“The only thing I’m hungry for is you.” She took Nora’s hand and led her toward the bedroom. Fleetingly, it dawned on her that for the first time, she was going to be able to spend the entire night wrapped in Nora’s arms. There was no curfew, no need to hurry to find her scattered clothes and get dressed for a mad dash down the hill, no need to rush their time together. The two of them had all the time in the world. They were home.

CHAPTER TWENTY

“I’m home,” Nora said. She laid her attaché case on the table. “Where are you?”

“I’m in here,” Mary answered. Her voice was muffled.

Curious, Nora followed the sound. For a moment, she stood enjoying the view. “What are you doing with your head in the closet?”

“Ouch!” She backed herself out and rubbed the sore spot where she’d hit her skull. “I was rearranging my shoes.”

“I’m sure that was worth the headache.”

“Very funny. I wouldn’t have a headache if you hadn’t come up behind me.”

“I wouldn’t have come up behind you if you weren’t so irresistible.” Nora pulled Mary to her feet and into an embrace. “Where’s my welcome home?”

“Right here waiting for you.” Mary kissed her and the stress of Nora’s day melted away. After two and a half months of co-habitation, they’d developed a comfortable routine.

The exigencies of shift work made spending time together challenging, but they’d found ways to share at least one meal a day and carve out precious moments for themselves that didn’t revolve around work schedules, house cleaning, or other household chores.

They walked hand in hand into the living room, where Nora turned on the radio. Each night they were home together, they listened to the CBS Radio Network for news of the war. Lately, the reports had become more optimistic. Nora knew they could use all the good news they could get.

“Dateline France. June 6, 1944, D-Day,” the reporter intoned. “This is a day to rejoice.”

Mary squeezed Nora’s hand.

“At the time of this broadcast, Allied troops have taken the beaches at Normandy.”

Nora let out a cheer.

“It began with paratroopers and gliders securing bridges behind enemy lines and cutting off German exit routes, followed closely by a surprise amphibious attack at dawn this morning, and continued with wave upon wave of Allied troops safely reaching the shore and securing a toehold on French soil at beaches code-named Gold, Juno, Sword, Omaha, and Utah. Yes, there were heavy casualties. The price of war is high. The cost of freedom and victory is priceless. Tonight, we are a step closer.”

Nora snapped off the radio and spun Mary around. “Finally, something to celebrate.” She kicked off her shoes and patted the seat next to her. Mary joined her and they snuggled into the back of the couch.