Sheltering Rain Read Online Free PDF Page A

that made her stomach constrict with longing.
    â€œI wish I could have met you sooner,” he was saying, his voice carrying away from her in the wind.
    â€œWhat? What did you say?” Joy put her hand up to her ear.
    â€œI said I wish I could have met you sooner.” He slowed the car, so that she could hear better. A car full of naval officers tore past them, honking a lewd greeting. “I—I—oh, I don’t know. It’s just pretty galling that I leave the day after tomorrow.”
    A chill ran through Joy’s heart. She could feel every vein turn to ice. “What? What do you mean?”
    â€œWe sail in two days. I’ve got one more day of shore leave, and then we’ve got to head for Korean waters.”
    Joy could not hide the expression of horror on her face. This was too cruel. To have found someone—to have found him—and for him to leave so soon.
    â€œFor how long?” Her voice, when it came out, was small and tremulous. It didn’t sound like hers. Edward turned to look at her, caught something in her face, and turned back to the wheel, signaling that he was about to pull over.
    â€œI don’t think we’re coming back here,” he said, gazing back at her. “We do our bit with the Yanks in Korean waters, and then we’re headed for New York. We’ll be at sea for months.” He was gazing right into her eyes, as he said this, seemingly imparting something of the impossibility of connections when one is always on the move.
    Joy felt like her head was going to explode. Her hands, she noted, had begun to tremble. It was like being given the key to a prison cell, only to find it was made of rubber. She realized, with dismay, that she was going to cry.
    â€œI can’t,” she said quietly, biting at her lip.
    â€œWhat?” Edward had reached over, so that his hand was resting very close to her own.
    â€œI can’t just let you go. I can’t let you go.” She said it loudly, this time, her eyes meeting his full on. Even as she spoke, she couldn’t quite believe what she was saying, the sheer inappropriateness, as a young woman of her upbringing, of her own words. But they felt unstoppable, came fully formed out of her mouth like solid, warm pebbles, falling like offerings before him.
    There was a long, electrifying pause, during which she thought she might die. Then Edward took her hand. His was warm, dry.
    â€œI didn’t think you liked me,” he said.
    â€œI’ve never liked anyone. I mean, I never liked anyone before. I never felt comfortable with anyone before.” She was gabbling now, the words tumbling unchecked, but he didn’t pull away. “I find it so hard to talk to people. And there aren’t people here whom I really want to talk to. Except Stella. My friend, that is. And when you came this morning I was so embarrassed about what happened last night that it was easier to get you to go away than it was to be nice to you. But when you stayed, and we went in the car, and everything, I never felt like that. I never felt like I wasn’t being judged. Like I could just sit, and that person would understand.”
    â€œI thought you were hungover,” he laughed. But she was too intense, too brimful of emotion to laugh with him.
    â€œEverything you’ve said today I’ve agreed with. There’s nothing you’ve said that I haven’t felt myself. I mean obviously not the hunting and stuff, because I’ve never been. But all the things you said about cocktail parties and people and liking horses better sometimes and not minding if people think you’re a bit odd, well, that’s me, too. That’s me. It’s like listening to my own thoughts. So I can’t. I can’t let you leave. And if you’re horrified by what I’ve said and you think I’m the most embarrassing, forward creature you’ve ever met, then I still don’t care,