“Mattie. Mattie Lawson.”
“I'll relay the message.” The line went dead.
Mattie stared at the receiver, then hung up. Dejected, she leaned against the wall and slowly let out her breath. “He'll call tomorrow. The woman said they have to find him.”
Jean nodded. “Well, tomorrow isn't that far away.” She gave Mattie a one-armed hug. “It's a lot better than never.”
“I know. I was just hoping.” She could feel tears of disappointment burning the backs of her eyes. “I wish mama hadn't disconnected the telephone. Grandmother never liked it.” She shrugged. “When I came home it didn't seem necessary.”
Jean laid an arm over Mattie's shoulders. “It'll be fine.” She walked to the counter and laid several items on it. “I need to pay for these.” She sorted through the purchases.
“Sure.” Celeste returned to her place behind the counter and totaled the goods.
After paying for the items, Jean headed for the car. Snow drifted from a gray sky, and the air felt colder. She set the groceries on the back seat and climbed inside. “It's freezing.”
Mattie slid onto the passenger seat. “I'm such a mix of happy and sad all at once. I know I should just be glad that he's alive, but I really wanted to talk to him.” She looked at the snow accumulating on the front window. “I'll scrape it,” she offered.
“No, I'll do it.” Jean opened her door, but before stepping out, she said, “I wanted to talk to him too.”
She scraped snow and ice from the windshield, then returned to the front seat. “Brrr. It's getting colder.” She started the engine, put the car into gear, and backed around.
Celeste appeared on the store steps, hollering and waving her arms.
“Wait,” Mattie said. She rolled down the window.
“He's on the phone! Luke! He's on the phone!”
“Oh, my Lord,” Mattie said, excitement pulsing through her. She bailed out of the car and ran inside the store. Her hands shaking, she picked up the receiver and put it to her ear. “Luke?”
“Yes. Is that you, Mattie?”
Eyes filling and overwhelmed with emotion, Mattie barely managed to say, “It's wonderful to hear your voice. I thought I'd never…” She was unable to finish.
“Me too. I feel the same way.”
“Are you all right?”
“Yes. I'm fine,” Luke said.
“Where have you been?”
“When the Wasp sank, I was injured and admitted to a field hospital. I couldn't remember anything, not even my own name. For the last four months I haven't known who I was or who anyone else was, for that matter. I completely lost my memory, but I've got it back now.”
Mattie tightened her grip on the phone. “Luke, I have to tell you how I feel.”
“I love you, Mattie. I'll never stop loving you.”
“I love you too.”
“I knew it!” Luke chuckled. “While I was on the ship, I thought about you. When I was thrown into the water, I thought about you. And ever since I got my memory back I've been thinking of you.” He paused. “Mattie, please marry me. Will you marry me?”
“Yes. Yes, I will.” Mattie cried and laughed all at once.
Jean's eyes brimmed.
“I can't wait to see you. How long until you come home?”
“A couple of weeks. They have to process my papers, then I'm on my way. I'll fly into the base at Anchorage.” Luke was quiet for a moment. “I can't wait to see you, Mattie, to hold you. Will you meet me at the air base?”
“I'll be there.”
“We'll have a wonderful life together. There's good land in the valley. We can have our own farm, and we can raise our family in a place we both love.”
Mattie was taken off guard. She'd figured that if Luke was found alive they would go back to Seattle. He'd seemed to like it there.
“Can I talk to him?” Jean asked.
“Oh. Yes. Of course.” Mattie clutched the phone. “Luke, I have to go. Your mother's here, and she wants to talk to you.”
“OK. I'll write and tell you the whole story. I love you so much.” “I love you.”
Mattie cleared away the lunch dishes, her spirits still high. Luke would be coming home, and they'd be married. She was keyed up and needed to get out and walk. “After we get these finished, I think I'll go for a walk,” she told her mother.
“I'll do them. You go.” She smiled. “I know you have a lot to think about.”
“Thank you. I do.” Anxious to get moving, Mattie hurried to the bedroom she shared with her grandmother and pulled on warm clothing. She pushed her feet into fur-lined boots and headed for the door. “I won't go far,” she said before stepping outside.
