Sarah paused taking down the laundry in the backyard of the rented home she shared with three other women, all of whom had men in the service. The four of them had banded together in a close collective of camaraderie in their shared apprehension over their men, their desire to do their part for the war effort, and their need to support themselves while they waited.

Tina’s husband was an airman, he had been gone for two years already and she was constantly on pins and needles waiting for word from him. Martha’s man was a sergeant. She never let any of the others forget that fact; that her fiancé was a higher rank than theirs. He was stationed somewhere in England and she hadn’t heard from him in over a month, but she was hopeful that she would hear something soon. Then there was Edith, whose new husband left just four months ago—just before she discovered she was pregnant. All the other women looked after Edith as if she was their daughter, for she was barely 18 and scared out of her wits, though she and Johnny were both excited for the new baby.

Sarah sighed as she looked out over the skyline of Los Angeles from their backyard on the hill. It was a lovely view, but all she saw was her loneliness. She put a hand to her chest, where she felt Gerard’s letter. She kept it there every day, close to her heart, and read it every night before bed. It was the closest thing she had to having him near her.

“Sarah?” Tina called from the back doorway. “Are you okay, honey?”

Sarah pulled herself away from her thoughts and turned, smiling. “Yes, Tina. I’m fine, just lost in thought for a minute. I’ll bring in the clothes shortly.”

Tina nodded and went back in the kitchen to finish her baking. The women were going to a charity event later that evening, for widows and orphans of the war, and Tina’s baking was always a huge hit at events like that. Sarah didn’t feel like going this time. She wanted to curl up in bed with Gerard’s letter and just be alone with her thoughts and memories of the summer. It would look bad if she didn’t go, though. And Edith was already excusing herself for the sickness.

“Why do they call it ‘morning sickness’?” Sarah muttered to herself as she pulled the rest of the clothes off the line. “It hits in the morning, the afternoon, the middle of the night… Poor Edith. I’ll make her some tea before I go.”

When the clothes were all in the basket, she hoisted it up on her hip and took it in through the back door, through the kitchen and into the small living room, turning on the radio as she went by. The smooth sounds of Bing Crosby came through the speaker and Sarah hummed along to “Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’”. She set the basket down in front of the sofa, sat down, and started folding the clothes, towels, and sheets.

She could hear Tina singing along with the radio in the kitchen, and it made her smile again. Truly, she had grown to love these women in the few short weeks since she had moved in here. She silently thanked Gerard’s commanding officer’s wife for finding her this home. She recalled the conversation the day after Gerard had left.

“You know, my dear, you really shouldn’t be alone while you wait for him. Do you have some family in the area with whom you can stay?” Mrs. Marshall had asked her politely as they sipped their coffee together. Sarah had simply shaken her head.

“Well, I know the best place. There are three other women there, in the same position you’re in. You can all share in the chores and the costs—and they’re looking for a fourth.” Mrs. Marshall had said it as though talking about a bridge game.

At first Sarah had been hesitant, but she agreed because she had no idea what else to do. She was adrift without Gerard, and this might give her some direction. Now she couldn’t imagine living anywhere else while she waited; while they all waited.

Martha came out of her room, all dolled up in a red dress with lipstick to match, ready for the event. She clipped down the hard wood hallway in her black heels toward Sarah, her patented matronly smile on her face.

“Sarah, dear, if you fold the blouses like that, they are bound to wrinkle. Here, let me do it for you.” She said in a condescending tone. “This is the way my husband, the sergeant, showed me.”

Sarah bit back a sardonic reply, instead smiling back gratefully. “Thank you, Martha.” She sat back and let Martha “show” her how to fold a blouse—exactly how she had just done it.

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Martha nodded once and walked away with a satisfied look on her face, heading to the kitchen to educate Tina (the woman who had owned a bakery with her husband before the war) on how to bake cookies properly. Sarah cringed when she heard Martha’s voice start up again, but Tina was all smiles and “Yes, ma’am”s. Sarah didn’t know how Tina could keep her cool so well. She made a mental note to corner her and ask her about it sometime.

Edith came out of her room then, in a house dress, and sat down on the sofa next to Sarah. She pointed toward Martha’s back with her thumb and rolled her eyes, making a gagging motion. Sarah tried hard not to laugh. Of all three of the women, Edith was easily her favorite. Not only because they were so close in age, but also because Edith seemed the most real to Sarah. There was no fakery with her, no false face. She was too young for that.

Sarah noted that Edith looked pale today and leaned over to her.

“Are you feeling any better?” she asked in a whisper.

“A little. I’m just still so queasy!” Edith replied. “The ironic thing is, I’m also hungry as a horse. I could eat the whole house, if not for the fact that the sight or smell of food makes me want to sick up.”

Sarah nodded. She had never been pregnant herself, but she had an older, married sister with three children, so she had watched the process a few times, and what she saw made her think that perhaps she didn’t want to go through the process at all at any point in her life. Edith’s sickness was definitely a point in favor of that decision.

Martha was clip-clopping back into the room and when her eyes fell on Edith, her lips pursed.

“What are you doing out of bed, young lady?” she asked in a tone that brooked no argument.

Edith sank a little into the sofa and took on the demeanor of a petulant child. “Oh come on, Martha!” she whined. “It’s so dull in there. Everyone is out here! I’m already stuck at home tonight when everyone is gone, at least let me be social for a few minutes before you all get ready and go!”

Martha studied the younger woman for a long moment, and Sarah tried to be invisible while she continued to fold laundry.

“Well…I suppose a few minutes wouldn’t hurt. But then right back to bed with you!” Martha stated with authority before turning on her heel and walking down the hall, presumably to fix her makeup yet again.

Sarah leaned over to Edith and muttered, “Morning sickness or no, three hours without Martha and I think you’re the lucky one here.”

They both giggled quietly for a solid three minutes before Edith was overcome by the sickness again and had to run to the bathroom.

* * *

The charity event was in full swing, with booths all around the event hall and music from the band up on the stage. Martha moved through the room like she ran the place, offering advice to booth runners and patrons alike, and generally keeping herself busy. Tina’s cookies and cakes were a hit (as if anyone expected any different, except perhaps Martha), and her booth was cleared almost immediately. Sarah was happy to help Tina sell her wares, smiling at the children that came through and chatting idly with the women that would all ask the same questions.

“Oh is your man in the service?” and “Where is he stationed?” and of course the ever-popular “I don’t see a wedding ring, are you waiting to get married until he gets back?”

That last one always stung a little, as she and Gerard had never really discussed the prospect of marriage. Sure, they had assumed they would wed someday, but when the call came and he enlisted, all potential talk of nuptials was put on hold indefinitely. She honestly couldn’t say where she and Gerard stood when it came to wedding plans, and she was a little afraid to write and ask him, if she was going to be truthful with herself.

Pushing these thoughts away, Sarah let herself be taken up in the festivities of the evening, all of which were overshadowed by the speeches about the widows and orphans of the war effort—the purpose of the fundraiser. Sarah couldn’t help but think of Tina and Edith, who would be widows if anything happened to their husbands in the field. And Martha, who wasn’t even married yet to her beloved sergeant, would be left completely out in the cold with no support whatsoever. It was a sobering thought.

There was one gentleman in particular at the event that kept catching her eye. He was tall, had auburn hair, and was soft spoken when he came to the booth and bought a single cookie. His smile made her stomach leap into her chest and her heart beat faster. Almost the way Gerard’s did the first time she met him. The thought made her reach for the letter, now in her pocket, just to feel its closeness. Something about the man made her feel off-kilter. Her eyes followed him throughout the evening as he wandered through the booths and danced with various ladies.

At one point, Tina caught her staring at him and elbowed her in the ribs, smiling knowingly. She leaned over to Sarah and whispered, “His name is David. He is here from back East somewhere, helping at the air force base. My Mark knew him in basic training. Handsome, isn’t he?”

Before she knew what she was saying, Sarah responded, “He sure is.” Then she shook her head to dispel the thought. “I mean, I suppose he is… If you like that sort of look.”

Tina put her head back and laughed uproariously. “Honey, it’s fine to find a man handsome and still love your man. Looking doesn’t mean cheating. Just watch yourself, is all.”

Sarah nodded, her eyes still following the mysterious David. At least now she had a name to put to that gorgeous face.