Page 40 of The High Tide Club
“Have you seen Russell this morning?” Millie whispered.
“Not yet, but if I do see him, I might have to slap his face for the rude way he acted at the party last night. What a scene he made!”
“I’m so sorry,” Millie said, tears pooling in her eyes.
“Don’t you apologize for him,” Josephine scolded. “You didn’t do anything wrong.”
“I shouldn’t have danced with Gardiner,” Millie said. “It didn’t look right.”
“Why shouldn’t you dance with my brother? He was your host. And it wasn’t as if your fiancéwas dancing with you. Honestly, Millie, I don’t understand why you have to marry him…”
“Don’t!” Millie shook her head. “I’ll be down in a few minutes.”
***
She slipped into the dining room and chose the chair beside Ruth’s.
“Good morning,” Samuel Bettendorf boomed. “How’s our bride today?”
“I’m fine, thank you,” Millie said. “Please forgive me for oversleeping. I guess I’m not used to late hours and champagne. But it truly was a lovely party, Mr. B. Russell and I are so grateful for your hospitality.”
Mrs. Dorris came into the room and offered a platter heaped high with golden fried chicken.
“No, thanks,” Millie said quickly. “Is there any coffee?”
“Where is Russell?” Samuel asked.
Josephine rolled her eyes, and Ruth choked back a giggle.
“He talked about going fishing this morning,” Millie said. “Or maybe hunting?”
“I know some of the fellows went out fishing on the big boat with Captain Morris because I saw them off,” Samuel said. “Russell wasn’t with them. If he did go out later, in the skiff, I hope he got Omar or one of the other boys to go out with him. These tidal creeks have so many twists and turns, it’s easy to get lost if you’re not familiar with the topography.” He sipped his coffee and turned to his daughter. “And what are you young ladies up to this beautiful day?”
Josephine consulted her best friends. “Maybe some bridge, if we can scare up a fourth?”
“Good idea,” Ruth said. “Maybe Gardiner can play.”
Samuel set his coffee cup down with a clatter, got up, and abruptly left the room.
Josephine watched his departure with a sigh. “Gardiner’s gone,” she announced. “He took the early boat.”
“Gone where?” Millie’s blue eyes widened with surprise.
“Canada. He’s joining the Royal Canadian Air Force. He says he’s not going to sit around and twiddle his thumbs while Hitler invades the rest of Europe. Papa’s furious. He and Gardiner have been arguing about this for months. Papa says what happens in Czechoslovakia and Poland is none of our business, but Gardiner is dead set on doing this. You know he’s had his pilot’s license since he was eighteen.”
“Gardiner’s a gun jumper? Aren’t you proud of him?” Ruth asked.
“He’s really gone?” Millie repeated. “To Canada? You’re sure?”
“I took him to the dock myself,” Josephine said. “He was trying to leave without saying goodbye to anybody, but I caught him sneaking down the back stairs with his valise this morning, and I made him tell me what he was up to. He was afraid Papa would try to stop him from going.”
“He never said a word,” Millie mumbled.
“Gardiner’s like Papa that way. He plays his cards close to his vest. I’m mad at him too, of course. To think he thought he could just disappear like that, without telling anybody. He said he planned to send a telegram once the train stopped in Atlanta, but honestly, that’s so like a man.”
“I think it’s terribly exciting,” Ruth said. “Think about it. He’ll be going to Europe, fighting those awful Nazis. My father says Hitler won’t stop at Czechoslovakia and Poland. He won’t stop until he’s goose-stepped all the way across the continent.”
“Don’t let my papa hear you say that,” Josephine warned. “He doesn’t want our country dragged into another war. You know he fought in the last one.”
