Eve - Iris Johansen [43]
“I can tell.” He was smiling as he bent down and chucked Bonnie under the chin. “And a happy child. That’s important. John would have been proud of her.”
“She’s happy. She loves her rides in the stroller.”
“I know.” He paused. “I’ve been watching you for the last week as you took her for walks. I guess I was trying to work up the nerve to talk to you.”
“Why? Because you thought I’d resent your meeting Bonnie?” She frowned. “Look, Mr. Danner, I have no bad feelings toward you. John loved you and thought you were the kindest man alive. It wasn’t right for him to draw you into what was between the two of us, but it was only kindness that led you to do it.” She paused. “You haven’t heard anything about John yet? It’s been so long.”
“Longer for me than for you.” He looked down at Bonnie. “You’ve been very busy. And John must seem like a dream to you now.”
“Sometimes. You have to understand. We didn’t really know each other.”
“He thought he knew you. He talked a lot about you. He said he’d never met anyone before who moved him as you did.” His gaze shifted to Bonnie. “And he gave you this wonderful child.”
“I assure you that it wasn’t his intention. Neither of us wanted this to happen. It just did.” She paused. “I won’t try to convince you not to tell John about Bonnie. I’ll have to face it sometime.”
“No, you won’t.” His eyes were suddenly glittering with moisture. “You’re not going to have to worry about my John any longer. That’s why I had to gather my courage before I faced you. I got this notification last month.” He fumbled in his pocket and brought out a crumpled piece of paper. “He’s dead. He was lost off the coast of North Korea a few weeks after he arrived there. The remains were discovered in an inlet five weeks ago. They say the dental records are indisputable proof. The Army is very sorry about my loss. They’ll probably send me a damn medal.” His voice was suddenly bitter. “His loss. He was only nineteen years old. His life was hell from the minute he was born. They shouldn’t have let him die before he had a chance to live.”
“Dead?” she whispered. It came as a complete shock. She had rejected the possibility of John Gallo’s death, but it was there before her. “They’re sure?”
“Read the notification.”
She took the crumpled paper and scanned it. All very official. All very sad. But, as Ted Danner had said, it didn’t tell the real tragedy of the death of that strong, young man who had just started to live. Memories of John Gallo were suddenly bombarding her. John at the hospital, John carrying Sandra up the stairs, John moving over her in bed. Always strong, always dominant, always vibrant and complicated, with a presence that could be either restrained or explosive. He had been in her life for such a short time, and yet he’d had more impact than anyone she’d ever met. And John Gallo was no longer alive? She was suddenly feeling a terrible sense of loss. She handed the notification back to him. “I’m so sorry, Mr. Danner.”
“So am I.” He stuffed the paper back in his pocket. “I promised him I’d keep an eye on you. Would you mind if I still do it? It would make me feel I’m doing something for him. I won’t get in your way.”
“I don’t mind.” She reached out and touched his shoulder. “Maybe you could come to dinner some night. I’m a lousy cook, but my mother is pretty good.”
He shook his head. “No, I wouldn’t impose. You have your life to lead.” He smiled with an effort and gently brushed his hand on Bonnie’s cheek. “She has the look of him, doesn’t she? She’s going to be pretty as a picture.”
“Yes, she is.” If he wanted to see John in Bonnie, she wouldn’t disillusion him. “And I’m grateful every day that I have her.”
He nodded. “I’ll leave you. I just wanted to let you know about John. You and I were the only ones who really cared about him. I guess I wanted to share.” He started down the street. “Good-bye, Eve. Take care of that little girl.”
“I will.” She stood and watched him slowly walk away. She could feel her throat tighten. He wasn’t an old man, but between