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UNEQUALLY DIVIDED

A vibrant novel portraying difficult choices of love and life’s direction during the tumultuous Vietnam era

JANE E. HARPER

Copyright

ISBN 978-1-59433-723-9

eBook ISBN 978-1-59433-724-6

Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 2017952121

Copyright 2017 Jane Harper Creations, LLC

—First Edition—

All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in any form, or by any mechanical or electronic means including photocopying or recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system, in whole or in part in any form, and in any case not without the written permission of the author and publisher.

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Manufactured in the United States of America

Dedication

DEDICATION

To my family, close and far.

Acknowledgements

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Unequally Divided has been quite a journey, from the beginning to the end. I couldn’t have completed this voyage without the help of my family and friends in varying capacities. First, I am thankful for the support and patience of my husband, Michael. He was the best shoulder to lean on when I needed encouragement. Next, my friend and colleague, Phyllis Fast, led me through this process. Without her persistent reinforcement and direction, I never would have finished this novel. As well as a longtime friend, she is the author of Northern Athabascan Survival, Half Bead of Fundy, Midnight Trauma and two children’s books. I am also thankful to Darlene Candee for her motivation and constant inspiration and help in the development of the character, fourteen-year-old, Nora.

Many others also contributed to the completion of this novel. I am grateful to Clela Reed, who provided support and insight into the essence of good writing. As a poet, she has authored: Bloodline, Dancing on the Rim, and The Hero of the Revolution Serves us Tea. I also appreciate Beth Cromie Howlett for her input, spending over five hours on one long distance call making suggestions. Many others have also contributed to the completion of this novel, including: Johanna Harper, Tanya Gularte, Rosemary Mosby, and Jan Harper Haines, author of Cold River Spirits. I also received words of encouragement from Alice Smith, Larean Pierce, Nancy and Ron Whitten, and Judy Bergheim.

I thank Publication Consultants who helped in producing this novel. I also thank Darcy Ruppert for her excellent editing skills which enhanced Unequally Divided. Peggy McMahon also added her editing skills and found errors no one else could find. She is the author of Abba, Hear My Prayers, plus two children’s books.

Not to forget my good friend, Ann Chambliss, I wish I could have shared this experience with her, but sadly she has passed on. I do appreciate that I have been able to share this with with my daughter, Kristi, and eventually with my granddaughters, Sheila and Sky. A final thank you to my husband and his eternal patience.

Chapter 1: Columbus, Georgia, October 1969

Chapter 1

Columbus, Georgia, October 1969

Jorden stopped pacing for a moment and stared out the picture window. An unfamiliar white car caught her attention as she watched it maneuver slowly around her apartment complex for the third time. She figured the driver must be looking for the right building. A gust of swirling leaves blurred her vision, causing her to focus on her current dilemma.

What was she doing? “A date, of all things, is not what I need,” Jorden mumbled as she resumed pacing. How did she let Darby talk her into this? Alex had been off to this gut-wrenching war for five months—and she was going out. “What’s wrong with me?”

Tapping her fingers, Jorden turned up the radio. The catchy lyrics to the tune “For What It’s Worth” made her think about the Vietnam War and the terrible uncertainty it had created. She picked up her momentum as the tempo of the song increased.

“Stop pacing! You’re making me nervous,” Darby called out. “I heard what you said, but I don’t think of this as a date, only a dinner. Besides, you deserve a night out,” her roommate stressed as she applied her makeup. “Hey, I’m looking out for your welfare.”

“My welfare?” Jorden stopped. “How do you figure?”

“Look, you’re twenty-two and not officially engaged.”

“Just because I don’t have an engagement ring doesn’t mean I’m not marrying Alex next summer.”

“Yes, but the point is—you’re not married now. I don’t doubt your loyalty to Alex. I’m just worried about you! You’ve been cooped up for the last five months. I think you need to get out.”

“Need to?” Jorden scoffed. But, Darby had struck a nerve. She looked at her roommate, realizing she did miss the fun of an innocent date: a movie, a football game, and even a dinner out with friends. Besides, she wasn’t married. Jorden valued Darby’s companionship and support; she had become her confidante. To think of it, Jorden even let Nate, Darby’s boyfriend, sway her on the decision to go out.

Jorden watched Darby apply blush to her high cheek bones. She had to admit her roommate, at five feet, eleven inches, looked more like a model than a teacher.

Darby seemed to sense Jorden’s distress. “Remember, Nate says the guy’s an American Indian, so this should be an interesting evening.”

Jorden couldn’t help but smile. “Yes, it should be.”

A moment later the doorbell rang. “Can you get the door? It must be Nate,” Darby replied. “I need to get dressed.”

Jorden opened the door in one quick movement. Her jaw dropped; it wasn’t Nate. An Asian-looking young man stood before her. Her wary blue eyes took in the details. He was dressed casually, displaying a lean build. He had close-cropped jet black hair with thick eyebrows arched above familiar army issued eyeglasses. In contrast, soft brown eyes gazed back at her through clear lenses.

Jorden had not seen anyone like him at their door before. The unfamiliar face alarmed her. He didn’t look like an American Indian. She wasn’t sure what to say, finally she stammered, “I’ll be right back.”

Jorden sprinted back to Darby. “It’s not Nate!”

“Well, who is it?” Darby asked, adding the last touches of mascara.

“I’ve never seen him before!”

“Where is he?” Darby’s voice rose in alarm.

“In the hallway.”

“He has to be Nate’s friend,” Darby instantly replied. “You have to let him in.”

Jorden knew she had used bad judgment and dashed to the door. She could feel the muscles in her shoulders tighten when she didn’t see him. Guilt hit. Panicking, she opened the door wider. Relief overcame her when she saw him standing at the hall window with his back to her.

“I’m so sorry! Please come in,” Jorden blurted out.

He turned around casually and appeared to study Jorden. A slight grin formed as if he were about to make a clever remark, but instead he introduced himself. “I’m Matt Ulster, Nate’s friend. You must be . . .”

“Yes, I’m Jorden Marshall,” she replied, trying to soften her voice. She couldn’t help but be impressed with his good-natured attitude. “Come in. Can I get you something to drink—a Coke?”

“I’m fine . . . thank you.”

Again, the doorbell rang. This time it was Nate. A huge smile spread across her face as she opened the door. “Come on in. Darby’s almost ready.”

“Hey, don’t you look nice.” Nate’s eyebrows went up as he noticed her red dress.

“Thank you.” Jorden could feel herself blush. The dress wasn’t even hers. Emma Lynn, her other roommate, had let her borrow the classy outfit.

Nate looked at Matt. “Sorry, looks like you beat me here.”

“No problem,” Matt stated. “I like cooling my heels in the hall.” Matt laughed, Jorden cringed, and Nate looked confused. He started to reply when Darby entered the room.

“Hi y’all. I’m ready.”

“About time,” Nate replied. He pulled Darby into his arms. Her long blonde hair swayed back and forth as he kissed her. Embarrassed, Jorden looked away. At the same time, she thought about Alex. She missed those times with him.

After an awkward silence, Nate apologized, “How rude of me. This is my office mate, Matt Ulster; we keep Fort Benning Army Base running smoothly.”

“Sure you do,” Darby said, “just like Jorden and I keep the school district in good shape.”

“We’ll make an excellent foursome,” Nate replied. “Now, let’s head to dinner.”

Nate had a sleek, 1969 sapphire blue Pontiac GTO. Jorden could see he was eager to show off his new car as he steered smoothly through the Julian Apartments. The complex was composed of six separate buildings shaped into a horseshoe. Her eyes swept to the borders of the complex, which were outlined with a mixture of oak, maple, and tall swaying Georgia pines. Then, to her surprise, Nate revved up the motor in front of the exit sign, popped the clutch, and let the engine rip. Like a burst of lightning, the GTO sped forward and flew onto Buena Vista Road.

Jorden gasped, but no one seemed to notice. She held onto the backseat to keep from flying forward as the Julian Apartments vanished from sight. She flashed back to Alex. She remembered the first time she met him. It was here last September. Nostalgia hit like an aching pain.

Jorden’s stomach churned watching Nate trying to impress Darby with his driving while scaring the wits out of Jorden. She looked over at Matt. He seemed to take it in stride—more power to him, she thought. After Nate parked at a local popular restaurant, her stomach settled down. At least he hadn’t chosen Amore’s, which was Jorden and Alex’s favorite choice.

Jorden and the others decided on the dinner special, two beef tacos and nachos with everything on them. Nate placed the order and added to it a large pitcher of beer. Darby turned to Matt.

“Where are you from?”

“Iceland.” Matt didn’t crack a smile.

“You’re kidding?”

Nate interrupted, “Don’t listen to him; he’s trying to shock you. He’s from Alaska. Don’t forget it’s our forty-ninth state, and the reason he managed to get drafted into the army.”

Watching Matt’s deadpan face, Jorden allowed herself to become amused by him. “Be honest with us, are you really from Alaska and all those freezing temperatures?”

“Yes. I confess I really am,” Matt replied.

By then, Darby couldn’t hold back, and she proceeded to bombard Matt with every conceivable question she could think of about Alaska.

After ten minutes, Matt called a halt to the questions. “Enough! You’re wearing me out.” His eyes wandered around the table and settled on Jorden. She couldn’t help but smile to express her sympathy.

Near the end of the meal, Jorden jerked in her seat. She noticed something moving on the window ledge high above their table.

“What are you staring at?” Darby focused on the window. She squealed, “Look!” A tiny mouse raced across the ledge. Jorden barely saw it as it ducked into a crack in the wood. All eyes were riveted to the spot.

Darby got up. “Time to go!”

Jorden was right behind her. The two young women shivered outside of the restaurant while Nate and Matt paid the bill. Darby leaned into Jorden for warmth and a break from the wind. “What did you think of Matt?”

“He’s okay,” Jorden answered. Inwardly, she had to admit she found Matt witty and entertaining, but right now she didn’t feel like sharing this with Darby. Thoughts of Alex held her back.

“Only okay? Aren’t you finicky?” Darby teased.

“Hey girls,” Matt called out, “the restaurant’s manager assured us they have only one pet mouse, and his name is Harry. He accidentally got out of his cage tonight. No need to worry; Harry is under control now.”

“You’re right.” Nate slapped Matt’s shoulder. Both men laughed.

“You’re not fooling us,” Darby hooted. “Where there’s one, there are more. And, they’re all named Harry, and none of them are under control! My suggestion: the next time we do this, how about a different restaurant?”

“Fine with me,” Nate replied. He looked from Matt to Jorden. “Come on and be a good sport. This was fun; don’t you agree?”

“You bet!” Matt replied.

Jorden didn’t know what to say. She liked Matt, but right now she wasn’t thinking about another outing.

Matt seemed to sense her hesitation. “This was fun, but shall we let the future take care of itself.”

The tightness in Jorden’s chest eased. She liked his reply. She knew what her future held—Alex.

Chapter 2: October 1969

Chapter 2

October 1969

The sun was setting when Jorden noticed Nate approaching their apartment building. He and other young soldiers visited Darby and Emma Lynn most weeknights. Jorden had to admit life wasn’t dull in apartment 206. Tonight, though, she didn’t feel like joining the mini-gathering of constant chatter and music.

Jorden decided not to write Alex about the visiting soldiers. There was no reason to share; the gatherings didn’t really affect her. Instead she would often retreat to her bedroom to work on lesson plans, grade papers, and eventually write to Alex. Weeks earlier she had written to him she hadn’t gone out since he left—she was bewildered with his recent reply. She reached for his letter to reread his comment.

It makes me happy you haven’t dated, but it is okay to go out. I know it won’t mean anything. It gets old for you to sit around and just watch TV. I’m sure you’ll go to parties. If you go out I want to know, but at the same time, I don’t want to know. We have something unbelievably wonderful. I get nostalgic just thinking about the apartment—it brings back fantastic memories. We have memories we haven’t even made yet . . .

Jorden stared into space. Alex’s reaction wasn’t what she expected. After reading the passage a zillion times, she began to realize he was simply giving her space. She hoped he really meant it. As she thought about her recent outing, she knew it was of no consequence, most likely she wouldn’t see Matt again.

Later that night, Darby returned to the apartment glowing. “Come see what Nate just gave me.”

“What is it?” Emma Lynn stepped out of the bathroom with cleansing cream smeared all over her face. Jorden had been writing to Alex and carried her pen and paper to see what the commotion was about.

Darby stood at the entrance of the hallway and stretched out her left hand. The glitter of the diamond ring on her finger reflected off the light from the lamp in the living room. Emma Lynn rushed forward to get a closer look. “Wow! What a rock!”

“He asked you tonight?” Jorden gasped.

“Yes! I can’t believe it. We’ll have a Christmas wedding! I have to call Mama and Daddy.”

“Slow down. Tell us more,” Emma Lynn insisted. “It’s beautiful!”

Jorden looked down at her own ring-less left hand. Alex wanted to wait—wait until he came back from Vietnam. He didn’t want to rush into marriage, and she didn’t want an engagement ring until he returned from this war. She didn’t plan on dating, but she didn’t want to feel completely restricted at twenty-two.

“I’ve got to call home first. I hope Mama will make my wedding gown—you two have to be in the wedding! Oh, save Friday night for us. Nate and I are planning a gathering at the Officers’ Club around five thirty to celebrate our engagement.” Darby hugged both girls before she closed off the kitchen to make her call home.

***

Friday evening, Nate arrived a little before five still wearing his Army greens. Jorden opened the door after his first ring. “Don’t you look nice!”

“Thank you. It’s the uniform,” Nate replied. “I should wear it more often.”

Jorden gave him a gentle hug. “Hey, congratulations to you and Darby.”

Emma Lynn looked like she couldn’t contain herself; she jumped up and gave Nate a hug and a kiss.

“Hey there, watch out you’re hugging my guy,” Darby replied while laughing. Her teaching attire had been replaced by an elegant black sheath dress.

“We’re going to be late. No need for you girls to drive onto Fort Benning. Why not come with us?” Nate suggested.

“Who’s going to give us a ride back?” Emma Lynn teased, batting her dark brown eyes.

Nate tossed his keys upward, catching them in midair. “Don’t worry, we’ll give you a ride if you can’t lure one of those nice soldiers to take you home.”

“You’re awful! Darby can have you,” Emma Lynn joked, appearing to be insulted.

Jorden followed Darby into the Officer’s Club with Emma Lynn on her heels. Nate led them through a maze of tables before they reached the one reserved for the engagement party. In no time, recently commissioned officers joined them. Three bottles of Champagne along with bowls of nuts were on the table. Emma Lynn gleamed while flirting with the young soldiers close to her. Looking around the room, Jorden wondered if Matt would come, but then she forced the thought away.

Nate stood up to propose a toast but stopped himself. “Wait, here comes Matt.” Nate pulled out a chair from the table behind them while Matt wound his way through the room, reaching Jorden’s side of the table. She was glad Nate had put the seat next to her. She couldn’t help finding Matt funny and interesting.

By then, all the Champagne glasses were filled. Nate continued his toast. He tipped his glass toward Darby. “To the love of my life, to the woman who will soon be my bride.” He beamed as he pulled Darby next to him. “Cheers!” Glasses clinked. “Age of Aquarius” played in the background; Darby and Nate swayed to the music.

Jorden could hear Emma Lynn laughing. She appeared to dazzle the two officers on either side of her. An hour later, the gathering began to thin out. An officer named Kyle must have won over Emma Lynn as Jorden watched him lead her to the door. A few minutes later, Jorden and Matt also walked outside the Officers’ Club under the cover of the awning. Well-groomed shrubbery and trees were planted next to the entrance.

“Do you need a ride?” Matt asked.

“I do. Thank you.” Jorden pointed to the building across the street. “This looks familiar.”

“Maybe you’ve seen it on television. Lieutenant Calley has been in the news a lot. His military inquiry is going on right now. I’ve even seen him coming into our building.”

“You’re kidding.” After a moment it came back to Jorden; she had seen it on television. Scott O’Brady, the local newscaster, carried the latest details on the events surrounding the My Lai tragedy. Lieutenant William Calley had been charged with killing over one hundred civilians in the hamlet of My Lai in the Quang Ngai Province of South Vietnam. The story finally broke early in September, almost two months ago.

Jorden had thought of Alex when the Calley inquiry made national news. O’Brady spoke of all the killings of innocent civilians which had been hushed up for over a year. She wondered if Alex had seen anything similar—she hoped not.

Jorden continued to stare at the building. “I can’t believe the inquiry is actually happening here. History is in the making.”

“I promise you it is.”

“Can we go in?” Jorden asked.

“Why not.” Matt caught her elbow. “Watch the curb. Hey look, the lights are on, and the entrance is still open.”

Matt steered Jorden through the door and pointed toward the stairway. “Let’s go up to the second floor, where my office is.” The hallways had portraits of generals, battlefields, and military scenes going back to the American Revolution. His office complex was still open. The reception area contained several chairs and a large old wooden desk. Behind the desk was a row of cubicles.

“My cubicle is the fourth one, and Nate’s is two down from mine. Look, you can see the Officers’ Club. Now look straight down. I saw Lieutenant Calley being escorted in from there, followed by the press.”

Jorden bent over to look. “This is quite a view.” She stood up, and thought she saw him glancing at her legs. Shame on him. She tugged at her dress, trying to straighten it.

Matt appeared to notice her unease and led her back to the reception area. “We better go before the cleaning crew kicks us out.”

Jorden looked down at the wooden desk. A nameplate caught her eye–Eloise Butler. Next to it, a white porcelain frame held a picture with the face of a girl probably about ten, with long straight black hair, and dark brown eyes. The face looked familiar.

“What are you staring at?” Matt asked.

“This picture.” Jorden picked it up. “I’ve seen this girl before, but she’s too young to be one of my junior high students.” Puzzled, she placed it back on the desk.

“That’s Eloise’s daughter. This poor woman has such a sad story. Her husband threatened her so many times at the textile mill where she worked they had to let her go. Her supervisor felt responsible for her losing her job, so he helped influence the head of our department to hire her.”

“How awful, but fortunate she got work here,” Jorden replied.

Matt led Jorden out of the building and down another block to his white Dodge Dart. The car looked familiar to Jorden. She stretched her mind, then she smiled. This had to be the same car she spotted driving around her apartment complex the other night.

While pulling out, Matt glanced in Jorden’s direction. “The night’s early. How about dinner?”

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