Page 9 of Prisoner of War
“Calli,” Duardo said. His voicewas weak. So weak. “La dama fuerte,” he said. The nickname the army had given Calli, who had saved one of their own. She had saved Duardo. “Thank you for not letting go.”
Then Nick pushed her aside. Minnie shoved past her cousin and curled around the seat. She was small enough to perch on the console and lay across Duardo’s lap. She smoothed his brow, kissed him and stroked his shoulder. Fora moment the huge wave of feelings almost spilled from her. She fought it, pummeled it back deeper. No words would come to her. What did one say in moments like this?
Useless. Useless. You can’t even comfort the man you love when he’s dying.
Duardo ruffled her hair. “I regret...” He closed his eyes, took a slow, struggling breath. “English...agh.” Then, “Nick?”
Behind her, Nick said quietly,“Sí,Duardo?”
“Digale que yo estaba equivocado...si yo no hubiera insistido en hacer mi deber hubiera sido feliz de ser su esposo...Yo hubiera sido orgullos, aunque siquiera por un solo dia.”
Duardo’s gaze held hers. Minnie didn’t have to understand the Spanish to know what he was saying. He had said it all in the forest anyway—I will give up my life for you, if you go on.
The tears came then,tearing at her throat, burning her eyes.
Nick translated. “Minnie, he said, ‘Tell her I was wrong. If I had not insisted on doing my duty then I would have had the joy of being her husband—’”
Duardo smiled and his eyes closed. His head rolled gently one side.
Minnie held back everything but a pathetic noise that escaped her. She had to hear the rest.
“‘Even a single day...I would have beenproud.’” Nick’s voice was thick, flat.
Minnie buried her head against Duardo’s chest, holding him. It was too much, too overwhelming. For a long while, her mind walked in far-off places, escaping to be with Duardo just a little longer.
