Nightingale by Susan May Warren Read Free Book Online

was with Linus when he died. He’s a medic. I think he must be home on leave, although he’s stationed at Fort McCoy.”
    She picked up the four, added it to his flush of clubs, and discarded a two of hearts.
    â€œI keep thinking, he didn’t mention any injuries, but maybe he’s up there in the VA hospital, just like you.”
    She added the two of hearts to her hand, moved the ten of clubs to join the jack and queen, and discarded the ten of hearts.
    â€œI mean, what if he doesn’t have family either? What if he’s—well, not as handsome as you, of course, but maybe…”
I confess, I try to revisit that night as rarely as possible.
“Well, it’s difficult. You know.” She retrieved his hand, rearranged it. “I just keep thinking about what you said on the roof, about being alone, and of course, you’re not, but what if he feels the same way?”
    She picked up the ten, added it to his hand. “Oh my goodness, you have a straight flush here. I’m in trouble.” She discarded his king of hearts.
    She stared out the window to where the clouds moved over the cutout moon.
    â€œI was thinking I might write him back. See if he needed anything. Maybe a care package. We have those extras in the Red Cross closet.”
    She picked up her hand. Oops. “I’m honestly not trying to win here, but you’re going to have to learn to be more cagey.” She picked up the king and placed it between her ace and queen. “Gin. Better luck next time.”
    She gathered up the cards. “I’m just getting better, you have to admit it.” She sighed, shuffling. “Okay, fine. I’ll write him one more letter, and just ask him straight out, so we know for sure—did he watch Linus die?”
    â€œLinus died? Linus is
dead?”
    The voice, the shrill of it, rocked Esther off the chair. She turned.
    Rosemary, still dressed in her red siren’s dress, her hair tied up in asnood, wearing a flower at her lapel, stood in the doorway. Her painted lips trembled. “Is he… When? When did you find out?”
    â€œRosemary, what are you doing here?”
    â€œI followed you from the dance. I knew there was something wrong. You…” She advanced into the room, her dark eyes lit. “You
tramp.
You took him and now he’s gone. And he’s never coming back—and…” She closed her eyes, shook her head.
    â€œRosemary… Listen, I don’t know what’s going on—”
    â€œSadie should have been my child!”
    Oh.
    â€œI—oh, I’m so sorry—”
    â€œJust stay away from me, just… You came here, and you destroyed everything. He was supposed to come home to
me
when he was on furlough before he shipped out. But he didn’t come home. He stayed in Atlantic City. With you. And now—”
    â€œHe’s not dead!”
    Esther didn’t know exactly from where the words issued—or why—but they spat out of her, a wave of desperation rather than assurance. “He’s—I don’t know if he’s dead, okay? I got a letter from this soldier who said he…. Well, he thought he died, but we’ve never received a telegram, okay? Nothing. Not even an MIA. So,
I don’t know
.”
    Rosemary stared at her, unblinking, as if trying to comprehend her words.
    â€œI–I’ll find out, okay? Just don’t say…anything. Please. I don’t know, and I don’t want anyone to be upset. To jump to conclusions. You can understand that, right? Think of the judge and Mrs. Hahn. Think of their grief if it isn’t true.”
    Rosemary continued to stare at her, or through her, her eyes fixed.
    â€œI promise you, I never meant to hurt anyone.”
    That shook the woman back to herself, and for a second: the words seemed to find a soft place, because her breathing hiccupped, as she held her hand to her mouth. Then she closed her