“Now, let me start by sayin’ I don’t believe a word of it. Not one word.”

  She swallowed hard. Here it was, the one thing she’d feared above all else.

  “But a complaint has been brought to my attention that you might be one of them sexual deviates.”

  Although she wanted to cry, she sat as tall and still as she could manage. She schooled her expression so that she appeared completely nonplussed, as though she were confident of her innocence. She also resisted the urge to issue a hot denial. Don’t protest too much. Wait him out.

  “So, here’s the way I see it.” He leaned back and steepled his fingers. “The girl who made this here complaint gets jealous because you’re prettier than her—you are, by the way—and she files a complaint. She’s got her eye on this fella, and he’s got his eye on you. If she can get you out of the way, she’s got a clear run at this ol’ boy.”

  If he hadn’t been sitting right in front of her, Nora would’ve rolled her eyes at the ridiculous presumptions inherent in his theory. Instead, she continued to sit ramrod straight and say nothing. Outright lying wasn’t in her nature, even if keeping secrets was something to which she’d uncomfortably become accustomed.

  “Best to watch your back. There are girls here that are gunning for you, and they ain’t going to quit until they have your scalp.” He picked up the cigar again. “The good news for you is, as long as I’m sitting in this here chair, I’ve got your back. But you best be careful out there, Miss Lindstrom. The world is full of snakes.”

  She realized she was being dismissed. “Thank you, sir. I appreciate your confidence in me. You can be sure I’ll be careful. Thank you for letting me know. I’m certain no disciplinary action will be necessary against the complainant. She was just doing what she thought was right.”

  “That’s mighty generous of you, Miss Lindstrom. I don’t know that I’d be as generous in your place. She’s a lucky girl.”

  So am I. Nora took her leave.

  “Hi, Daddy.” After the doctor finished his examination, Mary crept into her parents’ darkened bedroom and sat on the side of the bed. “Can I get you anything?”

  Henry Trask stared up at the ceiling without answering.

  “How about some water? Or maybe something to eat?”

  Again, he didn’t answer. It had been like this for the better part of a week. Gone was the kind, gentle, easy-going father who’d kissed his wife and daughter goodbye on a mid-December day in 1941. The man before her was sullen, withdrawn, and angry.

  “Mother will be in a little later to re-dress your wounds.”

  He grunted in reply.

  “Well, I’ll be right outside if you need anything.”

  He acknowledged her with a slight nod.

  “I-I love you, Daddy. I’m so glad you’re home.” On an impulse, she bent over to hug him.

  “Argh!” He raised his arms reflexively and shrunk away in fear.

  “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, Daddy. I just wanted to hug you. I would never hurt you.”

  He remained with his arms over his face and she retreated to the living room, where her mother was meeting with the doctor.

  “His physical wounds will heal. Within a month or two he should be able to resume his conductor duties.”

  “That’s great news,” Mary said.

  “And the rest? He’s so…different.”

  “Mrs. Trask—Mabel—your husband has seen and done things no man should have to see or do. Those things are ingrained on his mind and in his heart. We can’t erase any of that. All you can do is love him, talk to him, give him time to acclimate to being home again and to heal his body. The rest is up to God.”

  “Thank you, doctor.”

  “You’re welcome. I’ll be back around next week to check on those wounds. In the meantime, keep them clean and let me know if you see any redness or signs of infection.”

  “I’ll see you out.” Mary walked him to the front door. In a low tone she asked, “Do you really think he’ll be able to go back to work so soon?”

  “I do. Physically, he had almost a month to heal at the hospital in Italy before they shipped him home. He’ll most likely always carry a limp, but he’ll be able to walk just fine, and the wounds in his stomach and back are almost healed now.”

  “I tried to hug him a little while ago and it terrified him.” Mary’s eyes welled with tears. “I just want my daddy back.”

  “I know.” He patted her on the shoulder. “Give him time. He’s got a gentle disposition and that wasn’t what he needed in the Army. He’ll rediscover the man he was again.”

  “I hope you’re right.”

  “I hope so too. Take care of your folks, Mary. They’re good people.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  As Mary watched him go down the walk, a familiar figure materialized in the distance. Sam. Her pulse pounded in her ears. “Mother?” she hollered.

  “I’m in here.”

  Mary followed her voice to the kitchen. “Any idea why Sam would be walking this way?”

  Her mother looked up from rinsing the lettuce in the sink. “I invited him to dinner.”

  “You…what?”

  “I invited him to dinner, of course. Mary Elizabeth, you’ve been home a whole week and you haven’t even left this house. How was Samuel supposed to know you were back if I didn’t tell him?”

  Her ears turned red and she clenched her fists. “If I’d wanted to see Sam, I would’ve arranged it myself.”

  “I know, dear. You just needed a little push, that’s all.” Her mother resumed preparing dinner.

  Mary stalked away, went to her room and fumed. In another minute, Sam would walk through their front door. It was her worst nightmare. What should she tell him? “Sam, I’m sorry, but I’ve met someone in Tennessee. We’re deeply in love.” If she told him that, he’d want to know his name. Then he’d tell her mother she’d said that, and she’d get the third degree. Think, Mary Elizabeth. Think quickly.

  The doorbell rang. Her time was up.

  “Hi, Samuel. It’s so good to see you. Oh, what lovely flowers. I’m sure Mary will love them. Mary? Samuel is here. Come say hello!”

  Mary rolled her eyes. There was nothing for it. She couldn’t very well climb out the bedroom window, although she was sorely tempted to try.

  She checked her face and lipstick in the mirror. “Coming!” She plastered a smile on her face as she came around the corner. “Hi, Sam.”

  “Hi, Mary. You look…pretty.”

  “Thank you.”

  “These are for you.” He held out the flowers to her.

  “Thank you. Those are very nice. I’ll just put them in some water and be right back.” She took them into the kitchen. “Mother,” she hissed, “you don’t get to run my social life anymore. Don’t you ever interfere again.”

  Her mother rounded on her. “Don’t you ever talk to me like that again, young lady. Just because you spent a few months away from home on your own doesn’t make you an adult. You get out there and be charming. You’re lucky that nice young man is still available.”

  “Samuel,” she called. “Mary’s forgotten her manners. Would you like something to drink?”

  “No thank you, ma’am.”

  “Get out there. Now.” She shooed Mary toward the living room.

  She sat in the chair opposite him. “So, how’ve you been? How’s the watch business?”

  “It’s fine. Lots of new customers.”

  “That’s good.”

  “We have a little time before dinner. Why don’t you two go for a walk?” her mother called.

  Mary gritted her teeth. “It’s March, Mother. It’s cold outside.”

  “Bundle up.”

  Mary prayed for patience. “Do you want to go for a walk, Sam?”

  “Sure.”

  She grabbed her coat from the coat closet, along with her scarf. She felt in the pockets. Nora’s gloves were still there. She put them on as if they were a shield.

  As if by mutual agreement, they headed toward the park. “So, you like it wherever you are?” he asked.

  “I do.”

  “What is it you do over there?”

  “I’m working for the war effort.” Her mother had grilled her much the same way. Mary was proud of herself for deflecting their questions and keeping the secret. She hoped Nora would be proud of her too.

  Nora. She missed her so much it was a physical ache. She glanced sideways at Sam. He would never be Nora, that was for sure.

  “What kind of work is it?”

  “The kind I can’t tell you about.” The words came out harsher then she intended. It wasn’t his fault he wasn’t Nora. More softly she said, “I’m sworn to secrecy.”

  “You’re sworn to secrecy for knitting sweaters or something? That’s ridiculous.”

  Anger blossomed in her chest. How dare he assume she was doing something trivial!

  They walked a little further in silence and the awkwardness between them grew.

  “You’re different, Mary.”

  “I am?” Her heart raced. He couldn’t know, could he? Nora said she didn’t look any different. It shouldn’t be obvious that she and Nora were… Her breath came in shorter bursts.

  “Yeah. I can’t put my finger on it, but…”

  Before he could say anything else, she blurted, “Nothing’s changed, Sam. I still have no intention of marrying you. I’m going back to Tennessee. I’m going back to my life there.”

  His eyes opened wide in shock. “But, your mother said—”

  “My mother says a lot of things. She’s not in charge of my life. I am. I’m going back to Tennessee.” She said it with enough force that even she believed it.

  “Okay. You don’t have to get nasty about it.”

  They turned back toward the house.

  “I apologize. It’s just… My father isn’t doing well, and my mother is an interfering bother. I’m sorry if she gave you the wrong impression by inviting you to dinner.”

  “I’m sorry too. I don’t think I want to stay for dinner, if that’s okay with you. What’s the use? Clearly, you’ve already made up your mind. You’ve got plans and I’m not part of them.”

  Guilt niggled at her conscience. She remembered how it felt when Nora rejected her. “I don’t mean to be ungrateful, Sam. You’re a wonderful guy. You deserve a girl who’s madly in love with you. Someone who will make a wonderful wife and mother to your kids, someone you can build a life with. Unfortunately, that someone isn’t me.”

  He nodded. The house came back in sight.

  “Are you sure you don’t want to stay for dinner? I’m sure my mother cooked one of your favorites.”

  “No, thank you.” They stopped at the walkway. “I guess this is where I say goodbye.”

  “I guess so.”

  “Well, good luck, Mary.”

  “You too, Sam.”

  He stuffed his hands in his pockets and walked away with his head down. Mary inhaled deeply. She was one step closer to her real home.

  “We did it.” Jane Greer jubilantly waved a piece of paper in front of Nora’s nose.

  “Which it did we do?” Nora appreciated her friend’s enthusiasm. Numbers made her simply giddy.

  “We produced two hundred grams of material…finally. I thought we’d never get there. March, 1944. It took us almost a whole year to come up with two hundred grams—one fifth of the stated goal of one kilogram per month. Still, the big boss seemed pretty happy when I gave him the latest calculations.”

  Nora knew Jane had no idea why two hundred grams of sufficiently enriched Tubealloy was significant. She only knew that they’d achieved one of the target numbers she was told they needed.

  In truth, Nora didn’t know what they were going to do with two hundred grams of twelve-percent-enriched U-235, either. But she at least had the background to make an educated guess—a guess she’d shared with no one.

  “We should go celebrate.”

  Nora shook her head. “I wish I could, but I have schedules to manage. Every time one of the girls gets married, a baby inevitably follows and poof, there goes my cubicle operator.”

  “Oh, stop complaining. It’s nice that love is in the air. You ought to try it sometime.” Jane breezed out of Nora’s office with a wave and a wink.

  Nora heaved a heavy sigh. “You ought to try it sometime,” she muttered under her breath. It had been almost three weeks since Mary had left, and apart from one hurried phone call while her mother was out hanging the laundry, she’d heard nothing. They’d agreed not to send letters. The censor would’ve had a field day with those.

  Tonight, she vowed. If she hadn’t heard anything more by tonight, she’d make the phone call. She worked for several more hours and then finally called it quits.

  By the time she dragged herself through the front door, it was almost 8:30 p.m. She made herself supper out of a can of baked beans and a ration of bacon she’d waited in line several hours to get.

  She’d just finished washing her dish in the sink when the phone rang. Her heart skipped a beat. Please be you, my love. She picked up the receiver. “Hello?”

  “Collect call from Mrs. Roosevelt,” the operator intoned. It was the signal they’d agreed on.

  “I’ll accept the charges, operator,” Nora said.

  “Hi,” Mary whispered breathlessly on the other end after the operator had clicked off the line. “I miss you.”

  Nora held the receiver closer to her ear in order to hear. “I miss you too.”

  “My mother finally went to bed, but I don’t think I should stay on long.”

  “How’s it going?”

  “Eh. My mother is still mad at me for telling Sam to pound salt. My father is almost fully healed but still not himself, and I miss a certain someone so much I think I’m going to combust.”

  “That certain someone feels the same way. Come home, Mary.”

  “I want to, more than you can imagine. My father goes back to work next week. I think that’s the perfect time to tell them I’m going back to Tennessee.”

  “What do you think your mother will say?”

  “I think she’ll pitch a fit, but in the end, she’ll have to let me go.”

  “Do you still have the other half of your train ticket?”

  “Are you kidding me? I carry it in my bra.”

  Nora laughed. “Excellent hiding place.”

  “There’s a problem, though.”

  “What’s that?”

  “I heard from the housemother that they rented out my dorm room and put my stuff in storage. I don’t have a place to live anymore.”

  Nora had been afraid of that. With hundreds of people being hired every day now, living space was even more at a premium than ever. She bit her lip. “I may have a solution for that.”

  “What’s that?”

  “You could come live with me.”

  “Nora Lindstrom! Not that that wouldn’t make me the happiest girl in the world, but how in the world do you think you’re going to pull that off?”

  “You leave it to me. Just promise you’ll come back to me when your father goes back to work.”

  “I cross my heart and swear to God.”

  “That’s good enough for me.”

  “Uh-oh. I think I hear my mother. I’ve got to go.”

  “Okay. I’ll take care of everything on this end. You just get here.”

  “I will. Soon. ’Bye.”

  “’Bye.” Nora held onto the receiver long after the line went dead. A plan took shape in her head. With any luck, it might even work.

  Nora sat across the desk from Mr. Pierson and the housing director, Mr. Truett. “I’m trying to make the most of my resources. Alpha-1 will be coming back online in the next two weeks; Beta-1 is starting up this Tuesday; construction is underway on Alpha-5… We need every experienced cubicle operator we can get. Right now, I’m looking at a well-trained, seasoned operator, already security-cleared, who went on medical leave to tend to her father, who was seriously injured in battle. She’s nursed him back to health, thank goodness, and now wants to come back to work. That’s a Godsend.”

  “I agree this girl sounds like a perfect re-hire,” Mr. Pierson said.

  “The problem is,” Mr. Truett broke in, “we have nowhere to put her. I don’t know how else to say it. We’re plum out of housing options right now.”

  “What if…” She tapped her forefinger on the dimple in her chin and pretended to consider. “What if I were willing to rent this girl the second room in my place? I’d be willing to make the sacrifice for the good of the war effort if it meant bringing in someone I didn’t have to pluck out of the bullpen to train to do a job that vitally needs doing.” Please let this work. Please let this work.

  Mr. Pierson sat back, his mouth hanging open. “Well, I’ll be. Now that’s one I never thought of. You’d be willing to do that? Give up part of your place so this girl could have her job back?”

  Nora nodded solemnly. “It seems to me she and her family have suffered enough hardship, sir. My understanding is that she’s an only child, and she sends home the money she makes to support her folks. If we’re not willing to support our wounded soldiers, then…” She let that hang in the air, daring them to deny Mary her job back.

  Mr. Pierson looked to Mr. Truett. “It works for me if it works for you.”

  Mr. Truett shrugged and addressed Nora. “It’s your space, and if you’re willing to take in a renter, I don’t see anything wrong with it.”

  “Thank you, sirs. I appreciate your flexibility on this.”

  “Seems to me you’re the one having to be inconvenienced,” Mr. Pierson said. “Suit yourself. I’ll get the paperwork in place and she can start back anytime you’re ready.”

  Nora took her leave before they could change their minds. She barely managed not to skip down the hall. Not only were she and Mary going to live together, thus avoiding scrutiny, but she learned that the snitch that turned her in hadn’t implicated Mary as a sexual deviate. If she had, Mr. Pierson would’ve flagged Mary as un-employable and prevented her from returning.

  Now all she needed was for Mary to come home.