"Take care of yourself," Katherine whispered, wrapping her arms around Jack in an embrace as they stood at the train station. "And write to us. Don't stop writing."

"Ace, it's just for a month. I ain't goin' away forever," Jack said with a quiet chuckle, returning the embrace to his wife.

The Kellys weren't the only family at the train station that evening. Couples were saying their goodbyes to each other, children were getting one last hug to their fathers in, and some men were even walking onto the train alone. No matter the circumstance, everyone's worries were the same: was a war going to damn the country's prosperity?

"West Point is a long way," Katherine exhaled, pulling away from her husband and looking back at the three children watching their parents. "And we're all going to miss you."

"I'll miss ya, too," Jack responded. When there were no words left to say, Jack gently brought Katherine's lips to his, a kiss to mean farewell for the time they'd be separated. The kiss was a product of passion and infatuation, but also a product of fear. Neither of them wanted to think of the hardships they'd endure now that the country was teetering on the brink of war and neutrality. If the U.S. went to war, Katherine and the three children could never see him again. Neither wanted to believe that.

The couple's kiss ended when the whistle on the train blew. They pulled away slowly, their anxiety building up as Jack took that as his cue. He stepped past his wife, wrapping his arms around and hugging Velma, Veronica, and Joseph one last time before stepping onto the train. Katherine inhaled deeply, bringing herself to fight back her desires and longing for things to be different. The U.S. could go to war, and she couldn't change a thing. If the U.S. went to war, Jack would be required to fight. But what scared Katherine the most was the risk that if Jack fought in the war, she could be separated from him forever.

<><><>

"1916 is looking to be a terrible year so far," Veronica heaved a sigh, sitting beside her sister on the sofa in the parlor. "Papa's gone, Mama's in distress, and now the U.S. could go to war."

"Life's a bitch," Velma responded, looking into the flames that licked the brick of the parlor's fireplace.

"Velma!" Veronica expressed in disbelief, "What if Mama heard you say that!"

"She didn't, so it's fine. It's an accurate description, though. Things have just been horrendous lately." The fresh powder of January snowfall fell outside of the parlor window, filling the New York City streets with a bright, crisp setting that matched nothing resembling close to the country's mood. Every household was in despair, hoping that the war would end as soon as it could and keep the U.S. from entering the World War.

"That's still no reason to say it aloud," Veronica mumbled, leaning deeper into the pillows of the settee. The younger sister looked deep in thought, focusing on the fire just as the older sister was. For a moment, no more words were exchanged. At least not until Veronica mustered the courage to look at her sister and ask a single question, "Are you still wanting to attend Denishawn?"

"Of course I do," Velma sighed, bringing her eyes to meet her sister's. "But you were right. Mama and Papa need us here. If the U.S. does go to war, it's best if we're both here while Papa is gone."

"Good," Veronica answered with a smile, "Because I was thinking..."

"About what?"

"Music and dance is obviously becoming more... versatile. Solo artists are the big craze at the moment, but what if we did a duo act?" When Velma didn't respond, Veronica continued with a bright, enthusiastic look in her eyes. "Eventually, solo acts will become redundant and repetitive. You have male and female duos, but what about a duo female act? We could call ourselves... The Kelly Sisters: Veronica and Velma—"

"Velma and Veronica."

"Sure. Whatever. But we could be something the industry has never seen before!" Veronica fell back against the pillows on the settee with a naive sigh. "We could become huge! Everyone would want to get their hands on a ticket to our shows."

"If that day comes," Velma responded with a bright smile, "then it would be wonderful to take that opportunity."

Velma and Veronica had always been close, and Velma knew deep down that this idea was one that would guarantee their success in the arts. She couldn't deny that Veronica had schemed a marvelous plan for their futures, but it only made Velma wonder if that she would come.

"Girls," Katherine appeared in the doorway that led into the parlor, "could you set the table and get Joseph?"

A week had passed since Jack's departure, and Katherine wasn't doing so well on her own. Jack had always been there for her to look forward to at the end of the day; the sound of the door opening being a familiar noise that she no longer heard. She didn't know how to take it, and this was only training.

But not only did she not know how to take it, she didn't know how to endure it for a long period of time. Katherine wanted to believe that Jack wouldn't go off to fight in the war, but with the outlook on current politics and the U.S. economical state as a result of the World War, Katherine's hope was dwindling down to nothing. Yet she remained strong for her children.

Every emotion she displayed was fake, but she did it for her children.