Captivated (9 page)

Lilli was ending the story, talking about God's protection and how he controls all things when another hand shot up in the air. "My dad says that God even controls the sun," Miriam said in awe.

"He does," Lilli smiled, "and the moon, the stars, the other planets..."

"And other planets' suns," Billy blurted.

"Billy, all the planets share the same sun." Lilli corrected, gently.

"Nuh uh Miss Lilli! My dad says all planets have their own sun."

"Maybe you misunderstood."

"I don't think so Miss Lilli. How old are you?"

"I'm 19 years old Billy." she answered, calmly.

"Yea, that's what I thought. See, my Dad's older than you, so I'm pretty sure he knows more than you. I'm going to go ahead and believe her when he says each planet has it's own moon."

"Moon?" Lilli asked, trying not to laugh. "Each planet does have it's own moon."

"Then why have you been arguing with me Miss Lilli?" Billy asked, running an exhausted hand through his bright red hair.

Afraid she might burst into laughter, Lilli just lifted her shoulders in a shrug and turned her attention away from Billy, back to the rest of the class. They all moved their chairs to the arts and craft table where they began to color their own piece of mighty man armor. All too soon, parents showed up at the classroom door to claim their children for the rest of the day. Lilli spoke with each parent, praising their child for their good behavior, or intelligence. After promising to see everyone next week, she set to cleaning up the classroom and went to find her parents.

"How was Sunday School?" Lilli asked, sliding into the backseat of the Chevy.

"It was wonderful, there was a new young man this week. His name is Robert Daniels, I invited him for dinner. Unfortunately he's busy tonight, I think the Keith's invited him tonight, but he won't be enamored by Cynthia, so nothing to worry about there. He'll be coming next Sunday, don't make any plans."

"Great..." Lilli sighed, rolling her eyes. Almost every week her mother invited another single man to their home, hoping for sparks. Lilli tried to tell her about Joe, but, she wanted to hear nothing about it. In her opinion, Joe couldn't be worthy of her daughter if he was only a private, and she couldn't believe anyone could fall in love through letters.

Lilli gazed out the car window, trying not to think about next weeks dinner. She let her mind focus on the few remaining colored leaves, clinging to the bare arms of the trees. Some tumbled along the side of the road, following their Chevy as if it was the Pied Piper singing a tune. Autumn always relaxed her, the crisp air seemed to cleanse everything for the sticky sweat of summer.

The gravel cracked as her father pulled into the driveway. Lilli shut the door lazily and entered the house. She was half way up the stairs when she heard her father calling her. He had found a letter for her in the stack of bells he was looking through. Lilli turned quickly, running back down the six stairs she had already climbed. All of her teeth shone when she flashed her father a smile, taking the letter. She could barely wait until she reached her room to rip open the letter, it was an unexpected Sunday treat.

November 6, 1943

Dear Lilli,

I am glad to be another person you can confide in. I love hearing about everything going on in your life. In fact, I'd love to hear more about your parents, Viv and the kids. Instead of feeling like I am in a war, living in a tent, far away from my family, I feel like I'm talking to my girl on the phone. Is it ok that I think of you as my girl? Maybe you don't feel quite the same as I do. You can tell me the truth, honestly.

It is a comfort to know that you will be expecting ex-soldier me to step off the boat, not pre-war me. I know my family will always support me, but I still don't want things to change. I liked my family just the way they were when I left, the way they always were.

Bridget has a great eye for very realistic drawings. And while I really loved her picture, I wonder if you might be able to send me an actual picture of yourself? I think that having your picture with me, might give me hope in this battle that seems never ending. While I am eager to see my family, I think I'm most anxious to see you. I hope that is not too bold, but it is with you Lilli Windsor, that I am beginning to imagine my future. Dylan advised me to marry you in his letter to me, and I believe him to be a very wise child.

I have no idea who Katie might find herself interested in now. I know that a great number of young men from our town joined up. She has never shown interest in anyone, to my knowledge. She always thought dating was silly unless she could see herself marrying a man. Of course, Sarah could be mistaken, maybe Kate is acting strange because she misses me. I wish I had more to tell you, but I have to go. I look forward to your next letter, and your picture.

Still Captivated

December 1, 1943

"Letter for Joe, I figured it's from Lilli, so I grabbed it." Wes smiled, throwing the tattered envelope at Sam. "And one for you too."

Sam picked up the envelope and noticed immediately that it was heavier than usual. He ripped through the seal and breathed deep the smell of sweet coffee that fragranced the letter. Before pulling out the piece of paper, he felt around in the small expanse of the envelope. His fingers brushed across a sturdier piece of paper
"Her picture,"
he thought with a smile. Suddenly his stomach was doing flips at the thought of seeing her for the first time. He had quite an image built up in his mind, and this would be his first glance at the face he might spend the rest of his life staring at.

He pulled it out slowly, then turned it over. His breath caught in his chest, she was beautiful. Of course, he hadn't doubted that she was beautiful, Joe only went for the prettiest girls. Though the picture was black and white, he imagined her in color. Her hair tumbled past her shoulders, pushed back behind her ears with pins. Her face an oval, smooth skin rising and falling over her features. Big eyes shone behind long lashes, her lips spread open in a wide smile. She wore a simple dress, dipping down into a v, the bottom flaring past her waist.

His eyes roamed over the picture, memorizing every inch of her. His mind expanded the image and he began to see her laughing, her slim shoulders shaking, her head pulled down with giggles. Then he imagined her with a baby on her hip, a gentle, adoring smile curling her lips upward. He had been imagining life with her, and seeing her face made it all more vivid.

He must have stared at the picture for an hour, unable to tear his eyes from her beautiful face. When he shifted his weight, the letter fluttered to the ground and he remembered that he hadn't read it yet. He set the picture aside carefully, and unfolded the paper. Her handwriting was still perfect, making him smile as he could now imagine her sitting down at her desk, holding the pen delicately, hair falling past her shoulders, pooling on the desk, writing with concentration and care.

November 20, 1943

Dear Joe,

I hope you are still doing well wherever you are. I've been listening to the news broadcasts and it sounds like the Allies have been launching a huge air attack on Germany. Hopefully that will provide some advancement for the Allies! I understand there have been some heavy bombings in London, I only hope the attention doesn't shift to wherever you are in France. If you're still in France, that is. I will be so excited when all of this is over and you are home safe. I have to say I am glad you're not up in the air dropping the bombs. It sounds so dangerous to be up in the air with so many guns firing at you. Not to say fighting on the ground is any less dangerous, but I'll stop my war talk now, as I'm only getting myself more worked up.

I included a picture, like you asked, I hope it is alright. It was taken a few years ago while I was still at school. I hate to say I don't have my picture taken very often, so I didn't have one more recent. I don't look very different though. Since you have a picture of me, I wonder if you would send me one of you? I hate to admit that your image is starting to fade in my mind and Mrs. Metcalf would love to see what you really look like.

Dylan advised you to marry me? I would never have let him write to you if I knew he would do something so embarrassing! You have to forgive him, he's young. Thank you for writing back to him, he was so excited to get your letters. He kept it in his back pocket all day, and read it to his class the day he got it. He's very proud of you, and so am I!

I hope you will keep me updated about Katie. I wish I knew your family, I could be an additional spy for you. Maybe she would confide more in me than you. Of course I don't know him, but she must know I wouldn't attack the man she's fallen in love with. Sorry to say, I have to go, I wish I could write more. Stay safe, I can't wait to talk to you.

Affectionately,

Lilli

Sam smiled at the letter, amazed as always, by her perfect writing and way with words. After a moment, his smile faded, as he re-read the bit when she asked for a picture of him. How could he avoid sending one when she had asked him so specifically? At the same time, how could he send a picture of himself, when she had already met Joe?

They looked nothing alike, their only similarity being their height. Joe had dark hair, so dark it was almost black, which matched his eyes. He had thick eyebrows and a shadow always covered the lower half of his face. Though tall, he had been stocky, thick with muscles. Sam, however, had blonde hair with almond colored eyes. His facial hair was light, except for a row of dark lashes that highlighted his eyes. He was just as strong as Joe had been, but his strength was not as noticeable by sight because of his lean muscle.

He sighed and took out his box of pictures and letters. He sorted through the photographs, looking for one in which he looked like Joe. The easiest thing would be to send a picture of Joe, but he hadn't lied to Lilli yetand he didn't want to start now. His finger slid across a picture of himself, Joe and Wes before they'd left home.
"Perhaps,"
he thought,
"I don't have to say which one is me, and I won't be lying, and she would have a picture of me..."

Confident he had discovered a solution to the problem, he turned his attention to Kate's letter. He was anxious to see if she had said anything about her mysterious relationship. Lilli would be interested to read if there was any news, so he would wait to write her back.

November 17, 1943

Hi Sam!

Golly do I ever miss you! It's so strange how life goes on without you here. Time seems to go by quickly when I'm not thinking about missing you. But then, when I want to tell you something it seems like you've been gone longer than forever.

I hope you are still watching out for Wes, I know his family also wants to see him home alive. The Sinclair's have just been a wreck since learning about Joe. Especially Mrs. Sinclair. It's hard to watch them dealing with the grief because you and Wes aren't home safely yet. You just keep yourself safe for all of us here at home, and for Lilli.

I think you're falling in love with her through letters is just about the most romantic thing ever! I wish I had a soldier writing me. I really can't wait to meet her. She must be something really special to have you so enamored. I know you have high standards. After all, Cindy Wallace is the most beautiful, sweetest girl I know, and you wouldn't date her. I could never figure that out. She's married now you know. Met some soldier at the U.S.O., he was about to be shipped overseas and she married him that very night.

This war is causing people to do some pretty ridiculous things. My friend Sally is actually working in a factory assembling bombs! Can you believe it? I feel as though I would be a bit frightened to be working around such dangerous things. One mistake could really hurt someone, or a lot of someones.