Page 69 of The Girls of Pearl Harbor
‘Would you like me or one of the corpsmen to help you move?’ she asked. ‘I don’t want you getting bedsores from sitting in the same position.’
That made him turn. His head slowly moved, and she shivered when his cold eyes locked on hers.
‘Bedsores?’ he asked. ‘I couldn’t give a damn aboutbedsores; I’m a little more worried about the fact I’m missing my fucking leg!’
Tears sprang into Eva’s eyes as he swore at her, his anger palpable as he glared, the pulse frantically beating at his neck and the bulge on his forehead impossible to miss. Her father had been cruel and physically nasty to her, but she’d never had a man swear directly at her like that before.
Refusing to give in to her fear, she stood her ground, biting her tongue, wishing she could scream and yell at him.
‘Did you hear me?’ he asked, his tone low.
‘Loud and clear,’ she whispered, struggling to find her voice. ‘But if you think that you can swear and yell at me to make me go away, then you’re sorely mistaken, because I’m tougher than that.’
He continued to stare at her when she expected him to look away, but she almost felt as if April and Grace were right behind her, giving her strength and telling her to stand up for herself.
‘The way I see it, you’ve pushed away everyone who cares about you and every nurse who tries to come near you. But I’m tougher than them,’ she said, then cleared her throat as she stepped closer, not afraid of his gaze now as she set her hands on the edge of the bed. ‘I know how to deal with a bully, because I’ve had to live with one my entire life, so that’s enough. Do you hear me?’
‘Leave me,’ he muttered. ‘Just leave me the hell alone.’
A tear slid down her cheek, followed by another and another. All this time she’d waited to shed tears over Charlie, to sob her heart out, and they’d stayed locked inside of her. And now here she was, standing before a man who seemed to hate everything about her, and her emotions were no longer being held prisoner. ‘No.’
Arthur didn’t say another word; he just turned and stared, like he always did. Only this time he let her check him without complaint, as stiff as cardboard, but without trying to throw her hand away.
Small steps,she told herself as she fought another wave of tears.Just small steps.
As soon as she was finished with Arthur, she went to find Grace, and they made their way out of the hospital, heading for the short walk up the hill to where their camp was. They were late, so they’d end up at the back of the line for dinner, but she was starving, and it was better than being in the hospital with Arthur.
‘Where’s April?’ she asked.
Grace looked tired as she yawned and wrapped her arms around herself. ‘In surgery with Dr. Grey, last I heard. She loves surgery as much as I hate the thought of it.’
Eva nodded. It still amused her when she thought of how much Grace despised the sight of blood. ‘Maybe I should offer up my services. I’d rather be in surgery than taking care of Arthur.’
‘No better?’
Eva sighed. ‘He’s at least letting me do my job now, but he’s awful. I’ve never had such an obnoxious patient.’
They shuffled forward a few steps as they joined the chow line.
‘Were those two airmen friends of his earlier? I sent them down to you.’
‘Yes. And Arthur sent them packing within minutes of arriving. He just erupted like a volcano and had them running for the hills.’
‘Why don’t you offer to take him outside for fresh air? Or get someone to talk to him about getting mobile once he’s healed?’ Grace asked.
Eva took another few steps forward. ‘Honestly, I think he might be better on the psychiatric ward.’
She loved the idea of taking him outside for air or doing anything to make him happy; it was why she’d sat with him from the day they’d rescued him, to help him and care for him. But the more she offered, the kinder she was, the more he seemed to push back.
‘Have you told him that it was you who saved him?’ Grace asked, leaning into her.
‘No.’ She’d wanted to, when he’d first come around, but the words had never come, and then he was so angry that she hadn’t bothered.
‘I would. Give him something to be grateful for.’
Eva wished she were right, but she feared that if he knew she’d saved him, then he might hate her even more than he already did.
‘Morning, Arthur!’ Eva said, breezing past him and reaching for his chart. ‘It’s a beautiful day today, and I thought you might like some fresh air.’
