take the Staten Island Ferry to Carrie’s. We better get a move on."

"I can barely see Sami and she’s looking a little anxious. Look at her, will you? Isn’t she about the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen?"

Mike looked across at Carrie and said, "Almost the most beautiful thing."

Carrie felt her face warm at the compliment. Lucas noticed the look that passed between his brother and best friend and smiled in recognition of what Mike was telling him. He waved his good arm in Sami’s direction to be sure she knew he was not going to miss the train and the three headed toward her at a quickened pace.

"Lucas, I was beginning to worry. What’s in the bag?"

"Oh, just a little remembrance of my first time in New York with you. You’ll probably find it kinda corny but I’ll always remember this week and what it meant for us when I look at it the rest of my life." He once again removed the little Statue of Liberty from the paper bag to show Sami. She smiled rather than rolling her eyes the way he thought she would.

"Come on, you two. Let’s get you on the train. The conductor just gave the last call for boarding."

Sami hugged and kissed her sister and whispered, "Thank you for everything, Carrie. I owe you so much."

"Hey, that’s what sisters are for. I loved having you here. It was like being home for awhile since I couldn’t really go to Salem for the holidays."

"That’s not much considering all you did for me."

"I didn’t do that much, Sami."

"Oh, but you did. You listened to me Christmas night on the phone and encouraged me to come to New York and face Lucas. I know, now, how badly I wanted to all along. I just needed someone to give me permission to do it. Lucas and I will never be able to repay you."

"Yes, you will…by loving and being together. I couldn’t want anything more for either of you."

While the sisters shared a moment, the brothers did likewise.

"Mike, I couldn’t believe how lucky I was to have you stationed here so I could see you when I got stateside. Coming back with all that guilt I was carrying around inside was bad but the minute I stepped off the hospital plane and saw you calmly waiting for me, it began to get better. Thanks for everything, Mike."

"I’d do anything for you, Lucas, I hope you know that. If you’re still having the nightmares and depression, talk to someone at University Hospital, will you? Don’t carry it around alone."

"I won’t. Actually, since Sami and I made up it’s been a little better each day. I know loving her alone won’t make what I saw go away any time soon but I don’t feel like I betrayed the guys any more by having lived. I am beginning to understand it was just fate, luck of the draw…whatever you want to call it. I won’t ever forget them but I can’t give up living the rest of my life to punish myself for something I couldn’t change."

"That’s right. I’m glad you see it that way, now. I knew for a while, anyway, you didn’t believe that. You take care of yourself and her, too. She loves you very much, Lucas."

"Yeah, I know. We’ve still got four years of our lives to catch up on. That’s part of what we want to do when we get to Salem…go to all the places we liked to spend time together back then…talk…hold hands…I can’t wait to get home."

"Give Dad, Maggie, Gran and everyone a hug and kiss for me, please."

"I will, Mike."

The brothers embraced for several seconds before separating and looking at the girls watching them.

"All right, you two, get on that train and go home, will you?"

"Yes, sir, Captain sir. Carrie, I’ll call you when we get to Salem. I’m going to stay with Grandma Alice. She’s got so much room and Aunt Maggie and Uncle Mickey will be there often. Phillip’s already called and told me he’s planning on spending over night at Gran’s plus a couple of days with me. It’s my turn to play big brother. I think I can do it…I had a great example to learn from."

Mike smiled at his brother as he slipped his arm around Carrie’s waist.

"I’ll call you, too, when I get to Mom and John’s, Carrie. I can’t wait to see Belle’s face when she learns how everything turned out. I’m almost afraid to tell her."

"Why?"

"Because, Carrie, I don’t think we want her getting the idea that just because this time she was right to meddle that it’s a good thing for her to do again any time soon, if ever."

"Good point…but I think she’s learned her lesson. Let her off the hook Sami. She’s going to be so happy to see you and Lucas together…the way we all are. In her sixteen-year-old mind she just acted on what all the rest of us knew was true…you two never stopped loving each other."

Lucas gave Carrie a warm embrace, as did Sami to Mike.

"I’ll see you in about six weeks, Carrie. They have me tentatively returning to Langham Field before I’m assigned to a new crew."

"See you then. Oh, before I forget, Kurt and Victoria wanted to be here to see you off but they’re in Washington, DC today on business. Victoria said to tell you she’ll give you a chance to win back your pennies again one of these evenings."

"Tell her she’s on."

"I like both of them. They’re swell people. I told Victoria I’d scrounge around home and find a photo of Erica and send it to her."

"Wait, Sami, she asked you for a photo of him?"

"Yes, she said she was just curious to see what our brother looked like after having met us. Just among the four of us, I think she’d be great for him, don’t you?"

"Okay, okay…on the train, now, Sami. Isn’t one matchmaker in your family enough?"

"Lucas is right, Sami, for heaven’s sake don’t tell Belle what Victoria said. Goodness only knows what she’d do with that kind of information."

"Oh, don’t worry, Carrie. I have no intention of ever saying a word…but they would be attractive together, yes?"

"Sami!! Train…board…now!"

"Oh, all right…all right, Lucas. Can’t a girl just think out loud? It’s not like I’m thinking they’d ever fall in love or get married…maybe just pen pals through the way…maybe meet afterward, you know. He’s far from home at sea and she’s away from her family in Europe."

Mike and Carrie couldn’t hide their amusement at Sami’s sudden interest in arranging a correspondence between their quite, sensitive brother, Eric, and the graceful, intelligent Victoria. Though the other three wouldn’t admit it aloud, a similar thought had crossed their minds on occasion.

The train slowly began to move as Sami and Lucas took their seats near the window, waving to Mike and Carrie as they walked beside the slow-moving train. The train gained momentum and was soon gone from view.

"I never thought when she came here a little over a week ago they’d be going home together and maybe planning a future."

"You’ve been a good sister to her, Carrie."

"And you’ve been a good brother, Mike."

"Speaking of sisters, we’ve got about two hours before the Jack and Jenn’s train pulls in."

"Yes? Do I detect a man with a plan?"

"Are you hungry?"

"Why, what do you have in mind…as if I didn’t know."

"Well, if we leave right now…we could be at Ratner’s for lunch without the lunch crowd and still be back here in plenty of time before the train gets here from Salem."

"Mike…Mike…Mike…."

"What…what…what?"

"You’re going to look like a pastrami sandwich if you keep this up. I think I created a deli monster."

"Actually, you created a dilly, as in pickle, of a deli monster."

"Okay, stop right there. We’ll go …but only if you promise to stop with the puns. I thought with Lucas leaving town I’d be spared."

"He’s been teaching me."

"I was afraid of that. Come on, let’s go get you a pastrami."

"I think I’m going to try the blintzes again, too."

"To keep this conversation in the vernacular…’oy’."

They linked arms and walked through the station, grabbed a cab and headed for Ratner’s, much to Mike’s delight.

Waiting For You - Chapter 29

Monday, January 4th, 1944
5:30pm - Carrie's Apartment

"Oh, boy, am I ever glad to be in where it's warm!  It's gotta be at least ten to fifteen degrees below freezing out there."

Jennifer rubbed her gloved hands up and down the arms of her red wool coat and stomped her feet to try to restore feeling in what felt to be two large blocks of ice.  Carrie walked to the wall thermostat and cranked it up another five degrees before turning on the floor lamp beside the window adjacent to the thermostat and illuminating the room.

Jack and Mike brought Jennifer's suitcases into the foyer – mercifully lighter than they had been two weeks earlier at the start of her journey home to Salem.

"Jenn, my back is eternally grateful to you reducing the tonnage of that suitcase before you left Salem.  Having dealt with Lucas' baggage a few hours ago, I wasn't sure I was up for another attempt at a new clean and jerk record so soon."

"Oh, Mike, they're not that heavy.  You do love to exaggerate," Jennifer chided her brother.  She looked over her shoulder to see both Jack and Mike looking at her with their mouths open unable to believe what she'd just muttered.

"Well...okay, maybe they were a little overstuffed when I left."  After pausing a moment as though unsure how much was safe to admit, Jennifer added, "Actually, there was more to bring back to New York than what I took to Salem.  I'm having it sent here to the apartment parcel post......all three cartons."

"THREE cartons?" Carrie and Mike said simultaneously.

"Jenn, where are we going to put all that stuff in this apartment?  We've crammed every cupboard and closet already."

"I've got it all worked out.  Everything's going to be fine.  It won't be here that long to become a nuisance, anyway."

"What do you mean, Jenn?"

Jennifer hesitated before answering Carrie as she looked across the living room to where Jack was standing with his hands on his hips catching his breath after climbing the apartment steps with his duffel bag over one shoulder and one of Jennifer's suitcases in his other hand.  He nodded his head slightly and began to take off his coat.

"Before I tell you, let's take our coats off and get comfortable over by the fireplace.  Would one of you guys mind starting a fire?  It'll make it warmer in here, not to mention cozier."

Mike furrowed his brow at the tone in Jennifer's voice.  Something was up and she was stalling until she thought the moment was right for her to let everyone in on the news.  He'd noticed her looking at Jack, too, and deduced he already knew what was about to happen.  He helped Carrie take off her coat and hung it up in the entryway before removing his military topcoat and placing it beside hers.  Jack took Jennifer's coat and hung it beside her brother's.  He placed his right arm around her waist as they walked to the sofa and chairs near the fireplace.

Carrie watched with great curiosity and made eye contact with Mike asking without a word spoken if he knew what was going on.  He shook his head so only she could see but enough Carrie realized he had no clue either.  He walked toward her, never breaking eye contact and took her hand after she had removed her gloves, placing them with her purse and hat on the desk as they walked toward the sofa on the opposite side of the living room from where Jack and Jennifer were approaching.  It struck Carrie that they all seemed to be in a finely choreographed dance.  Carrie and Mike sat down on the sofa; Jack on the arm of the sofa at the opposite end of where they sat and Jennifer chose to sit on the coffee table facing her brother.

"Jack, the fire?"

Jack stood up quickly and went to the pile of firewood placed beside the grate.  In a matter of minutes, the log began to come to life with flames of warmth and color.  During the entire time the other three had remained silent.  Jennifer started to take off her gloves as though she had forgotten she was wearing them.  The fire lit, Jack returned to his perch on the sofa arm.  Jennifer cleared her throat and looked up from her lap with a nervous smile to an audience of two who had waited for this "play" to begin.

"Well.............I guess I should start by saying we had a wonderful time with all of the families in Salem.  From the moment Uncle Mickey and Aunt Maggie met us at the train, they made Jack feel he was welcome.  He and Eric seemed to be almost instant buddies.  Maybe it's the uniform connection, I don't know.  Mom surprisingly didn't give him as bad a time as I thought she might.  She was a little reserved at the start but I think it was just so she could do her own assessment by watching Jack for awhile."

"Jenn...what is it you want to talk about?  You told me this on the phone Christmas, remember?  I mean...I don't mind hearing it again, but .....what is it you're leading up to?"

Jennifer looked at her brother and realized he was gently but firmly making her get to the point.  In a way, it was what she had hoped he would do.

"You're right, Mike, I'm beating about the bush only because though part of the news you know the other you don't and I'm not sure how you'll react."

"I guess the only way to find that out is to tell me, Jenn."

"Mike....let her talk...."

"No, that's okay, Carrie......he has a good point.  It's just that I'm hoping what I have to say will be good news from your viewpoint, too."

Jennifer took a deep breath of air and sat up straight.  She lifted her right had which had been covering her left as she kept them folded in her lap until Carrie and Mike both saw for the first time the object she had been hiding from their view since they had met at the train station.  On her left hand was an exquisite princess-cut square diamond engagement ring set in a solid gold band.  On either side of the center stone were two smaller princess-cut diamonds as well.  It was obvious Jack had spent more money on it than his military pay as a captain could cover.

"Oh, my God, Jennifer, is that what the big news is?  You and Jack are officially engaged?" Carrie excitedly squealed as she leaned forward on the sofa for a better look at the ring.  "We thought you probably would make the big announcement over the holidays so the family could be in on it.  I have to tell you this isn't all that unexpected."

Mike was delighted for his sister and got up to congratulate his future brother-in-law with a handshake.

"Congratulations, Jack.  I really mean that.  I think you're going to make my sister very happy......or else."

Mike smiled reassuring Jack he was, in fact, teasing him in case he was nervous about Mike's reaction to the fact that, indeed, Jack Devereaux was going to be his sister's husband.  Mike still sensed uneasiness in Jack though the news had been well received by both Mike and Carrie.

"Thanks, Mike, I mean to make Jennifer's happiness my top priority for the rest of my life.  I love her very much."

Jennifer smiled up at Jack before reaching for his hand.  They looked at one another before Jennifer pulled him down to sit beside her on the coffee table.

"I told Jack when we were coming back to New York today I knew you'd both be as happy for us as they were in Salem."

"If you felt that way, Jenn, why the concern and secrecy about not telling us until now?"

"For one thing, brother dear, it was too cold to take my gloves off and for another I wanted to be sure you got the full effect of the ring when I showed you."

"I'd say 'mission accomplished' on both fronts, then.  But, what's the third thing?"

"What?"

"Come on, Jenn, I haven't been your brother all these years and not learned a thing or two about how you operate.  There's still more you haven't told us, right?"

Jennifer glanced briefly from the corner of her eye at Jack and nodded her head.  She looked at Mike briefly before addressing the next remarks in the direction of the person she thought would be the most receptive to them.......Carrie.

"Jack and I had been talking for almost a month before we went home about our future together in general terms.  We really didn't come to any final decisions - just thought things through.  I know you're aware that everyone in all four families is now following the Brady family tradition of putting an expensive gift in the Christmas stockings."

Carrie nodded, smiling at the remembrance of her pearl earrings and Mike's watch.

"Jack found out from Eric about the tradition.  This was the gift he had put in my stocking," she said pointing to the engagement ring on her left hand. "I think I knew when I took it from the stocking what it was by the shape of the box.  That's probably all that saved me from fainting when I opened it."

Carrie smiled imagining herself in Jennifer's place if it had been Mike giving her the ring and probably having the same reaction.
"Everyone immediately realized what was going on.  Doug, Uncle Mickey and John all began telling Jack he had to do it the right way...you know, down on one knee and saying the words.  I felt so embarrassed for him but he did exactly that."

"Well, actually, I knew by placing the ring in the stocking like that I would, no doubt, be required to complete the Horton, Black, Brady and Roberts proposal tradition.  I don't know, I think it made me feel more like a part of the family doing it that way."

Jennifer smiled and placed the palm of her right hand along Jack's face. She turned back to Carrie and continued her narrative. "After I granted him his most fervent wish by saying 'yes'..."

"...this is true..."

Jennifer laughed softly and took Jack's hand in hers "...we kissed beneath the mistletoe..."

"...that was Bo's idea..."

"...and then everyone celebrated with an egg nog toast offered by Uncle Mickey."

"Oh, Jenn, it sounds wonderful.  I wish we could have been there but it's almost as if we had been hearing you tell it."

"I kept wishing you were there, too, along with Mike and Lucas.  It seemed incomplete without my two brothers and best friend there to share it."

Mike had sat quietly listening to his sister's retelling of the events surrounding her engagement trying to decipher what she had left out that made it impossible for her to look at him.

"The rest of the holiday, I think we told you about on the telephone and all the way from the train station today........except.......for what we decided on the train trip back from Salem.  Jack and I have talked over everything thoroughly and having discussed all the pros and cons we have decided we are getting married..............March fourth."

"This coming March fourth...as in nineteen forty-four?" Carrie exclaimed.

"Yes, exactly.  It's a Saturday.  It will give us time to get all the necessary paperwork done through the military for approval as well as have blood tests, get a marriage license and find a place to get married plus an apartment to live in afterward......"

"...Jennifer, that's two months from today."

"I know, Mike, that's why we were so eager to get back to New York and tell you everything.  We wanted to make sure......."

"Are you sure you've really thought this through?   I mean, it doesn't seem as though discussing it on a crowded train ride would provide you enough time to give it serious consideration.  I can see you getting engaged...but...married?"

Jennifer looked at Mike for the first time in over ten minutes with a mixture of disappointment and anger at his words.

"I knew it...I knew this was what you would do when you found out..."
"Knew what?...that I'd be concerned about you making a hasty, badly thought out decision?"

"Mike....", Carrie interjected attempting to keep him from losing his temper and saying things he wouldn't be able to retract. "What makes you think you're the only one who ever knows how to make a good decision where I'm concerned?"

"Jenn....it's all right," Jack murmured to Jennifer realizing how rapidly tempers were escalating between the siblings.

"I don't usually think that...except this time."

"Why...because you didn't make it for me?"

Mike's eyes turned a steely blue the way they always did when his temper was getting the better of him.  His face flushed red as he held his breath and tongue at one time to keep from saying what had first come to mind in reaction to Jennifer's accusation.  He stood up from the couch to his full height, looking down on his sister.

"Maybe you don't think this decision is the best one either or you wouldn't have taken all this time before you told me about it."

Jennifer immediately stood up facing Mike squarely. "No, Mike, that is NOT why.  I just hoped I would be wrong about your reaction and that you'd treat the decision I've made and me with respect. Let me tell you now, Mike, whatever you feel about all of this won't change my mind.  I love Jack - - he's my future, NOT YOU!  He will be in my life the rest of my life.  If the roles were reversed and you were telling me you wanted to marry Carrie, I'd be happy for you and want to know how I could help with the arrangements.  I want you to be at my wedding, in fact, Jack wants you to be his best man.  But, if you stand by what you've made VERY clear is your opposition to what I have decided, then you will NOT be a part of what I had hoped would be the happiest day of my life or, for that matter, ANY part of my life from now on!!"

"Oh, come on, Jennifer....you're overreacting.  You don't really mean it."

"Don't I?  Are you telling me that you are willing to find out if I do by forcing me to choose between you and Jack?  We've talked about this before and I thought you knew my decision.  There is no choice, Mike...you will lose....... Why are you so against me marrying Jack?  Do you have a real reason or do you just not want me to live my life without depending upon you."

"You know that's not it.  I really think you'll be happy with Jack, I told you that.  I just don't think you should.........never mind!"

His frustration level at what seemed an all-time high, Mike walked around to the back of the sofa, looked at his sister in dismay and headed for the kitchen, slamming the swinging door against the wall as he disappeared from view.

Once he was no longer in the room, Jennifer's shoulders began to shake as she sat down and began to sob.  Jack enfolded her in his arms to comfort her as the emotions swept over her.  Jack lifted his eyes and looked at Carrie who shook her head in response.  When Jennifer began to compose herself again she turned to Carrie.

"I don't understand Mike at all.  I mean, I had a little inkling he might have some concerns but nothing like this."

Carrie slowly leaned forward and patted Jennifer on the knee as she began to rise from the sofa.

"Let me go talk to him....feel him out a little.  He's had some time to cool off and maybe begin to regret what happened or, at least, say why he's so upset.  Why don't you two just stay in here for now, okay?"

Jack and Jennifer both nodded.  Secretly, Jennifer pinned her hopes on Carrie being able to solve the mystery of her brother's surprisingly adverse reaction to her decision to marry Jack in a few weeks.  She watched Carrie walk toward the closed swinging door leading to the kitchen.  Carrie gathered herself a few moments and gently pushed the door open before disappearing from Jennifer's view.

Carrie quickly noticed Mike leaning on his elbows on the counter, head resting on his hands as he bent over.  Thinking better of it she walked away rather than toward him deciding to busy herself with making a pot of coffee and allowing Mike to become aware she had entered the room.  It seemed prudent to allow him to open the conversation...if he felt like talking at all.  

She took the canister of coffee from its place along the counter and carefully measured it out.  She stepped to the sink and turned on the tap trying the entire time to see what movement, if any, Mike was making from her right peripheral vision.  She saw him turn his head to look at her though she didn't reciprocate.  She finished plugging the coffeepot into the wall outlet and opened the cupboard above it to begin removing cups from their hooks.  She searched for the sugar bowl and headed to the refrigerator to take out the small container of milk - cream being harder to obtain with the shortages.

"Don't say it, Carrie."

"Don't say what, Mike?" Carrie responded in a calm, quiet voice as though she had no idea of what had happened in the apartment living room less than ten minutes before.

"That I behaved like an ass out there...that I stepped over the bounds by denouncing my sisters' plans for her future...that I ruined what should have been a wonderful afternoon for everyone by going into what you call my 'big brother' protective mode...that I may lose my sister from my life forever if I don't apologize and accept her decision AND learn to keep my mouth shut ...and that at the very least I deserve a kick in the back side."

Carrie opened a drawer and began removing four light blue napkins and place mats.  She opened up the adjacent drawer and removed four teaspoons.

"Well?"

"Well......what, Mike?"

"Aren't you going to say anything?"

"No, you told me not to."

"It was just a figure of speech."

"Oh."

"That's it?  Just 'oh?"

"What more can I say?  You pretty much covered everything I thought of saying to you.  I couldn't have said it better myself....so, why try?"

Mike looked away in disgust - aimed at himself as Carrie left the kitchen to set the dining table.  He had turned a half circle resting against the kitchen counter and was facing the door when Carrie re-entered.  She found herself staring directly at him as she came into the room.

"Would you prefer I stayed in the other room so you can have some more time to yourself?"

"No...I.....I.....Carrie....please, say something...whatever's on your mind. I can take it."

She softly closed the door behind her, looked at the floor rather than at Mike and collected her thoughts.  No matter how she tried there seemed to be no perfect opening line.  It was just best to begin with what came to her mind without trying to make it "pretty" before she said it.

"I have known you for sixteen years as an acquaintance, then a friend who became a best friend and, now, as the man I love more than any one else in this world.  You have always had an amazing capacity to love.  I know how much you love your sister.  You have been there for her when your father wasn't, which was most of the time while you were both growing up.  I suspect, in some ways, that may have bonded you closer to Jenn than even Eric and I are, though we're closer than most brothers and sisters.  That said.......I don't understand what happened here today.  I want to....but I can't.  Jennifer is absolutely devastated...though, I think, she must have had some premonition.  That's why she put off telling about her plans to marry Jack until the last possible minute.  I thought you and Jack had everything straightened out.  He's a good man, Mike.  He LOVES her."

"I KNOW that.  I know that.  I said it has nothing to do with Jack as a person.  He's proven to me beyond any shadow of a doubt how deep his feelings run for Jennifer...."

"....then, WHAT IS IT?  Mike, this is completely irrational.  Will you be this way if Lucas and Sami come back from Salem next month and tell you they'd decided to get married before he goes back to England?"

"A little.....not as much."

Carrie looked at Mike incredulously.  She hadn't really expected him to respond about Sami and Lucas as he had.

"Why?  Because he's only your half brother your reaction wouldn't be as strong?"

"NO!  He's my brother as much as Jennifer is my sister.  I don't love him any less just because we have different mothers.  I just...."

"Just what, Mike?  Help me understand because as of this moment, I swear, not only do I not know you but I don't like you very much."

Carrie's last utterance nearly took the very breath from Mike's body. Looking at her face he knew she had meant every word.  It was harsh but it was on the mark and he knew it.

"You're right....I'm not being reasonable....or rational....fear does that to a person."

Carrie looked into Mike's face and saw he had let his emotional guard down, at last. "Fear of what, Mike?  Are you afraid that because Jennifer will be Jack's wife she'll love you less...that you'll fade away in importance from her life?"

"Noooo....that's not it.  We used to talk about when we grew up and each got married that the love we shared would still be there no matter where our lives and spouses took us...it's a different kind of love than what you have for the person you marry...we both know that."

"So....what is it?"

"I want.......I've....always wanted.........Jennifer deserves a long, happy life.  That's what I want for her.  Getting engaged to Jack isn't the problem....it's making that final commitment of marriage I don't think she should do right now.  Carrie, we're going to be in this war for awhile yet. We're just now beginning to take back some parts of Europe but, you know, you work in the news department, it's a given that eventually we have to invade the continent in Europe and keep fighting island by island in the Pacific until the Axis powers surrender."

"Yes, I know all of that....but, what does that have to do...."

"I don't want my sister to maybe be a widow at twenty-six with her future ...her happiness gone.....destroyed!  If she marries Jack, it could happen."

Carrie looked at the sincerity on Mike's face and began to understand his stance against Jennifer's impending marriage.

"Mike, it could happen to Lucas....it very nearly did.  Why would you be less resistant to him marrying Sami?"

"Because.........they've known each other a long time.   Their love has been tested and they know each other so well.  To be frank, I think both Sami and you are stronger emotionally than Jennifer.  You'd get through it if Lucas or I didn't come back and so would Sami.  I'm not so sure about Jennifer if it were Jack.   She and Jack have had, let's face it, a whirlwind romance. She's only known him four or five months.  Sami and Lucas have known each other for , what....eight years.  Jennifer's also the most romantic and idealistic of the three of you.  She's not always the most realistic about the way things are as opposed to how she'd like them to be."

" Love and marriage have always been her goal since she was a tyke.  What Mom and Dad didn't have in their marriage, she was determined to have for herself.  The longer the time she and Jack are engaged, the more they'll get to know one another.  It can only be a positive for them.  I've heard about guys who marry before they go overseas to a girl they haven't known that long, come back and find that they have nothing in common with the girl they married after a short courtship.  The worst is guys who get 'Dear John' letters before they even get home."

"Jennifer would never do that to Jack."

"No, I know...I'm just giving the worst case scenarios I've heard about. What I really fear the most is if..........something happens to Jack.......This isn't easy for me to talk about because I know from conversations we've had how upset this makes you.  Remember New Year's day?"

Carrie recalled her moment of emotional weakness when she selfishly had told Mike of her silly premonition regarding her fear someone wouldn't return.

"I know I told you that we can't dictate what's ahead and that's true, but, there are some things we can do to control the circumstances.  Jennifer, God forbid, won't be faced the possibility of becoming a widow should something happen to Jack if she doesn't marry him before he's shipped out."

Having given the true reason for his outburst in the living room regarding Jennifer's news, Mike dropped his head - hands on his hips and drew a long, weary sigh. Carrie contemplated Mike's words, beginning to understand the logic behind what had made him so strongly react to news that should have made him elated - - that his sister was in love and firmly committed to the man she wanted to spend her life with.  She had reached that dream that according to Mike she' d sought since childhood.

In a quiet, contained voice Carrie said, "You don't want to tell Jennifer the reason for your objections because you don't want to bring up the concept of Jack dying in the war, is that it?  You'd rather just have her think it's something else---a mindless prejudice you have against Jack or their marriage--- because you don't want to frighten her with something she may not have faced yet.  You're willing to let her think the worst of you instead?"

Mike nodded his head - still not able to look at her.

Carrie audibly sighed before she picked up the conversation.

"Mike, you can't do that."

He looked up into her face at that remark as though she'd thrown cold water on him.
"What else am I supposed to do - - tell her the real reason...scare her?"

"Absolutely."

"Carrie, no....THAT's what I can't do."

"Mike, I'm betting though she hasn't said anything to you, it's something she's talked over with Jack.  He's a sensible, realistic guy and very much in love with Jennifer.  He would be honest with her.  I don't think he would have asked her to marry him without discussing the issue.  But, there's another reason you have to tell her."

"Which is?"

"Well, if you don't, Jennifer's already told you she'll leave you out of her life.  If she does and I don't believe that was an idle threat......if the worst happened.........you wouldn't be there for her...to comfort her.  I think that would be far worse for her...for both of you, don't you think? She would have lost the two of the three men she loves most in her life. Lucas is younger - he'd be there but it wouldn't be the same as having her big brother for support."

"I hadn't thought of that.  I guess I just was so focused on one point I didn't see how everything else played into it.  Trouble is....."

"Yes?"

"How do I get her to listen to me after that display of righteous indignation I pulled out in the living room?  Jenn's got every right to begin pushing me out of her life starting about a half hour ago."

"Ohhhhh, Mike, Sweetheart," Carrie said as she walked toward Mike taking his hands in hers, "I think it's a bit premature to assume Jennifer would ostracize you that quickly.  When I left the living room she was sitting with Jack hoping I could get you to open up.  You're entitled to be human, you know, and make an occasional mistake of judgment - especially when it's for a good reason.  It's harder on the ego when you're used to being the wiser, older, all-omniscient big brother.  You're track record was pretty spectacular this past week getting Lucas through a rough time - in fact, you were downright amazing."

"Carrie, come on..."

"You were...and....I love you more because of that.  You, Dr. Horton, don't only heal with these hands but with your heart and soul.  Those two happy people who are just about now pulling into Salem on the train are living proof."

"Yeah, well, you had a part in that, don't forget.  Matter of fact, you will in this, too, if I can say the right words to Jennifer."

"Tell her what you're feeling in there, " Carrie said as she placed her right hand on Mike's chest where his heart was.  "That's all, okay?"

Mike nodded, pulled Carrie to him and kissed her as he wrapped his arms around her.  He could almost feel the emotional strength returning to him he'd felt ebb as he'd turned his back on Jennifer in the living room.  They stood for a minute just feeling the warmth of one another.

"Let me go talk to her?"

"Okay, I'll have Jack come in and help me put a light snack together to go with the coffee."

They walked through the swinging kitchen door with Carrie leading the way, her hand in Mike's giving him the courage he needed to face his sister. Jennifer was still sitting on the coffee table in Jack's embrace.  She had gone through, from the looks of it, at least a half box of tissues with no let up in sight.  Jack saw Carrie first and began to remove his arm from around Jennifer's shoulders.

"Jack, I was wondering if you could help me get down a platter for some sandwiches I want to put out to go with the coffee?"

Looking first at Carrie and then seeing the Mike beside her, he surmised what was going on and took his cue.

"Sure, be right there.  Jenn, I'll just be a little while, okay?"

Jennifer looked up at him and saw Jack briefly glance across the room.  She turned and saw her brother standing like a contrite child, needing to talk to her without anyone else in the room.  She nodded to Jack and gave him a quick kiss as he followed Carrie back into the kitchen.  The stillness of the room was worse than any noise imaginable.  Mike slowly walked to the sofa as Jennifer watched him the entire time.

"Is it okay if I sit down?"

"Sure...if you want to."

Mike sat down not less than two feet from Jennifer though he still hadn't looked at her.  He rested his elbows on his knees and clasped his hands together, as though he was about to pray.  Jennifer took another tissue from the box and blew her nose lightly.

"I'm sorry, Jennifer, for what happened.  I ruined everything on what should have been a wonderful day.  I let my own selfish concerns get in the way of letting you do what you want......what you feel is right.  I have no business interfering in yours and Jack's relationship..."

"Jack thinks he has a pretty good idea what happened."
"He does?"

"Um-hum......he made me sit here and listen to him even though I didn't want to. Want to hear?"

"Sure."

Jennifer looked directly into Mike's eyes as she prepared to tell him Jack's theory.  She knew if he were right, she would see it in her brother's eyes before he ever said a word.

"Jack knows you like him, that the two of you are buddies and maybe closer each day to being close friends.  He knows, too, how much you love me. That's why he stayed so calm before - he knew whatever was going on was more of a problem between us."

"He 's not only good-looking but smart and....."

".....I ... we, know what we're doing by not waiting, Mike.  We've talked about the chance we're taking.  I realize I might only have months with him, but I'm willing to take that rather than never have a life with him at all."

Mike looked into his sister's face as she smiled.

"He was right...that's what you're concerned about...I can see by your reaction."

"Not only was Jack right but so was Carrie."

"Carrie?"

"Yup,  she told me you would face the possibilities of marriage to a man maybe going into combat.  I'm guilty of still thinking of you as needing protecting from the big, bad world.  I hope you know, Jenn, I just want you to be happy."

"Oh, Mike, I know that but, you have to trust me.  You don't have to protect me."

"Yeah, I can see that.  Besides, it's someone else's job, now,...to protect you, that is."

"Hey, you're not out of job, by any means.  You have Carrie and, I'll never outgrow a need for hugs from my big brother......ever."

"Honest?"

"Cross my heart.  In fact, how about giving me one right now?"

"On one condition"

"Which is?"

"You forgive me for what I did today."

"Come here, you," Jennifer said as she opened her arms.  Mike leaned in to her and hugged her with everything he had.  "I forgive you...for caring about me... though, maybe next time you could just say it out straight what's bothering you?"

"You got it - I promise, Jenn.  I'm just wondering..."

"What?"

"Got any idea how long Carrie and Jack were prepared to stay in the kitchen until we ironed things out?"

"They weren't too subtle, were they?  We could just wait them out until their curiosity gets to them."

"I don't think that's such a good idea."

"Why not?"

"Well, they're where all the food is.  They could be in there for days."

"Good point...What's say we go get some of that coffee ..."

"...and some of the hundred or so sandwiches Carrie has to have made by now."

They put their arms around one another and made their way across the living room.  When they walked into the kitchen Jack and Carrie were playing gin rummy standing at the kitchen counter.

"Hey, we thought you were in here making sandwiches.  I'm starved, are you, Jennifer?"

"Famished."

"I made a platter of them and put them in the fridge.  The coffee's ready and I've still got some of that coffee cake left that's made up from Grandma's recipe that Lucas kept eating the whole time he was here."

"Oh, Carrie, you mean the apple and cinnamon one?"

"The one and only.  Sami brought the recipe because she remembered it was Lucas' favorite.  He must have eaten one just by himself over the week's time he was here."

"I can't believe I've missed him so far.  I want to see him and catch up."

"You'll get your chance, Jenn.  He's due to come back just a few days before Valentine's Day.  Something tells me Sami will come with him.  I can't imagine them not celebrating together."

"Hey, maybe they'll be here in time for the wedding," Mike said.  

Carrie and Jack looked at one another and then at Mike making sure they had heard correctly.  He seemed to be sincere in his remark.

"That would be perfect, Mike.  I'd love to have them be there.  We're planning to keep it very small."

"I've got an idea, let's sit down and talk about what you have in mind.  If Carrie and I can help put the plans together, we should start making a list,....right, Carrie?"

Carrie looked at Mike and smiled. "Right, Mike.  Jack?  How about getting the coffee while I pull the sandwiches out of the fridge?"

"Sure thing, Carrie."

Jack had noticed the reconciliation between Mike and Jennifer.  He sensed whatever had come between them had been resolved. They headed to the dining table and sat down to eat.  Mike suddenly jumped up and dashed back to the kitchen.  Carrie excused herself and followed him.

"I gather everything is out in the open between you and Jennifer?"

"You gathered correctly.  You were right, Carrie...they have talked about everything.  My sister has gone and completely grown up on me.  Jennifer pretty much knew what was bothering me.  Jack had told her what he thought it was."

"He did?

"Yeah, I...I think they're gonna be okay, don't you?"

"Yes, I do.  And you're pretty okay, too, you know that?"

"Well maybe just so-so."

"Huh-uh......in fact, you're A okay and that's the highest rating I give."

"Wow!  I'm honored.  Any citation or prize go with that rating?"

Carrie smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck pulling him down to her for a long, slow kiss.  When they finished the kiss. They picked up the apple cinnamon cake and a writing tablet.

"Think they'll buy we came in just to get these and no hanky panky?"

"Are you kidding, Mike, they're getting married in eight weeks.  We can't put anything over on them."

They headed back into the dining room and found Jack and Jennifer in a deep, romantic kiss of their own at the dining table.

"See, Mike, what did I tell you?"

"All right, all right....you two, save some of it for the honeymoon we've got a wedding to plan."

Jack and Jennifer slowly pulled away from one another and laughed at Mike's remark.

"Now, what all do we need to do between today and March fourth?"  Mike said as he opened the table and prepared to write down all the suggestions.

Waiting For You - Chapter 30

Saturday Afternoon, February 12, 1944

A gentle snowstorm dropped soft, cotton ball-like flakes past the living room window of Carrie’s apartment as Guinevere’s head drooped further down onto her chest. She had climbed onto the back of the lounge chair to get a better view of the activity on the street below as well as watch for her two favorite humans to come arm-in-arm down the street. She had learned this was her best vantage spot to catch a glimpse of them before they did of her. She had been reprimanded before about being on the furniture, most especially the chair. She had to be sure to greet Carrie and Mike at the door before they had any idea where she’d been prior to their arrival. She’d been waiting for them over an hour and the warmth from the fire added to her being in her favorite "off limits" spot proved to be too inviting to not indulge in a catnap. Music, though she didn’t know what that noise was called, played in the background on the radio. She wasn’t home alone but these other humans never seemed to mind where she climbed - spending most of their time being wrapped up in other things or one another as they were at this moment.

"Jenn, here’s the other two forms that I took out of the package they gave us at the dependent’s benefits office this morning. You need to fill that one out and the bottom of this one below where I’ve completed my part of the information."

"What? For Pete’s sake…….not another form. I haven’t written my name this many times since I last got traveler’s checks. We’ve done nothing since we got back from Fort Dix today but fill out form …after form…after form…when does it end?"

"Sweetheart, just remember, you’re not only marrying me, you’re marrying the United States Army and they do thrive on red tape which equals tons of paper otherwise known as forms. You should have seen my enlistment package. They know more about me than my parents probably do for all the information they asked on the induction papers. This is nothing compared to that."

"Is that supposed to be making me feel better because, I’ve got to tell you, it isn’t working. I think I might just have terminal writer’s cramp."

Jennifer tossed her pen on the desk where it made a soft thud against the half- inch thick sheaf of papers she had spent over two hours completing in triplicate at times. She arched her back, raised her arms above her head and stretched her legs before her. She glanced at the clock on the fireplace mantle comparing it to that on her watch.

"Oh, my goodness, I didn’t realize how late it was. Do you want a snack? It’s a little late for lunch and I think Carrie and Mike have plans for us to go to dinner with them tonight.

"Not at the delicatessen, I hope. I swear Mike never wants to eat anything else anymore except pastrami or corned beef. I almost wish Carrie hadn’t introduced him to Ratner’s."

Jennifer laughed at Jack’s truthful assessment of her brother’s new passion for deli food.

"No, I think we’re safe. Carrie more or less told him we were going out to try some new little place that just opened up about two blocks from here. You’ll be happy to know they feature Italian cuisine. I wonder where they went…talk about being secretive."

"Well, do you think they went somewhere to be alone….to…..you know…and .so we could have the apartment to work on the forms?"

"What do you mean, Jack?"

"Do I have to spell it out? Maybe they want to…be together?"

"Be together? They could do that here."

"Uhh….no, no, Jenn,….BE TOGETHER."

Jack wiggled his eyebrows at Jennifer as he repeated his statement for emphasis. Her eyes grew larger as Jack’s meaning became clear.

"Oh, I don’t think they would….no, absolutely not. I doubt that, Jack."

"Why? They’re…involved…and they, well, aren’t that much different from us in our circumstances."

"Jack, we haven’t ‘been together’," Jennifer made quotation marks with her fingers as she defended her position.

"Not for my not wanting to," Jack mumbled under his breath but not so far under that Jennifer couldn’t hear him.

"Jack Devereaux, I’m surprised at you."

"I don’t know how you can be. It’s not like I haven’t tried everything to get you to…"

"You’ve only got a few more weeks and then we’ll have the rest of our lives to ‘be together’ as you so delicately put it."

"How many weeks exactly…I need the encouragement."

"Oh, Jack…honestly…it’s only three weeks away."

"Three weeks? That’s…." Jack exaggeratedly counted on his fingers, "almost twenty-one days."

"If it will help you, Jack, it’s actually twenty days and a few hours now."

"It helps a little…one thing for sure…I’ll be the most in shape bridegroom there’s ever been. I work out every day to release the…..you know,………….tension."

Jennifer smiled at Jack as she leaned across the desk and kissed him languidly. When she sat back in the desk chair she saw Jack with a contemplative look on his face.

"I liked that…really, I did…but, it didn’t help my situation one bit. Thanks, Jenn, for reminding me once again what I’m missing."

"Try to think of it as a preview of what you’ve got coming soon in a honeymoon suite near you."

"Oh, yeah, that helps a lot." Jack leaned over the desk to kiss her again when they heard a key turn in the front door lock. They both began shuffling papers to appear as though they hadn’t been engaging in what they just had been.

"Well, well…..do my eyes deceive me or is that my elusive, beautiful sister sitting at that desk?"

Jennifer swiftly turned around in the chair to face the door and confirm with her eyes who her ears had told her was standing in the door way. Reflexively, her hands flew to her mouth as tears began to form in her eyes.

"Do I look that bad, Jennifer?" he teased and opened his arms inviting her to come to him.

"Oh, my God, LUCAS!!!" 

Jennifer flew across the room and launched herself into his arms. They stood in the foyer locked in an embrace, unable to say anything. It had been over a year since they’d last hugged in such a way and not with as much joy. It had been at the Salem train station as Lucas headed for boot camp. As they continued to enjoy their moment of reunion, Sami stood to the side and smiled at Jack across the living room. 

Behind Lucas in the doorway Mike beamed as he watched his brother and sister. Carrie held his arm and gave it a gentle squeeze letting him know she understood how wonderful a moment it was. She longed for such a one with her own brother, Eric, again someday soon. Jennifer pulled back from Lucas and looked into his face, though it was difficult to do through all the salt water her tear ducts were pouring out. She grabbed him in another embrace that was reciprocated with as much emotion by Lucas. Eventually, Jennifer released Lucas and a look of concern passed over her features.

"Oh, Lucas, your arm! I’m so sorry, are you all right? I hope I didn’t hurt you."

"No, no,…I’m fine. Look, see? It’s all healed. Sami made me get to all my appointments with the physical therapist while we were home. It’s as good as new, maybe even better now that I’ve been working out."

"Oh, my gosh, Sami! I didn’t mean to ignore you." Jennifer immediately hugged Carrie’s younger sister.

"It’s all right, Jennifer, I understand. I put a bone-crushing hug on Eric when he first got home on furlough. It’s a wonder I didn’t break a few bones in his arm, too. You just saw me at Christmas, anyway…Lucas - you haven’t seen in over a year. You’ve got your priorities straight as far as I can tell."

Jennifer stepped back and looked at first her brother and then Sami. She bit her lip and started to tear up once more.

"Awwww…sis, what is it?"

Jennifer shook her head and smiled as the tears slipped down her face.

"I never thought I’d see this…I hoped and hoped…but, I……oh, I’m such an incurable romantic. Look at you two. I mean…you are………back together?" she asked with hesitancy in her voice.

Sami looked at Lucas and stepped toward him to take his other arm before replying, "Yes, Jennifer, we are. I hope that’s all right with you……I know in yours and Mike’s eyes I hurt Lucas for a long time. I…I’m very sorry for that but…"

"Sami…you were hurt just as much, I think. I have some idea of what went on though I don’t know the whole story. The important thing is that you still love my brother, right?"

"Yes……absolutely….I don’t intend to let him ever doubt that again, either."

"Don’t worry, Sami, I won’t," Lucas quietly responded gazing at her intently.

"Well, if this isn’t the most wonderful afternoon. My baby brother is with us where he belongs and he’s finally with the girl he should have been with all along."

"I think somewhere in there, I’ve just gotten my first sisterly reprimand," Lucas kidded.

"I recognized it right away, Lucas……having been on the receiving end of them through the years," Mike agreed.

Everyone chuckled. Carrie closed the apartment door and began removing her coat. She took Mike’s, Sami’s and Lucas’ as they continued talking all at once. Jack came up behind Jennifer and placed his arms lovingly around her. When a small break in the conversation came, she looked over her shoulder at him with her eyes narrowed.

"What?"

"Did you know they were going to surprise me having Lucas and Sami come back here today?"

"I…uh…..well,……Guys, help!" Jack playfully begged

"You did know! Jack….I could just hit you!" Jennifer said as she punched him lightly in the arm.

"What do you mean, ‘could’? You just did." Jack held his upper arm overreacting for comic effect.

"I can’t believe you all kept silent. Oh…wait….don’t tell me I filled out all those forms for nothing…….just to keep me busy…that I didn’t really have to do that?"

"No…no…Jenn, I wouldn’t do that to you. It was a good excuse to keep you occupied but we really did need to complete all of those forms."

"Well, I’m glad to hear that…………….for your sake."

"Anyone want some coffee?"

"That sounds great, Carrie. Since I got back to the States, I can’t seem to get my fill of the stuff."

"All right, Lucas, I’ll make some."

"While you’re doing that, I’ll call Kurt and Victoria. They wanted me to let them know when to be here."

"What do you mean, Mike?"

"Well, sister dear, we’re all heading out to celebrate our being together again by going to dinner and Kurt and Victoria asked if they could join us. I didn’t think you’d mind."

"That’s great!. Oh, what fun. Do you have a reservation made? It is Saturday night."

"It’s all taken care of."

"Where are we going, Mike? Do we need to dress up?" Sami asked.

"Nahhh…wear what you have on now. Of course, for us guys, we have to wear the same thing all the time per Uncle Sam’s orders."

"You didn’t say the name of the restaurant, Mike."

"Oh, I didn’t? Sorry, Lucas…..it’s Ratner’s."

Stunned silence hung over the group. They all wanted to be together…they all wanted to go to dinner…but….

"Kidding, you guys," Mike grinned as he answered knowing he had fooled them all into believing they were doomed for another round of deli food.

"You know…you ought to be horsewhipped, Michael William."

"I second that, Jennifer Rose," her younger brother joined in.

"Thank you, Lucas Desmond," Jennifer quipped back to her brother.

"Hey…hey….can’t you take a joke? Geez, you guys. My two siblings aren’t together more than a half hour and they’re already turning against me."

"Can you blame them, Mike?" Jack asked.

"Really, Mike, I see their point, too," Sami chimed in smiling as she spoke.

"Man, talk about mob mentality! Actually, we’re going to this little place Carrie and I found…Port d’Italy. It’s just around the corner……small, cozy and terrific Italian food. How about it?"

Everyone agreed that it sounded terrific. Mike made the call to Kurt’s and informed everyone that he and Victoria would arrive in about forty minutes.

Sami and Jennifer headed to the kitchen to help Carrie put the coffee and snack together while the guys sat on the couch and chair near the fireplace with Guinevere joining them as she hopped into Mike’s lap…her other favorite "lounging spot".

"I think we really surprised Jenn, don’t you?" Lucas asked with a smile a mile wide.

"Pure understatement, Lucas," Jack responded as he clapped Lucas on the shoulder. "She had absolutely no idea. We’ve worked on those forms for hours. It was a good idea Mike had."

Mike grinned and nodded. "I know Jenn. If she didn’t have something to keep her occupied, her investigative, journalistic instincts would have kicked in. She’d have known something wasn’t right about Carrie and me being gone so long without saying where we were going. It would have been no time before she’d have started giving Jack the third degree."

"No kidding. Just before you came in she started asking me where you two had gone. I wasn’t sure she’d believe me if I’d made up something. You didn’t open that door a moment too soon."

Lucas leaned back on the sofa and breathed a deep, audible sigh. Mike and Jack both noticed it was a different young man who had returned from Salem. They’d seen brief, hopeful glimmers of him six weeks before. Now, he was relaxed, contented…almost serene. He had gained back the weight he’d lost in Europe and possibly added a pound or two. His arm was no longer lifeless in a sling. He had been telling the truth. Working out at University Hospital had not only returned the use of his war-wounded arm but had increased the muscle tone in his biceps and shoulders. His eyes were focused, taking in everything around him - - gone was the haunted sadness his older brother had seen and worried about that late afternoon Sami had brought him back to the apartment from the train station. He was once again, Lucas Roberts – brother, friend and a young man very deeply in love with Sami Brady.

"I guess I don’t need to ask you how it was being back home, do I, Lucas?" Jack asked with a small grin on his face, already knowing the answer.

Lucas sat up, almost at attention and laughed gently.

"Oh, man, it was great. Aunt Maggie and Uncle Mickey were waiting for us when we got there. We went right to Gran’s house where she had dinner waiting. She had everything I love to eat including donuts. She must have used up every ration stamp she had. She had the room made up I used when I’d stay over night as a teenager. It looks out over the backyard where the trees are. I fell asleep the minute my head hit the pillow - a combination of exhaustion and excitement, I think. It was the next morning when I woke up and looked out the window that I realized I was really in Salem at Gran’s. When I got downstairs Gran had a huge breakfast waiting for me. Gosh, I don’t think I’ve ever eaten that much in my life."

"He’s not exaggerating," Sami joined in as she came holding a tray of cups, saucers, spoons, a sugar bowl and creamer.

"Hey, Sweetheart, let me help you with that." Lucas jumped up from the sofa and met Sami halfway across the living room. His term of endearment didn’t escape Mike and Jack who looked at each other knowingly.

Sami smiled shyly as she saw the looks exchanged between Jack and Mike. "Thanks, Honey, it is a little heavy." Lucas took the tray from her smiling in her direction the entire time.

Jennifer pushed the kitchen door toward them carrying a ceramic cookie jar shaped like a huge, red apple, opening the lid as she followed much the same path Sami had previously taken. "Oh, Jaaaack …..you’ll never guess what kind of cookies Carrie and I made last night….huh, huh? Betcha can’t guess."

Jack’s face lit up like a child. "Noooo, ………… you didn’t. You didn’t make my favorites, did you? The peanut butter ones with the fork crisscross design on the top?"

Jennifer peered inside the jar and looked back at Jack who sat in anticipation on the couch facing her. Her face turned serious.

"Oh, …..that’s your favorite? But,….I thought…."

Jack looked at her with the most crestfallen of faces. He really had been looking forward to the peanut butter cookies.

"That’s okay….really, …..they’re my…………….second favorite."

Jennifer sat down next to Jack placing the cookie jar on the coffee table near the tray Sami had brought in moments before. She removed one cookie and handed it to Jack.

"You fibber…they are not your second favorite. Here, before you make me well up with tears again having to look at that Sad Sack face." She placed a cookie in the palm of Jack’s hand - - a crisscrossed, peanut butter one.

The smile returned to his face as he plopped the cookie in his mouth savoring it the way a gourmet would the finest caviar. When he had finished it he swung around and stared at Jennifer.

"What’s that look for?" she asked him.

"Jennifer Horton…soon to be Devereaux….or maybe not."

"What? What are you talking about?"

"I’ve just seen a side of you I’ve never seen before. The cunning, cruel, conniving, cookie-teasing one."

"Oh, I guess I forgot to bring that up with you, Jack," Mike deadpanned.

"Shhh, Mike," Lucas conspiratorially whispered, " remember we promised not to say anything about that personality trait of our sister’s. If Jack found out about it before the wedding, he might not take her off our hands and we’d be stuck forever with her torturing us."

Mike snapped his fingers as though suddenly remembering his and Lucas’s non-existing conversation. "Damn, I hope I didn’t blow it."

Jennifer incredulously stared at the three of them with her mouth open.

"You guys…I was just having a little fun."

"That’s what she always says," Mike said to Jack while Lucas nodded in agreement before adding, "Just before she takes the last cookie."

"I do not. Stop it, you two."

"What are you up to now?" Carrie asked as she came through the door carrying the coffee.

"Jenn was torturing Jack….telling him you hadn’t made his favorite cookie last night."

"It’s true, Carrie. Lucas is telling the truth. She almost made him cry." Sami added while smiling at Carrie - her face hidden from Jennifer as she turned to Carrie.

"Oh, I don’t believe that. Jennifer was just having a little fun."

"Thank you, Carrie, for defending me. I guess I know who really loves me in this room."

"You welcome, Jennifer…..she only taunts with the chocolate chip cookies as a rule."

"CARRIE!!!"

Everyone collapsed into gales of laughter at Carrie’s unexpected remark. Jack put his arm around Jennifer and gave her a kiss letting her know all had been done in good fun. As their laughter subsided they heard "In the Mood" being played on the radio. Lucas and Sami instantly looked at one another.

"Are you wanting to do what I’m wanting to?" Lucas asked.

"Well, Lucas…..that all depends…..I mean….here, in front of everyone?"

Lucas nodded and reached for her hand before standing up.

"Just in case you guys have other thoughts going, I was talking about dancing with Sami."

"Oh," the others echoed in mock disappointment followed by smiles at their similar thoughts.

"Is it okay if we do, Carrie? I wouldn’t want the neighbors downstairs pounding on their ceiling with a broom."

"No, don’t worry. The apartment is for rent as of last Friday. The girls who were living there both worked as secretaries at Fort Dix and have been transferred to the Pentagon in DC so they gave up the place. Mrs. Plotkin was nice enough to not charge them for the whole month but just for the first week of February. Go ahead…jitterbug to your heart’s content."

Lucas pulled back the rug between the sofa and desk before sweeping Sami into his arms as they began dancing to one of the most popular dance tunes of the era. It was one of those that unless you had no sense of rhythm defied a listener to not keep time at minimum to its lilting melody.

"Miss Brady?"

"Yes, Captain…or is it, Doctor Horton?"

"It’s both but you can call me whatever you want."

"Okay, but that’s a much longer name. What can I do for you, ‘Whatever you want’?"

Mike realized the joke at that moment and laughed.

"Okay, okay……remind me to be careful of how I construct my sentences around you in the future, Miss Wordsmith. What do you say we join my brother and his girl on your living room dance floor?"

"I say, ‘you’re on’."

Mike started the time step and joined the other couple in a swing dance.

"Well, I don’t know about you, Jack, but I can’t sit here and let them have all the fun."

"As they say in Jersey, ‘I’m wid ja’."

The three couples displayed all the moves associated with the jitterbug as they danced in the apartment ballroom. When the first song ended it was followed by Benny Goodman’s "Sing, Sing, Sing" – an even livelier syncopated tune. Mike asked Sami to dance while Jack did the same of Carrie and Lucas thrilled his sister by spinning her around. It had always been known among them, Lucas was the best swing dancer. He never lacked for a dance partner when they went to clubs back home. In the midst of the third dance to Artie Shaw’s "Begin the Beguine" and the partnering of Mike/Jennifer, Jack Sami and Lucas/Carrie the doorbell rang.

"I’ll bet that’s the Red Cross," Lucas said as he stopped and headed to the front door.

Kurt and Victoria stood in the doorway as he opened it.

"Told you it was the Red Cross. Hey, you two, come on in."

"Lucas! Welcome back to New York. You look wonderful."

"I feel wonderful, Victoria. Kurt, how’s the bandage business?"

"If you mean the International Red Cross, it’s good. Hey, Sami! I see you came back with this guy."

"Hi, Kurt! Well, I wanted to be sure he found his way without getting lost."

"Yeah, remember I’m a tail gunner, not a navigator," Lucas joked as he wrapped his around Sami’s shoulders, kissing her on the temple. "Well, come on in, you two, and join the celebration."

"Thanks….it looks like you’re having fun. Hello Carrie, Mike….Jennifer."

"Victoria, please come and meet Jack."

"I thought you might be him when I noticed the eagle patch on the uniform shoulder. Hello Jack, I’m Victoria Schwengle, Kurt’s cousin. Oh, I just realized you probably haven’t met Kurt either.

"No, I haven’t but I’ve heard a lot about him and you, for that matter. It’s all been good things by the way."

"I can report the same. I have to say I feel as though I know you. Whenever I’m at the studio Jennifer talks about you. Kurt? This is Jack,…… Jennifer’s fiancé."

"Jack, it’s a pleasure. I was sorry you couldn’t be at the New Year’s Eve ball but meeting the future in-laws did seem to be the wiser choice."

"Kurt it’s about time we met. You know, I think we have something more in common than just our friends."

"Really. …what?"

"Mike told me you attended Harvard and played football."

"That’s right…defensive tackle."

"I thought you looked familiar. I was a wide receiver at Yale. I think I was bruised in the ribs by you in a game in ’35 going for a pass my quarterback threw a little too high that I had to go up for. It took me about ten minutes to remember how to breathe after I was hit."

Kurt’s grin faded from his face as Jack relayed the gridiron recollection.

"Oh, my God, that was you?"

"Sure was….. It was a good, clean tackle but I was the one who could have used the Red Cross that afternoon."

"No bad feelings, I hope."

"Nah, like I said …good, clean tackle."

"I never thought about it before that you two might have played against each other in the Ivy League," Mike said. "It’s amazing……that saying about it being a small world hits home again."

The group of friends, now increased by two, leisurely strolled toward the sofa for coffee and cookies talking of all matter of things – football and college rivalries, family and friends in Salem, wedding plans, dealing with the latest rounds of rationing – avoiding the one topic on all their minds - the war news. For just awhile it was as though they had each instinctively agreed to make the world a place of calm, ordinary events for the most part rather than the one of chaos and uncertainty it was.

Carrie interrupted an animated Mike as he prepared to regale the group with some story asking what time their dinner reservation was for. He looked at his Christmas gift and realized they should be leaving for the restaurant in less than an hour.

"That’s what I thought. Anyone need to freshen up before we leave? We’re so close to the restaurant we can walk."

The other three girls nodded in the affirmative and rose to begin stacking coffee cups and other items back onto the trays.

"Hey, leave those here. We can put that stuff away while you get ready."

"Are you sure, Mike?"

"Yup, I know my way around that kitchen pretty well. Besides, with four of you sharing one bathroom, if we do want to leave in twenty minutes, you’d all better get a move on and figure out the logistics for the mirror."

"Excellent point, Mike. Remember that night at the USO when we waited that long just for Carrie and Jennifer?" Jack recalled.

"All right – let’s go girls."

"Wait, Carrie. I need to get my makeup bag from my purse."

"Where’d you put it Victoria?"

"Over there on the desk next to Sami’s."

Victoria walked to the desk and opened her purse rummaging through it to find her small black makeup bag. While she did her eyes landed on a new photograph she didn’t remember seeing on the desk before. It was a three-folding frame with two family groupings – one on either side of the central photo. In the middle was the image of a handsome young man in a US naval uniform – battle ribbons displayed on the left side of his chest – an American flag displayed in the back right corner of the photo. Though he wasn’t smiling, choosing rather to have a serious façade, there was a kindness that came through his eyes. She leaned down pretending to be looking more emphatically for the makeup bag but furtively looked at the photograph closer.

"Can’t find your bag, Victoria? Depending upon what you need, I probably can loan you powder, lipstick…whatever you might need."

"Uhhh…no, thanks. There! I found it. Carrie…I don’t remember seeing this photograph before."

"No, it’s a recent addition. I got it for Christmas."

"A friend of yours?"

Carrie didn’t think she was imagining the interest in Victoria’s voice.

"That’s one of the things he is. He is a good friend and more importantly my brother, too."

Victoria looked at Carrie with a look of almost imperceptible surprise. She looked from the photo to Carrie and back.

"That’s…..Eric…..Sami’s twin? The one who’s on the USS Missouri?"

"The one and only. That’s the Black clan in this photo and the Brady family on this side. I love that portrait of Eric. It really looks so much like him though he smiles in person."

Sami joined them and saw the subject of Carrie and Victoria’s conversation.

"Ahhhh….I see you’re looking at that dreamboat of a twin brother of mine?"

"Dreamboat? Well, yes he is rather handsome, Sami. I don’t know what I expected him to look like but…I ………..I guess I’ll go powder my nose and get ready. Nice pictures, Carrie."

Victoria headed to the hallway. Sami turned to Carrie with a bemused look.

"Am I making too much of it or was Victoria a little less then her usual English serene self?"

"You noticed?"

The sisters smiled and followed Victoria.

After putting away the dishware and cookies in the kitchen, the men returned to the living room. Kurt headed for the foyer where his coat was hung and retrieved a newspaper.

"I almost forgot. When we got here, the newspaper was on the doormat. I picked it up and intended to give it to Carrie but that all flew out of my mind when Jack and I started reliving gridiron glory days. Here."

He tossed the newspaper onto the coffee table where it fell open displaying the large, bold black headline. Lucas leaned forward and slowly picked it up as through it were made of glass, handling it with care as he read the details.

"My God----"

"What is it, Lucas?" Jack asked when he saw the color drain from Lucas’ face.

"The Allies took another beating at Anzio – that beach in Italy they began taking back over two weeks ago.."

"How can that be? They stormed up the beaches in no time two weeks ago. The Germans gave them almost no resistance."

"That might have been, Kurt, but apparently they didn’t take advantage of the chaos the Germans were in by the surprise attack. They’ve fortified their positions all along the roads. According to this they’re bringing up panzer divisions and infantry from other areas they occupy farther back in the Italian interior."

"I know we’re in it but I thought there were bigger contingencies of Canadians, Turks and British."

"There are, Jack, but not along the Conco-Cisterna corridor. That’s one of the roads the Allies want to clear so we can get supplies and troops in heading to Naples to connect it with Rome. According to the article, we’re the ones who got it today."

"We, meaning GIs?"

"Yeah, Mike, as in US Army Rangers. Let me read a little further."

Silence fell over the room as they stared at Lucas while he continued to read and absorb the information in the article. The muffled conversation and laughter of the girls in the other part of the apartment and Guinevere's purr as she sat on the coffee table being petted by Kurt were the only audible sounds other than the ticking of the mantel clock. When he finished reading the article, Lucas placed the paper back on the coffee table and stared at the floor for what seemed longer than the few seconds it actually was.

"They sent seven hundred and sixty-seven Rangers up the Conco-Cisterna road thinking that they could work their way up the sides of the highway and blast the Germans out of their positions. The countryside is all barren hillsides and the Gerrys had the high ground all along the way. The Rangers got pinned down for nearly sixteen hours trying to make headway in the open, barren landscape. The Germans ordered heavy artillery fire on them. After almost an entire day of taking repeated shellings, the higher command ordered them to retreat……….six…." Lucas’s voice dropping on the last word of his narration.

"Six what?" Jack asked.

Mike leaned forward and read the last paragraph of the story until he understood what Lucas had meant.

"Six returned."

"Jesus……that’s almost a one hundred percent casualty rate." Jack said in a hushed tone as though saying it any louder would irrationally endanger the remaining six. "Looks like the Nazis aren’t gonna give up that easily are they? They are going to make us win this war from them…by beating them until every last one of them surrenders………using everything that we have…"

"…..and using every one of us in uniform, possibly…" Mike concluded.

They looked at one another as each felt their own appointment with destiny in this war approaching them from some unknown direction …..waiting for them in some unknown place.

"You guys ready to go?" Jennifer asked as she stuck her head around the hallway entry.

Lucas appreciably jumped at the sudden "loud" voice that came from behind him. He had, momentarily, involuntarily returned to a scene over the English Channel - - watching a large red ball of flame appear where moments before a bomber with a white star painted on its side had been.

"Yeah, I am. How about you guys?" Mike said trying to put some enthusiasm back in his voice.

"Sure." Was the only response Lucas could muster while Kurt only nodded his head.

The girls were helped on with their coats and the door opened for them to leave through. Carrie sensed something had changed between the time the girls had gone to freshen up and their return.

"Mike, is everything all right?" she whispered in his ear as he helped her get her left arm in her coat sleeve.

"Sure…I think we’re just hungry, is all."

Not believing his answer Carrie also instinctively knew to push him or any of the other three further wouldn’t elicit any more details of what had occurred in the living room.

"All right. I’m ready for some Italian food. Come on Lucas, let’s go break breadsticks together," Sami said smiling at Lucas in an attempt to lighten the dark mood she could see in his eyes. For the first time in six weeks she saw the look that had frightened her at the train station the day he returned to her life after an agonizing four-year absence.

As they headed down the apartment house hallway Lucas leaned toward his brother and whispered so only he could hear.

"Suddenly, Italian food is the last thing I want."

Mike nodded…..and the subject was closed.

to be continued...

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