Page 46 of The Women of Oak Ridge

Was Sissy the yellow-haired gal that Roonie saw?

If so, why was Aunt Mae with the same man?

Who was he? Clive Morrison? It wouldn’t make any sense for her to be with him, considering he’d filed an official complaint against her with the military police.

Yet he’d also claimed they were romantically involved. The whole thing didn’t make any sense.

The telephone jangled from inside the house. I hurried to catch it on the fourth ring.

“Hi, Laurel,” Jonas said. “Is this a bad time?”

Just the sound of his deep voice brought a smile to my lips. “Not at all. I was outside with Peggy.”

“How’s your aunt? I haven’t had a chance to go by the hospital today.”

I filled him in on Dad’s arrival and the hope that Aunt Mae would come home tomorrow.

“Velvet and Roonie stopped by.” I paused. “Roonie remembered something about Aunt Mae from the days when they all worked in Oak Ridge during the war.”

“From the sound in your voice, I gather it wasn’t good.”

I exhaled a long breath. “I don’t know if it’s good or bad, significant or unimportant. Honestly, I don’t know if anything we’ve discovered even matters now. Like I keep saying, all of this happened thirty-something years ago.”

He was quiet for a long moment. “I know you’re frustrated. Would a burger and a milkshake at Hoskin’s drugstore help?”

I heard the humor in his voice and grinned. “You read my mind.”

“Great. My shift ends in an hour. How about I pick you up?”

“I’ll see you then. Thank you, Jonas. I feel better already.”

“That was the plan. See you soon.”

I replaced the receiver, my mood lighter. Jonas was a great listener. He also had experience that came from being a cop. I’d tell him what Roonie and Velvet said and see what he thought.

“Peggy,” I said to the little dog as we went inside. “I have a date tonight. If you’re a good girl, I’ll bring you some french fries.”

She let out a yap of approval.

Dad was at Aunt Mae’s house when Jonas and I returned from dinner.

For some reason, I was nervous for the two of them to meet.

I hadn’t dated a lot since high school, so bringing men home was not something I did often.

And although Jonas and I weren’t officially dating, there was something about him and the way I felt when I was with him that told me he was special.

“Dad, this is Jonas Tyson. Jonas, this is my dad, Harris Willett. Jonas is the police detective I told you about who helped the day Aunt Mae had her accident.”

The men shook hands.

“It’s nice to meet you, sir,” Jonas said. “I’m sorry about your sister. Mae is well loved in our community.”

We settled in the living room, with Jonas and me on the sofa and Dad in Aunt Mae’s favorite chair.

“I’m glad to know that,” Dad said.

His gaze ping-ponged between Jonas and me.

I could practically hear the wheels of his mind turning, wondering what was going on between his daughter and the cop.

I’d phoned him at the hospital earlier to let him know I was going to dinner with a friend.

I’d asked if I could bring him something, but he’d declined.

What I hadn’t said was that my friend was a man.

“How was Aunt Mae when you left her?” I asked. “Is she coming home tomorrow?”

Dad’s expression grew serious. “She’s been a bit confused this afternoon. The doctor isn’t too worried, but they’ll watch her overnight and decide in the morning if she should be released or not.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. What do you mean when you say she’s confused?”

His brow furrowed. “She didn’t recognize me.

Didn’t know I was her brother. She kept asking who I was, and when I’d tell her I was Harris, she’d shake her head.

‘Harry is only eleven years old,’ she’d say.

When an orderly came in with her dinner tray, she called him Garlyn.

The young man looked at me for an explanation, but I’ve never heard the name before. ”

“I have,” I said, surprising him. “Just the other day she mentioned a friend by that name. Someone she worked with at K-25. I got the impression she’d liked him, but they never officially dated. It’s almost as if the concussion has made her mind travel back in time.”

I glanced between the men. Jonas and I hadn’t talked about Aunt Mae while we enjoyed our burgers, which helped get my mind off the mystery for a while. But now it felt right to share the latest information with both of them.

“Velvet and Roonie stopped by earlier. Roonie remembered something about Aunt Mae from the early years in Oak Ridge. I’m not sure what to make of it.”

When I finished telling them the story Roonie had shared with me, Dad looked perplexed.

“I don’t understand.” He shook his head.

“My sister has always been a woman of high morals. Our mama instilled biblical principles of honesty, integrity, and faithfulness in us from the time we were born. I’ll admit I didn’t always live up to them, but Mae did.

She had a strong sense of what was right and what was wrong. ”

“Velvet didn’t think Aunt Mae and the man she was with had a romantic relationship,” I hurried to add. “They didn’t seem like a couple in her opinion.”

“But remember the complaint that Morrison fellow filed with the MPs,” Dad said, concern in his voice. “He claimed he and my sister were lovers and Mae broke into his home in an act of revenge. I wonder if he was the driver of the car.”

Dad had a point. “Then there’s the other girl Roonie saw in the same car with the same man,” I said. “She was blonde.”

“Do you think it was Sissy?” Jonas asked.

I shrugged. “Maybe. The complaint Morrison filed said he believed Aunt Mae was jealous of his interest in Sissy. If the occupants of the car Roonie saw were Morrison and Sissy, and then Morrison and Aunt Mae, it would appear that Morrison did indeed have a relationship with both women. I wish we knew more about the timeline of when Roonie saw Aunt Mae with him. Was it before the break-in and the fire or after? Was it before Sissy went missing or sometime later?”

“Remind me what happened to Sissy,” Dad said.

I told him everything we knew, which wasn’t much.

“When Aunt Mae saw the nurse with the same color of hair, her reaction was one of genuine fear for Sissy’s well-being.

It makes me wonder if something bad happened to Sissy.

And if so, did Aunt Mae witness it? Does it have something to do with Clive Morrison?

There are so many questions, but the only person with the answers isn’t talking. ”

A troubled expression settled on his face.

“I admit all of this has me concerned. I would have never thought my sister could have so many secrets in her past, but I guess everyone does.” He paused.

“Let’s keep this to ourselves for now. We need to focus on getting Mae home and feeling better.

I’m hoping I can convince her to move to Boston.

With her eyesight failing, it doesn’t seem wise for her to live alone anymore. ”

I reached for his hand across the small space between the sofa and chair. “I’m happy to stay with her until you and she decide what to do about the future. I don’t need to be back in Boston until mid-August.”

“Thank you, sweetheart. That’ll help a lot.” He heaved a sigh and stood. Peggy, who’d been curled at his feet, also stood and stretched. “I’m beat. I think I’ll grab a glass of water and call it a night. It was good to meet you, Jonas. Thank you for all your help with my sister.”

Jonas also stood and shook hands with Dad. “Glad to do it, sir. Let me know if there’s anything else you, Mae, or Laurel need.”

I gave Dad a hug, then he headed to the kitchen.

“He insists on sleeping on the pullout sofa,” I whispered. “I’m sorry I can’t invite you to stay for some lemonade.”

“That’s okay.” We moved to the porch, listening as crickets and tree frogs sang a peaceful melody. “I enjoyed hanging out with you tonight.” His gaze held mine. “I know it’s selfish, but I hope you stay in Oak Ridge a while longer. I like being with you, Laurel Willett.”

My stomach did a little flip. I couldn’t look away. “I like being with you too, Detective Tyson.”

His lips lifted in a grin. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

I watched him drive away, unable to stop smiling.

After Peggy went outside, I locked the door and made up the sofa bed for Dad. He came out of the bathroom while I was finishing up.

“Jonas seems like a nice young man,” he said.

I nodded. “He is. He’s been extremely helpful, both with my research and with Aunt Mae.”

Dad chuckled. “I promise not to read too much into this, but you know your mother is going to have a thousand questions if I tell her about Jonas.”

I groaned. “Then let’s not. Jonas and I are just friends. Even if I stay in Oak Ridge a little longer, my life is in Boston. His life is here.”

Dad studied me a lengthy moment. “All I’ll say is, life is short, Laurel. You don’t want to live with regrets. I’m starting to wonder if that’s what my sister’s life has been like all these years. Secrets and regrets.”

His words followed me as I readied for bed.

Peggy ditched me in favor of sleeping with Dad on the couch, so I stretched out in the dark and gazed out the window at the stars.

I said a prayer for Aunt Mae, then whispered, “Lord, I don’t know what’s happening between Jonas and me, but I really like him.

I know you have plans and purposes for each of our lives.

Lead both of us as we spend time together. ”

Sweet dreams claimed me the moment “Amen” crossed my lips.