Lovers in Enemy Territory (9 page)

He rested his head against the back of the seat. A smile still played on his lips to remember the events of the evening. Like a montage, Catherine’s face appeared animated, thoughtful, happy, sad, haunting, radiant...spiritual. She was resourceful as well as intelligent. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d spent such an enjoyable evening.

Catherine prepare for bed after a period of prayer in the chapel. The hospital was quiet. Dr. Endicott made his nightly rounds. Now it was time to sleep, but she couldn’t turn off her mind. So much had happened in the last twenty-four hours, sleep was impossible.

Michael was going to get well. What a great blessing! But she found herself thinking other thoughts too. Michael’s father was on her mind. He’d left the room so happy and relaxed. She’d found him easy to talk to. In the car on the way to Norwood, she’d feared that being in his company would prove to be uncomfortable. But nothing was further from the truth. She could talk to him as easily as she did the Holy Mother.

It had been a very pleasant evening, and so thoughtful of him to bring the fish and wine. He even planned on sending books to the convent. She thought of the games they’d played. No doubt he hadn’t said nursery rhymes since his childhood.

Michael was a wonderful child. He obviously received his good nature from his father.

Her thoughts continued to drift until she knew no more. The next morning she got up early to go to chapel. Now she was ready to entertain Michael. He seemed much more chipper and ate a substantial amount of oatmeal. Color was reappearing in his cheeks and a smile brightened his face. The two of them were going over sa list of items Michael wanted when Jeffrey walked in with a load of books beneath his arm.

She stared for a moment. He was clean shaven and sportily dressed in a brown jersey and trousers. A heathery fragrance entered the room with him. He looked different somehow, dashing even. He radiated health and vigor. She was dazzled by his smile and looked away.

“Good morning. I can see you two are already hard at work.”

Michael reached for his father and hugged him. “Daddy, we’ve made a list of things we want.”

Jeffrey scanned it. “If I’d known, I would have brought them with me. It looks like you’ll be doing some sketching. I recall those geese drawings. I want the truth now.” He looked around with a half smile. “Did you do them all by yourself.”

“Sister helped me,” he answered honestly.

“I thought so. Sister?” He turned to her. “They were very good. I have them in my study and would like to see more of your work.”

“I’m afraid you’d be disappointed. I’m no artist.”

“Yes you are,” Michael challenged her. “My daddy’s good at drawing too.”

“Really?” Her eyes probed Jeffrey’s, interested in this new aspect of him, but he shook his head.”

“Yes he is. Draw her a picture of a plane. He can draw anything, just like you, Sister.”

The two adults exchanged glances. Catherine spoke first. “Well, when we get some paper, we’ll have you draw something special for us, like a Sunderland.”

Jeffrey blinked. “How would you know about that?’

She bit her lip in a teasing manner, unaware of the sauce picture she made. “I know a lot about you, Commander.” She placed the emphasis on his title in a low voice. “Your son is a veritable encyclopedia.”

He laughed. “I hope he hasn’t let all the skeletons out of the closet.”

“Oh—“ She smiled. “Not too many.”

“I’ll get the things you need and be right back.” He left the room excited.

Catherine checked the stack of books, looking forward to the moments when she could spend time reading. Michael searched for his books and started reading out loud. Catherine thumbed through Bonaparte. She’d start with that book first.

“Did I bring something to interest you?”

“Oh—“ She hadn’t realized Jeffrey had returned. “Yes. Thank you so much.”

He sat down next to Michael and started to sketch something on paper. Both heads were caught in concentration. It caught at her heart to see them so happy. She continued to read, but occasionally she walked over to see how things were progressing. He drew with swift, rapid strokes, decisive and clear. A two-decked plane was emerging from the pencil.

“You really are good.” She stepped closer to observe his work.

“It’s just part of my job,” he responded modestly. The plane was coming to life now.

She was fascinated. “It’s a very large plane, isn’t it.” She leaned over to see better.

Her face was so close, he could see the fine down on her cheeks. “Yes. The biggest one in the air command. It seats a crew of seven, but we’ve had as many as forty-three in it one on rescue missions.”

This man had risked his life to save others. He’d received a medal for bravery during the early days of the war, but he was too humble to ever talk about it. He really was quite extraordinary. Michael would have a lot to live up to.

Jeffrey sketched for a while longer. Michael drew right alongside him. After a lunch of stew, he settled back for another nap. Catherine returned to her novel and Jeffrey started another sketch. After a time she discovered his eyes on her, studying her carefully. She put the book down.

“Don’t move, Sister.”

His command startled her. She didn’t budge. He made a few quick strokes with his pencil. “There.” He finally put the picture on the table.

She moved around to take a look.

He’d sketched her and Michael as he’d seen them the night of the crisis. She was kneeling at his bed, holding his hand.

Tears gathered in her eyes. She blinked hard to keep them from falling. “You’re a very gifted artist. You’ve captured Michael’s sweetness.”

“Maybe,” he answered slowly, “but I couldn’t do justice to you.” His eyes were suspiciously bright as they looked into hers.

She turned from him. There was something about the way he spoke to her just now... “If you’re going to stay for a while, I would like to go to the chapel.” She felt the need to be alone.

“Of course. Feel free to do whatever you wish.” But his heart wasn’t in the reply. He wanted her to stay.

Catherine returned at the dinner hour. “We’ve been waiting for you, Sister,” Michael called out. “Daddy has made a spot for you.” Indeed everything had been set up on a table. She sat down at her appointed place. Tonight it was cabbage rolls. This time Jeffrey said grace. “This is fun,” Michael commented. “Can we do this every night?”

“If you’d like,” Jeffrey answered automatically. Catherine said nothing. Michael’s illness had forced both of them to throw discipline aside. But eventually he’d have to return to normal. So would she. This fairy tale couldn’t go on indefinitely. However, she refused to think about that just yet.

An orderly took the dishes away and they faced another evening together. “I brought some cards, Michael. She we teach her to play Duck Duck?”

“Duck, what?” Looking first at Michael, then his father. “Do you think I can learn?” Her mouth turned up.

“Sister, you’re silly,” he commented and watched his father shuffle the cards.

Jeffrey was amused because his son wasn’t fooled by her attempt to appear humble, though he admired her for it. He wondered how she’d be at a game of chess. He’d have to find out later.

They played the game until Michael fell asleep with the cards still in his hands. Jeffrey was glad. He’d been looking forward to spending the rest of the evening with her.

“Sister, have you ever played chess?”

“Yes. There’s a fourteen year old boy at the convent named Christian. He taught me a few fundamentals. He used to play with his father until he was killed in a bombing raid over Sussex. The boy is disturbed and the game helps him relax during the long afternoons.”

Again, she was upset with herself. A simple ‘yes’ to his questions would have sufficed.

“Well—“ He eyed her intently. “Let’s see if you’ve done your homework. I’ll be right back.” He’d seen a chess set in the doctor’s lounge and asked the orderly to fetch it.

Soon he was back in the room and had the game set up. Now that Michael was asleep, Catherine wondered why he didn’t return to Norwood, but he made no move to leave. As for Catherine, she was anxious to find out just how well she measured up. She’d never played with anyone but Christian. No doubt Jeffrey was an expert, so she determined to play her best.

A friendly spirit of competition always enticed her. They began their moves and there was no time to talk. She was entirely caught up in the stimulating game. Soon she lost track of her surroundings.

Jeffrey found her a worthy opponent. As time passed, he had to start taxing his brain to stay in the game. But he couldn’t refrain from watching the various expressions on her face as she planned her strategy. He enjoyed it so much, he failed to pay proper attention to the play at hand.

“I have your king in check,” she called out with a triumphant ring. Her eyes flashed and she was obviously delighted. He sat back to think this one over. She was right!

He looked at her while his fingers drummed the table top. She was watching him carefully. He couldn’t allow her to become too confident of herself. She would have to ask forgiveness for succumbing to the sin of pride, he mused. He moved a knight in front of his king. Her face fell.

His move had upset her whole plan. He could see she was disappointed. Her fingers trembled as she moved her queen. He then moved his rook into position. “Check mate, Sister.”

She relaxed and smiled engagingly at him across the board. “Christian should have you around to coach him.”

Catherine was even a gracious loser. “I’ll tell you a secret.” He winked. “I’ve had many more hours than you to develop skill at this game.”

She imagined he was referring to his spare time between flights in the coastal command. “Does it get lonely when you’re out on a mission?”

“Very,” he nodded with a far away look in his eyes. “Terribly at times. Not so much when we’re in the air. With seven of us there’s a great deal of camaraderie. We’re close, like brothers. But when we’re on the ground, waiting to go out on sorties, the thoughts of loved ones at home are almost unbearable.”

He sounded sad. She shouldn’t have asked. His eyes were half-veiled as he ventured a question. “Don’t you ever get lonely for relationships with other people?”

She stared at him. “You mean outside the Order?” His question seemed to have come from out of the blue.

“Yes.”

“But we do mix with people from the outside. I’m with hundreds of children every day. Someday I plan to be a teacher and I’ll always be surrounded by children. And there are the other sisters, of course. My life is rich.”

He was listening carefully. “Do you sisters care for each other, the way the men of my crew do, for example? You’re always in each other’s company.”

“We care, but it isn’t a demonstrative kind of love. We lead an active life and are busy with our various duties. Close relationships with each other are not encouraged. It would interfere with our work which is the service to God.”

“Does that apply to the children too?”

She sat straighter in the chair. “What do you mean?”

“Are relationships with them discouraged?”

“We try to remain objective with all people so we can give the greatest possible service to everyone who needs our help.” A faint blush had filled her cheeks.

“Do you love all the children with the same intensity you love my son?”

By her silence, he knew he’d hit a nerve. She loved Michael as a mother loved a child. That wasn’t in the rules. He waited for her answer. For some reason it was vitally important to him.

“Michael--” she struggled, “Michael is a special case. He’s-- he’s very precious.” She said the words haltingly.

It thrilled him she cared so much. She was still a saint, but seated across from him was an exciting woman of flesh, blood and heart. “You missed him when I brought him back home, didn’t you?”

She bowed her head. “Yes.”

“When you go back, will you be lonely for him again?”

CHAPTER FIVE

Catherine grasped the crucifix tightly. “Yes.” Pain filled her tone and expression. Jeffrey hadn’t meant to hurt her and felt shame to have caused her any discomfort. But he couldn’t help himself. His thoughts darted hither and yon.

“Will you stay at the convent indefinitely?” He’d decided to steer the conversation in another direction. Truthfully he wanted to know her future plans...for Michael’s sake he told himself.

“No. There are missions in Tahiti and French Guiana. I’ll do my life’s work at one of those locations, but that won’t be until the war is over.” She looked up and their eyes held. He couldn’t imagine her so far away. Already it was bothering him.

“Are you a nurse too?” he asked quickly to cover his distress.

“No. I prefer to deal in concepts and philosophies rather than disease, though there is ample need for both vocaions. I grew up believing we were born to do some service for mankind, even before I entered the convent. Now I’ll be able to do such work. Children are the hope of the world. I’d like to be able to have a part in their education.”