Posted by hummingbird on 6/20/2014, 8:28 am VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Mr. Berkovich was as good as his word. He became more helpful to the girls carrying groceries in for them, fixing things that were broken,and just making sure they were alright.
The girls appreciated having him nearby to call on when they needed help. He didn’t seem to have any family, so they became his family...and he became a part of theirs.
So, when Thanksgiving rolled around, it was only natural that they invite him to share their Thanksgiving meal. Len and Selma were hosting Thanksgiving dinner. They had invited Nora’s grandparents and, of course, Susanna and Nora. Nora invited Rita, Lena, and Mr. Berkovich whom they were now calling ‘Reuven’, and Vinnie because all of his family resided in New York City.
Len asked them all to tell one thing they were thankful for in spite of the troubled times. Surprisingly, everyone thought of something and was willing to share. Nora’s blessings were obvious...she was thankful for her new husband and Baby Buchanan. Others were a little less obvious but very touching. Rita was thankful that her husband had not died in vain but had died a hero saving other men’s lives. Lena was thankful that she had found unconditional love from her new friends. Vinnie was thankful for a new start. And Mr. Berkovich, when it was his turn, said he was thankful for ‘family’.
Len’s approach to the holiday made the others count their blessings on this day set aside for such. They could have all been alone mourning their losses had it not been for spending Thanksgiving with the Hanens.
They shared good food and fellowship, and when the day came to a close, Selma sent her guests home with some leftovers.
As they all crawled into their beds that night, they knew that, in spite of their losses, they still had much to be grateful for.
As Nora lay in the dark reflecting over the day, she thought of something else to be thankful for...that she hadn’t received any bad news about Bo. While she hated hearing nothing, she knew that hearing nothing meant Bo was alright. She still didn’t understand why she hadn’t received any responses from her letters. Perhaps Bo was already healed and back at the front. She didn’t know. She just kept believing the old saying...’no news is good news’. That old saying brought her some peace as she drifted off to sleep that night.
* * * * * * *
An ocean away, Bo was thrashing in his sleep...writhing back and forth, sweating in the midst of that dream. It was always the same dream...he and Sal running from foxhole to foxhole, dodging the fire, crawling under the barbed wire, Sal hitting the mine, the struggle…
Bo was writhing and moaning when he heard a voice...a familiar voice saying, “It’s alright, love, wake up..tis only a dream. There now…”
He awoke with a start. Nora...
He could smell the sweet fragrance of her. Nora. Red...
“Red,” he murmured in the dark as he pulled her to him.
Cat allowed him to pull her closer. His head was in the crook of her neck. He kept murmuring the name...Nora...Red...
She knew he was speaking of his wife. She knew all about ‘Red’...had been reading all of her letters to him for over a month. She knew things about Red that Bo didn’t know himself.
Suddenly he realized it wasn’t his Red. He pushed himself away and ran a hand through his hair.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered. “I was dreaming...I thought you were my wife. I’m sorry, Cat.”
Then he looked at her again in the lantern light that they used in the hospital barracks at night.
“Cat? What are you doing here?”
“I was assigned the night shift this week while Nurse Clara is off. Her brother was injured,” Cat whispered.
“Oh...I see.” He paused a minute, then, “I’m fine now. I’ll just have some water, then I’ll try to get back to sleep. Again...I’m sorry for...well, I just thought you were my wife...she wears the same fragrance and…” He shook his head.
“It’s alright...don’t worry about it. Here’s your water. Sleep well now,” she said as she headed back to the nurse’s office.
* * * * * * *
When they needed someone to work the night shift this week, Cat happily volunteered. The night shift was less busy. It would give her time to finish the project she had been working on.
She pulled the most recent letter from her uniform pocket. It held the scent of Nora’s perfume that Bo had mentioned. When she heard Bo moaning in his sleep, she had just crammed the letter in her pocket. If he had found it...it would have ruined everything. She had to be more careful.
She pulled the letter out and compared the handwriting as she carefully continued her project. She read what she had painstakingly written so far…
Dear Bo,
You have probably been wondering why I have not written in so long. Let me explain; and I hope, in the end, you can find it in your heart to forgive me.
You can not possibly understand how lonely I’ve been. You have been gone so many months now without my knowing where you are or how you’ve been...
Bo, I didn't mean for this to happen, but I guess it was inevitable...I have met someone else in your absence...
Cat reread what she had written thus far. The fountain pen dripped leaving a splash on the paper.
“No! Great!” she whispered angrily. “Well, I am not starting over! It took me forever to copy her handwriting style to write this much. I just can't begin again.”
Not only did the handwriting have to match, but the story had to be believable. She got the idea from a poor soldier who had confided in her a few months back about his wife finding another man while he was away from home. Once Bo was convinced his wife had met another, he would be melancholy over his loss...then she would sympathize with him and pursue him until she became his new bride.
Then...she would be on her way to America with her handsome new husband…
Cat smiled to herself as she continued diligently writing her letter.
Such negative vibes...makes me glad you all don't know where I live. LOL