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"My God, Rush was nearly killed It was so close The doctors said – " Lindy paused and bit into her bottom lip to control the eht about the accident

"He could have gotten hurt in a car accident driving to an office just as easily Would you suggest he never sit in a car again?"

"No Of course not" Her hands shook as she raised the ht ood navy wife, I don’t have it I couldn’t stand on that pier and sleefully sails off into the sunset I can’t take these long hta life together It’s not that ith Rush It won’t ever be that way – not as long as he’s in the navy I can’t be like you, Susan I wish I could, but it’s just not in me"

"You’d rather be separated for a lifeti

"Yes It would be easier than dying by inches No Oh God, Susan, I don’t knohat I want any ti "I stopped counting the tio Every tie carrier pull away, I think I’ll never be able to do it again Letting Jeff go, and doing it with a s, Lindy You think I’ood, but I’m not"

"But you are"

"No I’m just a woman who loves her man"

"I love Rush, too," Lindy returned defiantly

"I know, and he loves you" The tip of Susan’s finger circled the rihtful "I don’t think I’ll ever forget the night I first , and Rush and Jeff were fiddling around on the patio with the barbecue Reme one of the boys and I saw Rush look at you Lindy, there’s no way I can describe the longing that ca him stare at you with such tenderness madethe baby Jesus In that ed Rush, and how important you had becoht succeed in getting hiret it I know Rush will Eventually it would cripple him, and in the process, you If ever there was a man as meant to lead others, meant to serve his country, it’s Rush"

"Why is it always the woe?" Lindy cried "It’s not fair"

"You’re right," Susan agreed, with a sad se Rush and succeed, he won’t be the same man you fell in love with, or the same man you married"

Lindy bowed her head, more confused than ever

"Rush took your words to heart," Susan added, looking both disheartened and disappointed

Lindy jerked her gaze up "How do you know that?"

"He doesn’t expect you to be waiting for him when the Mitchell docks next month Jeff wrote that Rush has volunteered for the first watch"

"What does thatto remain on board as officer of the day the first twelve hours after the crew is dismissed He told Jeff he didn’t have any reason to hurry ho to be there"

"But, I didn’t ed "Hoas Rush supposed to know that?"

The phone rang twice and Lindy glanced at her watch, calculating if she had enough ti Susan and the other navy wives She had no intention of being late for this last fling before the Mitchell docked Taking a chance, she hurried into the kitchen

"All right, all right," she grumbled, and reached for the receiver "Hello?"

Her greeting was followed by a short silence, and then a soft female voice asked, "Is Steve Kyle available, please?"

"Carol? Is that you?" Lindy’s heart started to pound with excite to talk to her former sister-in-law for weeks

"Who’s this?"

Carol’s voice was far froentle blonde squaring her shoulders and bringing up her chin

"It’s Lindy"

"Lindy! I didn’t know you were in Seattle"

"Six months now"

"You should have called I’d love to see you again"

"I wanted to contact you," Lindy said, her spirits lifting as a Christ came over the radio, "but Steve wasn’t in favor of the idea How are you?"

"Good Real good Well, tell me – are you Mrs Paul Abrah "The last ti and you were floating on cloud nine"