Haven Point

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by Virginia Hume


  My parents, among many gifts, instilled in me a love of books and stories, and ensured I got an excellent education despite my (not inconsiderable) resistance. Eternal thanks to my mother, Clare Hume, who is loving, generous, an astute reader, and a font of anecdotes from her summers on Old Black Point. I am so grateful for all she does for me and my family, and for always supporting my creative endeavors. (Well, except singing. Because, let’s face it, everyone has their limits). My father, Brit Hume, from whom I inherited a practical streak, was on board from the first with this most impractical venture. (He seemed more certain than me, in fact, that this was what I was meant to do next). I’m grateful for his love, wisdom, and support, and for teaching me that the right word matters. Thanks, too, to Kim Hume, for her contagious enthusiasm for this novel.

  Finally, I am most indebted to the three people who had to live with me throughout this process. My daughters, Mary Clare and Helen, inspire me every day with their humor and spirit and intelligence. I’m grateful to them for many things, not least for acting pleasantly surprised when I actually made dinner, rather than disappointed when I didn’t. Last but certainly not least, I’m grateful to my husband, Drew Onufer, to whom this book is dedicated. Drew does it all—slays the bugs, laughs at my jokes, and plans, well … everything. He is our family plumb line, always bringing us back to center when we veer off. I’m blessed every day by his decency, good nature, and unswerving support.

  AUTHOR’S NOTE

  In attempting to bring to life World War II–era Washington, D.C., I relied on a number of resources, including David Brinkley’s Washington Goes to War, Paul K. Williams’s Washington, D.C., the World War II Years, John Morton Blum’s V Was for Victory, Scott Hart’s Washington at War: 1941-1945, and Mary W. Standlee’s history memoir, Borden’s Dream, about Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

  Other than liberties I took with timing, I did my best to faithfully portray the Cadet Nurse Corps. It was, at the time, the most significant experiment in federally subsidized education in the nation’s history, and the first integrated uniformed service corps. The 120,000 cadets who fast-tracked through nursing schools included 3,000 African Americans, 350 Japanese Americans, and 40 Native Americans. The program prevented the collapse of civilian nursing care during the war.

  I was delighted to discover that the Cadet Nurse Corps was the brainchild of Ohio congresswoman Frances Payne Bolton, a great champion of nursing and nursing education. Though I didn’t have the pleasure of knowing her, if her children and grandchildren are any indication, she was a wonderful woman.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Virginia Hume is a freelance writer and editor in Washington, D.C. Her early career was spent in public affairs and political communications. She lives in Chevy Chase, Maryland, with her husband, their daughters, and an under-groomed bichon named Chester. You can sign up for email updates here.

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  CONTENTS

  Title Page

  Copyright Notice

  Dedication

  Prologue

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Acknowledgments

  Author’s Note

  About the Author

  Copyright

  This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

  First published in the United States by St. Martin’s Press, an imprint of St. Martin’s Publishing Group

  HAVEN POINT. Copyright © 2021 by Virginia Hume. All rights reserved. For information, address St. Martin’s Publishing Group, 120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271.

  www.stmartins.com

  Cover design by Olga Grlic

  Cover art: landscape © Susan Pease/Danita Delllmont/Alamy; texture © Drawbot/Shutterstock.com

  The Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available upon request.

  ISBN 978-1-250-26652-1 (hardcover)

  ISBN 978-1-250-26653-8 (ebook)

  eISBN 9781250266538

  Our e-Books may be purchased in bulk for promotional, educational, or business use. Please contact the Macmillan Corporate and Premium Sales Department at 1-800-221-7945, extension 5442, or by email at [email protected].

  First Edition: 2021

 

 

 


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