Chapter Five

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When Violet stepped down onto the train platform at the station in Leiden, the sun was just setting beyond the mountains. A familiar redhead greeted her. His hands were tucked into his pockets casually and he grinned up at her cheekily.

"How was your trip, Violet?"

"I am sure you can infer that for yourself, Claudia."

She gave him a quick bow before he gave her a friendly embrace, the golden sunlight making her azure eyes sparkle.

He laughed, taking her case and parasol and picking his way through the crowd of other passengers that had disembarked the train. She noticed the company car waiting for them at the curb.

"Well, you stayed the entire two weeks. I'm betting you didn't murder him for faking his death?"

She laughed lightly, enjoying his ridiculous humor. "No, I most certainly did not. And if you must know, I didn't accomplish any work at all."

He winked at her as he put her things in the trunk. "I figured as much."

She climbed into the back seat with him a moment later.

"So," he continued as the driver pulled away from the curb. "What exactly did you two do, anyway?"

She blushed though she knew nothing they'd done really warranted it... yet.

"We... talked," she answered truthfully.

"Say no more. I think you'd better save any salacious details for the Dolls. They're dying to see you. My wife especially."

She ignored his remark and thought of her dear friends. "I did miss them."

"So, you're okay, then? Seeing Gilbert after all this time?"

"Yes. I am okay."

"Good. I hope you know I never meant to hurt you, Violet. I tried to talk him out of it, but he was determined to follow through with it. He made me promise I wouldn't tell you he was alive. It was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. He put me in a tough spot. I couldn't say no."

"I understand."

Claudia sighed, relieved. "Well, what are you two going to do now? Your relationship is pretty complicated."

She cocked her head at him. "Complicated? How?"

"Well, ah. You're so much younger than he is. Haven't you noticed?"

"Is that of significance?"

"Uh, yeah? Never mind… forget I said anything. How is the bastard, anyway? He wears an eyepatch now, huh?"

Violet distractedly answered Claudia's questions in her typical dry fashion as they wove their way through the city. His words rang in her ears. Did it matter that Gilbert was so much older than her? She was certainly of a marriageable age by now so she didn't think so, and she tried to put it out of her mind.

When they arrived at the CH Postal Company building, the Dolls were waiting for her outside. One by one they embraced her and asked questions over each other so fast Violet's head spun. "Please, my friends. One at a time," she begged.

They went into the Dolls' offices and promptly shut themselves in, officially closing up shop for the day.

Her friends sat around the wooden table by the bookshelves and never took their eyes off her.

"What was it like?" Erica asked eagerly, her chin propped up in her hand as she stared dreamily at Violet. "Seeing him after all this time?"

"Yeah, Vi," Iris piped up. "Did you just melt into his arms?"

"Melt..." Violet repeated softly, a secret smile gracing her lips. "Yes, I believe that is a most apt word to describe the sensation."

Cattleya practically moaned. "Oh, you must tell us everything, Violet! From the first moment you saw him."

Violet told them as best she could of her reunion with her former Major, as he always would be to her whether they were in the army anymore or not. The girls sighed when she told them of how he'd kiss her when she least expected it. She told them of the wonderful work he did for the veterans and their families and how she never once touched her typewriter the whole time she was there. She kept their nightly conversations to herself, though. They were hers and Gilbert's alone, and she didn't feel the need to ever share them.

After Violet felt she'd prattled on long enough, she told them of his promise to visit in a week.

"It sounds like a dream, Vi. I'm so happy for you," Iris crooned. "You deserve this. A happy ending for you and the Major."

"Gee, Iris. Who knew you could be so sentimental?" Cattleya joked, dabbing at her eyes with a handkerchief that had the initials 'CH' clearly embroidered in the corner. Her wedding band glinted off her finger. "And I thought my husband was a hopeless romantic, just look at me! I'm a mess!"

Erica giggled. "We always knew Claudia was a softie, Cat. He found his match, don't try to deny it. But what will you do now, Violet? Are we all going to a white veil occasion soon?"

Violet hesitated. "I'm... not really sure. At least... not yet anyway."

Cattleya slammed her palm on the table abruptly. "What do you mean you're not sure?"

"Well, he hasn't explicitly asked me to marry him. Not in those words. That is the proper way, is it not?"

"Proper?" Iris scoffed. "If he knows what's good for him, he'll ask you the second he sets foot in this town. If he doesn't, let's just say I've got a few words for him."

Cattleya rolled her eyes. "Hush, Iris. You'll leave him alone. He's certainly been through enough, decorated war hero and all. Besides, after all these years apart, perhaps it's best they don't rush."

"But, they're meant to be!" she argued.

"Just the same," Cattleya rallied, "they have time now. They didn't have that before."

Erica pushed her glasses up with a finger and regarded Violet, who'd remained silent throughout the exchange. "What do youthink, Violet?"

A pause. "I think... no – I know that I love him. And he loves me. And I know what he told me. And I believe him."

"What did he tell you, Vi?" asked Iris.

Violet blushed, a small smile emerging despite her preternatural instinct to remain expressionless. "That he wants to be my husband."

The girls let out a collective sigh.

She continued, "It is more than I could have ever hoped for, so whether we are married sooner or later, all that matters is that it will happen someday. I know it. I feel it, right here." She placed her hand over her heart, just below her brooch.

"How romantic," Erica cried.

Cattleya draped an arm around Violet's shoulder. "I know I speak for all of us when I say we're so happy for you, Violet. You found the Major, er... well he found you, anyway. But you never gave up. I always admired you for that."

Violet turned to her. "Did Claudia tell you Gilbert was alive?"

"No," she huffed. "He told me he was never coming back. I assumed… well never mind what I assumed. It drove me crazy! I knew Claudia was hiding something. I guess he and Gilbert had been in touch recently, about you I later realized. He kept everything hush hush until you'd left, then he filled us all in on the good news. We've been sworn to secrecy, though God only knows why. Doesn't the Major want to go back to his old life?"

Violet shrugged. "I do not believe so. He's made a good living for himself. It is meaningful work, and he has accomplished much. I'm very proud of him. Like myself, he has found a way to do something good for others. I wouldn't ask him to leave it behind any more than he'd ask me to stop being a Doll."

"But, how will you? Be a Doll, I mean," Erica inquired. "All the way out there, I don't think it's possible. And if he won't come here to Leiden..." she trailed off.

"I know. I have thought about it. But it is something I must discuss with him. I have no answers yet."

Violet noted the looks of sympathy on her friend's faces and put on the most reassuring smile she could muster.

A few moments of silence passed before Cattleya stood. "Well, it's getting late. We should all get some rest. Especially you, Violet. I'm sure the journey was tiring. I'll see you in the morning," she bid as she opened the door. "And welcome back, sweetie. We really missed you around here."

"Yeah, glad your back, Vi. See you tomorrow," Iris said, shooting her a wink before she, too, left for home.

Erica stayed behind and waited until Violet looked up and gave her a questioning look. She'd become withdrawn, falling into her old expressionless habit, after Erica asked her whether or not she'd still be a Doll in the future.

"You okay, Violet? I didn't mean to upset you."

"You didn't, Erica. I was only thinking about what it would be like... to not be a Doll anymore. I don't want to stop, but I might not have any other choice. I choose Gilbert over this job. It is not a question. But it makes me sad nonetheless."

Erica patted her friend's gloved hand in sympathy. "You'll think of something. I'm sure of it."

"Thank you, Erica. Goodnight."

"Goodnight, Violet. Sweet dreams."

Yes, Violet thought later as she climbed the stairs to her empty room and thought of Gilbert. Sweet dreams.

The week that followed was a tumultuous one for Violet. Being so driven to distraction was a new sensation for her, and it was all she could do to focus on the task at hand. She had clients that could not be turned away; people who came in at all hours of the day requesting her by name. Yet all Violet could think about was Gilbert. What was he doing right now as she sat here poised at her typewriter? What was he thinking about as she stood in the park eating her lunch? Was he thinking of her every waking moment, like she was of him?

It was enough to make her audibly groan in frustration. The other Dolls were startled by it at first, Violet never being prone to such outbursts in the past. But then they'd just exchange knowing smiles with each other and continue on with their own work. Violet was blooming under the effects of love. Her understanding of so many things grew at an exceptional rate compared to before Gilbert had walked back into her life. It was no coincidence. She'd heard that experience was the best teacher, now she wholeheartedly agreed with the statement.

But, she decided, some things had not changed at all. She didn't feel the obsessive need to have his orders anymore; she had plenty of purpose without them. But Gilbert was still the world to her, and the center of her world was Gilbert. Yes, she'd finally managed to do as he'd wished her to, to live her own life. But when she'd lost him, facing that initial grief had nearly killed her. All the things she did, the lives she took… meant nothing if he was dead. The Major walking away from that war with his life intact had been her one and only goal, and she thought she had failed. Protecting him was all she knew. But after… the loss of him was nearly unbearable. Would she ever be able to articulate to him that he was her reason for living, even when he was gone? Her memories of him had sustained her in the depths of her despair, had pulled her out of the darkness and pushed her to go on. She could hardly believe the relief it brought to know he was alive. It was bliss, pure joy, that he loved her still. She'd been drowning all these years without him, now she could finally breathe.

Now, she could truly live.

Violet paused. "I'm sorry, Ma'am. Could you please repeat that last part?"

She'd been asking clients to do that a lot lately.

"Sure! I was saying…"

When the letter was finished, she put it into her client's hand. Under present circumstances, it wasn't her best work. But the client was happy, and that was all that mattered at the end of the day. She'd written over thirty letters during the course of the past week. It was Friday evening. Gilbert would be boarding a train soon, arriving at Leiden central station early the next morning.

Her heart raced at how few hours stood between them. She wouldn't sleep a wink.

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A/N: You'd think with being under a quarantine I'd have oodles of time to write. Alas... it is not so. lol

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