by Marilyn Turk
Bob nodded with vigor. “Yes, I’m a soldier.” He straightened his back and sat taller.
“So, Bob, did he tell you anything else about where he was going or if there was anyone he was going to see?”
Bob looked deep in thought. “He said somebody missed him, and he wanted to see them.”
Lexie’s interest piqued. Did Mike regain his memory? “Bob, this is important. Did he say a name?”
Bob shrugged. “I don’t remember.”
“Do you think anyone else in here remembers?”
Bob looked around the room. “Maybe Frank remembers.”
No one else in the room was interested in talking, much less answering any questions. No doubt Nurse Addams had already tried to get information from them. Lexie finished making her rounds, then headed toward the door. As she reached for it, Bob called out.
“His uncle. He was going to see his uncle Sam.”
Lexie looked over her shoulder at Bob who was nodding and smiling as he studied his cards. Uncle Sam? Did that mean he was going back to the army or was it just a coincidence that his uncle’s name was Sam? Either way, it sounded like Mike had regained his memory or at least some of it.
She went through the rest of the day trying to find out more about Mike’s departure, but nothing else was revealed. Her emotions hovered between joy that Mike was healthy enough to devise such a scheme, fear that he wasn’t well, and worry that he would get into trouble. If only she could talk to him and find out his intentions, but he had probably left the area to avoid being caught.
That afternoon, two uniformed Army officers arrived on the floor. They informed the nurses that Mike Walker was an Army Air Corps pilot who had gone missing when his plane crashed near an island in the Philippines. His parents and younger siblings lived in Michigan, but no wife or children were mentioned. The officers had been sent to the hospital to find out about his disappearance. Lexie had little to tell them since she didn’t really know where Mike had gone. Thankfully, Nurse Addams didn’t implicate Lexie in his escape either.
“What will happen if you find him?” Lexie ventured.
“He’s considered absent without leave, so he’ll be arrested,” the older officer said.
Lexie’s heart restricted. “But what if he returns to the army on his own?”
The two men glanced at each other before the same officer answered. “That depends. There will probably be a hearing to determine what course of action will be followed.”
“And if he wants to return to active duty?”
“Then things will go better for him, that is, of course, if he’s deemed medically well enough.” He touched the brim of his cap. “Thank you, ma’am.”
“Sir, would you please let us know if you find him?” Lexie had to know what happened to Mark.
“Yes, we’ll do that.” The two men nodded, then turned and strode to the elevator.
After the elevator door closed, Nurse Addams turned to Lexie. “Do you think he might return to the army?”
Lexie shrugged. “I don’t know. In a way, I hope so, so he won’t get in trouble.”
“Out of the frying pan into the fire,” said Nurse Addams.
“What do you mean?”
“Oh, it just sounds like Mike Walker’s life has been complicated lately.”
“Maybe if he remembers his family, he’ll go see them.”
“Perhaps, and I’m sure the army is expecting that too.”
Which uncle was Mike going to see?
Lexie’s heart was heavy as she walked back to the residence. She wasn’t ready to face Penny yet, knowing she’d probably heard about Mike Walker’s escape and would have to go over it again. When she discovered her roommate hadn’t returned yet, she breathed a sigh of relief, kicked off her shoes, and sank down on the bed. An overwhelming feeling of abandonment surrounded her. First Russell, then Cal, then Mike. They all left her. What was wrong with her? A puddle of tears pooled in her eyes before overflowing down her cheeks.
Of course, they were all different. Russell was coming back, wasn’t he? And he didn’t leave because of her, or did he? Cal was another story altogether. He left so he wouldn’t get caught, but he had betrayed her, and that only added to her pain. And Mike—she wanted to help him get better so badly, but now she’d never find out how he was. He’d simply disappeared like Cal, but not like Cal.
Penny walked into the room and, seeing Lexie upset, rushed over and sat down beside her. “Lex! What’s wrong, honey?”
Lexie turned onto her side facing Penny and sobbed. “Penny, I’m such a failure!”
“You? A failure? That’s impossible! You’re the top of the class. Why would you say that?” Penny grabbed a handkerchief out of her purse and handed it to Lexie.
Taking the handkerchief, Lexie wiped her face and nose and stopped crying. She took a deep, trembling breath. “I guess you heard about the patient that escaped from the psych ward.”
“Yeah, it’s all over the hospital. Pretty clever, if you ask me, but I hope he’s not dangerous.”
“He’s not, at least I don’t think he is.”
Penny’s eyes rounded. “You knew him, Lexie? Oh, that’s right. You work that floor a lot.”
“Yes, I knew him, or I thought I did. His name is Mike Walker. He’s the one they brought in that was catatonic several weeks ago. Remember?”
“Oh, yeah. Guess he’s not catatonic now. Wait. Do you think he was faking?”
Lexie sat up, unpinned her nurse’s cap, and tossed it over on the dressing table. “Oh no. He really was catatonic. I’m positive about that. He had come out of it and was getting his memory back.”
“So why do you think he left like he did?”
“He knew they were going to do electric shock therapy on him, and he didn’t want them to do it.”
“He told you that?”
Lexie nodded. “Yes, well, he didn’t tell me he was going to escape, though. But he did ask me to see if I could keep them from administering it to him.”
“Oh. Do they know that at the hospital?”
“No.” Lexie shook her head. “I didn’t tell them why he left. They’d think I had something to do with it. As it is, I worry that this whole incident might affect my graduation.”
“Lexie, I don’t think you could be held responsible for him escaping. Sounds like he was pretty smart. You’re not a failure!”
“But I feel like one. It’s just that things haven’t worked out like I expected.” Lexie couldn’t share her feelings about Cal’s deceit. Best leave that story alone. She’d tell Russell, but when? Tears threatened again, and she sniffed, hoping to stem the flow. “And I miss Russell. Guess I didn’t know how much.” A tear dropped onto her lap.
“I know you do. You’ve just had a lot on you lately.” Penny stood and began taking off her uniform. She stopped and turned to Lexie. “Say, you know this weekend is the Fourth of July. Why don’t you come home with me and spend it with my family?”
Lexie got up to change clothes as well. “Thanks, Penny. But I’m going back to East Hampton. I told the Maurice sisters I was coming.”
“No offense, but won’t you get bored there? I mean, no Russell, no fireworks, just the two old ladies?”
How could Lexie explain to Penny that the sisters’ cottage was her retreat, her “safe” place? “It won’t be so boring. We’ll go to the club and watch the tennis tournament they’re having. The Fourth is going to be pretty quiet this year anyway. You know, most of the factories will be open, and a lot of people are working as usual. Apparently, that’s supposed to show our support for the soldiers fighting for our independence.”
“Well, we always have a gang at our house, so it’s never quiet. We’ll have a cookout and lots of fun. Are you sure you don’t want to go?”
“No, but thanks anyway.”
“Say, I know what we need! Let’s go down to the diner and get a milkshake. We haven’t done that for a while. What do you say?”
The diner? The place where she�
�d been friends with a Nazi spy? She shuddered. She’d never intended to go there again.
“I don’t think so, Penny. I don’t really feel up to it.”
“Why not? You deserve a treat after all this. Come on!”
How could she explain to Penny? But maybe she was being silly. Cal was gone now, and so were the others. Surely she would be safe going there with Penny to get a milkshake.
“Okay. Why not?” They put on their street clothes and headed down to the familiar place. Lexie kept looking over her shoulder on the way.
“What are you looking for?” Penny asked. “You expect to see that guy Mike from the hospital? I kind of doubt he’d be easy to spot since he doesn’t want to be found.”
“Mike? No, I don’t expect to see him.”
Lexie focused ahead. Who was she looking for? If not Mike, then Cal? But she really didn’t expect to see him either. So why did she still think she was being followed?
The diner hadn’t changed, but it had lost its usual comfort. Without Russell and Cal, the place was full of strangers. The only familiar faces were the waitress’ and the owner’s. When the waitress took their shake order, Lexie feared the woman would mention her previous dining companion, Cal. But the waitress only nodded at them and left in a hurry to pick up orders the cook called out from the grill.
She returned with the shakes and put the cold refreshments in front of them. The cold chocolate drink slid down Lexie’s throat as she stared out the glass window watching people walk by while Penny jabbered on about something. A group of guys dressed in army uniforms passed the diner. Where would they be sent? Would they go where Russell was? Would his band play for them? She sighed, letting her shoulders sag.
“Lexie? Lexie, did you hear me?” Penny grabbed Lexie’s wrist across the table.
Lexie started, glancing down at Penny’s hand on her. “Hmm? I’m sorry, Penny. What did you say?”
“I asked you if you had gotten a letter from Russell yet.”
Lexie shook her head. “No.”
“Did you check today’s mail?”
“No. I didn’t think about it. I went straight to the room.”
“Maybe you’ll get one today.” Penny glanced out the window. “Say, isn’t that the German baker? Wonder how he feels about those Nazi spies?”
Lexie almost choked on her shake. “Where?”
“Over there,” Penny pointed. Lexie jerked her head to look, but a bus blocked her view. When the bus passed, there was no sign of the baker.
“I don’t see him, Penny. Are you sure that’s who it was?”
Penny scanned the street outside and shrugged. “I could’ve sworn it was him. Maybe he got on that bus.”
Lexie shuddered at the thought of the man. Why was he still around if he were a spy? The last time Lexie had seen him, he was arguing with Cal. What was their connection?
“He’s always got that nasty cigar in his mouth,” said Penny. “I hope the ashes don’t fall on the food in the bakery.”
Lexie hadn’t finished her drink, but it had lost its flavor. Coming here had been a mistake. She wanted to get away from the place, never come back, and never see that obnoxious baker again. “Penny, I’m ready to go. Are you?”
Penny drained her shake. “Sure.” The girls slid out of the booth, paid the cashier, and went out the door. Lexie quickened her pace down the sidewalk.
“Lexie, what’s the rush?”
Lexie slowed. “Sorry, guess I’m just used to being in a hurry.”
“Well, you’re not at work now, so relax.”
How could she relax, though, with the smell of cigar smoke lingering in the air?
Chapter Twenty-Nine
My dear Lexie,
How are you? Has the hospital been keeping you busy? I can picture you now as you take care of your patients and know how blessed they are to have you as their nurse. Your attention and desire to provide excellent care are characteristics I admire so much.
Things are going well over here. The guys on the bases are really happy to see us, and it’s gratifying to know we’ve cheered them up and given them a taste of home. We’ve filled up Northern Ireland with our troops, and some of the locals aren’t very happy about it. You can tell by the looks we get when we pass by them on the road. They’re pretty close-knit over here and keep to themselves. A couple of the guys have gotten into barroom fistfights, one of the unpleasant side effects of getting drunk, especially among unfriendly villagers. Of course, the soldiers were reprimanded, and the bar was made off-limits for a while.
I wish you could see this countryside. It’s so beautiful, lush and green, with houses and stone fences that make you think you’ve stepped back into another time. You don’t see many cars, as most folks walk or ride bicycles. The only complaint you hear from the Americans is the weather. It’s cold and damp much of the time, even though it’s summer.
The guys in the band are nice and fun to be around. They call me “the chaplain,” I guess because I don’t smoke or drink or use profanity. Plus, when I get a chance between sets, I play hymns like I used to. I did meet a chaplain here that I’ve enjoyed getting to know. He’ll ship out with all the other soldiers when they leave. We don’t know when or where they’re going, but rumors have been flying around about North Africa.
I suppose you’re going to spend the Fourth of July with the Maurice sisters like we had planned. Sorry I won’t be there to spend it with you.
I really miss you, Lexie, and think about you all the time. I miss your bright smile that lights up your face and every room you walk into. I’m so thankful you are part of my life, even though not as large a part as I’d like. I sure do wish we could talk on the phone because I miss hearing your voice. Every day, I pray for you and your safety, and I thank God that someday I can call you my wife.
All my love,
Russell
Lexie stared at the letter in her hand, her only connection to her fiancé. He hadn’t forgotten her. A tear trickled down her cheek. She wiped it off and smiled. Russell really did love her. Why did she doubt it? Deep inside, she knew their relationship was solid. Where did these ridiculous negative thoughts come from? Her mother. That was the way her mother thought—worried about everything until the fears consumed her. But her daughter wasn’t like that. She wasn’t going to live her life afraid of everything and everyone.
And yet, maybe there were some people she should fear. Should she have feared Cal, who was a real threat to her country? Should she have feared Mike? The hospital thought his outbursts made him dangerous, so they’d sedated him and restrained him. But she didn’t think he was. Was she wrong about him too? And why was she still looking over her shoulder? Was this a habit she’d acquired at Jekyll Island when there really was someone out to harm her? Lord, please give me wisdom about what and who to fear, and protect me from real danger.
Lexie picked up the phone in the residence living room and dialed the Maurice sisters.
“Hello?”
“Peg? This is Lexie.”
“Oh, hello, Lexie.” The older woman chuckled. “Jane is out running errands if you’re wondering why I answered the phone. Are you still coming this weekend?”
“Yes, if you’ll still have me. That’s why I’m calling.”
“Of course we’ll still have you! Are you coming Friday night or Saturday morning?”
“I’d like to come Friday night if it’s not too much trouble.”
“None at all. Do you know what time your train will arrive?”
“I hope to catch the five o’clock train and get there by eight thirty, but if I miss the early train, I won’t get there until nine. Why don’t I just call you from the phone booth at the station when I get there? I’d hate for Homer to have to wait for me.”
“That sounds fine. We’ll just be looking for your call Friday. Be careful.”
“I will.” Why did people always say that? Of course she’d be careful.
Lexie was taken aback when she saw a new pa
tient in what used to be Mike Walker’s bed when she reported to work. There was something so final about seeing someone else take his place—almost as if he’d never been there. The new patient was an older gentleman, a new John Doe, who’d been found wandering in Central Park, dirty and confused. Nurse Addams said they’d cleaned him up and were waiting for his family to file a “missing persons” report. Hopefully, he had a family who cared about him and would look for him. Meanwhile, he’d made friends with Bob, who was teaching him how to play cards.
All day long, Lexie expected to hear that Mike Walker had been found. She couldn’t help but worry about him. Where was he? Who was taking care of him? Had he tried to contact his parents, that is, if he remembered them? But no news about his whereabouts arrived at the hospital, and she could only pray he was safe and healthy. She prayed for his memory to be restored as well and for his headaches to go away. If only she could talk to him again and see for herself what kind of condition he was in.
Lexie’s shift had been changed to days, but Penny now had night duty, so they didn’t see each other for the next couple of days, and her room was unusually quiet without her animated roommate. After work on Thursday, she changed clothes and tried to study, but she was restless. The photo of her and Russell standing beside their bicycles at Jekyll Island beckoned to past times of fun and freedom. She was so naïve to think those times would last forever. Why did you have to lose something to truly appreciate it?
If he were here in the States now, they’d be going to Long Island together where they could ride bikes beside the ocean again. But he wasn’t here. Suddenly, she couldn’t wait to get back to the sisters’ house and go for a bike ride. Russell wouldn’t be there, but she could reminisce about their rides and imagine him being alongside her anyway. She couldn’t wait for tomorrow, Friday, to get out of town. She pulled out her suitcase to start packing so she’d be ready to leave right after work.
A tap on her door made her turn around. Nancy stood just outside the threshold, looking lost.
“Hey Lexie,” said Nancy, in her quiet, timid voice.
“Hi, Nancy.”
