by Cathy Elliot
“When he arrived in Stony Point, I was on a fishing trip. Charlie had to hang around town for three days, waiting. He’d heard about Betsy when I was on the Beneficent, and he looked her up. Not for any other reason than to talk about me, find out how I was doing. Charlie learned then that no one was aware of my war service, the good or the bad. So he kept what he knew to himself. He was a true friend, that Charlie.
“He and Betsy seemed to get on well. He met some of Betsy’s friends, including Stella. Anyway, once I got back from fishing, I heard Charlie was in town and looking for me. I wasn’t too anxious to see him, as you might imagine, but we met down at South Beach. Where no one else could hear our conversation.
“When he gave me back the medals, I was angry. Probably at myself, mostly. I threw those medals far out to sea. Didn’t want to see them. Didn’t want to be reminded of them. Didn’t want anyone to know what had happened. I guess I didn’t throw them far enough. Charlie always said I was lousy at throwing.” A grin crept across his lips.
“My grandfather must have found them later on the beach. And he kept them for you all these years. In fact, he built a case for them and carved patriotic symbols on it.” Annie said. “It’s really quite beautiful.”
“That was Charlie for you.”
“Pops, why haven’t you ever told us these details? We don’t even know what you did to win a Medal of Honor. When we’ve asked, you wouldn’t talk about it. All we’ve been told is about your faults and your disgrace.”
“I don’t deserve any accolades,” Harold said, clamping his mouth closed.
“That’s not true, sir,” Ian said. “And your son and grandson deserve to know about your bravery. What happened in that bar does not negate your courage under fire, medals or no medals.” Mayor Butler opened his folder and took out a paper. “This is a copy of the citation you received for your Medal of Honor. May I read it?”
In a new act of courage, Harold indicated his approval with a nod. Robert and Harry waited, silent.
“I’ll skip the legalese and read the actual act of valor concerning Harold Robert Stevens:
For extraordinary heroism and conspicuous gallantry in action above and beyond the call of duty as Boatswain’s Mate Third Class, engaged in a rescue effort during combat against enemy Japanese aerial forces near Lunga Point at Guadalcanal, on 10 August 1942. After watching his ship’s response to the distress call of a nearby supply ship result in the loss of 2 lifeboats carrying 6 crewmembers by enemy aerial gunfire, Boatswain’s Mate Third Class Harold Stevens lowered a third lifeboat and initiated yet another rescue attempt. Under constant strafing by enemy machine guns from the air, with a clear and present danger and at great risk to his life, Boatswain’s Mate Third Class Harold Stevens daringly rowed his craft toward his crewmates. As he closed the distance to the first man in the water, the strafing hit nearby wood hull debris and a shard pierced Boatswain’s Mate Third Class Harold Stevens’ side. Though severely wounded and amid fierce enemy fire, he rowed onward, single-handedly effecting the rescue of his shipmates. Together they rescued another 27 men from the water, trapped by strafing from enemy forces. His exceptionally heroic act in the face of extremely perilous combat conditions enabled him and his courageous comrades to undoubtedly save the lives of many who otherwise would have perished and reflects the highest credit upon Boatswain’s Mate Third Class Harold Stevens and the U.S. Naval Service.
The mayor stopped reading then, allowing the truth of Harold’s heroism to sink into the hearts of his family. The old man stared out to sea, perhaps remembering. Robert’s eyes teared up, and he hugged his father. “I’m so proud of you, Dad.”
Harry held his head in his hands. Annie wasn’t sure if he was overcome with emotion at learning of his grandfather’s bravery or just weary that it had taken so long for it to be revealed.
“Too bad I messed up,” Harold said with regret. “Once, I had it all. But, as the boys know, I did stop drinking.” He smiled at the boys.
“You gave all you had to save the lives of your men.” Annie wanted him to hold onto this source of pride again. He had shown incredible courage back then. And she was sure he’d been brave many times since. Grandpa Holden used to say that honor cannot be lost when it is at the core of one’s character.
Just then, the receptionist tapped Ian on the shoulder. “Sorry to interrupt, Mr. Mayor. But there is someone here to see you. Can you follow me?”
Without any explanation, the mayor left the room.
27
Returning quickly, Ian examined another sheet of paper as he stood among them. “My secretary just dropped off this fax. It contains new information that may change the way you look at your past, Mr. Stevens.” Annie looked over at Harold, who wore a doubtful expression. “You mentioned to Mrs. Dawson a woman named Dorothy Divine.”
Harold nodded his assent. “She was the nurse on base when I was flown stateside after being wounded. I was interested in her, but rumor had it she was married. Still, a guy can enjoy the scenery.” His smile broadened.
“No argument from me, sir,” Ian said. “According to this report, she was the person you were defending that night in the bar.”
“That’s right. That brute she was with was just that. An animal. You know what I mean.”
“I do.” The mayor nodded. “What you don’t know is the rest of the story. Ms. Divine was indeed married to a very brutal man. According to this, he used to beat her often. She was afraid to escape from him, because he swore he’d always find her and nobody else could ever have her. ‘Not that anyone would want her,’ in his words.”
“She took it. She was afraid. Poor woman,” said Harold solemnly.
“I’m sorry to tell you that Dorothy Divine passed away two years ago. But I’d like to read a portion of this letter I received from her daughter, Bonnie Gleeson.”
When Mr. Stevens stopped my biological father from dragging Mother out of the bar that night, she learned something--that she had value after all. Mother told me that though both men were intoxicated, the true nature of each was apparent. One was a devil, and the other, a hero. Harold Stevens saved my mother’s life. He changed her life from that day forward. His act of chivalry gave her back her life that had been stolen by an evil man.
Harold Stevens saved my life too. No one could have known that Mother was pregnant with me at that time. Even she didn’t know. But in her words, Harold Stevens was her hero. She never forgot nor ceased to be grateful for his sacrifice … to her last breath.
“So you see, sir, you acted in a heroic fashion, even when you were drunk.” Ian grinned. “To my mind, there are extenuating circumstances to this case. In fact, I’m prepared to assist you in an appeal of your conviction and the wrongful dishonorable discharge.”
Harold’s mouth dropped open in surprise. “You are? You’d do that, Mayor?”
“It would be a privilege.” Ian held up an official-looking form. “I already have the Application for Correction of Military Records and will do all in my power to have this injustice reversed and all honors restored.”
Robert slapped his father on the back. “Dad, that’s amazing.”
“Hear, hear!” Annie said, raising an imaginary glass.
Harold blinked rapidly. “I’ve lived with this shame for so long. How can I thank you both?”
Ian and Annie exchanged satisfied smiles.
“And my dad can get the medals he earned,” Robert said, pride in his voice.
Annie sighed. How best to break the news about the missing medals? “Well, not exactly. I wish I could give them to you now, Mr. Stevens, but I lost them.”
“Actually, they were stolen from Annie’s car, along with a couple of old photos and a military file of Charlie’s,” Ian said. “The photos are probably gone for good, but I’m sure we can get the medals replaced once the appeal goes through. And copies of Charlie’s separation papers too,” the mayor said to Annie.
“No need for that.” Harry spoke for the first time a
nd then stood. He exited the room, without a farewell.
Annie wondered at all this coming and going from their little session. Who would leave next? She was about to ask how Harold met his wife when Harry returned, carrying a large paper bag. He thrust it at her.
“I don’t know any other way to do this,” Harry said, barely making eye contact. “I took these from your car when I saw it parked in the church lot on Friday morning.”
“You what?” Annie caught her breath and opened the bag. She saw the medals resting inside their case and the envelope which, she presumed, contained the old photos. Against the side of the bag, Grandpa’s file stood at attention. A wave of anger washed over her, and her muscles tensed. She wanted to lash out or demand an explanation. Yet somehow she couldn’t collect her thoughts. She stared at Harry, speechless.
“Harry?” Confusion covered Harold’s face. “Is that true? Did you steal from this young lady? Why would you do that?”
Shrugging, Harry began to explain, giving Annie an intense glare. “When Kate told me you all were poking around, asking questions about Pops, I thought you might discover his secret. I panicked. I just kept thinking, ‘God forbid that it gets out because of a bunch of bored busybodies.’ ”
Annie bristled. It might be one thing for him to call her a busybody, but the entire Hook and Needle Club? That was going too far. And who said they were bored, anyway?
“Totally uncalled for, Harry,” Ian said. “You owe Annie an apology.”
“Stop it, son,” Robert said, walking over to where Harry stood and placed a hand on his shoulder. “Take responsibility for your actions. You don’t see your grandfather blaming a bunch of drunks for making him end up in prison, do you?”
“No. Guess not.” Harry glanced up at Annie, like a petulant child. “Sorry.”
Annie decided that was a sorry excuse for an apology. But, taking the high road, she said, “All right. I’ll accept your apology for calling me and my friends busybodies. But I haven’t heard anything remotely like an apology for stealing those medals or the rest of the stuff.”
Harry pulled away from his father’s touch, as if Robert’s hand on his shoulder burned. “They weren’t your medals. They belonged to my grandfather! Why should I apologize for taking things that belonged to him?” Harry’s stubborn behavior made Annie wonder how Kate put up with him as long as she had.
“Haven’t you been listening, Harry?” Robert asked. “We’re going to work to get your grandfather cleared, his medals restored. You are a descendant of a United States hero. You try to act like one.”
“It’s like you are still out leading the cavalry, and the war is over,” the mayor said. “Truce, Harry. Back off. Quit protecting your grandfather. He doesn’t need it anymore.”
Then Harold’s stern voice rang out. “Harry! I don’t like to see this side of you. Do the right thing, now.” His command had an immediate effect on his grandson.
Harry put his hands up in surrender. “OK, Pops. You’re right. And I apologize, Mrs. Dawson. I overreacted that night. Maybe because I’d had a couple of drinks before I got to dinner. Clouded my thinking. A little fortification before meeting Kate.”
Annie wondered how much fortification Harry had taken before meeting with the mayor this morning.
“What did Kate say that disturbed you so much?” Annie asked, trying to coax the truth from Harry. She might as well get the full story before she never spoke to him again.
“What didn’t she say? Kate drives me nuts. Sometimes in a good way, sometimes bad. That night, she went on and on about you: how you crochet, how you dress, what you drive … she thinks you can do no wrong. After she talked about your World War II find, and Vanessa added that you were really good at solving mysteries, I thought that Pops’ secret would get out. What could you have that might incriminate him? When I saw your car in the church lot. Unlocked too,” Harry said. “There in the backseat was some suspicious stuff. So I took it.
“Once I had it, I wasn’t sure what to do with it. I couldn’t give it to Pops. That would make a whole new problem. It was enough for me that you didn’t have them, I guess.” Harry blew out a deep breath. “It was wrong. I’m sorry.”
So there it was, hanging out in space. Her apology. But Annie found herself not so inclined to accept. A stubborn streak was running right through her good judgment. She fell silent. All those days of worry and self-reprisal? When they were safe in Harry’s keeping? She clutched the bag tighter, her fingernails digging into the paper.
On the other hand, she was relieved to get the medals back, along with the photos and Grandpa’s file. If she didn’t accept Harry’s apology, did that mean more drama with Kate?
“Look, I’ve let everybody down. I know that.” Harry gave a guilty glance toward his father and then the mayor, before returning his attention to Annie. “All I wanted was to make sure nobody hurt Pops.” He took a few steps toward Harold and sat next to him, covering the old man’s hand with his own.
Angry as she was, even Annie defrosted at the sight. “Well, I guess because everything’s back now, maybe we can just move on from here,” Annie said, her best attempt at forgiveness, for now.
“Thanks, Mrs. Dawson. But--there’s more.”
28
Harry looked nervous. “The rock slide. Here at Ocean View. You … on the path to the landing. I started it.”
Annie inhaled sharply. “What?”
“I’m so sorry, Mrs. Dawson. When I got that call from Tiffany at Seaside Hills, I knew you were serious about talking to Pops. I just meant it as a warning. To leave him alone. I never thought you might get hurt. I just wasn’t thinking straight.”
He massaged his brow, as if to ward off a thunderous headache. “It was wrong. I’m ashamed of myself.”
Stunned at this new revelation, again Annie couldn’t speak. This man, Kate’s former husband, could have killed her. If she had missed grasping that wet rail when she stumbled. Well, she couldn’t think about it. The outcome could have been disastrous.
“Harry, this is very serious. It’s much more than petty theft.” Ian shook a clenched fist. “Annie? Do you want to press charges? How shall we proceed?”
All eyes were on her, waiting for a decision. Annie could choose to send Harry straight to jail. No one would disagree. He confessed. And a part of Annie wanted to see him pay for the pain he’d put her through. Mental anguish, if not more. But then she thought of Kate, who still loved this terribly imperfect man. Weren’t we all imperfect? She gazed at the three men: grandfather, son, and grandson. The love between them was so evident.
Annie hesitated only a moment more. “The agony ends now, Harry. I won’t hold any of this against you today, or ever. In fact, I think Charlie Holden would have liked for me to pass off this mission to you.”
She held the case out to Harry until he clasped it with both hands. He stared through the glass, apparently seeing for the first time the medals and the merit of the man who earned them.
“Thank you, Mrs. Dawson,” Harry said, looking up, his eyes shining bright. “I will try hard to live up to my heritage.”
In that moment, Annie could see the man that Kate saw. She smiled. “Call me Annie.”
“OK … Annie.” He nodded and turned to Harold. “I’m proud to return these to you, Pops,” Harry said, placing the case in his grandfather’s lap with a kind of reverence. “You always were my hero.”
The mayor snapped an official Navy salute to Harold. “A Medal of Honor winner is always saluted before anyone else in the room.”
Harold saluted back, his eyes brimming with tears. And pride.
Mission accomplished.
“Now,” Harold said, chuckling, as if to break the tension, “if someone could just do something about this old blanket.” He indicated the tattered afghan, long past its best days.
Annie pictured a completed, crocheted afghan in colors of brick red, purple haze, sunshine gold, and chocolate. Only this morning, she had thought it bound for
Texas. But now she wondered if an afghan made by the granddaughter of Harold’s first love could offer comfort for the next season of his life.
The answer lay right outside, in the trunk of her car.
Excusing herself, Annie was the next person to leave the room.