Page 57 of The Women of Oak Ridge
OAK RIDGE, TENNESSEE
A fresh layer of snow blanketed the yard when I awoke and looked out the window.
The wintry weather had turned Oak Ridge into a picture-perfect Christmas scene.
I was grateful the storm had held off until my plane landed in Knoxville late last night.
I was also grateful it was toasty and warm inside.
Jonas and his dad had volunteered to keep an eye on Aunt Mae’s house after she moved to Boston at the end of the summer, and they’d repaired the ancient heater last week after it conked out.
I glanced at the clock on the bedside table. I still had thirty minutes before Jonas was due to arrive. As I padded across the hall to the bathroom, I thought back to his trip to Boston last month for Thanksgiving.
Aunt Mae had proudly given him a tour of her new apartment in the basement of Dad and Mom’s house.
After sleeping in my old bedroom while the renovation took place, she’d happily moved into her own space the previous week.
She and Mom spent hours decorating, enjoying each other’s company.
A new watercolor of the Tennessee mountains Mom painted for Aunt Mae hung prominently over the sofa, a reminder of her former home.
Even my sisters spent time with our aunt these days, learning how to make clothes on the old sewing machine and bake cookies.
The best news was Aunt Mae’s eyesight had greatly improved, stumping her ophthalmologist. Aunt Mae simply stated that God had healed her of many things when he set her free, including her failing eyesight.
I’d just finished applying a little makeup when Jonas knocked on the front door.
I missed having Peggy bark her greeting when someone arrived, but she was queen of the Willett’s Boston house now.
Mom and my sisters adored the little dog, and I’d even caught Dad sneaking treats to her from time to time.
“Good morning,” I said when I opened the door.
Jonas looked like a ruggedly handsome lumberjack in his plaid flannel shirt, jeans, and boots.
We’d planned to go hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park this morning and attend an Oak Ridge Boys concert in Knoxville tonight.
I hoped the snow wouldn’t put a kibosh on our plans.
“Good morning, beautiful.”
I was in his arms a moment later, his warm lips on mine.
When we parted, he held up a brown paper bag. “Fresh donuts for breakfast.”
“You read my mind.” I led the way to the kitchen and started a pot of coffee. “It seems so strange that Aunt Mae lives in Boston now instead of here in her house.”
Jonas sat at the table, opened the bag, and peered inside. “Correction. Your house.”
I joined him while we waited for the coffee to brew. “I still can’t believe she gave me the deed to her house for Christmas. I’m sure my jaw dropped to the floor when I opened the envelope.”
He smiled. “It was definitely a very generous gift.”
“Later, when I was alone with Dad, I asked him what he thought about it. I mean, he’s her brother. If anyone should have inherited the house, it’s Dad.”
“What did he say?”
“He’s happy for me to have it.” Bashfulness came over me as I looked at Jonas, but I didn’t turn away. “Especially now. Secrets brought me to Oak Ridge six months ago, but you’re the reason I want to come back.”
He reached for my hands. “I know we have a lot of things to work out, logistics being one of them, but there isn’t anything we can’t overcome together.”
We kissed again.
“I have something cool to tell you,” I said, grinning, “but I didn’t want to share it over the phone. It’s too juicy and wonderful.”
He laughed. “That sounds interesting.”
“Do you remember Aunt Mae telling us about the young man she dated during the war?”
Jonas nodded. “She broke things off with him because she felt guilty for what she was doing.”
“Well, he lives just outside of Washington, DC.”
His brow rose. “How do you know that?”
“It’s the craziest thing. Dr. Baca has a friend who teaches history at Georgetown. Last semester he invited guest speakers to talk to the students about the Manhattan Project. Dr. Baca suggested I contact his friend and get the names of the guest speakers, with the hope of interviewing them.”
Jonas squinted. “You’re not going to tell me—”
“Retired Lieutenant Colonel Garlyn Young was among them. Of course, I had no idea who he was. I contacted him, told him about my research, and asked if he’d be willing to talk to me.
He said he was going to be in Boston during the holidays, so I invited him to the house.
” I grinned. “He and Aunt Mae saw each other again for the first time in thirty-something years.”
Jonas’s mouth gaped. “What was Mae’s reaction?”
“She was shocked and very shy at first, but they were soon chatting like old friends. He’s a widower and has a son who’s in the Army. He confessed that when he first heard my last name, he hoped there was a family connection to the young woman he’d known in Oak Ridge.”
“Did she tell him about her secret past?”
“She did. I was so proud of her. Garlyn got very emotional. He said he wished she had told him what was going on back then, because he’d always suspected Clive Morrison was up to no good.
Even Mr. Colby, Aunt Mae’s boss, had hinted that he didn’t fully trust Clive and told Garlyn to keep an eye on him. ”
“That’s wild. Are they going to see each other again?”
“I hope so. Garlyn got Aunt Mae’s telephone number and promised to call.”
“What a great ending—or beginning—to their story.”
While I rose to pour us each a cup of coffee, Jonas took two chocolate frosted donuts out of the bag.
“The Kingston police chief called yesterday. He said the memorial stone Mae ordered was installed at the pauper’s cemetery last weekend.
Sissy’s brother Joe and his family came to the public ceremony. ”
I returned to the table with the coffee.
“Aunt Mae will be so pleased. She said writing to Sissy’s family to tell them everything that happened was one of the hardest things she’s ever done.
But in the letter Joe sent in return, he expressed his gratitude for her friendship with his sister and for giving them closure.
His parents never gave up hope that their daughter would come home someday.
They’ve both passed away, but Joe still lives on the family farm and has a daughter named Sissy. ”
“It must’ve been hard for her parents not to know what happened,” Jonas said.
“According to the chief, when the mayor read the inscription on the memorial about Sissy and the other people buried there being known and loved by God, it brought some of the attendees to tears. A group of people stayed after the ceremony to clean up the cemetery and place flowers on all the graves.”
“Would you mind if we drove out there today?” I asked. “I’d like to take a picture of it for Aunt Mae.”
“Your wish is my command, Miss Willett,” he said before he stuffed his mouth with a big bite of donut.
“Good,” I grinned, “because I have a whole list of things I need to do and places I want to see while I’m here.
Dr. Baca thinks my dissertation will be good enough to publish once I finish it.
I’m thinking about titling it Secrets from the Secret City .
Thanks to Georgeanne, I have several interviews lined up with some of the women she worked with at Y-12, as well as one with your mom.
I also want to go back to K-25 and take a closer look.
When we were there before, I didn’t appreciate everything Aunt Mae experienced.
Then there’s the area that used to be Happy Valley where Velvet lived, and—”
“Whoa, now.” Jonas chuckled. “You’re only here for a week before school starts up again. I kind of hoped to have your undivided attention.”
I heard the teasing in his voice. I slowly put down my coffee cup, stood, and plunked down in his lap, with my arms around his neck. Delighted surprise registered in his eyes as I gazed at him.
“Is this undivided enough for you, Detective Tyson?”
He laughed and pulled me into his embrace. “As long as I get to hold you like this every day you’re here, then yes, this is enough. For now.”
“For now,” I whispered before our lips met in sweet passion. Promise, hopes, and a multitude of happy dreams overflowed from those two simple words.
I’d come to Oak Ridge with the sole intent to uncover secrets about the Manhattan Project and the people involved in it.
What God had planned was so much better.