“You are my one and only, you know,” Jerry grinned. “Always were for that matter. Even in the days when we tracked down news stories together.”
Louise came hurrying up. Jerry turned to greet her and the conversation became less personal. But from the way Louise smiled, Penny knew she had seen the kiss and would demand lengthy explanations later on.
“Jerry!” she cried, noticing the decorations on his trim uniform. “They’ve given you the Distinguished Flying Cross! And the Purple Heart! You didn’t write a word about that.”
“Nothing to write.”
Indignantly, the girls pried the story from Jerry. He had piloted a Flying Fortress in a highly successful raid over the Romanian oil fields. To reach its target, the Fortress had flown through flaming refineries, so low to the ground that fire actually had leaped up through the bomb bay of the plane. Swarms of enemy fighter ships had been fought off. Jerry’s plane was one of the few to get back to its base safely.
“I was luckier than some of the other fellows,” Jerry said modestly. “That was all. Now they’ve sent me home to rest up for a while.”
“Oh, that’s marvelous!” Penny said, guiding him toward the waiting car. “You can spend all of your spare time with us!”
Jerry grinned down at her. “I’d like nothing better. But I’m not exactly on furlough.”
“I thought you just said—”
“I’m doing a special mission here at Sunset Beach for the Army.”