The Pieces We Keep(137)

Sean was leaning forward again, more relaxed now. By rebuilding another section of his history, maybe his nights would become restful sooner—much like Jack’s could if only someone knew the answers.

At this stage, Audra figured, what could it hurt to ask?

“In Vivian’s diaries, it didn’t say anything about what really happened to Isaak, did it?”

Luanne replied solemnly, “It did, dear. She said he was executed.”

Oh, boy. Audra would have to find a tactful way to provide the latest update.

“About that,” she began, and Sean raised a brow. “There’s a woman Sean put me in touch with to help do some research. She claims Isaak was only given prison time. And that years later, he was granted clemency for collaborating and was deported to Germany. But then he disappeared.”

Luanne’s eyes widened. “I never heard a thing about it.”

Audra immediately saw there was no need to speculate over Isaak’s true demise. If there was ever an airplane connection, it seemed they would never know.

“Whatever the case,” Sean said to Luanne, “I’d say it’s time for us to follow through and tell Mom together.”

In a heavy manner, Luanne agreed. “I don’t expect forgiveness—I’ ve withheld too much for too long. But she does deserve to know.”

“I’m sure she’ll understand,” Audra assured her, “if you explain everything like you did just now.”

Luanne extended a grateful look. Then she shook her head and let out a dry laugh. “I was a fool to think I could outrun the past. It has much quicker feet than I do anymore.”

When Sean’s lips spread into a smile, Audra’s did the same. It went without saying that the past kept a faster pace than them all.





64


Throughout supper, Vivian consciously focused on the present, not the future. Her discussion with Mrs. Langtree from earlier that day made this a difficult yet necessary task. The topic wasn’t appropriate for company until Vivian could broach the matter with Gene, even if the guests were both family.

Luanne and Fred, married three months now, had come to celebrate Judith’s birthday. The couple had first met at a diner just blocks from the law firm where Luanne worked as a secretary. When they announced their engagement four months later, ending Luanne’s long run of passing courtships, Vivian’s initial shock fast became delight. Gene was as cautious as any big brother ought to be, particularly one in Intelligence, but Fred gave no grounds for objection. He was a kind, average-looking fellow enrolled as a medical student at NYU. He had discovered his interest in the field while serving as an Army medic primarily in Burma. Although he didn’t say much about his tour-a commonality among combat vets-his political opinions tended to flow a bit more after a glass of wine.

“I know there’s some folks out there who question it in hindsight,” he said between bites of glazed ham, “but I, for one, am grateful we dropped those A-bombs.”

Gene took another gulp of his milk, not one to indulge ever again in anything stronger.

“Those Japs never would’ve given up otherwise. I’m telling you, we’d be fighting Tojo to this day.”

Gene continued to eat his scalloped corn, adding nothing.

His silence was not missed by Vivian.

“How bad is it?” she had recently asked, regarding his analysis reports from Japan.

He had answered with a shake of his head, his eyes moistening before he looked away. And Vivian knew he would never burden her with gruesome details of the explosion’s aftermath. Nor would she press for more.

“Last I heard,” Fred went on, “Truman’s estimating up to a million of our soldiers were saved because of those drops. Is that about right, Gene?”

“So they say,” he replied, and took a hefty bite of his roll.

The sacrifice of a few for the good of many was no doubt a noble stance, but not one as readily accepted when those few had a face. Vivian could relate to this much firsthand.

At the sudden lull, she swooped in with a smile. “Who’s up for some lemon meringue?” From that point on, she aimed to keep the conversation as light as their dessert.

All the while Luanne stayed blissfully preoccupied. Making the vroom sounds of a plane, she flew spoonfuls of peas into Judith’s mouth. The youngster wriggled in her wooden high chair, giggling from giddiness, as she always did with her aunt. Luanne indeed was a natural-born mother.

It was for this reason that her lack of interest in Judith, back in her infant stage, had been an unsettling surprise. Despite Gene’s vow of secrecy, Vivian had wondered how much his sister truly knew. But then one evening, during a visit with Luanne, Judith suffered a spike in fever that resulted in a seizure. The episode was short and ultimately harmless but terrified both women regardless.