Page 48 of Landing Love

His son. Junior was his son. He liked the sound of that so much he thought his heart might burst.

With a little chuckle, Mum headed into the kitchen and proceeded to make him a breakfast of bacon, eggs, and toast while he bounced Junior on his knee and talked about the war with his father.

“You’re in no danger of being sent back to Europe, are you?” Da asked.

“Not that I know of. It’s always possible, but I think I’m here to stay.” They’d had this conversation before, but Da always liked the extra assurance.

“Good. I should hope so,” Mum said, bustling out of the kitchen and placing a plate before him.

Bill dug in, famished after a long and tumultuous night.

“Would you like another helping?” Mum had only taken the first few bites of her own breakfast when Bill polished the last crumb from his plate.

“No, I should go back home and check on Ann.” He took his dish to the kitchen sink and rinsed it.

“Give her my love,” his mother said over her cup of coffee.

It was nine o’clock by the time Bill climbed the stairs to his apartment. When he opened the door, Ann was up and dressed, drinking a cup of coffee.

“I brought you some sweet rolls from the bakery,” he said, offering her the little box tied in twine. “I ate with my parents.”

Ann’s tenuous smile fell at that. “I wanted to make you breakfast, but I suppose it wasn’t fair to expect you to wait.”

He folded her in a hug and kissed her forehead. “You can make me breakfast tomorrow. I have to fly in the afternoon, but I’m free all morning tomorrow.”

“What about today?” she asked, taking Junior from him.

“I’m free all day today. I fly out every Wednesday afternoon, and then I get back Friday evening.” If he’d had more time to plan, he would have taken at least a week off for a honeymoon, but everything had happened so suddenly.

“Good to know,” she said with a smile.

What would Ann do while he was away? She would need something to occupy her so that she didn’t sink into the doldrums too much. “I was thinking we should go to the dry goods store and get you things for knitting and crocheting. I’m afraid this apartment doesn’t have a single doily. It needs the urgent services of an expert.”

She laughed. He loved the sound of her laugh.

“And I am urgently in need of a kiss.” Bill took Junior from her arms and set him on the bed, then folded her in his arms. He kissed her deeply and thoroughly, leaving them both panting.

“I think I like being married.” He kissed her neck and took her breast in hand, running his thumb over her nipple.

“We should stop, or we’ll never get out of the apartment.” She arched into his touch.

Reluctantly, he let her go, and they straightened their clothing. “Right. The dry goods store.” He retrieved his wallet while she retrieved Junior. “And we should stop at the bank so that I can give you money, and perhaps we can stop by the real estate office to look at what’s for sale.”

Lord knew they needed a proper house. The apartment was far too cramped for three people.

They headed out into the bustling street with the baby carriage like any other young family out to do their errands. He had to quell the urge to stop everyone they passed and gush about Ann and Junior. Just wait until he had a chance to tell the boys about all this!

At the bank, he signed the necessary papers for her to have access to his account. She clutched his arm when she saw the bank balance. He couldn’t help beaming with pride. “I told you I had plenty of savings.”

“I wish you didn’t have to spend it on me, but I won’t lie; it’s a tremendous relief to know I have enough to live on again. I’ve been on the brink of destitution ever since Roger passed.”

The relief in Ann’s expression broke his heart a little. It should have occurred to him sooner to put her at ease. When he would have done it, he had no idea, but it was a stark reminder of how little they truly knew about each other.

Next, they stopped at a real estate office. “The Millington house on Main Street is for sale, you know,” said the broker as they looked through the offerings.

Yes! That would be perfect. He’d always loved that house.

But Ann frowned, examining the listings with a skeptical gaze.