Dusky twilight stained the horizon by the time Dick left the office. Despite the fact that he had yet to complete several more reports for Sink, Dick had reached his fill for the week. Striding down the street, dodging enlisted men who saluted him swiftly with pretty, young Austrians on their arms, Major Winters' gaze drifted towards the park at the lakeside.

Music and feminine laughter caught on the breeze and floated towards him on the fragrant air. The non-fraternizing policy that the US Army had established was clearly forgotten for the night. Dick couldn't imagine anything he'd rather not do for the evening. Parties had never appealed to him and this one looked no different from any other.

Nixon had tried to convince him to attend, telling him that Harry Welsh would be there along with Lip. Even Speirs was making an appearance. Dick could only hope the captain wouldn't end the night drunkenly shooting the necks off of beer bottles again. However, Dick had been firm with Nix. He was going to take a shower, read, and then go to bed early.

As he ascended the outdoor staircase leading up into the grand officers' quarters, he heard the soft tones of a woman's voice. It sounded like she was chiding someone. Dick reached a landing halfway to the front entrance.

"Lieutenant Sink, we will leave without you!"

Dick shuddered to a stop, his hand falling to the twisting rod iron railing. He recognized the petite, curvaceous figure of Edith's orderly as she hooked arms with a serviceman by the door. They descended the stairs. The man noticed Dick where he stood silently in the glow of the newly lit street lamps. He halted with a salute and the girl responded in like out of habit, though she wore civilian clothes.

"As you were." Dick nodded grimly, the girl's gaze dancing over her shoulder. "Where are you off to tonight, sergeant?"

"Down in the park, there is an event being held for the men, sir."

The front door shut at the top of the stairs.

"Thank heaven, finally." The girl groaned. "Lieutenant, you look fine." She turned to Dick as though she knew him well. "Can you believe that woman wanted to wear her uniform to the party? I swear she'll be buried in khaki."

Dick managed a faint smile as his gaze lifted towards the top of the staircase. He swallowed and tried to keep his mouth from flapping open. Though she had been beautiful to him in layer upon layer of wool in the Bois Jacque, there was something about seeing her in that red dress that made his heart crash into his breastbone.

Edith hesitated with her hand lightly resting on the railing, focused on him alone. Dick found he couldn't look away as easily as he did in the office. Her cat-like hazel eyes didn't leave his face as she descended towards them.

"Well, so glad Cinderella could grace us with her presence," Samantha muttered.

Edith lifted eyebrow in the girl's direction. "Watch it, Sergeant Quincey. I'm still your superior."

"And we are still late."

"You two go on ahead." Edith's smile faded, her lips parting slightly as her eyes lifted up to his face. "I'll be only a moment."

A light wind off the lake caught the blonde waves on her shoulders, brushing them onto her back as easily as if he had done so with his hand. The idea made him dizzy. Dick exhaled, realizing he had been holding his breath while he admired her.

"Yes, ma'am," the girl conceded suspiciously.

"Sir." The sergeant saluted.

Dick gained the presence of mind to acknowledge the boy with a nod before the two young people scampered down the stairs. 

"Samantha Quincey something else, isn't she?" Edith let out an apologetic laugh.

"Who was the sergeant with her?" Dick asked, drinking in her presence like a man in the desert.

"Eddie Grable. He's been with us off and on since Bastogne." Edith shifted on her black pumps. "I met the infamous Captain Sobel this afternoon."

Dick smirked. "How did that go?"

"He asked me if I was going to the party tonight."

Giving a short, obligatory chuckle, Dick was prodded by a strange pang of jealousy. He certainly had nothing to worry about from Sobel concerning Edith's attentions. He even had his questions about Nixon's chances. 

Dick snapped his thoughts to attention. None of it mattered. Edith was a notion of the past, he reminded himself. However, in that cherry red dress patterned by white blossoms and her mouth painted in a similar shade, he was having difficulty reminding himself of that fact.

"Will you be attending?" Edith blurted as though the question had been buzzing in her head. "The party, I mean?"

Dick paused. "I wasn't planning on it."

Edith nodded, her smile drooping. "Of course. I imagine it's been a long week for you."

"It has."

Edith moved past him through the stilted silence. "I suppose I'll be seeing you, major."

Before he could wish her good evening, she was trotting down the steps. Her hair bounced on her shoulders as she moved. A trio of soldiers let her pass on the sidewalk below, but turned back to watch her walk away. Dick sighed, looking towards the darkened balcony of his quarters.

A book followed by bed wasn't as appealing as it had been earlier.