The Age of Forgiveness

By Alisha Jones

When her fiancé went off to war, Eleanor promised never to forgive the three people who talked him into going. When tragedy strikes, she must decide whether to forgive or lose her one true love.

Neil has been in love with Eleanor since he started working for her family. But, when he is asked to tell her fiancé about the military life, he will be risking any future relationship with her.

Is love worth the risk? Can Eleanor find enough love in her heart to forgive?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Alisha Jones
• Release date: Nov 3, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370343461

Book preview

The Age of Forgiveness

By: Alisha Jones.

I am dedicating this book to Uncle Jr., Stormey, and Rosey.

Your information was invaluable to me as I prepared this work.

Also, in memory of my Uncle Paul, whose life in service to his country,

was the inspiration for it.

You are gone but never forgotten.

Copyright © 2017

All characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons,

living or dead, is purely coincidental. Though some of the bits of information

are facts from our history, the work is still fiction. Although many of these events occurred to members of my family, some of the facts, dates, and names have been changed.

Chapter One

(McLeansville, North Carolina, April 1958)

Eleanor Randall waited impatiently for the only face she’d been longing to see for over a year. She stood in the exact place she’d told him ‘goodbye’ more than thirteen months ago, and she couldn’t control the nervousness in her hands as she waited. Overcome with longing, her mind traveled back to the day when she and Blake had bid each other farewell.

She looked up into Blake’s eyes and could feel the love radiating from them. As a small tear slipped from her eye and trekked down her cheek, she felt his strong arm wrap around her shoulders.

Please, Elle, don’t cry. I’ll be back before you know it.

Sniffing, she claimed, I sure hope so, Blake. I love you and I’ll be waiting for you to come home. She’d waited but she had been miserable without him.

Will you write to me? he wondered.

Every single day, she claimed. She’d been true to her word and written him a letter about everything that had happened while he was away. Even if the letter was only a couple of lines long, she’d kept her promise. And, this wasn’t easy, especially when she’d only received a hand-full of letters from him over the last year.

Good. He slipped a piece of paper into her hand and said, Here’s the address of the military base, Fort Polk, in Louisiana, where I’ll be stationed for a while.

Thanks, and you better let me know when you leave the country. I’ll be sick with worry if I don’t hear from you. She recalled the phone call he’d made to let her know that his training was over and he would be on his way to Vietnam in a few days. After she’d burst into tears, she could barely control herself enough to wish him luck.

I will. I promise. He leaned down and placed a simple kiss on her cheek and smiled. Trust me, I want to come back to you just as much as you want me back.

I doubt that, she sneered playfully.

Will you wait for me?

There’s no one else in this world I’d rather be with, she grinned through the parade of tears. That still rang true today as she waited for him to appear at the gate. She knew that Blake Becker was her soul mate and there was no one else in the universe that she could be as happy with.

One more question, he claimed. Will you marry me when I get back?

Wide-eyed, she nodded, If that’s a proposal, Blake Becker, then I accept. She threw her arms around his neck and warned, And, I intend to hold you to it. This was what she most waited for. She wanted to be Mrs. Eleanor Becker more than anything else in the world. And, if he’d keep his promise to her, she would be, soon.

Wouldn’t have it any other way, he smiled, his arms tight around her waist. I’ll make you proud, Elle. I promise.

Eleanor leaned back from his embrace and admitted, I’m already proud of you, Blake. I just want you to make me a wife.

Blake smiled again, gave her one last peck on her cheek, then grabbed his bag from the floor of the airport. See ya in the funny papers. She’d always laughed when he said this, but on that day, she could find nothing funny about it.

Eleanor chuckled slightly until he turned toward his departure gate. Just don’t make it the obituaries. She watched as he boarded the plane and smiled when he waved back to her. She waved half-heartedly and lowered her hand slowly sliding it down the glass that separated them. Please, God, she whispered, let him come back to me. Thankfully, God had answered that prayer. In a few short minutes, Blake would be back in her arms and they would be planning their wedding.

She anxiously twisted her fingers against each other and wiped the nervous sweat from her palms. She knew what time his plane was due to arrive and she’d appeared at the airport almost an hour early. She couldn’t wait to see his gorgeous face and his handsome uniform. She pictured how he would greet her. First, he’d smile that brilliant, toothy smile he had perfected that sent all the girls’ hearts in a tailspin. Then, he would drop his bag on the floor of the airport and run to greet her, scooping her up into his arms and swinging her around and around until she begged him to put her down. Then, at long last, he would kiss her so sweetly that she would never be able to picture a more perfect kiss. Finally, he would take her hand and lead her to their happily ever after. Just the thought of their greeting was enough to make her palms sweat even more.

A little nervous giggle escaped her lips and she glanced around to be sure that no one was watching her. When she did, she noticed a short, round woman standing off in the corner of the airport, crying. As giant tears streamed down the woman’s face, Elle’s heart was overcome with the sensation that she should go over and talk to her. She could still keep the gate’s entrance in her sights and watch for Blake, but she knew she had to talk to this woman. Silently, she slid across the terminal to the woman and asked, Ma’am? Are you okay?

The woman looked up to Eleanor and she finally got a good look at her. She didn’t seem as old as Elle had first thought. She may have been in her mid-forties, instead of the late sixties that she looked from across the terminal. Her glistening eyes, moistened with shed, and unshed, tears fixated on Elle’s face and she began speaking.

Oh, yes, dear, I’m f-fine, she blubbered, her actions betraying her words. I’m s-sorry. I d-don’t mean to be such a sight or cause a s-scene.

Oh, you’re not, Elle comforted, wrapping her arm around the stranger’s shoulders. Can I help you?

No. Thank you so much for asking, though. She clutched a tissue tightly and wiped her eyes and nose. Sniffing back more tears, she claimed, My son is coming home from Vietnam today.

Elle smiled brightly, Ah, so these are tears of joy, then? My fiancé is coming home today, as well. He’s been over there for a year. He called me a few days ago and told me he was coming home. I can’t wait to see him.

The woman began weeping again, and as her tears ran salty tracks down her cheeks, she answered. My son didn’t call me. His Sergeant called and said they were shipping his body back home today. That was after they sent someone to the house about two weeks ago to tell us that our son had been killed in action.

Eleanor’s heart broke for the woman. Here, she stood, blathering on about Blake’s homecoming and her excitement, while this woman was awaiting the coffin with her son in it. How cruel life could be sometimes!

Suddenly speechless, Elle found herself losing the focus of the gate and placing all her attention on the woman. She cleared her throat and asked, What was your son’s name?

W-Willie, she choked. Then, after a small, breathy chuckle, she claimed, Actually, he always hated when I called him that. His full name was William Johnson Moore. He liked to be called ‘Will’, but I just couldn’t get the hang of it. She wiped the tears from her eyes again and continued, He was the pride and joy of our family. You see, his Pa and I were told we would never be able to have children, so we tried to adopt. The week after we brought Willie home from the children’s home, we found out that I was pregnant.

That’s amazing.

It was a miracle, she stated. Willie was such a sweet, little thing, only four years old and cute as can be. She paused while she reminisced over her son. He came into the living room one night and told us that if we wanted to send him back to the home, because having babies is expensive, she mimicked his tiny voice, then he would be happy to go back. He loved us that much. Again, she swiped at the tears that threatened to fall and sighed, But, we loved him more and more every day, and it turned out that our other child wasn’t meant to be. So, we doted on Willie like he was the only baby in the world.

Sounds like he had a wonderful childhood.

Oh, he was the happiest little boy you ever saw, she smiled. Grew up respectable, and responsible, with not so much as a note from a teacher, you know. Then, when he told his Pa and me about his decision to join the military, my heart was crushed.

Eleanor swallowed hard, remembering that feeling very well. I felt the same way when my fiancé told me. I didn’t think I’d ever see him again.

The woman took Eleanor’s hand and rubbed it tenderly, You thank God every day for the blessing of holding him again. You treasure him every single day and never let him forget how special he is.

I promise, Elle confessed. It was nice to have met you and, again, I’m so sorry for your loss.

Thank you, my dear. It was nice to have someone to talk to while I wait.

Would you like me to wait with you?

Child, that would be wonderful, but I don’t wanna bring you down with all my tears and sadness. She shook her head and nodded in the direction that Eleanor had come. You go on back over there and await the arrival of your man. You greet him with the biggest hug and kiss you can muster. You hear?

I will, Elle promised. She winked to the woman and said, Goodbye, Mrs. Moore.

The woman nodded and watched as Elle made her way back to the other side of the terminal. She tried to forget the woman’s confession about her son, but her previous mood was gone. She couldn’t find it in her heart to be cheerful now that she knew Mrs. Moore was awaiting her son’s casket.

She waited another ten minutes, keeping one eye on the gate and the other on Mrs. Moore. Finally, she saw several men in uniform sliding through the gate. There were about fifteen of them. She searched and searched until she spotted Blake’s handsome face, and she almost broke out into a run to get to him. That’s when she saw that he was one of four men carrying a coffin through the gate. It was, no doubt, William Johnson Moore that he carried along with three of his buddies.

She took a long look at Blake’s face. He seemed weary and worn from his journey, but she saw something else that she couldn’t quite recognize. Was it distress? Sorrow? Pain? She wasn’t sure, but she was determined to remove the look from his face and replace it with something akin to joy.

She noticed something else, too. He didn’t seem to be looking for her. In fact, he seemed a million miles away, even though he was carrying that heavy box. His eyes, looking straight ahead, seemed to be glazed over with a far-away look. She assumed this was due to the duty of carrying the coffin of one of his brothers-in-arms, but she couldn’t be sure.

She’d decided to forego sanctity of being a lady and escape into his arms. Just as she’d made the decision, she saw a group of protesters run up to his company and start shouting at them. Their outcries were vile and so vulgar she wished she could scrub the memory from her mind. The horrible group began to spit and curse at the soldiers as they laid the coffin at Mrs. Moore’s feet and turn away. Each person in the mob picked one soldier and followed them around, chanting at them and spitting.

After seeing one of them take out after Blake, Elle couldn’t stand by any longer. She watched Blake slip into one of the chairs and take his tongue lashings without so much as a defense. So, if he wouldn’t defend himself, she would do it for him.

She marched over to where he was sitting and gave the chanter a scornful look. You should be ashamed of yourself, treating a man like that who has risked his life to provide freedom for you and your family!

Elle, don’t, Blake insisted, yanking on her hand.

The merciless mobster turned his attention of her and asked, How can you support this heathen and his unconscionable killing of helpless women and children? You, ma’am should be ashamed of yourself, and of him for allowing our government to do such horrific things to defenseless people.

My fiancé has never harmed anyone in his entire life! she defended.

Elle, please, Blake begged, tugging on her hand again.

People like you disgust me, the chanter spat again, then walked away as though the two of them were the most despicable creatures on the planet.

Eleanor looked to Blake, surprised. Blake, why wouldn’t you defend yourself? Those people were spitting on you and saying some ridiculous things. Why wouldn’t you want me to stand up for you? Better yet, why wouldn’t you do it yourself?

Blake sighed a great, heavy breath. Then, looking toward the coffin he’d just carried in, he asked, Why would I? They’re right.

Chapter Two

Joshua Samuel Randall, you better get out of that bathroom this minute! You know better than to play in there! Olivia shouted as she rounded the corner and stepped through the bathroom door. She spotted her very smart toddler splashing his hands in the toilet and snatched him from the floor as fast as she could.

Oh, that’s disgusting, Ma, Evie cringed at the sight of her brother’s hands wringing wet with toilet water.

Yes, it is, Olivia sneered to her daughter. I thought you were going to be watching him while your sisters and I decorated for Blake’s homecoming?

I was watching him, Ma, she admitted as she took the boy from his mother’s arms. I looked away for a split second and the little beast took off. He’s faster than a snake. She tickled JJ’s belly and giggled when he did. Aren’t ya, you little demon.

I snake! JJ claimed, a string of slobber moistening his overalls.

Yes, you are, his mother smiled. Now, you stay with Evie, ya hear?

Evie! JJ yelled in his sister’s ear and wrapped his chunky arms around her neck.

Ugh, JJ! Your hands are still wet!

Olivia chuckled with delight as she made her way back into the kitchen. She spotted Elizabeth finishing the icing on the cake and warned, That will be your son playing in the toilet, one day.

No way, Liz claimed, a defying, determined look on her face. Lil Johnny is gonna be an angel, just like his Ma. Elizabeth and her husband, Barry, had welcomed a beautiful, baby boy into their family almost ten months ago. The moment she saw her bundle of perfection, Liz proclaimed his name to be, Jonathan Barry Cooper. Johnny, as they have affectionately called him since he could smile at them, was the pride and joy of her little family. And, being the first grandchild on both sides of the family, made him more spoiled than any other child on the face of the earth.

Olivia giggled with delight, Oh yes, he’s perfect now. But, just wait until he learns to walk. He’ll be into everything his little, chubby hands can reach.

Liz released a small giggle at the vision of Johnny’s perfectly chubby fingers, attached to perfectly chubby hands and wrists. She turned to her Pa as he came in through the back door, Were we that much trouble when we were little, Pa?

Josh Randall kissed his wife’s cheek and winked, Trouble? What’s JJ done now?

Olivia laughed, Played in the toilet, again.

His nose curled into a sneer for a small second, then he claimed, Well, boys are adventurous. They like to see what limits they can push before they get in trouble. He walked over and kissed his daughter’s cheek, then claimed, And, no, you girls were always perfect angels.

Liz beamed with delight, but heard a snickering behind her and turned to see her sister entering.

Ha! Pa, I think you and I should have a serious talk about the shenanigans Liz used to get into while you were in the fields, Elaine chuckled.

Why don’t you butt out, Laney, Liz demanded. ’Sides, it’s nothin’ like the trouble you got into. I remember quite a few whippin’s Ma had to give you.

Let’s table this discussion for later. Shall we? Olivia begged. Josh, did you get the tables set up outside?

Sure did, he claimed. What’s next?

I need someone to put the coverings on the tables and fasten them down so they won’t blow away, Liv claimed. Laney, could you and Liz tackle that for me while I get JJ changed? Guests will be arriving in about thirty minutes.

Sure, Ma, Elaine answered, grabbing the tablecloths from the counter. C’mon, Troublemaker, she teased her sister.

Liz rolled her eyes but followed her sister outside to finish decorating.

What are we gonna do with those girls? Olivia wondered aloud.

Josh removed his hat and threw it onto the kitchen table. Sauntering towards his wife, he grinned mischievously. Well, I have no idea what to do with them, but I have some really good ideas on what you do with you.

Tingling nervously, the way she always did when her husband looked at her this way, Olivia smiled and lifted an eyebrow in question. You do? Anything you care to share?

Oh, I care to share everything, but since we are limited on time, I’ll just give you a little hint. He grabbed her around the waist and gently pulled her toward him.

Lowering his head in one fluid motion, he kissed her so passionately that her head swam. Wow, she said when he stopped to catch his breath.

Do you know how beautiful you are, Mrs. Randall?

Blushing from head to neck, she asked, Why don’t you tell me?

A small chuckle escaped his lips and he claimed, You are the most beautiful woman who has ever lived, and ever will live. You are everything to me and I will love you forever.

Forever is a long time, Mr. Randall.

Yes, it is. He kissed her again, this time sweeter than before. You want me to take JJ out with me so you can use Evie?

I’d love it! Thank you.

Anytime, Darlin’. I’m here to serve, he teased with a short bow at the waist.

I’ll have to remember that, she played. I may need serving after this party is finished.

You only have to ask. He winked as he began to saunter out of the room when she called him back.

Well, since you’re being so generous, can I ask a favor?

Your wish is my command, he playfully bowed before her.

Will you please take JJ down to the mailbox? He’s been begging me all afternoon, and it’s been so busy around here that I haven’t had time.

Of course, he agreed, for a price.

And how much will it cost me? she played.

One kiss.

Olivia approached him slowly and wrapped her arms around his neck tenderly. She locked her lips on his and kissed him passionately. Consider my bill paid in full, she teased as she left him standing in the hallway.

Josh rubbed his thumb across his lips, reliving the kiss from his wife. They’d been married three years and he still saw her as the beautiful bride that she’d been on their wedding day. And, boy, she could still kiss!

C’mon, you little squirt, he laughed as he picked