In Perfect Time Read online

  But this time he ran his fingers into her hair and sought her mouth, a lush kiss, equal parts love and desire.

  Kay returned it fully, peeling away her last layer of guardedness and kissing him with all her love, all her joy, all her vulnerability, open and giving and receiving.

  Roger let out a satisfied groan and burrowed a kiss into her neck. “Suddenly the next seven weeks are looking good.”

  She smiled, her lips tingling from his kisses. “They are.”

  “When do you want to get married?”

  “What? Already?”

  He straightened up and frowned. “You do want to get married, don’t you?”

  Kay stared up at him, her thoughts swirling. He’d mentioned marriage, not her, but it was so soon. Wasn’t it? However, honesty worked its way to the top. “I do.”

  He grinned. “Those are the words I want to hear.”

  She pressed her hand to her forehead. “It’s so soon, so sudden.”

  “Not really, considering what we’ve been through.” He led her by the hand to one of the taller palm trees, leaned back against it, and gathered her in his arms.

  She fiddled with the knot of his khaki tie. “I’m just—well, I can still barely comprehend the fact that you love me.”

  He kissed her again, short but fervent. “I’m enjoying convincing you.”

  “Me too.” She caressed his shoulders, overwhelmed by the strength of him and by the freedom to show him her love at last.

  “Here’s the deal.” He readjusted his arms around her waist. “We’ll have seven weeks together for the bond tour, then they’ll send us our separate ways until after the war’s over.”

  “I know.” A sad sigh leached out.

  He kissed her nose. “Then I have a year or two of college before I can teach. We could marry then.”

  “That’s such a long time.”

  Roger stroked her back, tender and . . . practiced. “I don’t think we should wait that long.”

  Kay nodded. No, that didn’t seem wise.

  “We could get married after we’re discharged.”

  “Whenever that is.” With the Japanese fighting to the death for every square inch on Okinawa, Kay doubted that would be anytime soon.

  “Or we could get married at the end of the bond tour.”

  “Seven weeks from now?”

  “Mm-hmm.” The glint in his eyes said he was serious.

  Kay rested her head on his chest, her mind reeling. Seven weeks? That was so soon. And yet not soon enough. “I don’t want a big spectacle like Georgie had. I don’t want a bunch of strangers, or PR officers, or—”

  “You and me. A little church. A few of our closest friends. What more could we want?”

  The ocean breeze ruffled her skirt and her hair, and she raised a smile to the man she loved. “How about a bungalow by the sea?”

  One side of his mouth twitched up. “I like that idea. I like it a lot.”

  He kissed her, and the rhythm of his lips on hers sent a message she received with joy. He loved her, he’d never leave her, and they’d make their home together forever.

  56

  Santa Monica

  July 7, 1945

  No doubt about it. The dame was dangerous.

  As Kay glided down the church aisle, Roger couldn’t stop grinning. Most danger was meant to be avoided, but some danger was meant to be embraced, and he intended to embrace Kay Jobson for the rest of his life.

  In a few minutes, she’d be Kay Cooper. His wife. Hands tightly clasped behind him, his thumbs beat out a rhythm. He wasn’t nervous. Why would he be nervous?

  A lacy veil muted Kay’s face, but a flash of white told him she was smiling straight at him, trusting him with her heart and her body and her life.

  Lord, don’t let me fail her. A rush of peace stilled his thumbs. Life wouldn’t always be easy, but he’d work hard for her and be true to her and love her to the death. And even if he did fail her, the Lord never would. She would always be provided for.

  Kay lifted her long skirt a few inches and climbed the steps to Roger. No man gave her away, but Roger accepted her with all his heart. He held out his hand and drew her to his side before the pastor.

  Her hand felt small and damp in his, her arm warm beside his, and her breath puffed out the veil. Was she nervous too? He stroked her hand with his thumb, and she turned a grateful smile up to him.

  The pastor talked and talked, and Roger strained to listen. Love as the Lord loves, sacrificially, unconditionally. Forgive each other’s trespasses as the Lord forgives yours. Charity “beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.”

  Thank goodness it was all in his Bible because the words sifted through the holes in his brain. He and Kay would have plenty of verses to study, to make notes on, to live out together.

  The pastor told them to face each other, and they repeated their vows, Roger with a throaty voice, Kay with a tremulous voice. He slid a simple gold band onto her lovely hand, and she eased one over his big sausage of a finger.

  “You may now kiss the bride.”

  The moment he was waiting for. Roger lifted her veil. Kay’s face glowed with love, but her eyes glistened too much.

  His heart full, he cradled her beautiful face in his hands. “My wife. My love.”

  She raised her mouth, and he met her halfway—a sweet and gentle kiss. Then he pressed his lips to her forehead. “Know why I married you?” he murmured.

  “I thought I did. Why?”

  “So I could get my Bible back.”

  Her shoulders shook with repressed laughter, and he grinned at her, his gorgeous, clever, dangerous dame.

  Knee deep in the Pacific, Kay swung her leg in the warm gray-blue water. “Almost three years together. I can’t believe it’s over.”

  “I know.” Mellie leaned down and let an incoming wave soak her. “We’ve been through so much.”

  Georgie nudged Mellie. “You were so shy you could barely look anyone in the eye.”

  Mellie nudged back. “And you were a quivering mass of fear disguised behind a chipper smile.”

  “And you . . .” Georgie arched an eyebrow at Kay.

  “I know what I was.” Kay smiled and splashed both her friends. “More importantly, I know who I am now.”

  “Just think what we’ve been through.” Mellie set her hands on her hips and gazed over the ocean as if the past three years’ adventures lay before her. “Medical emergencies, and ditching at sea, and landing behind enemy lines. Not to mention dirt and bugs and washing our hair in our helmets.”

  Kay laughed, but Georgie fell silent.

  Mellie turned to the brunette. “I know, sweetie. We all miss Rose. We always will.”

  Georgie nodded, her eyes moist. “But think how happy she is up in heaven with Jesus and Clint.”

  Sometimes silence was right. They’d seen a lot of death. They’d seen too many strong young men maimed and disabled by war. They’d seen enough illness and suffering for a lifetime. But they’d done their best to ease pain and misery, to heal the sick and wounded, and to ease the passage of the dying.

  They’d overcome the objections of colonels and generals who didn’t believe women were capable of handling deprivation and danger. They’d proven medical air evacuation was safe and effective, and now it was used in all theaters of the war. They were pioneers.

  Georgie swished her hand through the water. “Three years ago, would you ever have imagined the three of us standing here, best friends, and all three of us married women?”

  “No. Absolutely not.” Kay shook her head so violently, she didn’t see a wave, and it knocked her onto her backside.

  Laughing hard, Georgie and Mellie helped her to her feet.

  Kay wiped salt water from her face and smiled. “I never would have imagined it, but now I can’t imagine it any other way.”

  “And look at the handsome husbands we snagged.” Georgie grinned and faced the beach, where the three me
n lounged in the sun. “I’m thankful Hutch and Tom both finagled a furlough for your wedding.”

  Tom had returned from Europe only a few days after Hutch and Georgie’s wedding, and he’d brought his dog, Sesame, to Mellie’s relief.

  Kay squeezed water from her ponytail. “I’m glad they stood up with Roger in the ceremony.” Mike had been unbearably gracious about Roger and Kay’s engagement and had accepted the wedding invitation, but his grandfather had passed away last week, and he’d gone home for the funeral.

  “I think the boys are sleeping.” Mellie’s eyes twinkled. “Let’s go dribble water on them.”

  “Mellie!” Georgie cried. “You surprise me.”

  “Come on.” Mellie ran up the beach, sand kicking behind her feet.

  Kay followed, laughing.

  Roger wasn’t asleep. He raised his head and rested it on his crossed forearms, and a smile edged up, higher and higher as she came nearer and nearer. His gaze slid down to her toes and back to her eyes. She could feel the heat gliding over her curves.

  He’d never looked at her that way, and it scared and delighted her all at once. But now they were married. Tonight . . . well, tonight would be more than delightful, she just knew.

  She gave him a flirtatious smile, and he sent it right back to her.

  Mellie leaned over her dozing husband and squeezed out her hair over his bare back. He jerked awake and cried out, and everyone laughed.

  Hutch opened one eye and looked at Georgie. “If you do, I’ll throw you in the ocean, and your curls will get frizzy.” He finished in a falsetto.

  She sank onto the towel beside him. “That’s why I didn’t get my hair wet in the first place.”

  Roger sat up, held out his hand, and drew Kay down to sit in front of him. He circled his arm around her waist, pulled her to his sun-warmed bare chest, and kissed her neck. “Mm. Salty.”

  Laughter broke the intensity of the moment, and she hugged his arm to her stomach.

  Georgie shielded her eyes and glanced at the bluffs behind them. “To think this is the same place Hutch and I celebrated our marriage. We had a couple hundred complete strangers at a ritzy reception, and you’re having a picnic for six on the beach.”

  “That’s what we wanted,” Kay said. “A celebration with friends, the three nightingales together.”

  “And their husbands.” Roger rested his chin on her shoulder. “Husband. Husband. Great word, isn’t it?”

  “So is wife.” Kay twisted to give him a quick kiss.

  Hutch pulled one of Georgie’s curls. “So, which nightingale will hatch the first egg?”

  She gasped. “John Hutchinson! You ought to be ashamed.”

  He chuckled. “Why? It’s a natural phenomenon. You’re a nurse. You should know.”

  “I’m also a lady.”

  “And ladies become mamas. Even Southern ladies.”

  Kay soaked in the laughter, the friendship. What would she do without these women? “I can’t believe this is our last time together.”

  “Last time?” Georgie’s eyes rounded. “Heaven forbid. No, we won’t let that happen.”

  “I have an idea,” Mellie said. “Let’s make a pact to meet once a year, right here.”

  Kay sat up straighter. “Or somewhere, anywhere. I like that idea.”

  “Then our children can grow up together.” Georgie dug her feet into the sand. “The Red Cross said little Lucia will be sent over from Italy by the end of the year, and we can finally adopt her.”

  Hutch poked her with his toe. “Then we can add more hatchlings.”

  Tom patted his wife’s flat belly. “Our hatchling will be the oldest.”

  Now it was Mellie’s turn to gasp. “Tom! I didn’t want to tell anyone yet. It’s too early.”

  “You’re . . . you’re . . .” Kay leaned forward.

  Mellie’s eyelashes lowered, and a faint smile rose. “Pregnant Without Permission. Yes, I am.”

  Georgie and Kay shrieked as one.

  “I’m sorry.” Mellie’s eyes pleaded. “I didn’t mean to make the announcement on your wedding day. What horrible manners.”

  Kay reached over and grasped her friend’s hand. “Don’t you dare apologize. Now we have another reason to celebrate, and another wonderful memory for today.”

  Roger held up an empty Coke bottle. “Here’s to Mellie’s upcoming medical discharge.”

  Kay laughed. “Hear, hear!”

  He drew her back to his solid chest and nibbled on her ear.

  Her breath caught. Lunch had been eaten. Conversation had been shared. The ocean had been splashed in. Perhaps they should retreat to their . . .

  “Bungalow,” he whispered in her ear.

  As much as she longed to be alone with him—with her husband—part of her ached at the thought of leaving her friends. Never again would they have such time together.

  But Tom and Mellie sat forehead to forehead, probably selecting baby names, and Hutch and Georgie laughed together over something.

  Their friendship had carried them through three difficult years together—three glorious years. But now the joys of sharing and support and encouragement were shifting from girlfriends to husbands.

  Yet Kay knew they’d always be close. Through letters or phone calls or beachside reunions, they’d keep their friendship strong.

  But things would never be the same.

  “Kay.” Roger set his hand on her cheek and turned her to face him. His eyes were smoky and his gaze firm. He’d never try to control her, but he’d lead with a sure and capable hand. “Darling, it’s time.”

  She covered his hand with her own. What had she done to deserve him? Nothing. His love and this marriage were gifts from the Lord, gifts she’d cherish all her life.

  “Yes.” A smile rose, warmer than the sunbaked sand, and she pressed a kiss to his palm. “It’s the perfect time.”

  Dear Reader,

  Thank you for joining Roger and Kay on their journey. If you’re on Pinterest, I have a board for In Perfect Time, with photos of events and locations (http://pinterest.com/sarahsundin).

  The 802nd Medical Air Evacuation Transport Squadron was a real unit, the first to fly a true air evacuation mission. Although all characters in the 802nd in this story are fictional, with the exception of the commanding officer, Maj. Frederick Guilford, their movements, locations, joys, and challenges are real. The evasion incident is based on the true account of twenty-six flight nurses and medics of the 807th MAETS who crash-landed in Nazi-occupied Albania in late 1943. You can read more about this story on my website.

  Likewise, the 64th Troop Carrier Group was real, as are its locations. On two occasions, unarmed C-47s of the 64th TCG downed Japanese Zero fighter planes over India and Burma, one while flying down a winding canyon. More about these stories on my website also.

  In this series, I’ve sought to highlight some of the unsung heroes of World War II, who didn’t receive accolades and honors, but who faced danger, experienced deprivation, and sacrificed for their country. I’m thankful and indebted for their service.

  Acknowledgments

  Each novel I write presents unique challenges and unique joys. I’m thankful to the Lord for challenging me and giving me joy.

  Supreme thanks to my husband, Dave, and my children, Stephen, Anna, and Matthew. They put up with weird moments like Mom buying drumsticks and a practice pad. Stephen, thanks for telling me about the Ring Nebula. It’s perfect. And Matthew, thanks for demonstrating constant energy and activity, even if you Must. Touch. Everything. The drumsticks are now yours. Anna, I apologize for giving your brother drumsticks.

  Thanks so much to Rachel Williams, director of the Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference, who shared the memoir of her father-in-law, Lt. E. Eugene Williams, who piloted a C-47 with the 435th Troop Carrier Group based in England during World War II. An amazing story and so helpful.

  I had the honor of talking to Dorothy White Errair, president of the World War II Flight Nurse Ass
ociation and an actual World War II flight nurse (807th MAETS). Her daughter, Melinda Errair Bruckman, collects and preserves these amazing women’s stories. Please visit their beautiful website at www.legendsofflightnurses.org. If you have information about any of the flight nurses, they’d love to hear from you.

  Once again, Warren Hower of Hower Research Associates located rare documents for me—for this novel, several flight plans of the 64th Troop Carrier Group.

  And special thanks to Sean Conner of the Mayo Hotel in Tulsa, Oklahoma (www.themayohotel.com). The website for this restored historic hotel contains fabulous photographs, but Mr. Conner provided even more detail, from the elevator to room furnishings to the hallway carpet. These details make the novelist’s heart sing!

  I couldn’t have finished this novel without my sweet critique partners, Linda Clare, Judy Gann, Sherry Kyle, Bonnie Leon, Ann Shorey, and Marcy Weydemuller. Ladies, I appreciate your eye for detail and your support and encouragement.

  Thanks always to my agent, Rachel Kent. Your calm and wise ways are invaluable to me. And thank you to my editor, Vicki Crumpton. Your keen insight always makes me see deeper into my story and challenges me to make it better. And to the entire team at Revell—from cover art to marketing to sales to contracts—you blow me away each and every time. I’m blessed to work with you.

  And dear reader, I’m so thankful for you! Please visit my website at www.sarahsundin.com to leave a message, sign up for my quarterly newsletter, read about the history behind the story, and find tips on starting a book club. I look forward to hearing from you.

  Discussion Questions

  At the beginning of the story, Kay has a “boyfriend in every airport.” Why do you think she dates so many men? What need does this fill? What problems does it cause?

  Roger Cooper goes out of his way to avoid women. Knowing his past, do you think his policy is wise or misguided? How do you handle known temptations in your life, or how have you seen others handle them well?

  Both Kay and Roger grew up hearing lies about God or about themselves. How has that shaped their lives? How do they overcome this? Have you had to overcome lies in your life?