“Them,” she said, pointing to no one. She picked up Margaret’s drink, still nearly full and diluted by the ice that had melted. Gladys took a sip and winced.

“Take a turn with Oliver, honey. My feet are spent.”

Oliver helped Gladys into her seat.

“Would you like to dance, Margaret?”

“You don’t have to ask just to be kind.”

“I’m not being kind. I was going to ask anyway.”

She took the hand he extended to her and he pulled her gently to her feet. They walked hand in hand to the parquet floor and the band switched to a slow song.

Oliver pulled her into his arms. She’d never been this close to a man before, and there was something pleasant about swaying next to his tall, rugged frame. It was something she’d like for herself one day. This feeling that someone was her partner in life, leading as she followed. Following as she led. As much as she enjoyed the horizons that women were nearing and had taken steps even closer to them by working at the Navy Yard, something in her yearned for this kind of relationship as well. She wondered again—could they both be had?

“May I ask you something, Margaret?”

She looked up.

“Of course.”

“I’ve bought a ring for Gladys. Do you think she’ll say yes? Or will she boot me back over the Atlantic?”

Goose bumps popped up on Margaret’s arm. “Oliver, that’s really…nice of you. And I wish I could tell you that I’m confident she’ll accept it. But you know Gladys. She loves to surprise people.”

“That’s what I like about her, Margaret. Love about her, in fact.”

Margaret nodded. “I know. Me too. Life with Gladys will never be dull. She’s been on her own for so long and has well-earned opinions about, well, just about anything. I’ve never thought there would be a man who could tolerate that about her.”

“I don’t tolerate it. I appreciate it.”

“You are one in a million, my friend.”

He tipped an imaginary cap in gratitude and his voice turned somber. “It would mean moving back to England someday. I’m probably here until the war is over. And after D-Day victory, that may be sooner rather than later.”

So many thoughts ran through Margaret’s mind as she imagined what Gladys might say to that. It was really anybody’s guess. Oddsmakers would be at a loss to lay bets on it.

“You know she’s not going to be the type to settle down and have babies, right?”