In Love and War

by Natalie Brock

  The older man nodded and ushered Kay in. Their footsteps on the tile floor echoed as Kay followed the gentleman further inside. High ceilings and large empty spaces gave the manor a cold, unlived-in feeling. It looked more like a museum than a home, Kay thought.

  The man told Kay to wait in the sitting room while he went to announce her presence to the lord of the manor, but Kay didn’t sit down. She was anxious to see her patient and assess his condition.

  “Bloody hell!” A man stood in the doorway to the sitting room, hands on his hips and a curse on his lips.

  Kay decided it was probably best to ignore the attitude. “Hello, I’m ....”

  “A nurse! A bloody nurse!” Alexander Fielding was livid. “I told the Red Cross I need a doctor and they send me Florence Nightingale.”

  “Ah, so you must be Mr. Fielding ....”

  “Sir Fielding!” Alexander turned away from Kay and shouted. “James! James! Ring up the Red Cross for me and tell them this is unacceptable! Get me a doctor.”

  Kay felt her patience wearing thin. She was tired from being in surgery all night, she was tired from the long trip, and she was even more tired of being ignored or insulted just because she was a woman.

  “That’s funny. You don’t look sick,” she said. Kay eyed Alexander up and down. He was well-built, maybe 30 years old, with dark, wavy hair and blue-grey eyes. She made a conscious effort to ignore the fact that he was devastatingly handsome. “In fact, you look healthy as a horse. A horse’s behind!”

  Alexander looked at Kay with shock. “Who the hell do you think you are -- speaking to me that way? Do you know who I am?”

  “I don’t care who you are. And who the ... heck ... do you think you are anyway -- speaking to me that way. Do you know who I am? For your information, I’m a doctor and I came here for one reason and one reason only. Now, take me to my patient!”

  Alexander squinted at Kay and eyed her with skepticism. “You’re a doctor?” He shook his head and sighed. “Fine. You’ll have your chance to prove it.”

  Alexander led Kay down a long foyer and into the library where the patient was being kept. The man was stretched out on a divan, and, as Kay drew closer, she nearly passed out. The man was barely alive. He was burned beyond recognition, several layers of skin missing, no eyebrows, no lips, no hair on his head. A thin white sheet covered his body up to his neck. Kay didn’t even realize she’d been holding her breath until she exhaled. “What happened to him?”

  “Plane went down. Right here on the estate,” Alexander said quietly, as if he didn’t want to disturb the patient. “When the flames died out, we discovered there was a man inside, still alive. James and I brought him into the house. We rang up the Surgery in London and they told us not to move him.”

  “Why didn’t they send a doctor?

  “In case you didn’t notice, it’s wartime,” he answered sarcastically. “There’s a shortage of physicians. They suggested I try the Red Cross, and the Red Cross contacted your American Army base.”

  “The poor man must be in agony.” Kay gently touched her fingers to the patient’s wrist to feel a weak pulse. “Do you know who he is?”

  Alexander nodded and picked up a set of engraved identification tags from the library desk. “According to these tags, he’s a member of the Royal Air Force. His name is Group Captain Edward Welles.”

  Chapter 26

  Inside the kitchen, Cathy was helping to prepare lunch, but she couldn’t stop thinking of the handsome man she’d spent time with two nights ago. She knew she probably didn’t stand a chance with him, but she wanted to give it a try this time. Two nights ago, she let her own insecurities get in the way. And why wouldn’t she? He was older and more experienced and those things intimidated her. And whenever she felt intimidated or insecure, she put on her tough-girl act. She had to figure out a way to push those feelings aside and let the doctor see her true feelings.

  Now that she and Doris agreed to swap jobs, Cathy was a full-time server, working the cafeteria line alongside Maggie. That meant she could at least count on seeing David three times a day when he came to the Commissary for his meals, but she didn’t want to wait until that long.

  Maggie was about to go out through the back door of the kitchen to toss a bucket of food scraps into the trash when Cathy stopped her.

  “Maggie, wait! Where are you going?”

  “Just out to the dumpster, honey. I’ll be right back.”

  Cathy rushed toward Maggie and practically snatched the trash out of Maggie’s hands. “I’ll take it!” Cathy left Maggie perplexed as she headed out the back door. A moment later, a male voice calling from the mess hall caught Maggie’s attention.

  “Hello? Anybody here?” Michael knocked on the swinging kitchen door and pushed it open slightly. “Hello?”

  “Yes, Private. What can I do for you?” Maggie asked.

  “Is Cathy here?” Michael tried not to sound too anxious.

  “She went out to the dumpster. Can I give her a message for you?”

  Before Maggie finished her sentence, Michael was out of there like a rocket ship. Maggie wondered what was suddenly so appealing about the dumpster.

  Michael went out back and saw Cathy near the trash containers looking off into space with her back toward him. He approached her and put his arms around her from behind, scaring the daylights out of her and causing her to drop the now-empty bucket. She broke free of his embrace and whirled around.

  “Oh my god. Michael! What are you doing?”

  “Just saying hi.” Michael took Cathy’s eyeglasses off her and leaned in to kiss Cathy, but she leaned away.

  “Give me back my glasses. Are you crazy?”

  “I am,” Michael smiled. “Crazy about you,” he said, handing her eyeglasses back to her.

  “Well get over it, Michael,” she said, taking a step backwards and re-adjusting the glasses on her nose. “I’m not interested.”

  “Sure you are,” Michael said confidently. “You just don’t know it yet.”

  “What an ego you have!”

  Michael smiled. “It’s just a matter of time, baby.”

  Cathy rolled her eyes. “You happen to be very wrong if that’s what you think. I make my mind up about people like that!” Cathy snapped her fingers close to Michael’s face. “And I made my mind up on Saturday night that you and I would never be more than friends.”

  “Friends!” Michael put his hand to his chest. “You wound me. How can you say that without even giving me a tumble?”

  “It’s because ... because I’m interested in someone else.”

  “Someone else? Who?” Michael demanded.

  “Dr. Mason.” Cathy stuck her chin in the air, rather proud of her choice.

  “Dr. Dave??” Michael raised his eyebrows and put his hands on the sides of his head. “Are you crazy? Did you know they call him Dr. Hands? And you know why, right? He’s got a reputation for being a womanizer.”

  “Well so do you,” Cathy said defensively.

  “Ouch. Are you trying to hurt my feelings? Because you’re doing a really good job.”

  Cathy folded her arms across her chest. “I can’t help it if the truth hurts.”

  Michael pointed a finger at Cathy. “Someone needs to teach you manners.”

  “Oh yeah?” Cathy grabbed Michael’s finger and held onto it. “Like who?”

  “Like me!”

  “Ha! You and what Army?” Cathy thought she was rather funny.

  “Are you laughing at me?” This girl was starting to give Michael a complex.

  “Just shut up, Michael.” Cathy released Michael’s finger. “You don’t know David the way I do. Nobody does. He’s told me things about himself that he never told anyone.”

  “Oh brother! He’s really got you fooled! Which line did he use on you? The one about the dead wife? Listen to me, Cathy,” Michael said grasping Cathy’s arm and turning her to face him. “You’re too nice a girl to get tangled up with a guy like him.”
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br />   “Don’t go around making assumptions about me,” she rasped. “You know nothing about me.”

  “That’s not true. We walked and talked half the night, remember?” Michael felt the start of a deep connection with Cathy and it was hard for him to believe she didn’t feel it too. “We told each other our life stories.”

  “There’s still plenty you don’t about me,” she snapped back.

  Michael took a step closer to Cathy, trapping her against the dumpster. “That’s good,” he said huskily. “Because I want to know more. I want to know everything.” Michael touched Cathy’s chin, forcing her to look into his eyes. He held her gaze and watched her expression soften for a moment, and just as quickly, he watched it harden again.

  “Leave me alone, Michael.” She couldn’t let Michael distract her from her goal. She pushed his chest with both hands. “Just go away.”

  Michael took a deep breath and pursed his lips. Now he knew how Ned must have felt the other night when Mary gave him the brush off. He stuffed his hands in his pants pockets and, without saying another word, he turned and walked away.

  Cathy probably should have felt bad about hurting Michael’s feelings, but she had more important things on her mind. She turned back around to assume the stance she had before Michael interrupted. She only had a partial view of the hospital from where she stood, but she was hoping against hope to get a glimpse of David.

  Finally! David emerged from the hospital building. She watched him take off his surgical cap. Poor thing looked exhausted as he leaned against the side of the building. Cathy contemplated going over and talking to him. But what would she say? Would he be happy to see her? He was the first man who ever told her she was sexy. Was that a compliment? She didn’t know how to respond to that. And now, she didn’t know how to tell him she’s interested in him. She didn’t know anything about talking to a man or flirting or using feminine wiles.

  She felt them again -- those nervous knots she felt in her stomach whenever she thought about getting close to David. From her safe distance, she saw his eyes focus on something Cathy couldn’t see from her vantage point. She watched his lips curve into a smile, then seemingly from out of nowhere, she watched Norma walk into David’s arms and kiss him. David’s strong arms wrapped around Norma’s comely body and they continued to kiss. In public! Cathy couldn’t believe what she was seeing.

  This was awful. It was the worst thing that could happen. Norma was so aggressive. How on earth could Cathy compete with an experienced woman like that ... or with any woman for that matter? Cathy saw the kinds of women David flirted with and she wasn’t like any of them. She wasn’t aggressive or cute or flirtatious or charming or talkative. It was hopeless, unless ... Cathy’s lips parted as an idea came to her. She left her spot near the dumpster and hurried toward the Quad.

  Cathy ran as fast as she could until she caught up with Michael. “Michael! Michael, I need you.”

  Michael stopped walking when he heard the sound of Cathy’s voice. “You need me?” He turned and looked at her with more than a little doubt. “You just told me to leave you alone.”

  “Never mind that,” Cathy said trying to catch her breath. “I need a big favor and you’re the only one who can help me.”

  Chapter 27

  “We shall defend our island whatever the cost may be. We shall fight on beaches, landing grounds, in fields, in streets and on the hills. We shall never surrender.” - Winston Churchill

  Sitting on a chair beside the divan, Kay didn’t think her English patient would make it through the night. Then again, it was a miracle he lasted even this long. Or was it a miracle?

  Kay knew from the burns that covered Edward’s body that he must be in agony. If his brain was functioning at all, he probably felt the pain. What kind of higher power would put a man through this kind of hell?

  She tried not to think about Stewart, but she couldn’t help but draw the comparisons in her mind. Her husband died in the line of duty, fighting a fire. Did he suffer? Did he know what was happening? Did he feel pain? She prayed he died quickly and she wished the same for Edward. She administered morphine to him just in case, and tried to make him as comfortable as possible while waiting for the inevitable.

  She heard the door to the library open and close as Alexander walked in.

  “Any change?”

  “No, I’m sorry.” Kay looked up at Alexander standing over her and for some inexplicable reason, she had a vision of herself kissing him. She quickly looked away. “Has anyone tried to contact the patient’s family?”

  Alexander nodded. “Haven’t had any luck with that yet.” Alexander looked in Kay’s direction without actually looking at her. “Are you really a doctor? I’ve never known a lady doctor before.”

  Alexander was so handsome, it rendered Kay nearly speechless. She shook herself and tried to sound professional. “You wouldn’t be the first person to say that. But I am. I’m really and truly a medical doctor.”

  Alexander sat down in a brown leather chair. Kay could hardly take her eyes off him, watching his every motion a little too closely. He rested his forearms on his thighs, interlaced his fingers and let his folded hands dangle between his legs. But as intently as she was watching him, she noticed that he never looked at her. “What on earth would cause a woman like you to become a doctor?”

  Ah, Kay thought to herself, he’s not looking at me because he thinks I’m beneath him. Just another servant. “I’m not sure what you mean by ‘a woman like me,’ but I suppose it’s the same thing that makes a man want to be a doctor ... an interest in helping people feel better.”

  “Hmmm. And what about our patient over there? Can you help him feel better?”

  Kay turned her attention back to Edward and spoke quietly. “If I could, I would.” She looked back at Alexander. “He’s not going to recover. You know that, right?”

  Alexander brusquely rose from his chair. “If they sent me a male doctor like I asked ....”

  “You asked for a male doctor?” Kay cocked her head and tried to figure Alexander out.

  “Frankly ... no. I didn’t know I needed to specify. Thought all medicine men were ... well ... men.”

  “Not even a male doctor would be able to save this patient. Not a male doctor, not a female doctor.” Kay’s annoyance at Alexander turned to pity as she gently touched Edward’s hand. “Only God can save him now. And from the looks of things, God has abandoned this poor man.”

  Alexander nodded and walked to the window. He stared out through a pane of glass as he spoke. “The plane crashed 200 yards from here,” he said quietly. “Must have been mechanical problems. Sounded like a bomb exploding.”

  Kay rose and walked over to where Alexander was standing. She felt this magnetic pull. Despite his coolness toward her, she just wanted to get closer to him. “Must have been frightening,” she replied sympathetically.

  Alexander continued looking out the window. Kay knew she was standing just a little too close for polite society, but she couldn’t pull herself away. Finally, Alexander looked directly at Kay. “I flew a bomber too, just like Welles over there. Air Commodore Fielding at your service.” Alexander took a step back and saluted.

  That was the most animated she’d seen her host get since she arrived at Merrifield. Kay smiled as she imagined Alexander in uniform. He was strikingly handsome in civilian clothes and she presumed he’d look smashing in a uniform.

  Still, there was a quiet sadness about him. He lived on the estate all alone, except for his butler James, a chauffeur, a groundskeeper, and a couple of stable mates. But Kay was certain that there was a lot more to Alexander Fielding than met the eye. “Why did you leave the service?” Kay’s curiosity got the better of her.

  “James is preparing tea. I’ll have him bring you a spot.” He purposely sidestepped her question. Kay wondered what he was hiding.

  “I didn’t mean to pry. I was just ....”

  Alexander cut her off. “Do let James know if there’s
anything else you require. Good night Miss Nolan.”

  Chapter 28

  Between lunch and dinner service, Michael and Cathy sat side by side at a table in the otherwise empty Commissary.

  “Okay, let me get this straight. You want me to help you make David jealous.”

  Cathy rolled her eyes. “No, lame brain, I want you to teach me how to be a girl.”

  Michael laughed lightly. “Ha. I think you’ve got the wrong guy. I don’t know the first thing about being a girl. Why don’t you ask Doris or Millie or Maggie.”