A Soldier of No Importance [ Band of Brothers ] 1

TWENTY TWO

The train pulled into Grand Central Terminal at close to midnight. Retrieving their luggage didn't take too long. The lights in the massive terminal had been turned down for the evening. A few hundred people moved to and fro despite it being midnight on Christmas day.

Alice stuck close to Nixon. He knew where they were going. They climbed the stairs. Soon, they'd reached the streets of New York City. A gentle flurry of snow fell around them. None of them spoke. Their fatigue was palpable.

Nixon flagged down a taxi. They squeezed in. Alice took the middle again, and she didn't particularly mind being squished between the warm bodies of Ron and Nix. The drive to Nixon, New Jersey only took about forty minutes. Before long, the taxi pulled up outside a massive, mansion style house.

Alice followed Ron out into the driveway. She eyed the building. It had dozens of large windows scattered about the dark façade. There weren't any cars to be seen, and the building remained dark. She remembered Nixon telling them that they'd have the house to themselves; his whole family spent Christmas and the rest of winter in California.

Snow still fell around them. Her face burned from the chill, and she fumbled for a cigarette. Ron lit it for her. Soon, Nixon had paid the taxi driver and they all stood looking at the Nixon Family home.

"Welcome to Nixon, New Jersey." He strode forward. Digging around under some dead flower pots, he found a key. "Right this way gentlemen and lady."

She followed. He unlocked the door quickly. It swung open effortlessly, and as he stepped inside, he flipped on a light to his right. The light in the massive foyer came to life. A chandelier hung down above them, and to its right a staircase of dark mahogany wood led upwards. To their left off the foyer lay a living room with beautiful couches and a pristine record player.

They moved further in, down the foyer. They passed a restroom, a closet, and soon found themselves with a kitchen to the right followed by a dining room, and to their left, another living room. This second living room looked more lived in, and had a radio set up. A piano sat along the wall, large and well kept. Someone had mounted a vintage looking viola above a fireplace mantle.

"Pick a bedroom upstairs." Nixon gestured towards the staircase at the front. "My sister's old room can go to Alice. We've got plenty of extra bedrooms."

Together they backtracked to the front of the house and went up. Nixon showed Ron and Dick to guest rooms. They didn't wait to be told twice, and soon went to bed. Alice found Nixon's sister's room without too much trouble.

The bed looked and felt well made, antique but comfy enough. On the walls, photographs of various places hung next to each other. Alice recognized some from Europe. She even found a photo of the Arc de Triomphe. They were beautiful photos. On a wooden dresser, she finally found a picture of the woman. She had well-styled dark hair and brown eyes just like her brother, who stood beside her in the photo. Small nosed, sharp eyed, she had a smile that could've melted anyone. On the photo, someone had written "Lewis & Blanche 1940."

Alice changed into her sleepwear and brushed her hair. Despite the calm of the house they stayed in, her mind raced. She'd napped fitfully on the train. None of the men had said anything, but she could tell they'd noticed her disturbed sleep. With a sigh, she stood in the bedroom and looked around. Finally, she tiptoed barefoot back down the stairs. To her surprise, she found Lewis Nixon standing in the kitchen, pouring himself a drink.

"Got enough for a second drink?" she asked quietly. Alice leaned against the counter top. 

Nixon looked at her in surprise. "You're still up?" Grabbing a second glass, he found a bottle of red wine. "Here."