For personal use and select distribution only; ©1999 by Rachel Manson
"Felix King, What in heck are you doing here? Why aren't you with your family?"
"Nice welcome. Your favorite cousin doesn't even get a hug?" Sara hugged him. "Okay, better. I just resigned and I decided to stay a week with you first." Felix explained.
"Does Uncle Alec, Aunt Janet and everyone else know you quit?"
"No, I want to surprise them so I told Gus not to tell them"
"Gus was with you? Why didn't he stay too?"
"He wanted to get home to Felicity. Sara, don't phone my family, I want to surprise them."
"Okay, Felix. Why don't you join me for tea?" They walked into the house.
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During the week that Felix stayed, Sara coaxed him to tell her stories of the sea for her book on the World War. Her book was on the women of the war, but she needed stuff about the men too.
"So what's your book about anyway? Factory workers, nurses?"
"It's all about the women that are left behind by relatives, husbands, sweethearts or friends."
"Izzy," Felix muttered under his breath.
"What?"
"Izzy, I miss her so much."
Sara thought for a second before asking, "Felix, would you consider Izzy your best friend or your sweetheart?"
"Up until a week ago I would have said sweetheart on my part, best friend on hers, but in her last letter she told me she loved me so"
"Last week?" Sara interrupted. "Felix King, did you resign from the Imperial Navy because a girl, who once punched you in the nose, asked you to??!"
"Yes!"
"Oh, I wonder what Aunt Hetty will say." Sara giggled than asked, "Can I put that in my book?"
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After a week of writing Sara's book and having a good time
"Sara, someone's at the door!"
"I'll get it," Sara said, still hoping wildly for Booth.
She opened the door to reveal...
"Aunt Olivia! Where have you been this week? I was starting to worry!"
"Oh Sara," Olivia sobbed. "It's awful!"
"What is? What's awful? What's wrong?" Sara was upset to see her aunt this distressed.
"Look!" Olivia cried, shoving a paper into Sara's slender hands.
Sara read the article's headlines. The article was about the war, as most articles of the time were. The Royal Navy ship the H.M.C.S. Victorious had gone down last night. There were no survivors.
"Felix was on that ship, Sara. He's gone."
Sara opened her mouth to tell her aunt that Felix wasn't dead and that he was in her house when he walked in himself.
"Aunt Olivia, what's the matter?"
"FFelix is deaFelix King, what in heck are you doing here?" She exclaimed as she looked up.
"I resigned and I've been visiting Sara for the past week. Helping her with her book." Sara smiled. Olivia choked backed her tears and ran to the strong arms of her nephew.