[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

breath of their relationship.
After proclaiming Annie an independent woman, David made up some excuse to get back to base. He
had taken Maxi with him to spend a few final days before David left for Korea. Since then, he called
Maxi nearly daily and sent him little gifts in the mail. Annie would read the return address, fearing that
it would be from overseas. But, as yet, the letters still came from New Mexico. She couldn't help hoping
against hope that David would have tucked a little note inside one of them for her.
But he never had.
Obviously he was back commanding his hospital in all his glory. Keeping every airman in line, just as
he'd used those same skills to get her house repaired and her Stayput off to Forster Carter. "Just look at
yourself, Hamilton," she said, glancing down at her clothing. She'd taken to wearing suits when having
a meeting with a potential buyer. Suits. Black ones with white blouses and shiny patent leather pumps.
Annie Hamilton had slipped away into the night only to be replaced by a businesswoman. No more
flighty inventor. No more absentminded professor.
No more wife, she thought, feeling hopelessly alone and empty.
Her life with Maxi continued on the same course, now with more time to spend together since she'd
loosened up on inventing several different things at once to concentrate on the Stayput. She'd climbed to
a new level in her life, pushed forth by her success. Yet, the joy wasn't as rewarding as she'd dreamt it
would be. Something...no, someone was missing.
She held up one of the love notes. "You are the balance I need in my life." Carefully tucking it back into
the box, she whispered, "I love you, Major Grainger."
* * *
"Major Grainger, there is a phone call on one for you," the disembodied voice of Airman Shackly said
through David's intercom.
He glared at the newspaper in front of him one more time. Annie looked so happy. Even in black and
white he could guess how her azure eyes glistened as the president of the Skyview Chamber of
Commerce presented her with a plaque for BusinessWoman of the Month. Annie had made it. She'd
reached the height she'd strove for all these years despite his attempts to squash her success. A feeling of
shame mixed with the loss he now felt.
"Sir? Did you hear me?"
"Thank you, Airman Shackly," David said, holding the button to the intercom. He looked at the phone as
if there were a chance Annie would be calling to ask him to come back. He could remarry her and have
the entire family move to Korea until he finished his remote tour. The buzzer sounded once again and
David grabbed the phone before Airman Shackly came rushing in to see if her commander had fallen off
the deep end.
"Major Grainger here." David's heart sunk as he listened to Mrs. Winters go on about how poorly the
food was when General Winters was a patient on the surgical ward. "I'll look into it," he heard himself
say, not giving a hoot if the general had to eat TV dinners. His heart wasn't in his work right now. He
looked at Annie in the newspaper and let the phone rest on his shoulder.
"McCann Air Force base has always had such terrible food. And sick people shouldn't be subjected to
it!" Mrs. Winters argued through the phone.
"Yes, ma'am. I'll look into it."
"See that you do. My husband will appreciate it. You know, no one should have to accept things as is,
Major."
David held the receiver out as he groaned. How he hated pushy officer's wives who thought they wore
their husband's rank. But Mrs. Winters was wrong. Sometimes people had to accept the ones they loved
"as is" and not change them. He looked down and smiled. He'd learned that the hard way. At least Annie
never fell into the typical officer's wife mold. She was a civilian through and through. But he knew in his
heart that he could make her happy now-now that he realized what had caused all their problems. And
she'd managed so well at Colonel Martin's party- and afterward, too.
David really always wanted her to be happy but went about it all the wrong ways. It took their son to
show him the light. Annie's need for financial independence was just like his need to refuse his families
wealth. He set the phone receiver down, shaking his head about Mrs. Winters and realizing he could
have chosen to run his father's business, have a swanky office in downtown Denver, live the good life [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]