The Glory Days

It had become normal for them to visit with Bridget’s parents on a weekend basis as the weeks went by. Today, a beautiful Saturday morning with not a cloud in the sky, they would be returning to that sweet, friendly neighborhood and also planned on helping out with the local victory garden. Bridget knew Steve would like to feel that he was helping out in the war while not overseas, no matter how small or trivial a task, and so she suggested the idea to her parents and sibling who were all gung ho about doing their part for the war.

As usual, they took a cab to the welcoming community in the early evening and arrived at her parents’ front door in due time, finding a note pinned down to it with a tack. “My parents and Gracie are already down there,” Bridget pointed out after reading the small piece of paper. “The note says it’s only a few blocks away, so let’s go.”

She extended her hand out for Steve and it was taken without hesitation, the warmth of his hand flooding onto her cool one. The two then began the short walk towards the community garden, their arms swinging between them as they passed the neighbors who greeted them with kindness. It was all sort of dream-like to Bridget, it was all too good to be true, and if this was in fact a dream, she hoped that she would never wake.

The garden soon came within view and they immediately got to work, helping every other volunteer pick fresh fruits and vegetables from the soft soil as well as plant more. Steve was in awe of the garden. It was taking up an entire empty lot, filled from edge to edge with greenery, and the fresh scent of tomatoes, strawberries, and carrots, among many other foods, was relaxing in a way.

Steve picked up his small basket, placing tomatoes inside of it with care as to not bruise them in any way. As he picked the final one from the vine, he couldn’t help but take a bite of the deliciously juicy fruit, flavor washing over his taste buds and smiling from how good it was.

Bridget noticed him taking a bite and laughed softly, scolding, “Hey, don’t do that!”

Steve looked up and noticed her, smiling as he heard her laugh. “It’s real delicious,” he said through a mouthful of tomato, soon extending it to her. “Try it.”

She softly giggled, looking from his hand to his expectant face before leaning forward with her mouth open to take a taste. As she was about to chomp down, he moved it slightly from her mouth jokingly, the two of them chuckling as he finally let her have a bit. Bridget smiled and nodded her head, letting him know she loved the taste as well.

They continued to pick more fruits, and Bridget began to start thinking about Steve returning to war. It was a subject they had never really touched ground on since his arrival, and she knew that she’d feel much better if she knew what was going to happen now rather than later, so she asked about it.

“So, Phillips sent you back,” she began. “Is it permanent?”

Knowing this conversation would have to be brought up sooner or later, Steve sighed and turned his gaze to face Bridget. “I’m stateside for now,” he said. “When they get another lead, I’ll be heading back.”

“What will happen if they don’t need you to go back?”

“Bridget, you know I have to go back,”

“I know; I just worry is all.” She softly sighed, taking her basket towards a faucet to be rinsed.

Steve smiled sadly and followed her, wrapping his arms around her as she cleaned the tomatoes and whispering in her ear, “You don’t need to worry.”

She smiled as his soft breath tickled her lobe. “Maybe, but it doesn’t mean I won’t.”

“Bridget,” Emilia called, walking over to her daughter with a grin. “Why don’t you and Steve go on and leave the rest to us?” She suggested, taking Bridget’s basket and placing it atop hers. “Gracie was going to go down and collect the scraps from the neighbors with Johnny Little next door, but he’s sick, and Lord knows that little sister of yours can’t lift heavy things for the life of her.”

“Would you like to?” Bridget turned to ask Steve.

“Sure, sounds good,”

“Great, thank you, Steven, for helping out.” Emilia graciously thanked. “There’s a cart in the backyard for you to put the scraps inside. The neighbors usually place what they have on the front porch so you just have to walk up and take them. Mr. Magnusson is driving them into the city so you can just drop them off at his house. Do you remember where he lives?”

“Yes, mom, three blocks down from home.”

“Good. You two be careful, okay?”

“Bye mom,”

“Bye, baby,” Emilia brought Bridget in for a hug and kissed her cheek before taking Steve by surprise and doing the same to him. “Bye, Steve, I know you’ll take care of Bridget.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he said with a nod.

“Good boy,” she giggled. “I’ll see you both at home for dinner later. Do whatever you’d like after helping with collecting the scraps.”

They said their goodbyes once more before departing back for home. Walking into the backyard, they found the cart Bridget’s mom had told them about and they struck a deal that Bridget would gather the scrap while Steve would push the cart down the street, knowing it was bound to get heavier as they went down more homes. Just as Emilia had said, the neighbors left their scrap metal on the porch for them to take, and it was a fast process because of it. They didn’t have to wait on people to gather their things; they could just walk up and leave in a matter of seconds.

Once it was all collected, Steve pushed the cart down the street with ease, and Bridget was in awe that he could move it so effortlessly. Soon it was time to move the metal from the cart to Magnusson’s pick-up, and Steve and Mr. Magnusson’s son did so without wasting time. Bridget would hand off pieces to Steve, and he’d flash her a smile of thanks in return. Within a good ten minutes, they were seeing off Mr. Magnusson and Bobby Magnusson as they went off to deliver the metal, and as they headed home, they decided to instead take a stroll before dinner.

They said nothing during their excursion around the neighborhood, only enjoying each other’s presence as they both knew now that they’d have to say goodbye once again sometime in the next weeks or months to come. They walked until the sun began to set, and it was when they were unknowingly passing by Bridget’s parents’ home that they were called in for supper by Gracie who had seen them pass by the home numerous times.

She was glad that her sister had found someone to be with, and knowing that it was Steve, someone who Gracie had known since they were children, brought a sort of peace of mind to her. She knew that she could trust him. She knew that he was a good match for her older sister.

As soon as supper was finished and the plates were being done by Gracie and Emilia while Bill mowed the back lawn, Steve and Bridget slipped out onto the front porch, the streets dark and lifeless now as everyone was inside. Bridget sat upon a bench and Steve stood looking out at the night sky. Behind her, Bridget noticed her mother’s old radio, and she pressed the power button, tuning it to a radio station with the least amount of static.

As a song came on, Bridget smiled. “Oh, I love this song,” she whispered softly, her eyes gazing towards Steve who was now looking at her as well.

He sat down beside her on the bench, looking straight into her eyes, heart pounding like a jackhammer within his chest from anxiety. “You know, I was feeling guilty that I had such a soft, easy life, that I wasn’t doing my part for the war… but then I met you again, and I…” Bridget gazed at Steve, giving him all her attention, her heart fluttering in her chest as he spoke to her with such love.

Steve laughed nervously, not knowing how to say what he meant. “I know this may not be the best timing, but if there’s anything this war’s teaching people it’s that you can’t put things off, Bridge. When I look back, and think about growing up together, I remember all the good times we had. They were probably the best times of my life.” A smile spread across Bridget’s face slowly and she let out a soft laugh, glad to know that was what he thought. “And for the life of me, I can’t remember a time where I wasn’tmadly in love with you.”

The words he spoke seemed to hit her like a ton of bricks, and she was breathless for a few seconds as she processed his romantic proclamation. He grew more nervous as the silence passed, the palms of his hands growing sweaty and his throat becoming dry.

“I wish you’d say something,” he laughed anxiously, trying to calm himself down but his attempts being futile.

She licked her lips and found a smile creeping its way upon her lips. “I wish you would’ve said that so much sooner.” She blushed, her hand sneaking its way into Steve’s and squeezing it.

Steve beamed with happiness and kissed her, not caring about anything in the world at that moment except for her. She was all that he needed, wanted, and more.

From the day Steve returned home from war, it took them a month and three weeks to get engaged, and another five days to get married.

Notes