Sentimental Journey Chapter 4
Sentimental Journey
Chapter 4
Meryl closed the door after waving Roy off and still clutching the letter went straight into her bedroom and dropped to her knees onto the rug at the foot of her bed in front of her hope chest. Quickly opening it and locating the box she was looking for she pulled it out carefully and getting up she sat down on his side of the bed. She put the box down beside her and made herself comfortable against his pillow looking at the envelope again touching the return address in an effort to feel close to him. Meryl closed her eyes took a deep breath and then opening them again very carefully began to open the letter from her husband . . .
“My Darling Meryl,
I’m sitting here in my bunk thinking of you wishing I were home with you. The only thing that’s keeping me from being with you is my work. You told me this was important work and I agree with you. Being stationed here at Pearl Harbor is very difficult though . . . especially if you have an artists’ heart. Since it’s only been a few months since the bombing, things are not fully operational in all areas. But the spirit is good . . . the men are doing their very best to raise the battleships that were sunk and repair the damaged hangars and buildings. My assignment is going well. I have so many great photographs of the reconstruction. So many of them are heartbreaking . . . just the damage and loss. And then there are so many that make a patriots heart swell with pride . . . the men working like demons to restore the base to its former glory . . . home to the Pacific Fleet. I took a few photographs of a child just the other day. She was looking across the airfield that still holds damaged planes with an expression on her face that is way beyond her years. She must be an artist because she looked like she understood a great deal of what happened and could feel the impact of this time . . . of this war. And she was the most beautiful little girl . . . long golden hair blowing in the warm breeze and all-knowing blue green eyes and a little heart-shaped mouth. She reminded me so much of you . . . I wondered if we had a child would she look like that? I miss you so much baby . . . I really wish I could hold you in my arms and look into your beautiful eyes and tell you just how much I love you. But until I can do that I suppose letters will have to suffice. I need to go now it’s almost lights out but I promise to write again soon. And Meryl, please know just how very much I love you and miss you . . . it’s as if a part of me is missing . . . the other half of myself, my heart, is in New York with you . . . you are my heart. Always, Don.”
Tears were pouring down Meryl's cheeks as she read the letter for the third time. She missed Don so much. She missed talking to him about anything and everything. He was so far away and letters seemed to take forever, weeks literally, to travel back and forth and phone calls weren't very convenient as he had no set schedule and not to mention they were expensive. She missed just touching him . . . holding his hand and sitting together in comfortable silence or taking long walks around the city arm in arm. She missed him kissing her goodnight and holding her in his stong embrace throughout the night. Meryl wondered about the child he photographed . . . Did he somehow subconsciously know about the baby? Did he feel it? Was their connection that strong? She was still terribly nervous about his reaction to the news since they weren't planning on having a child so soon in their marriage. Maybe she should look into a trip out there . . . No . . . They probably wouldn't let her on the base plus her doctor probably wouldn't let her travel that far especially since it would require a plane or a boat to get from the mainland to the island of Oahu. Plus . . . What was she thinking? There's a war going on! She would never put this beautiful baby in danger! She just wished she could hug him close and kiss his sweet lips. She read the letter through one more time and that was her final un-doing. She crumpled the letter to her chest and sunk down into Don's pillow turning onto her side. She was weeping so loudly. Her heart was breaking because she missed her husband so much. Unconsciously she had her hand over her tummy rubbing in tiny circles in a nervous manner still holding onto the letter for dear life until she finally cried herself to sleep. Pretty soon she had settled down a bit, her whimpers slowed and a soft smile played on her lips as she began to dream of her husband. When she awoke a little while later she was still smiling and feeling somewhat better. She had dreamed of a date with Don from before they were married. They were actually just getting to know one another . . .
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Meryl was peering intently into the mirror at her reflection looking for any flaw. The mirror presented a slim girl dressed in a long-sleeved deep red dress that was shirred at the bustline and fitted to just below her knees. Her long blonde hair was pulled back at the sides with a pair of her grandmother’s combs to reveal delicate diamond studs. Stepping into her high heels she dabbed a bit of perfume behind her ears and on her wrists, grabbed her bag and coat and headed to the living room to nervously pace a trench in the carpet until her date arrived. Meryl was terribly excited yet terribly nervous too as this was an official date not just a coffee or an art show. The bell rang and stopping her pacing she went to answer it. She opened the door to a rather dapper looking Don standing there with a bouquet of flowers and a nervous smile. His smile faltered a bit when he got a full look at her. She looked so beautiful to him . . . just standing there smiling softly. “Hi” he said quietly “you look so beautiful.” She blushed and thanked him demurely accepting the bouquet he offered to her. “Thank you, Don, and for the flowers. I love them. Give me just a minute to put them in water?” she asked. “Of course . . .” he replied watching her walk away. After she had arranged the flowers he took her by the elbow and escorted her to the waiting taxicab.
A little while later the cab pulled up in front of this tiny italian café. Don got out and offered Meryl his hand to assist her from the cab. She looked up at him questioningly “Don is this where we are going? It doesn’t look open . . . “ Don just laughed softly and answered “yes we are in the right place. This café belongs to a friend of mine. Come inside and let me show you around . . .” Don escorted Meryl inside the cafe. They stood looking around at the small intimate tables with red checkered table cloths and candles. The place smelled like heaven . . . tomatoes, basil, and garlic. Meryl's stomach made a growling sound and she quickly turned away from Don blushing and pretended to study the paintings on the wall. He chuckled quietly and touched her arm to get her to turn back to him. "Come with me . . ." He said leading her toward the back of the cafe. Don stopped at a door leading outside. He pushed it open and stood back letting Meryl go through ahead of him. She stepped through the doorway and stopped suddenly causing Don to bump into her. He caught her by her elbows to steady her. "Amazing . . ." Don thought to himself "she feels amazing in my arms. And I'm really not even holding her . . ." "Oh!" Meryl exclaimed her hands flying up to her cheeks. She quickly turned back to Don. "How did you do this? It’s so . . . so lovely" she asked gracing him with her beautiful smile. Don just looked at her for a moment taking in her beauty before he returned her smile and answered "the owners are friends of mine and they agreed to help me out". "They are normally closed tonight but . . ." Don trailed off as Meryl turned back and they stood there together looking at a single table covered with a white tablecloth and two place settings in the soft glow of candlelight set in the cafe's outdoor dining garden which was lighted only by innumerous tiny white lights. Don walked over to pull out her chair. She smiled sweetly at him and moved to sit in the chair he held for her. He went around the intimate little table and sat down opposite her. Someone cleared their throat catching Don and Meryl's attention. They turned to see a waiter holding a bottle of red wine and two glasses. He placed the glasses on the table and poured a little in Meryl's glass to taste. He filled her glass and Don's once she had tasted and approved the bottle. The waiter left and returned with antipasti which was a caprese salad and melon wrapped in proscuitto. As they started to eat they began to chat and the atmosphere relaxed for the both of them. They were sharing childhood stories and favorite memories. The waiter returned some time later with two covered dishes. He placed one dish before Meryl and one before Don before removing the covers at the same time to reveal a main course of lasagna. He also brought out a rosemary bread and olive oil to accompany the lasagna. Taking the first bite Meryl closed her eyes and savored the taste of the lasagna. Don was watching her eat, simply enjoying the fact that she was enjoying the food. He was glad she wasn’t one of those girls who only ate salad or very little of anything. Opening her eyes Meryl realized Don was watching her and she smiled nervously and reached for the bread. He evidently had the same idea as he reached for the bread as well and their hands touched accidently, his hand over hers. His touch sent tingles all through her body and she shivered slightly. Don smiled at her and handed her a piece of the bread. The conversation began to flow again this time Meryl telling stories on her brothers. She was really entertaining Don with her storytelling . . . using different voices and her hands exaggeratedly as she spoke stopping to laugh before she’d even finished telling Don what was so funny. Don was enjoying simply watching her and listening to her. He barely knew her and yet he was already falling for her. He just enjoyed being in her presence. As she was finishing one tale that ended with both of her brothers in trouble and her getting off scott-free, the waiter returned with dessert . . . a decadent tiramisu which he served with a different wine . . . a sweet sparkling moscato. They enjoyed the dessert in comfortable silence until Meryl remembered another story. Don leaned back in his chair just watching her . . . watching her move so animatedly, watching her lips as she spoke wondering what it would be like to kiss her. And just as he had that thought a song came on the radio that had been playing softly in the background. He stood and went to turn the radio up a bit and returned to the table offering his hand to Meryl as she sat in her chair with a nervous look upon her face. “Meryl would you dance with me?” he asked and smiled sweetly at her. She didn’t trust her voice not to betray her nerves so she just put her hand in his and moved with him away from the table. She wasn’t entirely sure her legs would hold her up but he kept her hand in his bringing it to rest against his chest and he placed his other hand at the small of her back. As soon as he began to move with the music she began to calm down in his arms.
Some day, when I'm awfully low
When the world is cold
I will feel a glow just thinking of you
And the way you look tonight
They continued to dance and Don began to hum along with the song. Meryl, of course, found this completely adorable. She giggled as he spun her out and back into his arms again. “What?” he asked. “What? No. Nothing . . . “ Meryl replied shaking her head. “You must be giggling for a reason . . . tell me?” Don asked again. “Um . . . well . . .” she giggled again “you were humming along with the song and . . . uh . . . and I thought it was kind of cute . . .” Meryl answered blushing profusely and ducking her head a bit. “Oh . . . I was . . . well um thanks” Don said laughing now. “You’re welcome” Meryl retorted this time with a bit of a smirk along with her giggle. The song continued . . .
You're lovely
With your smile so warm
And your cheeks so soft
There is nothing for me but to love you
And the way you look tonight
Don really couldn’t believe this was happening to him. He was finally holding Meryl in his arms. Well, he had to ask her to dance but he wasn’t going to split hairs just count his blessings. She just felt so good in his arms, so natural, so right. And she smelled as good as she looked. He was totally captivated by her perfume. It was as perfect as she was . . . a clean light floral fragrance. Meryl was having similar feelings. She couldn’t believe how right it felt to be in Don’s arms dancing. It felt like home. It felt safe. She hadn’t felt safe and protected in quite a while. When John had gotten sick and she stayed with him, never leaving his side, she felt she had to be the strong one . . . for him . . . she had to love him and protect him by being the strong one.
With each word your tenderness grows
Tearing my fears apart
And that laugh that wrinkles your nose
Touches my foolish heart
Yes you're lovely, never, ever change
Keep that breathless charm
Won't you please arrange it?'
Cause I love you
Just the way you look tonight
Just the way you look tonight
Darling just the way you look tonight
The song was ending and Don and Meryl were still moving . . . slowly dancing. The last bars of music faded away and Meryl raised her face to Don. He was fascinated by her beauty. The way the moonglow fell across her cheeks . . . her beautiful blue-green eyes gazing intently into his . . . the regal nose . . . the soft heart-shaped mouth that he so wanted to kiss. He leaned his face a little closer to hers and she didn’t pull away from him. So he brought the hand that had been at her waist up to cup her face, gently rubbing his thumb across her cheek and staring deeply into her eyes. She returned the gaze. She didn’t blink. He moved the hand that had been holding hers into her hair pulling her slightly towards him. She closed her eyes and held her breath. He pressed his lips ever so gently to hers in the sweetest of kisses. Her arms wrapped themselves around his waist bringing them closer together. He ran his tongue just briefly against her lips and she opened her mouth a bit and increasing the intensity of the kiss he pushed his tongue into her mouth caressing hers until her entire body was shivering in delight and she was completely breathless . . .
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