“Thanks. I like the name Cathy.” Another lame statement, Mike? Come on man, get a grip. She’s just a girl. “Cathy ... Catherine. That’s a Greek name, isn’t it?”
“It is! How did you know that?”
“I recognized it,” Michael said, glad to hit on something he knew a little about. “I’ve studied Greek mythology. I’m actually Greek.”
Cathy squinted at Michael skeptically. “No you’re not.”
“Well, no, I don’t mean I’m from Greece or anything. I just meant that my heritage is Greek.”
“Well, if you’re not from Greece, where are you from?”
“West Virginia. Morgantown, actually. It’s a coal mining town. In fact, my family owns Mountaineer Mining. I guess I should say ‘owned.’ It was a coal mine there, but we went out of business.”
“What happened?”
Michael shrugged. “What didn’t happen? The depression. Unions. Then the war. A lot of the miners who worked for us got drafted, so our workforce got depleted.” he explained.
“Including you, apparently.”
“Well, I didn’t get drafted. I enlisted.”
“You enlisted??” Cathy was stunned. “I never met anyone who enlisted before. I mean ... some of the nurses enlisted, but none of the boys.”
“Yeah. My dad’s out of work. I have two brothers who worked in the mine too. So did I, and when the mine closed, we were all out of jobs,” Michael knew he was probably talking too much, but he couldn’t seem to stop. “So I figured if I enlisted, there’d be one less mouth to feed at home, one less son for my parents to worry about.”
“Do you have sisters?”
Michael nodded. “I have two older brothers and two younger sisters.”
“So you’re the middle child. Were your brothers drafted?”
“Yeah, but they got 4-F’d out, because of black lung. Things were getting really tight before I left ... money-wise, I mean. That’s why I have my military pay sent to my parents. I really hope it’s helping them out.”
Cathy stared at Michael, practically in awe. “You’re making a really big sacrifice for your family.”
“I don’t think of it that way,” Michael answered honestly. “They’ve given me whatever I needed my whole life. I’m really close with my family.”
“I can’t even imagine being part of a family like that,” Cathy said. “I wonder if I’d even like it.”
“Greek families tend to be close-knit. I can’t believe I’m telling you all this.”
“Why not?”
“I don’t know. I don’t usually have deep conversations with girls.”
Chapter 22
“I can’t believe I’m telling you all this,” Michael said.
“Why not?”
“I don’t know. I don’t usually have deep conversations with girls.”
Whatever kind thoughts Cathy had about Michael a minute before disappeared in a heartbeat. “Why? Because you think we have bubblegum between our ears?” Cathy was used to arguing with people and Michael just sent her into overdrive. “Because you think girls are stupid and don’t care about anything besides lipstick and fashion?”
“No no, of course not. I didn’t mean anything by it. It’s obvious you’re not interested in makeup and fashion.”
“Excuse me??”
“Damn,” Michael cringed, not only at his foolish comments, but at the inappropriate ‘damn’ that just came out of his mouth. “Um sorry. I keep putting my foot in my mouth, don’t I?” Michael swallowed his pride. “I don’t usually have trouble talking to girls, but for some reason, I’m having a hard time finding the right words to say to you.”
“Oh. You mean because I’m different. It’s true. I am. A lot of people think I’m weird.”
“No, no that’s not what I meant. You’re not weird. You’re perfect. I ... Cathy, I could talk to you forever.”
Michael sure knew how to work his charm. Cathy was back to feeling friendly again. In fact, she almost felt sorry for Michael. He really did seem to be trying hard. Could she have finally found a friend here on base? Michael was the first person she felt she could be herself with. She smiled and took Michael’s arm as they continued walking in darkness.
“What about you?” Michael didn’t want to allow any awkward silences to fill the air. “I want to know everything there is to know about you. Are you Greek?”
“I wouldn’t know. Like I said, I don’t know who my parents are. Or were.”
Michael never knew anyone who was an orphan. “That must have been hard on you.”
“I guess. I used to have this fantasy when I was little that my father was a world leader, like the president of some small European country. I imagined that the country was being overthrown and that’s why my parents placed me in an orphanage in America -- to keep me safe until they could come back for me. But in my imagination, they died during the coup, and that’s why they never came to get me.” Cathy’s voice trailed off and Michael could feel her sadness. He rubbed his palm over her hand.
“Wow. I’m sorry you such a lonely childhood.”
Cathy shook herself, realizing she was revealing more about herself than she intended. “Now I’m the one who’s talking too much. I don’t know why I’m telling you all this.”
Michael stopped walking. He faced Cathy and took her hands in his. “I’m glad you told me, Cathy. I want to know everything, everything there is to know about you.”
“Okay, but not tonight. I really do need to be up early to cook breakfast.”
“I’ll walk you home,” Michael offered.
“No, that’s okay. Good night Michael. It was nice talking to you.” Cathy started walking away from Michael and he followed her.
“Cathy, wait,” he said, not caring that he sounded a little too desperate. “I need to see you again. I need ... I need you.”
Cathy chuckled. “Well, if you eat breakfast, lunch or dinner, you’re bound to see me again. Good bye Michael.”
Chapter 23
Early in the morning of April 2, 1944, U.S. forces taking part in a major training operation, Exercise Tiger, were intercepted by German E-Boats. The attack took place off Slapton Sands, Devon, and over 600 U.S. soldiers and sailors were killed.
~3 April, 1944~
The base was eerily quiet the next morning. On a normal morning, the Commissary was the most popular place on base. But this wasn’t a normal morning.
Michael wandered into the crowded chapel. He wasn’t a very religious person, but that didn’t matter today. What mattered was paying respects to the souls of those who -- despite the best efforts of the doctors and nurses -- didn’t make it through the night, and to pray for the recovery of those who were still fighting for their lives.
Everyone on base, including Michael, was well aware that, just because he and the members of the 1044th lived to fight another day didn’t guarantee a damn thing. Tomorrow, they could be praying for him.
Michael took an aisle seat in a pew toward the back of the chapel. He bowed his head as he listened to the chaplain lead the congregants in prayer. It wasn’t a formal service, just men and women taking comfort in prayer throughout the day.
The continuous stream of people filing in and out of the chapel caught Michael’s attention and he couldn’t help but search the crowd for Cathy. They spent half of last night walking and talking, and now he couldn’t seem to get her off his mind. She had gotten under his skin and he felt the need to see her again. He craned his head, looking toward the back door of the chapel, but alas, no Cathy. However, he saw another friend’s face in the crowd.
“Joe! Over here!” Michael motioned for Joe to come join him. Joe edged through the crowd and Michael grabbed his arm and pulled him into the pew. They talked in hushed tones.
“What happened to you last night?” Michael demanded.
“Well, what do you think? Millie and me found a private truck in the garage and we spent the night together. What’s up with you?”
“I’ve been itching to talk to you,” Michael started.
“I’m here now,” Joe said. “What happened?”
~~~~~~~~
Meanwhile, Kay and Mary walked into the chapel. Like the other hospital workers, they were exhausted, they were dirty and sweaty and hadn’t changed out of their blood-speckled scrubs. Last night was hell, but most of them wanted to take a moment to lift their eyes to heaven; they needed a reminder that the world was not as ugly as it seemed last night.
Kay told Mary she was going to light a candle at the altar. So Mary found a couple of seats in a back row. She ended up sitting right behind Michael and Joe. She was about to tap Michael on the shoulder to say hello, but she held back when she heard what they were saying.
“I’m in love,” Mary heard Michael say, her eyes darting from the back of Michael’s head to the back of Joe’s.
“With who? The girl from the dance?”
Mary’s heart started to pound in her chest when she heard Michael say, “Yeah.” She thought about how he rescued her from Ned, took a seat beside her at the bar, made suggestive small-talk, and then made love to her in the back of a cargo truck. “She’s the most amazing girl I’ve ever met, Joe. She’s smart and beautiful and interesting and ... and I’ve never felt this way before.”
"I've never heard you talk this way before either." Joe scowled. “Wait. Didn’t you tell me you were engaged once?” That was news to Mary, but none of that mattered now.
“Yeah, but this is different,” Michael answered, his excitement evident from the speed of his responses. “I mean it’s crazy. One minute I’m out here on my own, and the next I’m head over heels ... I don’t know ... I don’t know how to explain it. It just hit me out of the blue, Joe. I didn’t sleep a wink all night thinking about her.”
In the pew behind Michael and Joe, Mary couldn’t stop smiling. Michael just put into words the way Mary was feeling too. She wondered if Michael could hear her heart singing, just one row behind him. But she didn’t want him to know she overheard him. This wasn’t the time or place for a declaration of love between them. It should be private and romantic and just the two of them.
Out of the corner of her eye, Mary saw Kay approaching. She hoped Kay wouldn’t call out her name and give her away, so Mary snuck out of the pew, grabbed Kay by the hand and pulled her out of the chapel.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Joe slapped Michael on the back. “So who’s the lucky girl this time? Is it the nurse you were hanging out with at the bar?”
“Who?” Michael was so single-minded at the moment that he forgot all about the girl he began the night with. “Oh, Mary, yeah. No, I’m talking about Cathy.”
Chapter 24
“I shall return.”
-- General Douglas MacArthur
Mary was dying to tell Kay her news, but Kay said she needed to take a shower before she did anything else. So the women headed for the shower stalls. Mary finished quickly. Then she went back to the dorm room, put on clean clothes and waited for Kay. She accosted her the second Kay walked through the door.
“Kay! Kay, I have something incredible to tell you.”
Kay smiled at her young friend. “I can’t wait to hear it. Tell me.” As Mary spoke, Kay put on a blouse and skirt instead of her hospital uniform.
“Do you remember the Private who exposed me in showers on my first day here?”
“I remember you telling me what happened,” Kay said as she folded some articles of clothing.
“And how I got back at him with the tetanus shot?”
Kay laughed. “That, I remember. I was there.”
“Well, wait until you hear what happened at the dance last night.” Mary finally noticed what Kay was doing. “Um... what’s that?” Mary pointed to the packed duffel bag on Kay’s cot.
“I have something to tell you too, Mary. I’m leaving,” Kay said.
“Leaving? What?? Why? Where are you going?” Mary was completely perplexed.
“I’m going to Southampton. It’s a special assignment. Or maybe it’s not so special. I’m not really sure.”
“You can’t go,” Mary protested. “We need you here. We would never have made it through last night if it weren’t for you.”
“That’s nice of you to say, Mary, but everyone did their share ... more than their share.”
“Okay then, I wouldn’t have made it through the night without you. I wouldn’t have made it at all since Day 1 if you hadn’t been here.” Mary and Kay had become very close very fast. Wartime will do that to you. The two of them bonded and Mary thought of Kay as a big sister.
“You’ll be fine honey,” Kay smiled and squeezed Mary’s shoulder. “Now finish telling me your news.”
“What? ... Oh. yes, of course! Kay, I found him. He’s the man of my dreams!”
Sally entered the room as Mary was gushing to Kay. “Man of your dreams? Baloney. There’s no such thing.”
Kay and Mary looked in Sal’s direction. Kay learned to ignore half the cynicism that Sal spewed. “Tell me more, Mary,” Kay urged. “Who’s the lucky guy?”
“That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you. It’s Michael Zacharius! I knew it from the moment I laid eyes on him. Okay, well, maybe not then. But I’ve never been more sure of anything. He’s the man I’m going to marry!”
Sal put her hand on her hip. “Private Zacharius? Ha! That’s a laugh. He’s no more likely to settle down than Dr. Mason. There are men who are the marrying kind. And then there’s the other kind. Do yourself a favor, Mary. Get your head examined before it’s too late.”
Kay took a step toward Sal. “You mean before she becomes a cynical old maid like you?”
It was clear from the expression on Sal’s face that Kay struck a nerve. Kay immediately regretted what she said. “I apologize Sal, but I don’t see any reason why you need to crush Mary’s enthusiasm just because you’ve been hurt a time or two.”
Sal sat down on her cot without saying another word, and Kay turned her attention back to Mary. “So tell me what happened. Does Michael know how you feel about him?”
“Um ... I think so,” Mary’s eyes darted from side to side. “l heard him talking to his friend about me. He said he loves me, Kay. He said I was beautiful and he’s crazy in love with me.”
Mary’s euphoria was contagious and Kay was getting excited too. “And I take it from that smile on your face that you feel the exact same way about him.”
“I do!”
A knock at the door and a male voice in the hallway outside interrupted the conversation. “Dr. Nolan, it’s Ned Jansen. Are you ready to go?” Mary looked at Kay quizzically.
“Is Ned stalking you now?” Mary asked.
“Ha. No. Ned is driving me to Southampton in his ambulance. I need to bring medical supplies there. I’m not sure what condition the patient is in.”
Mary’s good mood took a turn. “Um. Will you be back?”
Kay shrugged weakly. “Not sure. It depends.” Kay had no idea what she would find in Southampton or how long she’d be there. “Chin up, honey. We’ll see each other again soon. I promise.”
Kay hugged Mary and picked up her duffel. She started for the door and turned to Sal. “Thanks for everything, Major. Take care of yourself. And take care of Mary for me.”
Chapter 25
Southampton was about a hundred miles’ drive from Devonshire and Kay wondered if Ned was going to keep talking the entire way there. Luckily, he didn’t seem to require a lot of give and take; the sound of his own voice was enough for him. So between Ned’s inane monologue and the lack of sleep the night before, Kay kept nodding off during the long ride. But the unevenness of the road made for a bumpy ride and prevented her from napping for very long.
Finally, Kay could see it in the distance. Merrifield Manor, grey and stately. It appeared to be as large as Sacramento General Hospital, where she interned before joining the Army.
“Who lives here? The King?” Ned asked, his Iowa naiveté showing.
“Not the King. I’m told it’s a cousin of the King.”
They drove through the gate and wended their way to the estate’s front entrance. The grounds were immaculate, and the sculpted hedges reminded Kay of photographs she had seen of the gardens at Versailles in France.
Ned stopped the jeep and offloaded the medical supplies before leaving Kay at the front door.
Kay tapped the brass door-knocker and a short, grey-haired man answered the door. “Hi, I’m Dr. Kay Nolan. You must be Sir Fielding.”
In Love and War Page 8
