Nora. She had to get to her; she would fix everything. It was almost 7:00 a.m. She’d be heading to the bus depot now. She could find her before she got to work. Nora would know what to do. She threw on the dress she’d worn the night before and some shoes and ran full-tilt, heedless of the cold and the mud. When she arrived at the depot, she searched madly through the throng of people boarding buses for the early shift. Finally, she spotted her.

“Nora! Nora!” She waved and ran in her direction, threading her way through the crowd until she arrived in front of her just as she was boarding the Y-12 bus.

“Nora,” she said breathlessly. “It’s my father. Please. I don’t know what to do. I don’t—” Tears flowed freely down her face and she threw herself into Nora’s arms. She barely registered her shocked expression.

“There, there.” Nora patted her back awkwardly as she clung to her for dear life. “What’s happened?”

“My mother called. My father was badly wounded in battle. He’s in a hospital in Italy and they’re flying him home. My mother insists that I come home right away. I don’t know what to do. I don’t—”

Nora pulled back, grabbed her by the sleeve, and steered them away from the bus and away from the depot. “Let’s get you a cup of coffee, young lady, and I’ll see if I can help you sort through your problem. Pull yourself together. I’m sure everything will be all right.” She practically shouted the words, as if broadcasting them for all the world to hear.

Mary’s brow furrowed. Why was she addressing her as though she were a near-stranger? Belatedly, she took stock of their surroundings. Oh, my gosh. Everyone was watching them. This would be Nora’s worst nightmare come true.

Nora was walking so quickly it was hard for Mary to keep up. She pulled them behind a nearby building, out of sight of prying eyes. “What were you thinking?”

“I-I’m sorry. I’m not thinking clearly. I only knew I needed to get to you. You’d know what to do. I can’t… I c-can’t…”

Nora sighed. “Come on.” She walked them to the Flat Top via a back route, avoiding the major streets, pedestrians on their way to the depot, and passing cars. They arrived at the Flat Top and Nora sat her down on the couch and pulled the blinds shut.

“It’s the end of February and you ran out without your coat. You’ll catch your death of cold.”

“I don’t care.” Mary’s teeth chattered.

Nora wrapped a blanket around her and rubbed her arms and back. “Is that better?”

“Yes. Thank you.”

“Now, slow down, take a deep breath, and tell me what happened.”