Trip didn’t give her a chance to breathe, let alone explain why she didn’t have Charlie with her. She laughed and cried she was so happy to see him. He looked lean and fit, and handsome in his uniform, though she couldn’t wait to see him out of it. “You said
“I am, but you have all my civvies in the trunk.”
“Oh. I forgot.”
Bernie grinned. “She seems to be forgetting a lot of things lately.”
Mama came over to welcome Trip home. She had gone to town and bought a leg of lamb and wanted to help put on a celebratory dinner. Hildie ran out to the barn and brought back a tablecloth and china place settings. Bernie and Trip took their sons outside to play while Mama, Hildie, and Elizabeth set the table.
Mama admired the plates. “Lady Daisy had plates just like these.” She ran her finger around the edge of a Royal Doulton plate before setting it on the table.
The Martins came over. The house filled up to bursting. Everyone laughed and talked and passed plates of lamb, mashed potatoes, carrots, and peas around the table. Mama had even thought of apple mint jelly. Trip chopped carrots for Charles, who chucked them on the floor, rousing more laughter. “We’re going to have to work on your table manners.”
They talked of more serious matters. Trip asked what Bernie planned to do when the Musashis came home.
“Start packing.”
Everyone grew quiet. Hitch and Donna exchanged a glance. Mama spoke up. “Hitch, you and Donna needn’t worry. We have a contract.”
“We never signed anything, Marta. And Bernie’s your son…”
“I gave my word.”
Hitch looked embarrassed. “Bernie and Elizabeth and the baby will need a place to live. What’re they going to do?”
Mama smiled. “Ask them.”
Bernie took Elizabeth’s hand. “We’ve been talking about moving up to Sacramento and opening a nursery. I’ve got some money saved-not much, but enough to get started.” He gave Mama an apologetic smile. “It’s what I’ve always wanted to do.”
Mama stared back. “Did I ever say you couldn’t?” She turned to Trip. “What about you two? Where will you go?”
Trip looked grim. “We can go back to Colorado Springs for a while, until I figure out what I’m going to do with the rest of my life.”
Hildie was surprised. “What about medical school?”
“Normandy killed that plan for me. I’ve seen all the blood I ever want to see. No more.” He shook his head. “I don’t think I could ever work in a hospital again either.”
Mama picked up a bowl of mashed potatoes and handed them to Donna. “It’ll all work out.” She looked at Hildemara. “Don’t worry about it.”
42
Friday afternoon, Hildemara heard a heavy vehicle coming up the road. She straightened where she had been working in a row of zucchini and brushed herself off. An Army bus pulled up and idled in front of the farm. Hildie swung Charlie up and sat him on her hip as she hurried toward the yard.
Mr. Musashi got off the bus, Mrs. Musashi behind him. George and the girls, all taller, stepped down, looking shy and uncertain. Bernie came out of the barn. Elizabeth opened the screen door and came outside. As the bus pulled away, Mama crossed the street.
The Musashis just stood there, tight together, silent, looking from house to barn to orchard and fields. They looked strange in their government-issued clothing. Hildie felt tears fill her eyes. No one seemed to know what to do, what to say. Bernie approached them. “Everything is pretty much the way you left it, Mr. Musashi.”
They just looked at him, saying nothing. Hildemara couldn’t read anything in their faces. They had never seemed more foreign or more vulnerable.
Bernie looked back at Elizabeth. Hildie handed Charlie to Trip and went to Betsy. She was a beautiful young woman now, a head taller than she had been the last time Hildie saw her. “Let’s bring your parents inside the house, Betsy. You all must be tired. We can make tea. Elizabeth has been baking cookies all morning.”
“You live here now, too?” Betsy looked at her coldly.
Mama stepped in and spoke to Mr. and Mrs. Musashi. “Only until you all got back.” She spoke firmly. “Bernhard moved into your place right after the government relocated you. He worked both sides of the road until I hired the Martins to sharecrop my place. Otherwise, my son would have worked himself to death keeping both places running. My son has done a good job for you, Mr. Musashi. Tell him, Bernhard!”
Bernie blushed crimson. “Mama…”
“Can’t you see? They don’t understand! They think you stole their place.” She turned to Betsy. “Explain to your parents right now. The mortgage and taxes are paid up, and there’s enough left from last year’s crops to carry your family through to next year. We’ve been waiting for you. It’s still your place.”
Betsy started to cry. She bowed deeply, her hands fluttering over her mouth. Her father looked at her and spoke grimly. She shook her head and spoke in Japanese. He looked at Bernhard and Mama. He looked at Elizabeth and Hildemara and Trip. He didn’t say anything. Mrs. Musashi spoke quietly in Japanese. Betsy answered. Tears streamed down Mrs. Musashi’s face. Mr. Musashi bowed at the waist, and so did his wife and children.
Mama looked mortified. “What about your brothers, Betsy?” No one else had the courage to ask. “When will they be home?”
Betsy smiled, dark eyes shining, but it was Mr. Musashi who answered. “They both good soldiers, many honors from fighting Germans.” He caught himself. “So sorry, Mrs. Waltert. So sorry. I not think clearly.”
“No need to apologize, Mr. Musashi. I’m Swiss, not German, and Niclas believed Hitler would cause more trouble than the kaiser. He would’ve been proud of your sons.”
Hildie and Trip moved back to Oakland. They stayed in a hotel until they found a small rental house on Quigley Street. Charlie still struggled with having to share Hildie with Trip. He’d become used to sleeping with Hildemara and having her all to himself. Now that he didn’t, he threw tantrums when put in his own room. Torn between husband and son, Hildie tried to please both. Still, when Charlie cried, she jumped to comfort him. Nights proved long with numerous interruptions. Trip became frustrated. “He knows exactly when to ruin things, doesn’t he?”
By the end of his first month home, Trip had had enough. When Charlie wailed, he caught hold of Hildie and held her down in bed. “Let him cry.”
“He needs me.”
“The heck he does. You’re making it worse. He has to learn he can’t have you any time he wants.”
“He doesn’t understand!”
“He understands all right. All he has to do is cry to have his way.”
“That’s not fair. He’s just a baby.”
“He’s
Charlie’s cries turned to screams of rage. Hildie started to cry. She wanted to cover her ears or scream along with him.
“Don’t give in.” Trip held her close, his arm across her chest, his leg trapping hers.
“Let me go, Trip.”
With a sigh, he did and turned his back on her.
Hildie sat on the edge of the bed, head in her hands, heart in her throat. Charlie’s screams changed. He cried and then stopped, as though listening for her footsteps in the hall. He cried again. “Mama… Mama…”
He whimpered. Then silence fell in the house. She curled on her side. Trip didn’t touch her for the rest of the
