“I know it sounds unbelievable, but it’s true. Right down to the hot dogs and Diet Pepsi,” Phil said.
“Oh my. Charlie. My Charlie Davis,” she whispered. “Does he know I’m here?”
“No. He thinks you’re happily married in North Carolina,” Phil said.
“How did he know?”
“He tracked down your girlfriend in Honolulu. She told him. And she told him to leave you alone,” Phil said. Gayle gasped and clasped her hand to her mouth.
“He came back for me?” Gayle said.
“Yes, he kept his promise ‘cause he was crazy about you,” Elpie said.
“I just got one question for you,” Phil said to Gayle. “Why did you switch over to your middle name?”
“I didn’t want any loser buddies of Charlie to track me down for a sympathy date. I figured if I was going to start my life over, I might as well start it over with a new name.”
“Makes sense,” Phil said. Gayle tried to compose herself.
“Oh my goodness, my goodness,” Gayle said. “What’s he like? How does he look?”
“He’s still got it going, girl,” Jessica said.
“I can easily imagine him strutting his stuff as a young pilot, because he’s still quite a looker. He’s very charming. And, by the way, he’s not married. He’s a widower,” Elpie said.” Gayle unconsciously began stroking her own hair.
“Oh dear God. It’s been a lifetime since I’ve seen him. I don’t know what to do. And I don’t know what he will do.”
“I think one look in your eyes and he’ll be walking on air. He said he still holds you in his heart, Gayle,” Phil said. “So, would you like a moment to freshen up while I go get him?”
“You mean you want me to meet him now?”
“Well, of course. He’s leaving today, and soon! This may be your only chance.”
“No, please, no. Don’t do this.”
“You mean you don’t want me to get Charlie? Why?” Phil said.
“Because, because, I can’t think. This is happening so fast, and it doesn’t make any sense.” She began to cry.
“Look, Gayle, some things in this life just can’t be explained except to believe that God has a way of working things out in His own time,” Phil said.
“Well, God’s timing is off by about fifty years,” Gayle said.
Chapter 24
“I can understand what a shock this must be. And if you need more time to compose yourself…” Phil said.
“That’s not it. I just don’t think I can do it. Look at me, I’m shaking all over.”
“We can help you. You don’t have to do this alone,” Jessica said.
“No, I can’t do this. You must promise me something, all of you.”
“What?” Jessica said.
“You must promise me you will not tell him I am here. Just let him go home. I don’t ever want him to know that his Diane Haley was here.”
“Oh, Gayle, no! You don’t mean that. You can’t mean that!” Elpie said.
“I don’t know why God kept us apart all these years just to put us back together again now that our lives are almost over, but I just can’t— I can’t put myself through it.”
“He lost you once and it broke his heart,” Phil said. “Don’t you think the two of you deserve a second chance?”
“With my heart, I’ll probably be dead in a few months anyway. If this man really is my Charlie, and if he really still loves me, think what that would it do to him if we get back together and I die next month. That would be too much to put him through.”
“You don’t know when you’ll die. None of us knows that,” Jessica said.
“Don’t you think that meeting him is worth the gamble if there’s even the smallest chance you could live the last chapters of your life together? I bet you could pack a hundred years of joy into the ones you share together starting today,” Phil said.
“I guess I am curious. I would like to just see him, maybe, you know, from a distance.”
“He is quite a looker. And trust me, I’ve seen more than a few women here givin’ him those come-hither eyes, mmm hmm!” Elpie said.
“Oh really?” Gayle said. “So when is he leaving?”
“He’s staying for Stan Malinski’s birthday party in about a half hour, and then he’s leaving right after that with his son,” Phil said.
“If I did wish to see him, it would have to be handled just so.”
“What if I brought him here, after the birthday party?’ Phil said.
“As long as he doesn’t know who I am, maybe I could just talk to him for a few minutes.”
“What if he recognizes you?” Jessica said.
“I don’t look a thing like the girl he remembers. I think I can fool him long enough.”
“Fool him?” Jessica said. “Why would you want to fool him?”
“Let me decide if and when I want to reveal who I am. I need to see him, to feel if the bond we once shared is still alive in him. There’s still so much I don’t know.” She suddenly took stock of what she was wearing – a bathrobe wrapped around an old flannel night gown. “I guess I, I have to get ready. I have spent the last fifty years loving the memory of this man. In so many of my dreams, I have held him in my arms, and I have cried myself to sleep. I don’t know what to think. I need to calm down. I’ll be in my room.”
“Let me help you,” Jessica said. She took Gayle’s arm and the two retreated to Gayle’s apartment. Elpie looked at Phil.
“If anyone needs me, I’ll be in my office freaking out,” Phil said. He turned and headed back to his office. Elpie sat at the nursing station all alone.
“They did not cover this in nursing school.”
v
The Sanctuary auditorium overflowed with residents, staff, families, and local media. A TV reporter positioned his cameraman in the center aisle to capture the event for the evening news. Crepe paper, balloons, banners and flags livened the hall with a spirit of celebration. The head table featured a large birthday cake. Several of the residents wore party hats. Steve Davis sat beside his dad, embracing this special moment. Charlie Davis and Stan Maliniski learned long ago to accept these awkward events in a spirit of gratitude for the good intentions of well-wishers. Stan agreed to wear his old Marine uniform, proud that it still fit, and Steve managed to find is Dad’s old bomber jacket and flight cap. Charlie wore it for the cameras, at Margot’s insistence.
Margot stepped up to the microphone and hushed the congregation.
“We want to thank all of you for coming out today to honor these two heroes who risked their lives to defend this precious nation of ours. First, we want to honor Lieutenant Commander Charlie Davis with a plaque for his service. Charlie, would you come up here.” Steve gave his dad a gentle pat on the back, and Charlie rose, as the audience politely applauded. He stepped to the podium with Margot. She wrapped her arm around him, and with the other hand offered the plaque to Charlie.
“Charlie, for your years of service to our country, we all want to say thank you, and God speed.” She gave him the lovely plaque as camera flash bulbs popped. Charlie stepped up to the microphone.
“Stan and I have shared a lot of war stories these past few weeks, but I think what we remember most vividly are the fallen comrades we left behind, who died too soon and left an empty ache in our hearts. I know for myself of many families whose boys sacrificed their lives in the service of this great nation. I’m reminded of a fitting benediction offered by Major Michael O’Donell, who was involved in that little fracas we call Vietnam. He said:
If you are able, save for them a place inside of you, and save one backward glance when you are leaving for the place they can no longer go. Be not ashamed to say you loved them, though you may or may not have always. Take what they have left and what they have taught you with their dying and keep it with your own. And in that time when men decide and feel safe to call war insane, take one moment to embrace those gentle heroes you left behind.”
Silence lingered as the audience allowed those words to resonate for a moment, then stood to applaud, as Charlie, full of emotion, sat back down.
From the assisted living nursing station Elpie listened to the ceremony, broadcast over the facility loud speaker. The sound of applause from the auditorium faded, followed closely with an impromptu rendition of “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow” by the entire auditorium. Elpie looked up at the clock on the wall – 11:00 a.m. She lowered her gaze to the ledger book to continue making notes. Dillie slowly approached the nursing station with her purse in hand.
“Dillie, what are you doing here? Why don’t you go down to the auditorium and have some of that birthday cake?” Dillie paused and listened to the laughter and music resonating from the loud speaker. “Sounds like fun down there. That Margot sure knows how to throw a party,” Elpie said. Dillie sighed.
“That’s okay. I’ll just stay here,” Dillie said. Elpie looked up from her note taking and saw Dillie clinging to her purse.
“Look, I’ll come get you if your son shows up.”
“But if I’m not here, he’ll think I don’t care.”
“Dillie, he knows you care. We all know you care,” Elpie said. Dillie turned to go.
“I’ll just go wait in my room.” She quietly shuffled back to her room. The phone rang.
“Hello—Oh, hi, Annie—No, Phil’s not here right now,” Elpie said. “How’s L.A.?…I’ll bet…Well, he hasn’t said, but I’m sure he’ll be heading to the airport pretty soon. He wouldn’t miss the Golden Globes for anything.” Jessica left Gayle’s room for an update.
“Sure, I’ll tell him you called. Good bye, sugar.”
“Who was that?” Jessica said.
“Oh, that’s Annie, looking for Phil,” Elpie said.
“Is he still here? He needs to get going if he’s going to make his flight.”
“He knows what he’s doing. Don’t you worry about him. How’s Gayle holding up?”
“Oh, she’s just an emotional wreck. Other than that, she’s fine. It’s just the waiting that’s driving us all crazy. I can’t handle this much longer. Maybe I should give Charlie a heads-up.”
“Don’t you dare utter a peep. You could spoil the whole reveal,” Elpie said.
“I know. It’s just the waiting that’s making me nuts.”
“Just think how Mrs. Stoddard must be feeling right about now. Lord, I’d be crawling out of my skin.”
Just then Dillie returned to the nursing station with a bowl of peanuts in her hand.
“Hello, Miss Dillie. Your son hasn’t showed up yet, if that’s what you’re here for.”
“No, I’m just dropping these off. I’m done with them.” She handed the bowl of peanuts to Elpie.
“That’s fine, Dillie. Just leave them here. I’ll take care of them,” Elpie said. Dillie set the bowl on the counter and returned to her room. Jessica studied the bowl for a moment.
“What’s this?”
“Oh, Dillie’s false teeth don’t work so well, but she loves those chocolate-covered peanuts. So she just sucks off the chocolate and spits the peanuts into a bowl. But she doesn’t want to waste them, so she brings them here for me to hand out to visitors. ‘Been doing it for ‘bout five years now.”
“That’s awful!” Jessica groaned.
“Of course, I don’t actually give them to visitors. I just throw them away when she’s not looking.”
Margot wheeled Charlie in, fresh from the birthday party, followed by Phil. Charlie still wore his bomber jacket, flight cap, and purple heart medal. Farewell streamers trailed behind, with confetti residue sprinkled all over him. He looked like he’d just marched down Bourbon Street in the middle of Mardi Gras. He held some greeting cards in his lap.
“Margot, you rascal. This was truly a surprise. Thank you.”
“Charlie, you’ve already thanked me enough. I’m just glad that, between the two of us, we finally convinced your son to attend.”
“It wasn’t anything I did. If it wasn’t for you, he’d have been locked away in a room somewhere looking at foldouts of naked well-endowed computers.” They both laughed at the thought.
“Are the festivities over now?” Elpie asked.
“All done,” said Phil. “Stan was thrilled, and Charlie here got thank-you cards from the American Legion.”
“And look at you all spiffy in your flight cap and - what is that? A purple heart?” Jessica said.
“Yeah, I got it for crashing my plane. Go figure – a medal for destroying a few million dollars worth of government property. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got some cards to read.” He wheeled himself over to the loveseat.
“By the way, Phil, Annie just called,” Elpie said.
“What did she want?”
“Just lookin’ for you. You know you got a plane to catch today.”
“I know – I still have time to make this reunion happen,” he said.
“Oh, Lord, don’t remind me. We’ve gotta get a package ready to deliver.” Elpie walked down to Gayle’s room to check on things. Steve arrived from the auditorium wearing a cone-shaped birthday party hat. He appeared surprisingly giddy.
“I gotta confess, Margot. Maybe you’re not so scary after all, ‘cause that was actually a lot of fun. So, do you do this sort of thing for your residents all the time?”
“Only when the family’s looking. The rest of the time we starve and beat them.” Steve noticed the peanut bowl left on the counter from Dillie. He picked up a few nuts in his hand, and shook them like dice. Then he popped them into his mouth a couple at a time, almost unconsciously.
“Getting the American Legion out here for both Dad and his friend Stan was a really nice touch,” Steve said. “The reporter from Channel 6 was a great idea, too.” He grabbed another handful of peanuts and downed them as well. He paused, licked his lips and quizzically examined the nuts remaining in his hand. He then shrugged his shoulders and popped some more into his mouth. Jessica finally noticed what he was eating, and gasped.
“Are you eating those peanuts?”
“Yeah. Why?” He grabbed a few more.
“Um, ‘cause I just thought you’d be too full from cake and cookies.” Steve waved her off.
“Sugar load makes me crave something salty. Although, I have to say, these are kinda’ under-salted. Actually, they have kind of an unusual taste. I can’t quite place it.” Jessica quickly moved the bowl away.
“I think they might be second-hand, or stale, or something.” She walked over behind the nursing station and dumped the rest of the nuts in the trash. “I better go help Elpie with that package,” Jessica said, then disappeared down the hallway. Steve turned to Charlie.
“Dad, the newspaper wants to take a few pictures of you and me out by the flagpole.”
“Right now?” Charlie said.
“Yeah. They’re already out there waiting.”
“Perfect,” said Phil. “You two go get your picture taken. Then bring the wheelchair back and we’ll say good-bye.”
“OK. Let’s go, Dad.”
Chapter 25
Gayle’s bedroom looked like a chaotic changing room for a women’s clothing store. Dresses lie scattered across the bed, assorted tops still on their hangers perched on closet doors, shoes stood in rows beside the dresser, scarves and other accessories covered the dresser top. Jessica found Elpie frantically combing Gayle’s hair into various styles, trying to freshen up her look. Gayle sat anxiously in her bathrobe, praying for a fashion miracle to occur.
“They’re not going to be here much longer,” Jessica said. “So, whatever you’re going to do, do it now.”
“Oh, it’s no use,” Gayle declared. “I can’t turn the clock back, and none of my clothes can fix what 50 years have done to me.”
“Never mind that,” Elpie said. “Jessica, start working on her nails. See if there is a soft dusty red polish somewhere.” She pulled Gayle’s hair up and away from her ears to see what that might do.”
“OK, we’ve got apple red, rose, berry red, crimson, strawberry, and smoke red,” she called out from the bathroom.
“Go with crimson,” Elpie called back. Jessica grabbed the little bottle and set up a manicure station for Gayle where she sat, trying to stay out of Elpie’s way.
“All right, left hand,” Jessica instructed. Phil stuck his head in the door.
“Are you ready yet?”
“Almost,” Elpie said. “Now, get out. You’re making us nervous.” Phil returned to the nursing station, where Margot waited for Charlie and Steve to return from their photo session.
“This is so exciting, Phil. Thanks for letting me in on your little match-making scheme.”
“I don’t know. We’re a long way from a happy ending. I just hope this doesn’t blow up in our faces.” Suddenly the loud speaker made an all-call for Phil.
“Phil Branson – line one. Phil, line one.” He stepped behind the nursing desk and picked up the phone, pushing line one.
“Hello, this is Phil…Oh, hi, Annie…I’m sorry, too…But it’s been a crazy day from the start and I just can’t talk about this now…Yes, I’m aware of the time, but we’ve got a little situation here that we’re dealing with… Is it a good thing or bad thing? I don’t know, but we’re going to find out pretty soon…I’ll tell you all about when it’s over…Yes, I love you…Yes, I’ll be there…I’ve gotta go! ‘Bye.” Phil hung up. Margot was about to speak when Phil raised his hand like a traffic cop.
“Don’t ask.”
Steve and Charlie returned.
“Okay. We’ve now been immortalized on film. I think we’re going to be on our way now.” Phil did not know how to detain them any further. Just then Dillie appeared and immediately noticed Steve.
“Son, how wonderful to see you! I had just about given up.” She clung to Steve with a tender embrace. Steve’s whole body stiffened as if Dillie carried leprosy. He glared at Margot for any kind of rescue, but she thought otherwise.
The Sanctuary II: Lost and Found Page 16