In Perfect Time (46 page)
“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 Association 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?
- Kay’s deepest longing is for a home. What do you think lies behind that? Do you think a house by itself would have satisfied her?
- Sometimes it’s easier for others to see our talents than to see them ourselves. This occurs with Roger and his gift of teaching. Has anyone pointed out a gift to you that surprised you—but turned out to be true?
- Kay grows up believing she must be good in order to be forgiven. How has this affected her? Although most of us know this concept isn’t true, how does it still seep into our thinking?
- While Roger has easily accepted God’s mercy, he resists God’s good gifts in his life. Why do you think he does this? Have you ever resisted blessings in your life?
- After Kay becomes a Christian, does her life get easier or harder? In what ways? How do you see this in your own life?
- How does the ordeal in the second half of the book change Kay? Roger? Their relationship? How have ordeals shaped you?
- Friendship is an important theme in the Wings of the Nightingale series. How are Kay, Mellie, and Georgie good for each other? How does their friendship evolve during this story? During the series? Do you have a set of good friends you can rely on?
- Your turn to tell the story! What do you imagine for Roger and Kay in the future? How about Tom and Mellie? Hutch and Georgie?
- If you read
With
Every
Letter
or
On
Distant
Shores
, did you enjoy following Tom and Mellie, and Hutch and Georgie?
Sarah Sundin
is the author of
With Every Letter
,
On
Distant
Shores
,
A Distant Melody
,
A Memory Between Us
, and
Blue Skies Tomorrow
. In 2011,
A Memory Between Us
was a finalist in the Inspirational Reader’s Choice Awards and Sarah received the Writer of the Year Award at the Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference. A graduate of UC San Francisco School of Pharmacy, she works on-call as a hospital pharmacist. During WWII, her grandfather served as a pharmacist’s mate (medic) in the Navy and her great-uncle flew with the US Eighth Air Force in England. Sarah lives in California with her husband and three children.
