Page 28 of All We Thought We Knew
We saw the operating room, X-ray room, pharmacy, outpatient clinic, a dental clinic, and even a women’s clinic. Some of the buildings housed patient wards, with two thousand beds in all. A large kitchen and dining hall occupied a separate building, and Bren laughingly declared the food better than the meals she ate at her boardinghouse in town.
We found Captain Leonard in her office in the last building we visited. The older woman wore a nurse’s uniform rather than the military garb I’d expected. Bren introduced me, declared me in capable hands, and bid us farewell. When I explained my mission to the captain, she offered a sympathetic smile.
“My dear, you best get used to this task. Our staff changes with the wind these days.”
She took the first file off the stack and pulled out a form with typed information. “See here.” She pointed to a box in the top right corner of the page. “This number represents the building where this nurse is assigned. Here is where you’ll find the employee’s job title—nurse, orderly, doctor, and the like.” She handed the folder back to me. “Our staff is quite busy, so it would be best if you tried to limit the need to interrupt their work as much as possible.”
I assured her I would do my best and left the office. Back outside, I glanced to my right then my left. Where should I begin? I had nearly one hundred people to track down. How would I find them if I wasn’t allowed to make inquiries? More importantly, what if I couldn’t complete this assignment by week’s end, as Colonel Foster asked?
With the beginnings of panic gnawing my stomach, I opened the same file the captain had used as an example and scanned the information. It was for a nurse working in the surgical building,located at the opposite end of the complex. Was she on duty today? I had no way of knowing.
My shoulders sagged. My feet were already complaining, thanks to the heeled pumps I’d worn to match my “make a good first impression” outfit. The excitement I felt when I arrived on base quickly evaporated into frustration. There was nothing to do but head back to the administration building and hope Bren had some suggestions of how I should go about my task.
One thing was certain.
I couldn’t fail at this assignment.
My future depended on it.
NINE:MATTIE
DELANEY HORSE FARM
NOVEMBER 1969
Mama surprised us with a request four days after my return home.
“I’d like to come downstairs for supper,” she announced that morning. I had just helped her bathe and was towel-drying her hair. Dad, who hovered nearby, told her it was fine if she didn’t overtire herself. He and I hadn’t spoken to one another much since our argument over Mama’s health. Tension between us was obvious, and I wondered if Mama’s desire to join us was an attempt to ease the situation. Later, while Nash helped get the meal on the table, he quietly told me Mama hadn’t been downstairs in weeks.
“She’s happier now that you’re home.”
I waited for him to scold me for leaving in the first place, but he didn’t.
Memories from last night’s supper floated through my mindwhile I finished washing the breakfast dishes. Dad had carried Mama down the stairs, a feat which admittedly impressed me. I roasted a chicken with carrots and potatoes and made a salad, topped with Mama’s favorite Thousand Island dressing. Although she ate sparingly, she declared it a feast and wore a contented smile when Dad carried her back to bed.
I took the entire evening as a sign that I needed to ramp up my efforts to get Mama to Nashville to see a specialist. Giving up simply wasn’t an option in my opinion, which is exactly what I felt my father had done. I understood Mama didn’t want to subject herself to radiation and chemotherapy. The horrific side effects of the aggressive treatments were not something I wanted her to endure. She also didn’t want to amass thousands of dollars in medical bills, considering the farm hadn’t been profitable for some time. Yet if there was even the slightest chance the tumors could shrink and begin to disappear, wouldn’t it all be worth it? The cancer would go away and we’d have a healthy Mama again.
I put a coffee mug in the cabinet and slammed the door in frustration.
I couldn’t fathom why my father didn’t push back. Wouldn’t he want to do everything within his power to keep the woman he loved alive? I couldn’t bring myself to believe he didn’t care about her. He wasn’t a man given over to letting others see his emotions, but I’d witnessed enough evidence over the years to feel confident he loved her. He always opened doors for her and helped with household chores. Store-bought gifts were rare but every now and then he’d bring her a bouquet of wildflowers from the pasture or a handful of pretty fall leaves.
Memories of the time I caught them dancing in the kitchen to old-fashioned music floated across my mind’s eye. Mark and I were supposed to be asleep, but I’d come downstairs to get a drink of water. Hearing the radio, I crept to the doorway and peeked in. Neither of my parents knew I was there, and I’d watched indumbfounded fascination as Dad held Mama close and swayed to the ballad. I was at the age where I was just noticing boys, and I wondered what drew Mama to such a quiet, reserved fellow like my father. The sayingopposites attractcertainly described them to perfection.
The back door opened, interrupting my thoughts. Nash and Jake came in with a cold wind. The dog limped over to his bowl, which was empty, and looked at me.
“Sorry fella, I’m not your owner.”
Nash chuckled. “Don’t let him fool you. He’s eaten already.”
I noticed his face was red from being out in the chilly weather. Snow was in the forecast, which always made life on the farm harder. “Do you want some coffee? I think there’s still some in the pot.”
He seemed surprised by my offer. “Sure. That’d be great. The temperature is dropping fast.”
I poured the remainder of coffee into a mug and handed it to him. Unlike me, who loaded up the bitter liquid with sugar and cream, I’d noticed yesterday morning that he took it black.
“I came by to let you know I’m going into town. Do you need anything?”
I bit my lip. There were a few personal items on my list but nothing I could ask Nash to pick up. I’d have to go shopping for myself another day.
