Lovers in Enemy Territory (5 page)

The huskiness of his voice penetrated her being.

“You performed a miracle, Sister.” There was a catch in his throat. Catherine was afraid to turn around and reveal the raw emotion she knew was exposed on her face.

“It’s true,” Philip found his voice at last. “The boy was himself once again.”

“Thank the Good Shepherd, Mr. Norwood. It was his divine intervention that brought Michael back to you.”

“Yes, I believe that, Sister, but it’s not the Lord he’s calling for now,” Jeffrey appealed to her with deliberateness. She turned and looked at him. “It’s you he wants to kiss him goodnight. “Will you come?” he beseeched her. “The Holy Mother has given her permission, but she said the decision would have to be yours. I love my son,” he whispered. “I don’t want to lose him.”

Dear Father in Heaven—she didn’t want to lose him either! A man’s soul was reaching out to her. For the Holy Mother to have already granted permission for Catherine to go to him, Michael truly was on the brink of death. Was this the way God was answering her prayers at last? To think she could feast her eyes on her adorable Michael again. The boy couldn’t die!

Jeffrey watched her as she went through all the steps in her mind before reaching a decision. He already knew what it would be.

“Of course I’ll come,” she finally said with a haunting, wistful smile that betrayed her deep concern. “I’ll go immediately and inform the Holy Mother.”

At that moment Jeffrey thought he’d never seen a face so lovely, nor heard words so beautiful. He blinked away the mist. “Thank you, Sister.”

Words were inadequate at a time like this. The smile he returned to her was reward enough, erasing the lines on his worried face. So much happiness had depended upon her simple answer.

“Bless you, Sister,” Philip chimed in. “It could make all the difference.”

“We’d like to leave for Norwood as soon as possible,” Jeffrey added.

They both stared expectantly at her. Catherine knew Jeffrey Norwood was an important man. The Holy Mother had told her many things about him, and she inferred from his manner that he was accustomed to giving orders and having them obeyed. She couldn’t blame him for wanting to rush back to Michael. She was every bit as anxious to see the child and hold him close. She bowed to him, then his brother.

“Wait here, please.” She put up her hand as a sign they shouldn’t follow. There was an air of the Holy Mother about her despite her youth. Jeffrey was mystified by the combination.

Philip was tremendously relieved and grateful that she was actually going to be traveling back to Norwood village with them. Somehow Jeffrey was able to make things work out. As he was about to congratulate his brother on his good fortune, he realized he wasn’t looking at the same exhausted man who, on a thread of hope, had frantically driven to Castle Combe in the dead of night.

The expression on Jeffrey’s face was one of complete relief, even awe. But he’d known Jeffrey all his life and wondered if there wasn’t something else mingled in that look as his brother’s eyes followed the graceful figure of the retreating nun.

Catherine walked slowly down the hall to find the Holy Mother, but she felt like picking up her skirts and running. She had this suffocating feeling in her chest.

When she approached her mentor, the Holy Mother was just leaving the chapel. She looked up and saw an expression on the young nun’s face that hadn’t been there before. She knew Catherine had agreed to go to Michael and suspected this filled the girl’s heart with great joy. But there was a new restlessness about her and the Holy Mother sighed, feeling the full weight of her eighty years.

She’d had to experience those painful early years of the refiner’s fire and had done so with eagerness, coming to a new peace with God that transcended the worldly. Now it was Catherine’s turn, and the older woman knew exactly what the girl was experiencing. It wasn’t difficult to understand. Mr. Norwood was a striking, exciting figure of a man, and he was Michael’s father.

The resemblance between the two of them was uncanny. With the boy so ill, the combination was too much for Catherine to handle in just one meeting. Many forces would start pulling her apart. It would be a testing period. For once in her life the Holy Mother was not confidant of the right outcome.

“Sister, I perceive that you plan to go to Michael’s aid. It’s the right decision, my child. You’ll be on God’s errand, make no mistake. Trust in the Lord always and you’ll be guided in the right direction.

“I know the turmoil that’s been going on inside of you. I’ve seen it festering for weeks, Catherine. You love the boy. Don’t be ashamed and don’t worry about detaching yourself from him again. This is a unique case. God has sent you this test. I’m sure you’re aware that He is answering many prayers at the same time.”

Catherine nodded, marveling at the Holy Mother’s wisdom. Honesty and love had always been the older woman’s way. When Catherine had entered the novitiate, she’d told her, “A nun is not an unhappy spinster, but an eager, joyful bride of Christ. Anything less offered to the Bridegroom would not be sufficient, nor would it make for a good nun. Right now your mission is one of an administering angel to a sick child who wants nothing more than to see you again.”

“Thank you, Holy Mother.” She kissed her hand, then raised her head. “Commander Norwood wants to get back to Michael right away.”

“Of course. I wish I could spare a sister to go with you, but the convent is severely understaffed with all the children here right now. I’ve given the matter some thought. Since the drive back to Norwood is reasonably short, I see no reason why you can’t go with them as soon as you’ve packed.

“You’re going to be on your own for a time, and no one knows how long that will be. But you’ll never be alone, my child, not if you pray for the Holy Spirit to attend you. You’ll be in my prayers day and night. There’s a chapel in the hospital there. Attend to your Holy Office whenever it’s possible. I trust in your basic goodness and wisdom, your instincts. There are no precedents to follow in this situation, Catherine. Do you understand that?’

“Yes.” She nodded, suddenly frightened.

“Remember you can call here day or night if you should need anything. Don’t forget. This mission of yours is holy. Treat it with respect and reverence, and you can never doubt that God approves. Go along now and prepare for your journey.”

“Bless you. “ Catherine sank to her knees and kissed the ring on the holy woman’s finger a second time.

While the Holy Mother went back to her office to discuss certain matters with the Norwoods, Catherine hurried to the dormitory to assemble the few items she would need. She made a detour into Michael’s old room and pulled something from the drawer that had been left as an oversight. She put it in the large pocket of her habit to be given back at a later date.

With satchel in hand, Catherine stepped out from the somber passageway into the courtyard. The warm sun fell on her face, stinging her eyes and blurring her vision of the Holy Mother and the brothers conversing near the dark blue automobile.

“Sister?” the older woman said, taking Catherine in her arms for a brief embrace. “Godspeed and a safe journey. Michael will recover. Never fear.”

Though Catherine felt small and alone, and thought how easy it would be to run back inside and shun the world, the Holy Mother’s prophecy gave her new faith.

As for Jeffrey Norwood, he’d climbed in the car and had started the engine. She couldn’t look at him without seeing Michael’s precious face and that’s all it took to strengthen her resolve. His father wss impatient to be on his way.

Philip stood on the other side and opened the door so she could climb in the back seat. She settled against the plush upholstery. How incongruous she appeared against such a backdrop. In seconds they were off.

Once they reached the open road, he pressed on the accelerator. It was apparent to Catherine he was very adept at handling a car at high speeds. She knew that skilled, experienced hands were on the wheel. He was a brave man to have gone after all those helpless men and children floating about in storm tossed seas.

Holy Mother had allowed her to read the news clippings concerning the rescues. Michael was proud of his father as well, even if he didn’t quite understand the magnitude of the circumstances. It was strange to be riding in the car with this man after hearing about him for so many months.

CHAPTER THREE

Jeffrey chanced a look at her in the rearview mirror, as if to insure her reality. Their eyes met and he smiled, still amazed that he was actually bringing her back with him. “Michael’s going to be one surprised, happy little boy when he finds out what I’ve brought back with me.”

Catherine couldn’t help smiling and finally left his gaze to stare out the window, oblivious to the passing landscape.

Philip half turned to talk to her. “Sister? Have you been to London before?”

“I passed through once when I was a child.”

“Well, Norwood is a small village to the northwest. We should be there before noon.”

The mention of noon reminded him they hadn’t eaten anything and he was starved. Jeffrey was probably famished too. “Are you hungry, Sister? We can stop some place along the way.”

“No, thank you, Mr. Norwood. We only eat two meals a day at the convent and I don’t plan to sup before evening.” After she’d explained herself, she realized the men were probably anxious to eat, but were too polite to mention it. They’d been driving all night. “Please stop if there’s something you want. It was thoughtless of us not to offer you food at the convent. It’s just that everything happened so fast.”

“Please, Sister,” Jeffrey broke in. “We imposed on you, but I have to admit I would like a little something. We’re coming into Chippenham. How about it, Phil?”

After Philip nodded, he pulled the car over in front of a shop. In a few minutes he’d purchased some meat pies they both devoured with relish.

Catherine was reminded of the time when her father was still alive. He’d always had a big appetite after coming home from the college where he taught history and mathematics. In a few minutes she felt Commander Norwood’s eyes on her again after he’d started up the car.

“Michael says you’re part French, Sister.” He spoke casually, as if they were all good friends out in the country for a lazy afternoon drive. Being in the company of men was something she was going to have to get used to. It was inevitable. The Commander wouldn’t be normal if he weren’t curious about her.

At the convent there was little casual conversation except around the children. If there weren’t a war on, there’d be no children at Our Lord of the Lamb and life would be austere and quiet. To be engaged in conversation with someone like the Commander was no small matter, but she found it stimulating and it eased her nervousness. She presumed it was a release for his pent-up emotions as well, so she tried to react as naturally as possible.

Jeffrey noticed a far away look in her eyes and wondered if she’d heard his question. “Sister? Are you part French?”

“Actually my father was Belgian.”

“And your mother?”

“English.”

He smiled. “An interesting combination. Where you were born?”

“In Bruges.”

“That explains why you’ve taught Michael so many French songs. I think his pronunciation is quite remarkable for a child.”

“Michael has a good ear and is an excellent student, even if he’s only five,” she volunteered.

“Six,” he corected her. “We had a birthday party for him the second day he was home. Needless to say, his great wish before blowing out his candles was that you would come to see him.”

Catherine closed her eyes. “He loved parties,” she admitted. “There are birthdays almost every day of the year with all the children we house at the convent. It helps to pretend there’s some normalcy in the world. The children play the game much better than do some of the rest of us.”

Philip eyed Jeffrey. He realized this nun was no backward farm girl. “Michael told us you lost a brother in the war last year, Sister. I’m very sorry.”

She paused before answering, a bit surprised Michael had revealed so much information to them. “Yes. He lost his life in the trenches.”

“Don’t you have another brother as well?”

“Yes. He died of a liver ailment when I was thirteen. His death killed my father who suffered from a bad heart. After that, my mother brought me back to England, to Castle Combe. When she knew she was going to die, she asked the sisters to look after me.”

“You’ve been through a great deal of suffering in your life, Sister,” Philip murmured.

“Hasn’t everyone?” she answered abstractly, her thoughts on Michael. If he died... But the Holy Mother had said he would recover. She had to believe it.

After that last statement everyone was pensive and sat in silence. Catherine had been so keyed up emotionally, the purr of the motor seemed to be the soothing balm she needed to relax. Soon she felt drowsy. A few more minutes she was lulled into slumber, totally exhausted from the strain and worry of the morning’s unexpected activities.

Phililp glanced at Jeffrey, but his brother wasn’t in a talkative mood. In fact both of them were more quiet than usual. He closed his eyes and stretched out, putting his hands behind his head. He’d rather have looked at her. She was quite breathtaking. He had no way of judging one nun from another, but he had the impression she was no ordinary oblate.