Watching Lily

He had not been expecting a letter. He had just finished his solitary lunch - a carefully prepared sandwich with two slices of Danish ham, each placed on a piece of 100% stone ground whole wheat bread with mustard, never mayonnaise, and one slice of baby Swiss cheese strategically placed in the middle.

As he washed his plate, his gaze habitually wandered to his neighbor across the street. At 71, Lily was one year his junior. With the hint of past beauty and her smock draped over her thin frame, Lily, armed with a spade and shielded from the sun by her souvenir straw hat from a long ago Hawaiian vacation, was on her regular Tuesday afternoon mission to rid her garden of all intruders. So engrossed was she on weeding, she did not hear the car approach or the slam of the car door that diverted his gaze to the stranger walking toward the front porch.

The plate slipped from his fingers as he felt his stomach lurch. He remembered that it had been raining steadily all day and he barely heard the knock on the door as he strained to hear the radio.

"Yesterday, December 7th, 1941 -- a date which will live in infamy -- the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan."

His brain fogged by shock, it took a moment for the noise to register. A low moan then anguished screaming. He had watched Lily clutching the telegram and whispering, "Tommy."

He had watched Lily in bed, too wounded to move. He had watched Lily manically pack Tommy's belongings along with hers. He had watched Lily settle into the house across the street. He had watched Lily plant her garden. He had watched Lily visit with neighbors. He had watched Lily look at him as he waived, then tentatively begin to wave back. He had watched Lily begin to smile at him again. He had watched Lily's smile fade as she began to wander each night as the sun went down. He had watched the nurse he had hired guide Lily home each evening. He had watched Lily.

The knock on the door broke his reverie and shocked him to the present. As he opened the door, the stranger introduced herself and gently placed a worn letter in his hands. He read the familiar handwriting - a mishmash of cursive and print.

Dearest Mother -

The weather here is beautiful and we have a day of leave off base. I have missed you so much since your visit in August. Are you enjoying the hat we found together at the market?

Mother, I have wonderful news. The woman in the picture is Sarah, my wife. She is a nurse and I hope you will love her as much as I do. Please do not stay mad at dad. If I had not enlisted, I would not have met my bride and I am the happiest fellow on Earth.

I will write again soon.

Your devoted son,

Tommy

December 6, 1941

As he dropped the letter, he looked past Sarah at Lily. He watched Lily look up. He watched Lily smile.