1022 Evergreen Place - Debbie Macomber [33]
“Hmm. Jacob did say something about her sister not liking him, didn’t he?”
“Yes, and I have no idea why. Although I gather the two of them—Joan and Elaine—didn’t get along that well.”
“You said she lived with her sister here in Cedar Cove? What about their parents?”
“Not sure. What I’ve picked up from the letters is that she and Elaine did live here, but I haven’t seen anything about their parents. It’s difficult to follow everything just reading his half of the correspondence.” Mary Jo held her door open for Mack. “Do you want to come in? Stay for dinner?” She could tell right away that the invitation pleased him.
“How about if I order pizza? That way we can look at the letters and check the dates against the books I got from the library.”
“Pizza sounds fabulous.” Mary Jo had planned to make clam chowder, but she was exhausted at even the prospect of cooking. A broken night and a long week took their toll, and the strain between her and Mack hadn’t helped. “Just make sure none of those anchovies you like so much end up on my half of the pizza,” she warned laughingly.
“I’ll try,” Mack said with a grin.
An hour later, they sat at her kitchen table, the pizza box open on the counter. Noelle lay on her stomach in the playpen nearby, gurgling and chewing on her toys. Both history books were on the table, along with the cigar box of letters. Mack and Mary Jo had finished eating and were prepared to start their research.
“Okay, check this date,” Mary Jo said, unfolding a letter. “June 3, 1944. That’s the last one in the box. Listen to what he has to say.” She began to read.
Hi, Honey,
How’s my best gal? I don’t know what’s happening but there’s been a lot of talk lately. If I say any more it’ll probably get cut out of this letter, so I won’t. Whatever it is, I know I’m going and soon. I feel it in my gut.
At a time like this, I want you to understand that no matter what’s ahead of me, I’m ready. If the invasion comes to pass—although I have no idea where or when—you should know there’s a strong likelihood that I won’t make it back. Don’t get me wrong. I don’t want to die. None of us do. But this is war, Joan, and if I have breath left in me, I will fight. I’m no hero, but I am willing to do what’s required of me so that you, my parents, my brother and sisters—and everyone in Europe and America and the rest of the world—can live in freedom.
If I had a choice, I’d be with you, making those babies we talked about. Instead, I’m all the way over on the other side of the world, ready to do whatever it takes to send Hitler straight to hell where he belongs.
Remember I love you. I can’t say it any plainer than that. If I lose my life, then please remember that nothing here on earth or in heaven will stand in the way of my love. Pray for me, my darling. Pray for us all.
Hugs and kisses,
Jacob
Mary Jo’s voice broke as she read the last few lines.
Mack couldn’t help responding to her emotion. Focusing on his task, he reached for one of the library books, flipping through it. “Oh, my goodness,” he whispered.
“What?” Mary Jo set aside the letter and walked over to his side of the table, looking over his shoulder.
“June 6 of that year was D-day. When the Allies invaded Europe on the beaches of Normandy.”
“That was his last letter,” Mary Jo repeated. She returned to her chair and slumped down. She realized what must have happened.
“Remind me what some of the previous letters say.”
“Well, he said the men were in constant drills. I know Jacob was a paratrooper with the 101st. He talked about what it was like when he made his first jump. He was scared out of his wits, but he said it got easier the more often he did it.”
“He must’ve been practicing for the landing,” Mack said. “That makes sense.”
“At the end of the letter, when he said that if anything happened to him—” Mary Jo couldn’t continue.
“What?” Mack asked, glancing up.
Mary Jo blinked back tears. “He was killed, wasn’t he? He didn’t survive the invasion.”
“We don’t know that. He might have