Page 112 of The Girls of Pearl Harbor
April kissed the top of her sister’s head as Grace held her hands, holding her back.
‘But Grace, I need you to know they’re moving us. We don’t have much longer here, so you have to be prepared. If your arm’s healed enough, you might have to move with us and leave him behind.’
She backed away then and went to do her rounds, anxious to finish her work for the day so she could go and find Harry. He was on the mend and wanting to get back to work, but he still had to be cleared for duty again, and she suspected he’d be asked to rest at least a few more days before returning to any doctor duties.
Three hours later she was completely perplexed when she went to Harry’s bed and found it made up with no one in it. And none of his belongings or any other evidence of him ever being there seemed to exist either.
‘Are you looking for me?’
She turned and found the man in question standing in the doorway.
‘Well, yes, I was, but it seems you’ve discharged yourself.’
He shrugged. ‘They’re far too conservative here. It’s only my leg that’s damaged.’
She looked down at the leg in question, pleased to see that he was at least using a stick to help him walk.
‘When are you cleared to work again?’ she asked.
‘Officially, not for another week. But I decided to go into the village and see if any of the locals needed treatment.’
He smiled, and it made her laugh, the look on his face almost comical.
‘And how did that go?’
‘I’ve been run off my feet all day! I’m exhausted.’ They both laughed together, and Harry surprised her by offering her his arm. ‘Would you join me for dinner?’
‘Tonight?’
He nodded. ‘Tonight. I’ve been asked to join a local family for dinner so they can thank me, and they asked if there was anyone I’d like to bring.’
‘I’d love to join you.’
She took his arm, happy to spend time in his company. ‘You’re sure they won’t mind you bringing me? They might have preferred another doctor.’
He laughed as they walked side by side. ‘I told them about a fearless nurse who saved soldiers on the beach,’ Harry said, leaning in as he spoke, as if his words were just for her. ‘They wanted to meet this incredible woman, especially when I told them she was going to be a doctor one day.’
Now it was April laughing. ‘You’re just saying that.’
He shook his head, and his laughter died away. ‘I’m not, April. What you did that day, the way you worked under conditions that would have tested the most competent of doctors, was incredible.’ He pushed the door to the hospital open, and they both walked out, the cool blast sending goose bumps rippling across her skin almost instantly. ‘I promise I’ll do everything I can to teach you, April. Because one day, if it’s what you want, you’ll be an amazing doctor.’
They walked in silence the rest of the way, but April’s head was far from silent. What had happened with Dr. Grey had made her feel silly for ever believing she could be a doctor, but hearing Harry tell her she could do it was making her believe all over again.
‘Welcome! Welcome!’
The family was waiting to greet them outside their hut when they arrived, and April smiled and waved back, wishing she’d brought gifts with her. But they flocked around Harry as if he were the gift, the children eager to walk beside him, grabbing hold of him and escorting him until the man of the house shooed them away and they scattered in different directions.
‘They seem to love you,’ April whispered.
‘I was kind to them; that’s all,’ he replied with a wink. ‘Things that have bothered them for so long can be so simple for someone like me to treat, but they’re so grateful that I can ease their suffering. You saw it firsthand the day you helped me, just what a difference we can make.’
‘Come!’ the woman said, opening her arms and showing off a smile that was missing two teeth at the side, clearly a result of Harry pulling them out to relieve an abscess, judging by how raw and red her gums looked. She pointed to the table, and they obliged as children peeked out from the tiny kitchen area to watch them.
April smiled as Harry waved them over, blowing a kiss to a young girl and giving two of the boys pretend punches as they dodged around him and laughed.
‘Do you have nieces or nephews at home?’ April asked, realizing how little she knew about Harry.
‘Yes,’ he said. ‘All three of my sisters are older than me, and they have six children between them.’
