Bridge to Haven (14 page)

Few customers came between breakfast and lunch. The bell jangled over the door as she went in. The dark-haired woman at the counter glanced up in surprise. What was her name? Susan Wells.

“Can I have a drink, Mrs. Wells?”

“Call me Susan.” She put crushed ice in a tall glass, filled it with water, and set it in front of Abra. “If you don’t mind me asking, are you all right?”

“I’m all right. Joshua’s been wounded.” She gulped the water.

“Pastor Zeke’s son. Nice young man. You’ve been in here with him, haven’t you?”

“He’s my best friend. Or he was. I don’t know anymore. He hardly
writes. He tells Pastor Zeke all the important stuff and just asks me a bunch of stupid questions.” She spoke in mockery. “‘How’s school, Abra? How are you getting on with Penny? Are you doing your homework? Are you going to church?’” She bit her lip to stop the rush of words, afraid tears would follow. Why was she rattling on to a stranger?

“Maybe he doesn’t tell you some things because he knows you’d worry.”

“I’m not going to worry about him anymore.” She drank the rest of the water and plunked the glass down on the counter. “I don’t care what he does. He can go to perdition for all I care.”

“That’s usually what we say when we care a whole lot.” Susan gave a mirthless smile as she refilled the glass. “He’s a medic, isn’t he?”

Abra slumped onto a stool. “He’s an idiot!”

“How badly wounded?”

“Enough that the Army is sending him home, but not enough to keep him from going back again!”

“Oh.” Susan sighed, staring off into space. “He did look like that sort of young man.”

“What sort?”

“The sort that cares more about other people than himself.” She smiled sadly. “Not many men like that around anymore. That’s for sure.”

Abra covered her face and gulped down a sob.

Susan took hold of her wrists and squeezed. “I’m so sorry, Abra. I’m so, so sorry.” She spoke so close Abra could feel the warmth of her breath. “If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years, it’s that you’ve got no say in what other people do with their lives. Everyone makes their own choices, good or bad.”

“I don’t want him to die.”

Susan’s hands loosened and lifted away. “All you can do is wait and see what happens.” She put several napkins on the counter in front of Abra.

Abra took one and blew her nose. “I’m sorry I’m making a fuss.”

“Don’t worry about it.”

Abra looked out the window. No drizzle now, just a cold, hard, pelting rain. “Can I stay awhile?”

“Stay as long as you want.” She put a menu in front of Abra. “You might feel better if you had something to eat.”

“I don’t have any money.”

“My treat.” Susan smiled. “Unless you want a steak.”

Joshua felt fear bubble up inside him like soda in a shaken can. It made no sense. He was stateside and on a Greyhound bus heading home. Soon after he’d arrived at Travis, he’d tried to volunteer to go back to Korea, but he’d been told he’d have to reenlist. He prayed about it, but instead of feeling peace about returning to the front, he’d felt the strong pull to go home.

Everything was so quiet, so normal, while inside, he felt anything but. He couldn’t stop thinking about the men still in Korea, still fighting, still dying. He felt like he’d gone through a meat grinder and been spewed out the other side.

Most of the bus passengers slept. One snored loudly in the back row. Joshua dozed and dreamed he was running up a hill, his lungs burning for air, explosions going off to the right and left of him. He could hear screaming and knew he had to get to the wounded. He made it to the top and looked down into a valley of shadows and death—Americans, Koreans, and Chinese all tangled together. The air was filled with the stench of rotting flesh; the sky was black with circling carrion birds ready to feast. He fell to his knees, weeping, and heard dark laughter.

A figure came out of the darkness, malevolent and mocking. He spread his wings, triumphant.
I’m not done yet. This is just the beginning of what I will accomplish before the last day comes.

Joshua stood. “You’ve already lost.”

Ah, but then, so have you. You couldn’t save them all, could you? Only a measly few. This is my domain. I hold the power over life and death.

“You’re a liar and a murderer. Get away from me!”

The sneering voice came closer.
I see you, Joshua. I see her, too.

Joshua reached for his throat, but the creature laughed and disappeared.

Joshua awoke, his heart pounding a war beat. No one stood beside his seat. No one was speaking to him. No incoming mortar shells blowing men to pieces. Just the screech of the bus brakes.

He leaned back and stared out the window. He didn’t want to close his eyes again. He’d been on American soil for a month, but sleep still brought nightmares of Korea.

Joshua breathed in deeply and exhaled slowly. He cast his mind back, remembering. His muscles relaxed; his mind focused.
You called and I answered, Lord.

He felt warmth and stillness.
And I call you again to lay down your burdens. I give peace, Joshua, not as the world gives, but a peace beyond all human comprehension. Abide in Me.

The Greyhound bus pulled off the main road. Joshua saw Riverfront Park off to the left. His heart drummed with excitement as the bus crossed the bridge to Haven.
Rat-a-tat, rat-a-tat,
the wheels whispered against the steel and macadam.

Joshua leaned forward as the Greyhound pulled to a stop on Main Street, across from the town square. Joy burst inside him when he saw Dad standing on the sidewalk, and then a sharp stab of disappointment. He didn’t see Abra.

“Haven!” the driver called out as he opened the door and went quickly down the steps.

Joshua rose, straightening his uniform jacket as he made his way off the bus. Dad embraced him firmly. “You’ll see Abra in a few minutes. Peter and Priscilla insisted we come for dinner.” Dad took the
duffel bag from his hand and led the way to Mitzi’s roadster parked around the corner.

Joshua grinned as he slid in and closed the door. “Either you haven’t been driving this baby or you just had it washed and polished.”

Dad laughed as he turned the key. The engine roared to life. “I thought it was a good time to give her a spin.”

A
Welcome Home, Joshua
banner was stretched along the white picket fence. He saw cars parked up and down the street. Dread filled him. “What is all this?”

“I’m sorry. You know what’s waiting for you and you’ll survive it. I tried to tell them to give you a couple of days, but people love you, Son. They want to welcome you home.” The parking space in front of the house had been reserved for them.

Friends poured out the front door onto the porch to cheer and clap. Joshua barely made it around the car before they swarmed through the gate, surrounding him, hugging him, slapping his back. Priscilla cried and waved others ahead of her. Joshua took in the familiar faces: Mitzi, the Martins, Bessie and Oliver Knox, the Lydicksons. Jack and the crew he’d worked with.

“Give the man room, folks!” Peter shouted. “Let him get inside the house!”

And then Joshua saw Abra. His heart leaped when she came through the front door and stood on the porch. She’d grown taller and filled out while he was away. Even with a girlish ponytail, she looked like a young woman and not a girl anymore. Seeing her coming down the steps, he pressed his way between friends and caught her when she threw herself into his arms. “Joshua!” Arms wrapped around his neck, she pressed herself full against him. He drew in a sharp breath, caught off guard by the shock of sensations coursing through his body. She kissed his cheek. “I missed you so much!” Could she hear how hard his heart pounded against hers or feel the heat radiating through him?

He set her down firmly and stepped back, forcing a laugh. “I missed you, too.” His voice came out tight and hoarse. He wished they were alone so he could talk to her. Her recent letters had been so cautious and cold. He hadn’t known what to expect when he came home—certainly not a welcome like this, not this heat in his belly, nor the racing blood.

Abra grabbed his hand, tugging him up the steps, acting more like the girl-child he had left behind. “Come on! Everything’s ready inside!”

He laughed uneasily. “What everything?”

“The decorations, the buffet in the backyard, the cake!” When they entered the house, she slipped her arm around his waist and squeezed hard. “I was afraid you’d never come home.”

He slid his hand under her ponytail and gently gripped the back of her neck. “So was I.” She turned exuberantly and kissed him on the corner of his mouth. When she drew back, he saw something indefinable and intoxicating in her eyes. Did she sense her budding power? He looked away, deliberately breaking the moment. Dad stood off to one side, watching them.

Joshua didn’t fully relax until people lined up for the buffet. He’d been to a hundred banquets at the church, and he’d lined up for grub in Army mess halls. Everyone insisted he go first. They had all brought something to add to the feast. Joshua hesitated until Mitzi grabbed his plate and his arm. “Come on, boyo. You need more meat on your bones.”

Penny pulled Abra off to one side. “Cover for me, would you?”

“Where are you going this time?”

“Michelle and I are going to Eddie’s.”

Abra had half expected the sight of Joshua in his Army uniform to resurrect Penny’s old crush. Other than saying he looked
handsome, she hadn’t been bowled over. Abra looked at him standing at the buffet table, Mitzi snatching his plate and serving him. He had changed. It wasn’t just in the leanness or muscle of his body, the cropped hair, or the tension in his jaw. It wasn’t the uniform. It was something else, something pressed down deep inside him. She’d seen it when he got out of the car. Did everyone? He had suffered, greatly. He carried deeper wounds than the one in his side. He was still Joshua, just not the same Joshua who had left Haven nearly three years ago.

“Abra!” Penny pressed, impatient. “Will you cover for me or not?”

“All this drama for a hamburger and milk shake with Michelle?”

“There’s this guy I want to see.”

Abra gave her a droll look. “Of course. Who is he?”

“No one you know. He’s from LA and absolutely gorgeous. I want to meet him. If Mom asks—”

Abra laughed. “If anyone asks, I’ll say you’re on the telephone. That’ll give you the whole afternoon all to yourself. How’s that?”

“Perfect!” She kissed Abra’s cheek. “Thanks. I’ll do you a favor someday. And I’ll tell you all about him when I get home.” She took two steps and turned back with a teasing grin. “Then again, maybe I won’t.”

“As if I care.” Abra rolled her eyes. “Go on. Get out of here.” She shook her head as Penny headed through the gathering and went into the house. Abra picked up a plate and took a piece of fried chicken. She looked over at Joshua. People kept stopping by his table. Joshua seemed uncomfortable, tense. If she’d had her way, she’d have met Joshua alone at the bus station and they’d be at Bessie’s right now, having hamburgers, fries, and shakes—chocolate for her, strawberry for him.

She glanced at Joshua again. He was looking right at her. She felt an odd twinge in her stomach. He smiled. She smiled back, hoping the war hadn’t changed him too much.