Waiting: One Wife's Year of the Vietnam War

Chapter 40

{Chapter 40} On Monday night, the phone rang. Susan answered and handed me the receiver, shaking her head. “Some man,” she whispered. “Hello,” I said cautiously. “Is this Linda?” “Yes,” I answered hesitantly, not recognizing the voice. “Well, you don’t know me,” the man stammered and then laughed. “My God, this is weird. My first phone call back in the World and I’m talking to somebody I don’t know.” My heart stopped. “Back in the World.” Only those from Vietnam used that term. “Yes?” I prompted. “As I said, you don’t know me, but I’m supposed to tell you that Lee bought me a beer in Long Binh yesterday—or was it today? Well, whatever day I got my Freedom Bird out. Anyway, Lee said to tell you that he’s at the outprocessing center and should be on a manifest in a couple of days.” I felt a jolt. I was actually talking to someone who had been in Vietnam with Lee less than twenty-four hours before. This man was now in the United States. “Thank you for calling,” I said. “I know you didn’t have to, but I really appreciate it.” “Well, he said you’d come all the way to California to meet him. It seemed the least I could do. I hope he gets home soon.” “I do, too,” I said, hanging up. I sat down. So Lee was now at his last stop in Vietnam. I held my breath. Throughout Tuesday morning, I waited, always within reach of the phone, bouncing Reveilee and explaining to her that her daddy just might call any minute. Her saucer eyes watched me suspiciously. April 1970 [299] I was still irrationally composed on the outside, emotionally paralyzed on the inside when the phone rang mid-afternoon. I jumped. Reveilee, startled by my reaction, screamed. I tried to quiet her as my trembling hand reached for the receiver. “Linda?” The man’s voice was familiar but not Lee’s. My heart dropped and then rebounded as I recognized the caller. “Ron? Ron Piper?” It was Lee’s lieutenant buddy from Fort Bragg who had left for Vietnam the same day Lee did. “Hello, Linda. It’s been a long time,” he said, sounding tired and somehow older. “When did you get back?” “Just got into Oakland a few minutes ago. Before that I was drinking beer with Lee in Long Binh.” “What is he doing over there?” I asked, “Acting like a one-man sendoff committee? When is he coming home?” Ron laughed. “Well, it shouldn’t be long now. In fact, he should have been on the next manifest after mine.” “What does that mean, in real language?” “It means he should be on the next bird out.” I swallowed hard, caution holding my excitement in check as I slowly asked, “Ron, how often do the planes leave?” “Military schedule, you know, so you never can be sure. He should be in sometime today, though. Is that the baby I hear?” “Yes, and she’s getting pretty tired of waiting for her daddy to show up.” “Well, tell her she won’t have to wait much longer. I’ve got to run. I just wanted to let you know.” I thanked Ron and hung up, still emotionally suspended. If he was right, Lee was at this minute already airborne. I didn’t dare believe it. Yet I felt propelled by some force outside myself to move as if I did. I put Reveilee down for her nap and washed my hair, switching off the dryer every few seconds to make sure I didn’t miss the ringing of the phone. I checked my clothes again and thought about calling the limo service, but I didn’t dare tie up the line. By the time Susan came home, I had convinced myself that I still had another day or two to wait, so I was pleased that Adrienne had accompa- [300] chapter 40 nied her. We were still sitting in the living room when Miles and one of his friends arrived. With so many people suddenly around, the apartment took on a party atmosphere. Miles asked if I was frying steak for dinner. I laughed and told him he was out of luck. “Well,” he mumbled with mock disappointment, “I need to get some clean clothes, but I really hoped I...