Silent Star Read Free Page A

parents’ simple headstones. He gently traced the letters of each name.
    H-E-R-M-A-N G-I-L-B-E-R-T
V-E-R-N-A G-I-L-B-E-R-T
    Placing the wreath between them, Andy spoke softly. “The war is still on. Our boys from the 28th have the proud distinction of being some of the first Americans in Nazi Germany. They’re fighting hard and no doubt they’ll be dying hard too.” He paused momentarily to adjust the piece of ribbon he’d tied to the greenery.
    “I’ll be delivering a lot of those telegrams,” he continued. “I’d just as soon not do it. But, Pop, you always said to see a job through to the finish. I don’t know when this war will end, but I’m trying hard to see it through and make you proud.”
    Somehow just talking to his parents like this helped Andy. He could almost imagine them sitting there listening, nodding and sympathizing.
    “The president tells us to keep our spirits up, but to be truthful, I’m having a real hard time with it. With both of you gone, I’m just not sure why it matters anymore.”
    “Excuse me.”
    Andy looked over his shoulder, stunned to find an elderly woman standing directly behind him. He jumped up and stared at her, openmouthed. She smiled sweetly.
    “I couldn’t help but notice you here. There’s no one else,” she said, waving her arm at the expanse of the small cemetery.
    Andy looked away, almost frightened by the woman’s pleasant voice and winning smile. She obviously didn’t know who he was. Of course, he wasn’t wearing his uniform and there was always the possibility that she was new to the area.
    “I’m sorry if I startled you,” she continued. “My name is Estella. Estella Nelson.”
    Andy looked up, still not sure what to say. Estella smiled and adjusted her scarf. “And you are?”
    Andy felt his mouth go dry. “Ah . . . I’m . . . ah . . . Andy. Andy Gilbert.” He couldn’t be sure, but he thought his voice cracked as if he were thirteen all over again.
    “Andy, it’s a pleasure to meet you. Who were you visiting just now?”
    He shifted uneasily, his feet growing colder by the minute. “My parents.”
    “I see,” she said, glancing past him to the stones. “You seem so young to be without them.”
    Andy nodded. He could think of nothing to say in reply. Thoughts flooded his mind, overwhelming him with questions, but words failed to form on his lips.
    “I was visiting my husband’s grave. He’s been gone ten years now,” Estella told him. “Some days it seems as though he left me only yesterday, and other times it feels like he’s been gone for a hundred years.” She smiled sweetly at him. “Is that how it feels for you—with them?”
    Andy still didn’t know what to say. This type of conversation was awkward and startling all at the same time. Even his mother’s dear friends had very little to say to him when they met him in the ration lines or at the bank. Harriet, in fact, had moved away just last week to live with her daughter in Milwaukee. She promised to write and keep in touch with Andy, but he doubted she would. That left just Miriam, and she had a house on the other side of town. It was not only inconvenient to go visiting, but the cold weather made it downright dangerous.
    “I’m sorry if I’ve intruded,” Estella said softly. “It’s justthat I’ve only been back to Haven for about three months. I lived in Pittsburgh for almost ten years with my mother after Howard died. When she passed on a few months back, I came back here to the house Howard worked so hard for.” She looked around and smiled. “I thought perhaps you were in need of company as much as I am.”
    Andy shook his head. “You wouldn’t want my company if you knew who I was.”
    She chuckled. “Sounds intriguing.”
    “No,” Andy whispered. “It’s not intriguing at all. Just painful.”

TWO
    Estella saw the anguish in the boy’s eyes. He was such a sweet-looking fella, red hair peeking out from beneath an overly large fedora. The