Battle Hymns Read Online Free PDF Page A

perfectly, as though they were
always meant to be. One entity. Soul mates. And nothing would keep
them apart, not even the war.
    ***
    M orning arrived with a loud
peal of the alarm clock. Nick didn’t stir, so Charlotte reached
over him and silenced the bells on the nightstand. She pulled the
sheet over her chest and gazed at Nick. He lay on his stomach, his
back bare.
    She rubbed his shoulders to rouse him. “It’s time to
wake up.”
    He groaned and turned his head toward her. He opened
his eyes and smiled. “What a sight to wake up to.” He drew her
close and kissed her lightly. “Good morning.”
    A door in the hallway closed.
    She pulled away. “We should get ready.”
    Nick heaved a sigh. “All right. I’ll see you
downstairs.”
    Charlotte stood from the bed and grabbed her
nightgown from the floor. She was about to pull it over her head
when Nick stopped her. “Wait. Just let me see you for another
moment.”
    She paused, granting his request.
    His eyes swept her body from head to toe. “Thank you.
That image will get me through this war.”
    With a sheepish smile, she finished dressing.
    Charlotte made it to the guestroom without being
caught. She dressed in a gray wool skirt and jacket ensemble with a
dark blue blouse, black heels, and matching cloche hat. She didn’t
bother with makeup. Her tearful eyes would only run the mascara.
Her curls were untidy so she pinned them into a low bun and pulled
on the hat. Then she packed up her belongings and her gift from
Nick and went downstairs.
    The Adlers were eating breakfast in the dining room.
Nick sat at the table in his new Army uniform: tan khaki pants and
a green khaki jacket, shirt, tie, and cap. He looked quite dashing,
even as he picked at a piece of toast with jam. Mr. Adler read the
morning’s Washington Post while sipping a cup of coffee.
Mrs. Adler ate small bites of her toast and eggs. Charlotte was
offered a similar breakfast, but she didn’t have an appetite. She
accepted a cup of tea instead.
    Conversation at the breakfast table was stagnant. No
one muttered a word until Mr. Adler looked at his watch, folded the
newspaper, and said, “It’s time to go.”
    The four of them arrived at Union Station half an
hour later. It was crowded inside the depot, a sea of khaki green
with so many soldiers leaving that morning. They checked the
departure board for Nick’s train and made their way through the
crowd. They arrived at the platform only ten minutes before the
final whistle.
    John Cartwright spotted them and waved. He wore an
identical uniform to Nick’s and tapped his fingers on his thigh,
seemingly impatient for the train to depart.
    “How was Grand Rapids? How’s Natalie handling this?”
Charlotte asked.
    After Nick and John enlisted and received their
orders, John traveled to Michigan to spend the week with Natalie,
since she couldn’t be here to see him off.
    “She’ll be fine. Grand Rapids was all right. I hadn’t
met Natalie’s folks before . . . I’m not sure they
like me.” John shrugged. “Oh well. It was great to see her before I
left.” He pointed to the passenger car. “I’m heading inside.
Charlotte, take care of yourself. Natalie, too.”
    “I will.” Charlotte hugged him. “Be safe.”
    John said farewell to Mr. and Mrs. Adler, hopped into
the doorway of the train, and disappeared among the soldiers.
    All around her, men said good-bye to their loved
ones. Charlotte wasn’t ready to do the same. She never would
be.
    Nick cleared his throat. “I’ll have to join him in a
few minutes.”
    Mr. Adler placed a hand on his son’s shoulder. “We’re
going to miss you,” he said, his jaw tight. “Nick, you’re following
in the footsteps of the rest of the men in our family. Your
great-grandfather fought in the Civil War, both of your
grandfathers fought in the Spanish-American War, and even I served
a year in the supposed ‘war to end all wars’ before I met your
mother.” He nodded his head intently.