Excerpt from I'll Be Seeing You by Suzanne Hayes, Loretta Nyhan, plus links to reviews, author biography & more

Toby also looks young for his age. His cheeks are still rosy, and his hair is the color of the corn that grows on every square foot of this state. My parents were from Munich, so I've filled him with schnitzel and potato dumplings since he was as old as your Robbie. I'm hoping if he's spotted by the Germans they'll take one look and mistake him for one of their own. The Führer's dream!

Your boy sounds like a rascal. Toby was always quiet, but I do remember those toddler years—chasing him around the backyard, up the stairs, down the street. I didn't treasure them. I couldn't wait until he grew old enough to talk to me while we ate lunch. When he did, all he wanted to do was stick his nose in a book. I also understand about loneliness and not fitting in. I've lived in this town for ten years and only have one woman I can call a true friend. Her name is Irene and she works at the university library. We met at a weekday matinee showing of The Thin Man back in '35 at the Englert Theater here in Iowa City. I was dead sick of sitting by myself at the pictures, so I walked up to Irene and said her pretty dark hair made her look just like Myrna Loy. (It doesn't, not even if you squint.) She laughed at the empty compliment and we've been friends ever since.

Irene is a few years younger than me, shy and unmarried, but I've come to realize those types of differences become mere trivialities with the passing of time. She and I meet for lunch almost every afternoon, freezing our behinds off on a metal picnic bench because the navy shut the cafeterias down for aviator training. I would think that kind of instruction would mostly take place in the air, but what do I know? We moan and groan, but I honestly don't mind the chill. In fact, the lunch hour is the highlight of my day.

So that's me. Marguerite Vincenzo. Almost forty-one years old. Garden Witch. It's nice to meet you over these many miles, Glory. You said you need some magic? Well, I need something glorious. This town doesn't provide much in the way of that.

Sincerely,

Rita

P.S. The people here call me Margie. I hate it. Sal calls me Rita sometimes, so I'd like to go by that. I hope you don't mind.

February 14, 1943

ROCKPORT, MASSACHUSETTS

Dear Rita,

Rita? Like Rita Hayworth? Oh, gosh, I love that name. Do you have red hair? Oh, Rita, I'm so glad you wrote back. I was scared I might have chased you away. And then I read your letter every night. Thinking about your boy and your husband, Sal. He's Italian? I wish I was. I think it would be very romantic to be Italian. I spent some time in Italy when I was growing up. Sometimes now, when I think about this war, I wonder about the beautiful places I've been, the people I met, and worry. What will the world look like after all this violence?

Your words gave me a much needed respite from worry. Thank you for that. I laughed and laughed about the sunflowers. I want to learn to do something with this rocky patch of land I have here behind the house. It's falling down due to a lack of upkeep, but lovely just the same. Robert wants me to move in with his mother who lives in Beverly, but I can't leave this place. It was my family's summerhouse (though since I married Robert, we've called it our permanent home). It's so soothing, with the sea on one side and the woods on the other. I'm only ten minutes from town and the bus stops right at the end of our road. I wish he wouldn't worry so much. I've been independent all my life.

So, your Sal is in Tunisia? How exciting! My Robert is in Sparta, Wisconsin, training. I guess it's going to be cold over in Europe. Funny, I always remember it being warm there. I find myself thinking more and more about the past the bigger my belly gets with this baby. Isn't that strange? But I suppose this war makes thinking about the future too difficult.

Excerpted from I'll Be Seeing You by Suzanne Hayes and Loretta Nyhan. Copyright © 2013 by Suzanne Hayes and Loretta Nyhan. Excerpted by permission of Mira. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.