Chapter Eleven

"I don't think I can stop crying," Sadie said, dabbing at her tears with a handkerchief that was already soaked through.

Molly took a spare one from her pocket and passed it to her sister as the two of them sat on a bench near the train depot. Sadie's train was due to arrive soon, and she'd depart for the hospital where she was currently stationed.

Twenty minutes earlier, Harley John and Friday had left, both of them leaning out the train windows to wave goodbye as the train pulled out of the station.

Molly felt like her heart was being torn in two to watch Friday leave. She could only imagine how much more excruciating the pain had to be for Sadie since she and Harley John were married.

The two of them had dissolved into tears the moment the boys were out of sight.

Although she wanted to go back to her room, curl up on her bed, and cry like she hadn't in years, Molly took a deep breath, wiped her cheeks and nose, then wrapped a comforting arm around her sister.

"I know how much it hurts to have to part with Harley John, Sadie, but before you know it, the two of you will be together again. When you are, nothing will ever separate you."

"I know." Sadie sniffled. "But it doesn't make the ache in my heart any better. I already miss him more than I can stand. It's perfectly rotten. My help is needed at the hospital. I just wish the Army would have seen fit to let Harley John remain here instead of insisting he return to Washington for his discharge."

"It does seem rather ridiculous, but I understand the men have to return to Camp Lewis and be formally discharged. Still, I know your heart feels like it's being ripped apart and tossed on the tracks for the train to pound into dust."

Sadie sniffled again and looked at her. "I thought you did, but I know for sure now. You love Friday, don't you? Really and truly love him."

Molly nodded. "I do, Sadie. I love him so much it frightens me one minute and leaves me feeling quite …" She struggled to find an accurate description. Thoughts of their kisses from the previous evening made her lips tingle, and her limbs grow languid. She'd shared a few chaste kisses with Andrew when they'd been courting, but nothing like the kisses she'd exchanged with Friday. His kisses were beyond anything she'd ever dreamed or imagined. They felt magical and touched her all the way down to her soul.

"Like you could slide across moonbeams to catch all the stars," Sadie supplied.

Molly nodded and hugged her sister. "We're a mess. A royal, regular mess. This won't do. Not at all." She hopped up and latched on to Sadie's hand, pulling her to her feet and grabbing Sadie's traveling bag. "Come on."

"Where are we going?" Sadie asked as she mopped at her tears and her nose while they rushed away from the depot.

"I know one thing that won't cure a heartache, but it helps." Molly grinned at Sadie, and her sister smiled.

"Lead on, then. Just don't make me late for my train."

A block later, Molly stopped. "You have time for this." She held open the door to her favorite bakery. Inside, they ordered a pot of hot chocolate and pain au chocolat— flaky, buttery pastries filled with chocolate.

After they'd found a little table in the corner and taken a bite of the treat, Sadie moaned, then dabbed her lips. "I do have time for this, and it does make me feel marginally better. Thank you, Bossy Britches."

"My pleasure, Sassy Pants."

The two of them held up their cups of hot chocolate in a toast, then finished their pastries.

Molly carried Sadie's bag as they returned to the train station. "I'm so glad we could have this time together, Sadie. Please write, or even telephone if you can. If you need me, I'm here."

"The same goes for you, Molly. I love you and want you to have happiness in your life and heart. You deserve the very best, and I think Friday fits the bill. Harley John thinks so highly of him, of you both."

"Thank you." Molly hugged her sister, and they lingered a moment in each other's embrace. If anyone had told her the day she'd moved into the orphanage and decided Sadie was going to be a blister on her backside that one day they'd be close friends, she would have thought they'd gone crazy. "I love you, Sadie, and Harley John. I just know the two of you have a long, happy future ahead of you once you can get on the same side of the ocean."

Sadie nodded and picked up the bag Molly had set at their feet. "I shall endeavor to do that as quickly as I can. I can feel like I'm fulfilling God's purpose for my life at home just as well as I can here. With the number of patients being sent back to the States, I hope we soon can shut down the hospital and head back to New York."

"I hope it will be so, Sadie. Soon." Molly kissed her cheek, then gave her a nudge toward the platform where the train was boarding. "Let me know you made it back safely."

"I will. If you hear from the boys before I do, get in touch."

"I promise, Sadie. Bye!" Molly blew her a kiss and caught the one Sadie sent to her as she rushed up the steps and onto the train.

Molly waited until Sadie found a seat near the window and waved before she hustled to the switchboard office and got to work. She thought it was the best way for her to keep her mind off how much she already missed Friday.

She'd just returned from taking a much-needed break later that afternoon when she answered a call. "Number, please."

"You've already got mine, Mame," said a familiar voice that made a shiver of excitement roll down her spine.

"Friday?" she asked, wondering if she were hearing and imagining things.

"Well, who else calls you Mame?" he questioned in a serious tone.

"Nobody, but aren't you supposed to be getting ready to board a ship, doughboy?" she asked, finding her equilibrium after the shock of speaking to Friday again after she'd told him goodbye that very morning for what she thought would be months and months. Just hearing his voice made her feel elated although she missed him so much she could hardly stand it.

"We board in the morning, but I got permission from the captain to give you a call. Harley John already phoned Sadie. She said to tell you she arrived safe and sound."

"That's grand. Thank you. Friday, I …" Molly paused. There was so much she wanted to say and so little time to say it. Friday was homeward bound and she rejoiced for him, even if she wished she could be with him. "I miss you already and love you so much. Be safe."

"I will. You take care of yourself until we meet again, and know how very much I love you, Mame. Goodbye, sweetheart."

"Bye." Molly disconnected the call, not even realizing she was crying again until she felt one of her coworkers press a handkerchief into her hand.

Molly didn't know if she had weeks or months to wait before she could go home, but at that moment, it felt like years would pass before she could find herself once again in the marvelous circle of Friday's arms.