Lost and Found in Lavender Bay (The Lavender Bay Chronicles #2)

35. Chapter Thirty-Three

Chapter Thirty-Three

1946

L aura wanted to pinch herself. She couldn’t quite believe it was true. The day she’d waited for for years was finally here.

She reread the small article in the town’s weekly newspaper, The Lavender Bay Chronicles , for the umpteenth time.

Knickerbocker to Return Home

In the US Army since May 1943, during which time he served in France, Central Europe and Germany, Cpl. Edwin Knickerbocker, husband of Mrs. Laura Knickerbocker of 4312 Bluebell Lane, will soon return to Lavender Bay after his honorable discharge from Fort Dix, NJ.

Edwin was coming home.

She scurried around the house, doing some last-minute things before leaving for the train station. The girls wanted to go with her, but she wanted to be alone with him before he came home and demands were made on his time and attention. For just a few minutes, she wanted him all to herself.

It was drizzling outside.

“Go on, you’ll be late,” her mother said from the parlor. Her father had his foot up on a stool, his big toe suffering another gout attack. “Don’t keep him waiting.”

“We’ll mind the girls, Laura,” her father said. “Edna, come here and read the newspaper to me while we wait for your father to come home.”

Edna skipped from the hallway into the front parlor. “Sure thing, Grandpa.” She picked up the newspaper and sat cross-legged on the parlor floor.

“Edna, would you like to sit on a chair?” Eleanor asked.

“I’m okay, Grandma. I don’t mind sitting on the floor.”

“Well, all right, but it’s not very ladylike.”

“But I’m not a lady. I’m a kid.”

Eleanor looked blankly at her granddaughter.

“What page should I start on, Grandpa?”

“I think I left off on page five.”

Edna snapped open the paper, as she’d seen her grandfather do a hundred times, and started reading.

Laura glanced at the clock. “I’m going.”

“We’ll see you in a little bit,” her mother called after her, but Laura was already out the door.

Seconds later, she backtracked into the front hall. When they all looked up at her, she said, “Forgot an umbrella.” And she dashed out the door again, closing it behind her .

Standing on the edge of the porch, she opened the umbrella. It was more of a mist falling than a rain, but she didn’t want to get her hair wet. She’d splurged and had it done at the salon, wanting to look nice for Edwin, and she was wearing her best dress.

As she walked to the car parked out front, some movement in the distance caught her attention. She narrowed her eyes to see better— I really need to get a pair of glasses —and noticed a man in uniform, Army cap tilted jauntily to the side of his head as he walked down the street. She opened the car door but took another look at the soldier. His walk was familiar. Her mouth fell open.

Edwin.

She dropped the umbrella and broke into a run, leaving the car door wide open.

Lifting her arm, she called out, “Edwin! Edwin! I’m here!”

After all those years of missing him, longing for him, aching for him, she ran toward him, laughing and crying at the same time.

“Laura!” he called out, a big grin on his face, and broke into a run.

They met in front of a neighbor’s house, practically slamming into each other. The neighbor, who was out front watering her flowers, clasped her hand to her mouth, gasping in delight.

Edwin threw his arms around Laura and pulled her close, kissing her on the mouth. She didn’t care who saw or what was said or whispered. She didn’t care if neighbors thought she was brazen or indecent. She’d waited so long for this day. The man she loved had survived the war and returned to her. It was one of the happiest days of her life .

He scooped her up and swung her around, and she held out her free arm, laughing.

He stopped, put her down, and kissed her again.

“Mrs. Knickerbocker, you are a sight for sore eyes!” he said.

“You too! I was just leaving to drive over to the train station.”

“My train came in early,” he explained, picking up the duffel bag he’d dropped. “And I figured I’d walk home.”

“I’m sorry I wasn’t there.”

He wrapped an arm around her shoulder and pulled her to him, kissing her on the forehead. “It’s fine, my love. I’m so happy to be home.”

They walked arm in arm down the street.

As they neared the house, Laura closed the car door and picked up the umbrella still lying on the grass. She looped her arm through Edwin’s, and they walked up the porch steps and into the house.

Grinning widely, she said, “Look who I found outside wandering the streets!”

“Daddy!” Edna jumped up, dropping the newspaper, and ran to them, followed by Edith, both of them yelling, “Daddy! Daddy!”

Mrs. Wainwright clapped her hands and stood, if shakily. She grabbed her cane and made her way out to the front hall.

Leo struggled to get up, but Laura went to him and said, “Dad, don’t get up. Edwin wouldn’t expect that.”

He cursed his foot. “This darn toe. I’d like to stand and welcome our war hero home.”