He turned and looked for his uniform. He found it where she had hung it in the closet and, with his back to her, started to put it on. He had, she saw, a very broad back.
After he pulled his trousers on, while still in the process of tucking his shirt in, he turned and faced her.
“I would be grateful when you come out, if you would control that clever mouth of yours. Don’t make it worse for Sarah than it will be.”
Then he finished zipping his fly and walked out of the bedroom.
Bitter, ever the gentleman, was sitting at the table drinking coffee. The table was covered with silver, china, and food; but he was waiting.
“Good morning,” Douglass said, as jovially as he could manage.
Bitter stood up and they shook hands.
"Good to see you, buddy,” he said.
“You too,” Douglass said.
“What are you doing in Washington?” Bitter asked. “If you can tell me.”
“Leaving,” Douglass said. “I’m going from here to the airport.”
“Sarah was so beside herself with pleasure, she ordered breakfast for four,” Bitter said. “Dig in.”
Sarah and Douglass looked at each other, and then away.
“As a matter of fact, Eddie,” Douglass said as he helped himself to coffee, “I am about to test the premise that a lot of money and effort can be saved if we ferry P-38s to England.”
“That’s you?”
“You know? How did you hear about it?”
“The Navy is going to run Catalinas along your route,” Bitter said. “I assigned the Catalinas.”
“What are Catalinas?” Sarah asked.
“Long-range amphibious patrol planes,” Doug furnished. “If we have to sit down, they’ll pick us up.”
“I wish I was going with you,” Ed Bitter said.
“No, you don’t,” Douglass said.
“Am I allowed to ask questions about that?” Sarah asked.
“No,” Ed Bitter said simply.
Charity walked into the room from the corridor.
Bitter looked at her, and then at his wife, and then back at Charity.
"Good morning, Edwin,” Charity said matter-of-factly. "I didn’t think you were due back until Tuesday.”
"We came back early,” Bitter said.
“Oh, good!” Charity said. “Sausage. I’m as hungry as a horse!”
She sat down and began to help herself.
Bitter looked at Douglass, who carefully avoided looking at him.