ADDI THE BADDI
I'm awake and I don't know if it's because I'm excited or absolutely dreading the coming day.
We're all up at six thanks to the brassy wakeup bugle blasting through the speakers. It's the most American tune I can imagine, and possibly the worst way to start the day.
After getting dressed, I'm pulled into the cold, dark morning, my arms linked with Courtney and another nurse named Una. They're so jovial, they're skipping to the dining hall and I can't catch a glimpse of the soldiers dragging themselves to the hall to find Harris.
Our arms are still linked by the time we're grabbing trays for food. We sit at a table and I'm still craning my neck, trying to locate Harris. I seriously need to talk to him. "Why're ya lookin' around so much?" teases Courtney. "Already on the hunt for a new man? I'll tell ya this for free: we got a pretty lousy bunch. But if you got your eye on someone, we might be able to help you out." Una nods.
I return to my meal. I'm sort of impressed to see fruit on my tray; I thought Americans lived solely off fast foods. "Nah, I'm just curious. That's all." I take a sip of piping hot coffee and pretend I didn't make the dumbest mistake in the world. "So, tell me about your checkups. How are they run?"
"Well," Una drawls. "You got a tent and supplies and you see to every prisoner. General health stuff, y'know. Leave all the serious stuff to the docs."
"Mos' o' the time, we let 'em sit on the bed, tick a few boxes and send 'em back out," Courtney shrugs. "It's all about efficiency, baby!"
"And there are soldiers with you so you won't be bored out of your mind," Una adds. "And so that nothing bad happens, y'know."
I frown but figure it wouldn't be wise to correct their methods.
Suddenly, a set of hands land on my shoulder and I let out a shriek. We turn to find the colonel from last night—Dave—laughing manically as many onlookers express their disdain. "Oh, Sophie, you're so easy to scare!"
Courtney slants him a glare. "You know her?"
"Of course," Dave smiles, collecting my shoulders. "Lil Soph and I go way back."
"He was friends with my brother," I explain. Maybe I'm overexplaining this and ruining the lie. But that doesn't matter. It astounds me that Dave still thinks I'm actually his friend Sophie Anderson. Even under this harsh lighting, he seems entirely convinced that we've known each other forever.
"Don't you wanna sit with your husband?" Dave asks and I nearly scream again. He's right. Sophie Anderson and Adelaide Sh'adow Amnesia Jane Sandler are very easy to scare.
"I thought you said you were getting away from your ex," Una frowns, now suspicious.
"Yup," I gulp. "I ran away. And got married."
"You eloped? Damn, girl, that is hardcore. I love it," Courtney gushes. "Well, don't just stand there, Colonel, bring him here so they can tell us the story!"
So Dave Peterson trots off and goes to get the dude I gotta call my husband. It's a What Happens in Las Vegas situation. I don't really like that movie so I doubt it's going to go well.
Finally, a familiar face seats himself before me and I'm actually on the verge of tears again. But I remind myself of how much cooler I am than Harris, so I return him a grin. "Miss me last night, sweetheart?"
"Hardly; I actually got some sleep last night," he replies and I immediately throw my entire banana at him without hesitation.
"I love love," Dave sighs, but the other two are a little harder to convince.
"What's your name?" Courtney asks in a polite but condescending tone.
"Louis."
"Surname?"
"Chester."
Una narrows her eyes at me. "Your name's Anderson."
"Yeah," Harris replies to my defence. "I should've taken her surname. It's so much cooler than Chester."
No, it's not. I should've chosen the name Chester. I have to live with that regret every time I think about my 'husband'.
"So, tell us everything. When did you two meet? How did it all go down?" Clearly, Dave is the only one with his priorities right. I glance directly at Harris and we're in a silent eye-contact-war to figure out who answers.
"We met a few years ago at an airport. Exchanged phone numbers and the rest is history," Harris explains.
"Wait, what about the part where your ex cheats on you?" Courtney asks. Why is she so on the ball?
"Oh, right," I say, biting my lip. "Remember that guy I was dating, Dave? James or Jace or Jake...?"
"Oh, you mean Randy Matthews?"
"Exactly, Randy! Well, I came home one day and I was doing his laundry and a Canadian badge fell out of his pocket. He confessed immediately."
"Oh my goodness, I am so sorry, Sophie. I had no idea," Dave says. "I can't believe it. Six years down the drain."
Yikes. I feel bad for breaking up Sophie and Randy too.
"What about the eloping bit?" Una presses.
"Ah, you know. Louis was at the airport for deployment, I was at the airport for deployment and we thought, screw it. Let's run away. You know me," I chuckle. "I'm a real sucker for an adventure."
"And the proposal? The wedding?"
"We flew to Las Vegas, got married and travelled to Japan," Harris answers. I think his eyes get a little glossy. "Soph said she'd always wanted to go in cherry blossom season." Rather smoothly, he slips his hand into mine and rubs his thumb along the back of it. I fight the instinct to pull back and force a smile along my face. I think the only person stopping me from winning an Academy Award is this guy.
"Look at the rings," Una whispers, and the three of them get very close to our joined hands. I take this moment to throw Harris an impressed look.
Where'd you get the ring? he mouths. I shrug.
"Gosh, Sophie. You've really changed since I last saw you," Dave hums, taking a seat once again. "I remember when we'd pick on you. Now you're married. I can't wait for you to have kids next."
No way. "One day at a time, Dave," I answer, feeling the corners of my eyes bunch in feigned enthusiasm. "Now if you'll excuse us, we've got some private catching up to do." I rise, Harris' hand still in mine, and lead him out the nearest exit.
***
He raises a bushy brow when I turn to him. "I've gotta say, my love, you are incredible."
I ignore his antics as usual. "Listen. The prisoners have a checkup with the nurses today. There's a one in eight chance that I'll see Tom."
"Hey, that's amazing."
I frown. "No, that's still a seven in eight chance I won't see him. If he's even here."
"I can help look. What does he look like?"
"About your height, lanky. Blond hair, blue eyes."
"So, me but blond," Harris repeats, nodding thoughtfully. "I think you have a type, my love."
"I've dropped the act," I mutter. "I advise you do the same."
"Then why are you still holding my hand, eh?" He raises our entwined fingers, grinning like an idiot. I hit his forehead with my free hand. I don't know how he can have so much fun in such a tense situation.
"Just do your part," I grumble. "Then we'll have to plan for extraction."
