“Hey,” Nora said softly. “It was every bit as important to me, okay?” She raised a hand, presumably to wipe away Mary’s tears, but let her hand fall away without making contact.

  “Don’t you love me?”

  “Don’t I…?”

  “In all the time I was dating Sam, I never once felt about him the way I felt about you in the first five minutes we spent together. I always said that when the real thing came along, I’d know it. It’s confusing and confounding. I mean, we’re two women for gosh sakes. But, we’re the real thing, Nora. I can feel it in my heart and in my bones, but if you don’t feel the same way…”

  Nora sat down under the largest tree and patted the ground next to her.

  Reluctantly, Mary sat next to her. Please, don’t break my heart. I don’t think I could take it.

  “What transpired between us the other night was incredibly special. I’ve never experienced anything like it, either, and I’m seven years older than you. I’m just trying to figure out where we go from here. It’s complicated—a lot more complicated than whether or not I’m ready to say I love you. And yes, the fact that we’re two women makes it even more disconcerting.”

  “There’s nothing complicated about knowing whether you’re in love or you’re not. It’s yes, or it’s no.”

  Nora let out a growl of frustration. “What if I am, Mary? What then? If we ever got caught—”

  “We won’t get caught.”

  “You can’t know that for sure.”

  “We’ll make sure of it.”

  Nora shook her head. “Impossible.”

  “Then, what? We forget about what happened and just go about our lives? I can’t do that. I don’t want to do that.”

  Nora stared off into the distance, and Mary was surprised to see that she, too, had tears in her eyes.

  “I don’t know all the answers, sweet Mary. I’ve spent three days trying to figure it out, and I’ve gotten exactly nowhere. When I’m not with you, I’m thinking about you. Does that mean I’m in love with you? I don’t have any idea. I have no frame of reference by which to judge. Seems to me it’s too early for that sort of proclamation after one date, but what do I know?”

  “If you need convincing, go out with me again. New Year’s Eve is coming. Let’s have another movie date. That should be harmless enough. Friends go to the movies together all the time. I already checked. Destination Tokyo opens that night. It’s Cary Grant and it’s a war movie. What do you say? Please? Give us a chance, Nora. Please say you’ll at least give us a chance.”

  Nora closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose. She let out a heavy sigh. “How am I supposed to say no to you?”

  “That’s easy. You’re not. So, you’ll go? It’s a date?”

  “Okay. We’ll go to the movie and I’ll make us dinner at my place afterward.”

  “Yay! I promise, you won’t regret it.”

  Nora flinched as the downed Japanese pilot stabbed seaman Mike to death. She snuck a peek at Mary and easily read the horror in her eyes, as well. That reaction was magnified tenfold after the American submarine came into peril, first from the unexploded bomb attached to it, and then when the Japanese discovered the sub’s presence and searched Tokyo Bay for it.

  Several times, she caught Mary reaching for her hand but then she withdrew it and grabbed the seat arms with a death grip. Misery enveloped Nora. You’re an insensitive jerk.

  When Mary gasped as the sub was crippled in the attack by the Japanese aircraft carrier escort, Nora couldn’t stand it anymore. She eased Mary’s grip on the seat arm, slid her hand underneath, and intertwined their fingers. A frisson of excitement coursed through her, reaching directly to her core. It felt so right. How could anyone think this was wrong?

  The audience stood and applauded as the USS Copperfin cruised safely into San Francisco Bay, and Nora and Mary cheered along with them. Even after they reached the street, people continued to buzz about the film.

  Nora and Mary left the crowd behind and climbed the hill to 105 Georgia Avenue. “Did you enjoy the movie?”

  Mary pulled her winter coat tighter around her narrow waist. “I’m not sure enjoy is a word I’d use. Do you think the Japs will reach the U.S.? The movie made it seem so real. I mean, I guess I don’t want to think about the fact that it could come true. After all, they bombed Pearl Harbor, and we didn’t think they could do that.”

  Nora expelled a breath, releasing a puff of moisture into the air. She wished she could share her own fears with Mary, along with her supposition about what exactly they were creating at Y-12.

  They passed the billboard that read, “Who Me? Yes You… Keep Mum About This Job.” It was a grim reminder about the absolute need for secrecy. Three times this month she’d heard about people disappearing because they blabbed or speculated about what they were really working on. Then there were the rumors of disguised counterintelligence agents living among them. No, she couldn’t say a word. Even if no one overheard them, it would jeopardize Mary if she knew too much and inadvertently said the wrong thing to the wrong person.

  “I suppose anything is possible, but I don’t think it will come to that. I trust Roosevelt and Churchill. I believe we’ll get to them before they get to us.”

  “I wish I had your faith.”

  They walked along in companionable silence for a little while. “Have you gotten word from your father? I know you said you hadn’t heard from him for a while.”

  Mary shook her head. “No, and I’m getting really worried.”

  “How often do you normally hear from him?”

  “At least once or twice a month.”

  They went inside the house and hung up their coats. “What does your mother say?”

  “She hasn’t heard anything either, which is even more alarming.”

  “I’m sorry. I’ll keep praying for his safety.”

  “Thank you. I didn’t know you were religious.”

  “I’m not. That doesn’t mean I don’t have faith. They’re not the same thing.”

  “I guess I never thought about it that way.” Mary moved closer. “You know what I have thought about?”

  For a moment, Nora was so captivated by her face she forgot to answer. “What?”

  “This.” Mary ran her hands underneath Nora’s sweater and claimed her mouth.

  Every cell in Nora’s body responded at once. Several times, her brain reminded her that she needed to turn on the stove or they’d never get to the dinner part of the date. Finally, she pulled away long enough to say, “If we don’t stop now, dinner will be ruined.”

  “I don’t care.”

  Mary took a step forward, and Nora took another step back.

  “I waited in line for hours to get pork chops. I wanted this meal to be special.”

  “Okay.” Once more, she closed the space between them. “If food is more important to you than…”

  Nora stilled her wandering hands. “How about if we compromise and have dinner first, and then dessert later?” She waggled her eyebrows.

  “I suppose.” Mary sighed and sashayed over to the couch. “I’ll just have to enjoy the view, I guess.”

  Nora tried to act less flustered than she felt as she prepared the pork chops, the fingerling potatoes, and the green beans. She set the table and lit the candle she’d purchased as a centerpiece.

  Mary didn’t say a word the entire time it took her to prep the dinner and cook it, and that unnerved Nora even more. “Do you have any idea how uncomfortable it makes me feel that you’re watching me?”

  “Do you have any idea how much I’d rather be doing something other than watching you?” Mary asked.

  The sultriness in her tone made Nora go weak in the knees. She plated their dinners and put them on the table.

  “That looks delicious.”

  The words were a vibration against her back, and she shivered.

  “So do you.” Mary put her hands on her waist and slowly turned her around so that they were face to face.

  “D-dinner’s ready.”

  “I can see that.”

  If you don’t stop looking at me that way, I swear I’ll combust. “Sit down before it gets cold.”

  She did as she was told and placed the gingham napkin in her lap.

  “I hope it’s all right. I’m not the best cook.”

  Mary placed the first bite of pork chop and potatoes in her mouth and moaned. “This is heavenly.”

  Yes, it is. Nora swallowed hard. Was it hot in here? “I’m glad you like it.”

  “Mm-hmm.” She devoured everything on the plate, and a big slice of apple pie for dessert that Nora had made earlier in the day.

  “Where are you putting all that?”

  “What? It’s not every day I get such a gourmet meal.”

  “Did you really like it?”

  “I really, really did.” Mary rose and blew out the candle. “Now what I’d really like is to do the dishes and have the other part of the dessert that you promised me.”

  As if I could deny you anything when you look at me like that.

  Sometime later, Nora forced open her eyelids and stretched. Mary was sprawled across her torso, a smile plastered on her face even in sleep. Nora ran her fingers through her dark curls and kissed the top of her head.

  She started to doze again and jerked awake. What time was it? Had they missed midnight? Midnight? Nora threw off the sheet and blanket that partially covered them. Mary’s curfew!

  “Wake up!” She shook her. “You have to wake up!”

  “What is it?”

  “You’re going to miss curfew.”

  “Curfew?” Mary rubbed the sleep from her eyes. “What time is it?”

  Nora fumbled for her wind-up alarm clock. “It’s almost midnight.”

  “Good. Then we haven’t missed our kiss.” She drew Nora toward her.

  “This is serious. You have to get cleaned up and dressed.” Nora pulled away and sprang off the bed. She ran around the room and collected Mary’s clothes. When she glanced back at the bed, Mary was half-reclining there, a bemused expression on her face.

  “I mean it. We can’t take a chance on you being late. How could we explain it? Curfew is half an hour after midnight on New Year’s Eve.”

  “All right. I’m going. I was just enjoying the view.”

  Nora growled. Why can’t you recognize how dangerous this is? She set the clothes on the bed as Mary sauntered into the bathroom and paced as she waited for her to come out.

  “Is it midnight yet?” Mary called through the bathroom door.

  She picked up the clock. “Two minutes ’til.”

  Mary flung open the bathroom door and leaned against the frame. She wore nothing more than a come-hither smirk, and in spite of the circumstances, Nora’s pulse quickened.

  “Is it midnight now?” She walked slowly toward her, and it was all Nora could do to find her voice.

  “The second hand says thirty seconds.”

  “Perfect.” She leaned up and wound her arms around Nora’s neck. “Happy New Year. I love you.”

  Nora closed her eyes and gazed into her heart. “I-I love you too. Happy New Year.”

  They sealed it with a kiss, ringing in 1944 in a way Nora was sure neither of them had envisioned.

  January – June, 1944

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  Mary hummed to herself and tweaked the knob to make a correction as the needle veered too far into the red zone. Last night, Nora had said she loved her. She’d said it—out loud—at midnight on New Year’s Eve. Nothing could be more romantic than that, could it?

  She hadn’t seen her yet today, although she’d craned her neck around every time she heard a supervisor coming to see if she could catch a glimpse of her striding down the middle of the cubicle room floor.

  An alarm went off and Mary jerked back to attention. “Oh, no.” She yanked the knob to the left. The needle remained flat all the way to the right. “No. No, no, no.” Even as she picked up the phone to connect to the control room, the floor supervisor came running in her direction.

  “What did you do?”

  “I didn’t do anything.”

  “You must’ve done something, or it wouldn’t have spiked like that.” He moved her out of the way and went to work trying to correct her mistake. “This will cost us. We’re going to have to shut it down and reboot it.”

  Mary’s heart beat hard. What if she got fired for this? What if Nora found out she’d messed up?

  “This is completely unacceptable. It’s your fault. You need to pay closer attention.”

  “Yes, sir.” She hung her head.

  “Don’t just stand there. Make a notation on your chart. When it reboots, get back to work. Mess up again, and you’re finished.”

  “Y-yes, sir.” She fought back tears. For once, she didn’t want to see Nora. She could imagine what her reaction would be.

  Nora did her best to keep her expression neutral, even as her pulse pounded in her ears. They were woefully behind their target production levels. Alpha-1 was nowhere near coming back on line, and now the floor supervisor for Beta-2 was reporting to her about an operator error that cost several hours of downtime on Cubicle 853.

  “What caused the problem?” Cubicle 853, she well knew, was assigned to Mary Elizabeth Trask.

  “I’d say it was inattention, if you ask me. I think she was daydreaming.”

  “What action did you take?” She kept her head down and pretended to examine the operator log in front of her.

  “I let the operator know in no uncertain terms that inattention was unacceptable, that she cost us valuable operating time, and that if it happened again, there would be consequences.” He nodded, as if for emphasis.

  “Very well, thank you.”

  “Do you want me to take further action?”

  He seemed only too eager to do just that. “No.” Nora waved him away. “I’ll take care of it myself.”

  “But, ma’am…er…Dr. Lindstrom—”

  “I said I’d take care of it, and I will.” She rose from behind the desk.

  “Yes, sir. I mean, yes, ma’am. I mean, sure thing.”

  “Thank you for bringing the matter to my attention.”

  “Well, you said you wanted to know if there were any instances that delayed production, so…”

  “You did the right thing. Thank you.” When he left, Nora slumped back into her chair. He was a new hire, and eager to make an impression. He’s also right, and you know it. She envisioned Mary sitting at her control board, her mind on their lovemaking last night. The tips of her ears turned red from embarrassment.

  How could Mary jeopardize her job, Nora’s job, and the project in this way? It was unconscionable. Hadn’t she already warned her? Work was work. Nora couldn’t…no, wouldn’t…treat her any differently than any of the other cubicle operators.

  She drummed her fingers on the desk. What would you do if it was anybody else? She remembered firing one of her girls a few weeks ago for a second, similar infraction. She hadn’t left it to the floor supervisor to do; she’d made an example of the girl, relieving her of her assignment in person.

  Fortunately, this was the first blemish on Mary’s record. Still, Nora would have to address it, and right away. She rose and rotated her neck to alleviate the tension building there. Shift change would be coming soon, and she needed to get to Mary’s station before that happened.

  She gathered up the floor supervisor’s report and the operator log, stuffed them in a manila folder, and marched over to Beta-2. As she made her way down the line, with the floor supervisor trailing behind her, she saw Mary, eyes straight ahead, back ramrod straight, staring at the control panel as though her life depended on it. Mary was aware of her presence; she could tell by the quiver in her jaw.

  When she was almost directly behind her, she also saw that her hands were trembling. The sight nearly broke her resolve. But she had to do this; she had to go through with it. If she didn’t, if there was any hint of personal familiarity or favoritism, someone would surely figure out the truth and all would be lost.

  “Mary Trask?” She used her most authoritative voice.

  “Yes?”

  “Please relinquish the controls to Mr. Beck. I require your full attention.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Mary stood up and stepped aside as the floor supervisor took her place in front of the panel. She looked up at Nora through long lashes, trepidation written all over her face.

  “I received this report just now.” Nora removed the operator log and shift supervisor report from the folder and waved it in front of Mary. “Do you know what it says?”

  “No, ma’am.”

  “It says that we lost valuable, crucial time on your machine, during your shift today. Can you please explain to me why that was?”

  “No, ma’am.”

  “Well, I can. Mr. Beck tells me you were daydreaming, that you failed to adequately monitor your station, and that, as a result, your unit had to be taken out of operation for a period of time.”

  Mary cringed as Nora spelled out her infraction loud enough for the other girls to hear. Her lower lip trembled.

  “Let me be crystal clear, Miss Trask. What we are doing here is vital to the war effort. That is why you’re here. If you don’t feel as though you can devote your working hours one-hundred-percent to that goal, then you should leave now.”

  Mary gasped, but did not move. “I-I can do my j-job. I can. I just took my eye off the meter for one second.”

  “That was one second we couldn’t afford, now wasn’t it?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Right. Please make sure that never, ever happens again. If it does, I’ll be forced to relieve you of your station. Do you understand me?”

  Mary could barely meet her gaze. When she did, her eyes held a million questions and a world of pain. Nora replaced the papers in the folder in order to keep her hands busy so that she didn’t reach out to soothe her.

  “Mr. Beck? I believe Miss Trask is ready to resume her place. Back to work, Miss Trask.”