Read Online A Distant Melody by Sarah Sundin - Free Book Online

Novak.”
    He wiped his hands on his bathing trunks and laced his hands behind his head. “You and I have racked up the adventures, haven’t we?”
    She inspected her hands—the crisp manicure and the red rope burns. “I can’t believe we ran into another cow.”
    Walt’s laughter rang deep and melodious, and Allie joined in pitch-perfect accompaniment.

6
    Friday, June 26, 1942
    For the fifth time, Walt passed the door to the Belshaw building. “Next time I’ll go in. Yeah, next time. You’re a bomber pilot. What’s so hard about opening a door?”
    Across Second Street, Mrs. Llewellyn waved to him. The old gossip would tell the whole town she saw him pacing. Worse, she’d come over to extract all the details of the Flossie rescue operation so she could say she heard it straight from Walter Novak. All the details—how he and Allie recovered Flossie, found the road, and flagged down a pickup truck to find Mr. Fortner himself at the wheel. Of course, Mrs. Llewellyn really wanted to hear why Walt and this out-of-towner were traipsing around the countryside in nothing but their swimsuits.
    Walt waved at Mrs. Llewellyn, ducked inside the Belshaw building, and climbed the stairs to the reception hall. White streamers hung from the center of the ceiling like a giant octopus. Mrs. Jamison and Mrs. Anello spread a cloth on a table across the room, Betty and Dorothy fiddled with some flower thing on another, and Allie stood on a ladder to Walt’s right with a streamer.
    “Walt, darling,” Betty called out. “What are you doing here?”
    “Hi.” He tried to pull his hand out of the pocket of his khaki trousers, but got stuck. He released the item in his clutch and waved. “I’m bored. Dad’s writing his sermon, Mom’s cleaning, Art’s working, Jim and Helen are out, and George’s busy—the wedding’s tomorrow.”
    “We know.” Laughter bounced all around.
    He winced. Stupid, foolish—
    “We can find something for you to do,” Betty said. “Allie, you need some help?”
    “Sure. It’d be much faster if someone tore tape for me.”
    Time alone with Allie—just what he’d hoped for. He ambled over. “I should be the one up the ladder.”
    She lifted one eyebrow. “Do you tie bows?”
    “Bows?”
    “I didn’t think so.” She leaned down and handed him a roll of tape. “Just tear the tape, flyboy.”
    “Glad I can put my military training to use.” He grinned and tore a piece for her. A boring job but not without benefits— like the shapely pair of calves at eye level. Why did women fuss about the stocking shortage? Bare legs were great.
    “Nice view,” he said. He snapped his gaze out the window and grimaced. Swell, he got caught ogling her legs.
    “Hmm?” She bent down and looked outside to the treetops along the street below. “Oh. Oh yes.” She didn’t sound convinced.
    Walt motioned to the window. “I like trees. Green.” Like her eyes when she smiled at him. Was it always so stuffy in here? He tossed his garrison cap onto a table and rolled up his sleeves. Why was he tongue-tied? The day before was incredible. He couldn’t believe they’d talked about kissing. Wow, they talked about kissing, and she sure looked open to the prospect.
    Allie looped the end of the streamer until it looked like some kind of flower. “I can’t believe this week’s halfway over.” She held out her hand for tape, sighed, and twisted up her mouth.
    “You okay, Allie?”
    “Yes, I’m fine.” Her smile wobbled. “I’m trying not to think about going home. Oh, you must think I’m horrible. I love my parents, I really do, and my home, and Riverside, and—”
    “I know. No friends, no fun, no work, not even a good church.”
    She stared at him for a moment, then returned to her bow. “I wish things were different.”
    “Make them different.”
    She cast him a glance over her shoulder.
    “I know you’re shy, but you can do it. Visit a new church, check out the Red Cross.” What was it about