Author’s Note: This is a brief peek of a WWII historical romance novel You’ll Never Know... that will be released in Jan-Feb 2021 about the whirlwind romance and lovesick heartache of a a USO singer and her boyfriend on a ship in the Atlantic during the later part of the war. Thousands of miles apart, they only have their letters to each other for comfort. With so many people missing loved ones and being apart this Christmas, I thought this was a good comparison for this year. Merry Christmas to all…it will get better. It always does.
December 25, 1944
My Darling, Darling Davey,
I can’t believe you did this! I got your Christmas surprises…the flowers, the sweets and the beautiful necklace. I don’t know how you managed it. The necklace is so perfect – two golden hearts linked together. Just like we are. I love it and will wear it always.
This is an especially hard day. It’s my first Christmas away from home and our first Christmas together, but we’re apart. Your presents were so wonderful and made me so happy. It made it feel like, just for a minute, you were not so far away.
I really had a hard time finding you a present because of the size restrictions on mailing to you. I hope you get it in time for Christmas. I sent it at Thanksgiving just to be sure it caught up with you.
Today wasn’t so bad. Since everyone in the USO is away from family today, we kind of had our own special Christmas brunch. Everyone got a small gift from the USO. And we told jokes, pretending to be each other. That was really fun. I guess it is some kind of English Christmas tradition. It kept my mind off being homesick and lovesick.
Tonight, we have our big Christmas show. We’re in Nashville, Tennessee and will be performing on the stage of the Grand Old Opry for our Special Arms Services broadcast. The USO troupers are going to do a big show with the country stars, they call it Christmas Extravaganza. It’s a really big deal. I’m a little nervous. It should be a great show. Armed Forces Radio will be airing it tonight. I hope you will be able to listen, wherever you are.
Oh, and by the way, I am glad you’re bored. What I mean is that I’m glad you’re not in the fight, risking your life. I worry about you. I want you to come back to me!
I’ll be Seeing You… Love Suzy
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December 25, 1944
My Sweet Suzy
Merry Christmas. I know you won’t get this by Christmas, but since I’m writing it on Christmas, I wanted to wish it to you. Well at least I hope it is a Merry Christmas for you. Here everyone is really sad, including me. This is my first Christmas away from home. Same with most of the guys. But it’s extra hard because it’s our first Christmas together too. I hope you got my present by now. I keeping thinking how neat it would have been to give you the present and see your reaction in person. Plus the really big kiss you would give me, because I always give really good presents. I hope at least you like the present I sent. I really miss you.
Here the guys are planning some kind of crazy party. They chef is supposed to cook up a real Christmas dinner. He said there’s going to be egg nog…well, made from dried milk and eggs and stuff, so we will see how it tastes. We’re not allowed alcohol, because you never know what will happen, with the war and all, so that takes some of the zing out of it. Supposedly we’re getting a Christmas ham with mashed potatoes and vegetables. My family always had turkey with dressing at Christmas, but I hear ham is popular with some people. I guess ham is easier to keep out here. My favorite is the dessert. I heard a rumor that there will be minced meat pie and figgy pudding. Our chef is kind of a joker though, so I bet it’s just regular instant vanilla pudding with fig newtons stuck in it. I like apple pie better, but it’s traditional.
We’re supposed to see some fighting soon so Cap said we could have a little wingding, just this once. I need to go now, the party is about to start. I will finish this later…
What a surprise!! You made a celebrity out of me. They piped the Armed Services Radio Christmas broadcast over the whole boat and everybody heard you sing. My girlfriend is a famous radio singer!! The guys were all slapping me on the back and razing me. It really picked up everyone’s spirits, especially mine. Everyone was singing along with you. And I can’t believe you said my name on the radio. It really meant so much to me. It was just like you were singing only to me, just like in New York. It made me miss you a little less, at least for today. Thank you. And don’t worry – I‘ll be seeing you soon…I promise.
Love Always, Davey
(c) Copyright 2020, Suzanne Rudd Hamilton.
SUZANNE RUDD HAMILTON 