"Hello..Why Mimi, how are you? We're getting along fine. Hawkeye is different but that's to be expected".
Boy was that an understatement he thought as he continued to talk to his sister. The Hawkeye that left for Korea wouldn't have been caught dead watching that movie, never mind completely engrossed. He seemed to be particularly interested in the blonde heroine. A preference for blond women was another thing he'd seemed picked up overseas.
"Hawkeye?"
"Hmm?"
"That was your Aunt Mimi."
"Oh, how is she?"
"She's doing well. Did I tell you she lived in Hawaii now?"
"Oh, what made her move there?"
"You know her. Expect the unexpected. We were talking and she'd really like us to pay her a visit. We could probably get Dr. Taupman to handle the clinic."
"Sure. That'd be swell. I could even pay Kelleye a visit."
"Kelleye?"
"One of the nurses I met in Korea. She's a pretty cute girl. Has a sense of humor too."
Internally Daniel Pierce crossed his fingers. Maybe this trip would help cure whatever it was that ailed his son.
It worried Daniel. Hawkeye talked about the war freely. He wasn't holding anything in, Daniel could tell, but it wasn't the whole story. Whenever he mentioned that Nurse, oh what was her name, oh Houlihan, he got almost a sad look. He seemed distracted, jumping a mile nearly every time the phone rang, and checking the mail daily, as though hungry for something. It had only increased since he returned from that trip with Toby.
That night as Hawkeye prepared for bed, he took out a picture that lay in the top drawer of his nightstand. "When am I going to get over you?" he demanded to know in frustration. The picture fluttered to the floor as he threw himself back onto the bed, staring at the ceiling. The smile of Margaret Houlihan stared blankly from the picture, her smile frozen for the ages. The memories of that trip came back.
"I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean. Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens. Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance, and when you get the choice to sit it out or dance, I hope you dance...I hope you dance." Hawkeye hummed along to the radio, as his faithful Packard glided along the road. This was the way he liked it. No bombs going off. No evidence one had been there. It was a relief to know he would turn the corner and not see a band of North Koreans ready to trap him.
Turn the corner he did. Half of him expected to see a small cramped building along a busy street. While it was on the boardwalk, the hotel he'd be spending the next few days at was very spacious, covered in nearly pristine, white stucco. Palm trees framed the walkway from the parking lot to the front desk. His room was oceanfront, and he had some time to enjoy it. Toby and his family wouldn't be arriving until tomorrow morning.
"Was it hard putting Emily to bed?" Margaret's sister Liz asked as she and her husband, James, tiptoed into theirroom at the Sands Oceanfront Resort.
"She was just great," Margaret assured them. "Actually I think I'm ready for a little sleep myself," she said stifling a yawn. "Good night, Margaret."
"Good night Liz. Good night James. Her room adjoined theirs, andboth were oceanfront. As she fumbled with the key she couldn't help but look out at the beautiful ocean. Maybe she'd take a bedtime walk, even though it was nearly midnight.
She noticed, as she wandered closer, that she wasn't the only one the ocean had lured to its wild beauty. Up the beach, she saw him. There was something so familiar about his walk. She had seen it somewhere before, but where? It was across.. A compound; walking into Pre Op; heading out of the Swamp to the Officer's Club, standing in line in the Mess Tent. His steps picked up to meet her run. Their lips picked up where they left off in Korea. Their arms embracing each other in a crushing hug.
"What on earth are you doing here?" he asked, when they had finally decided to come up for air, still holding her in a tight embrace.
"I'm helping my sister with my niece. How did you wind up here?"
"I'm meeting my friend Toby, and his family. Gosh I've missed you," he said as he kissed her again.
They settled into the sand, and just sat there cuddling and talking, until the first rays of dawn started to break over the ocean. "Goodness. I can't believe we've been talking all night," she said, as they rose, brushing off the sand.
"I'll walk you to your room."
"Would you like to come in?" she asked.
"Um, I want to, but I won't. I know I was a complete womanizer in Korea, but after being friends with B.J, well he taught me how special making love, and fidelity, could truly be. So I decided that the next woman I go to bed with..is going to be my wife."
She smiled. "I wasn't talking about sex. I've been burned so many times I'm not even sure I have any desire. I just don't want this night to end. I thought when I got on that jeep and rolled out of the 4077th. I was rolling out of your life for good." When she fell asleep in the arms of Hawkeye Pierce, Margaret was certain she'd found heaven.
Later that afternoon there was a knock at her door.
"Just a minute," she called. Her heart fluttered in excitement as she slipped on denim shorts over her swimsuit.
"Margaret, I was hoping you were here. I wanted to introduce you to my friend Toby."
"Hello Toby."
"Nice to meet you," he said. He was pleasant with an easygoing smile. Margaret could see immediately why they were friends.
"I was actually just about to take Emily, my niece, out for ice cream. Would you like to join us?"
"I would, but unfortunately you two must excuse me. I have to meet my family for dinner. Hawkeye just insisted I had to meet you."
"Well it's a pleasure meeting you Toby." "The pleasure is all mine ma'am. She's gorgeous," he commented to Hawkeye in a loud stage whisper.
"Auntie Margie, are we gonna go?" Emily asked as she bounded out of her parents room.
"Yes we are sweetie. First of all I want you to meet Hawkeye."
"Are you Aunt Margie's boyfriend?" "Emily," she rebuked her gently.
"No. I'm a monster who eats little girls after I tickle them," he said making a playful reach for her. She squealed in delight as she hid behind her aunt.
"Can he come with us?" Emily asked.
"I wouldn't be in the way?" Hawkeye asked Margaret.
"As long as you don't eat my niece," she said putting her arm in his.
"What's that?" Emily asked, pointing to the object that hung around Hawkeye's neck.
"Oh, it's a camera," he said.
"Oh like the kind that takes pictures?"
"You're smart."
"I want to take a picture of you and Aunt Margie," she said as she finished off her cone.
"That's a great idea."
"Hawkeye," Margaret protested, "I look a fright."
"No, you look stunning," he said as he showed Emily what button to push.
"Auntie Margie, watch me," her niece cried as she did a cartwheel in the sand.
"That's wonderful darling. Now come back here so we can put some more sunscreen on you."
"Hello beautiful."
"Ahh, good morning Hawkeye. I thought you were meeting Toby."
"I did. I had breakfast with him and his family. Do you think you can get some time off from the mother's helper thing?"
"I don't know, why?"
"Because Toby, and his wife are going to have dinner tonight at The Palace, and they were wondering if we'd like to make it a party of four."
"Oh, The Palace. It looked simply exquisite, oh but I have to watch Emily."
"Good morning Margaret, her sister called as she approached."
"Oh hello Liz, I'm glad you're here. Meet my friend Hawkeye."
"Nice to meet you, wait, not the Hawkeye you told me about in your letters?"
"I see my reputation precedes me. Did she tell you that I was immature or unmilitary?"
"Both." "That would be me," he smiled gleefully.
"Betcha can't catch me, Betcha can't catch me," Emily taunted Hawkeye, squealing with delight as he ran after her.
"He's good with kids," Liz remarked as they watched them play. "Does he have any of his own?"
Margaret shook her head. "He invited me to dinner tonight at The Palace."
"Did you say yes?"
"No, I agreed to watch Emily. I have an obligation."
"Margaret Jane Houlihan, you accept this instant. Besides James and I were discussing if we should spend more time with her this morning."
"I didn't bring along anything I can wear."
"James can watch her while we go shopping."
"But what about.." Margaret started to protest."
"No buts."
"What about George?"
Liz rolled her eyes. "What about him? You're not going to think about him, period. You are going to go out with Hawkeye, and you are going to have the most amazing evening you've ever had. Now go tell him."
Liz ran to grab her car keys while Margaret approached Hawkeye, who was in the middle of a serious chasing game with Emily.
"Hold on," he signaled to her. Margaret was ready to melt. He looked so cute with his hair tousled, and trying to catch his breath. "Well?"
"I can go. Liz and I are going to go shopping."
"No shopping, Auntie Margie I want to play with you and Hawkeye," Emily protested.
"We'll get you ice cream," Margaret promised. "Okay," she agreed.
"Where is my perfume?" Margaret asked in despair as she sifted through the clutter on her dresser top. The beachfront hotel room had been turned into the ultimate dressing room as Liz helped her do her hair.
"Right here," Emily said, handing her the small vial, eager for the chance to help. There was a knock at the door.
"Your prince is here."
Margaret dove into the bathroom.
"Go stall Emily," her mother instructed her, "and don't let him come in."
"I can't let you in," Emily informed him importantly as she came out, shutting the door behind her.
"Isn't your aunt ready yet?"
"No. Mommy made her try on a lot of dresses."
"I see." Hawkeye said with a laugh.
"Do you like Auntie Margie?"
"I do."
"Are you her friend?"
"I guess you could call it that, yeah."
"I'm happy when I play with my friends. You must play with her a lot because she's been really happy."
"Really?" Hawkeye continued to listen, betraying the fact that she was quite an eye opener. "Isn't she usually happy?" he asked.
"Yes, but she laughs more than she usually does."
A clearing of the throat turned his attention to the now open doorway. "Wow Margaret. You look fantastic." Her jet black sheath clung to her in all the right places, setting off her light tan perfectly. Her blonde hair fell about her shoulders in loose, wavy curls.
"Thank you Hawkeye, you don't look too bad yourself." He wore a tuxedo that was much nicer than the one she had seen in the Officers Club ironed by laying under his mattress.
"So tell me more about Toby," she said, as they walked off arm in arm down the boardwalk toward the restaurant.
"Well, we grew up together in Crabapple Cove of course. Than while I was off sewing kids back together, he got married and moved down to North Carolina for a job offer. In some ways it's odd, I've known him forever, and can tell him anything, yet I feel just as close to B.J, or Trap."
"You've been through a lot with them, it makes sense."
"Good evening Hawk, good evening Margaret" Toby greeted them. "This is my wife Maureen," Toby said putting his arm around a brunette in an emerald green gown.
"Pleased to meet you," she said.
"If you'll excuse me, I have to use the powder room," Hawkeye said as he rose from the table.
"What have you done to him?" Toby asked Margaret the moment Hawkeye was out of earshot.
"What do you mean?" "Hawkeye has changed so dramatically it's unbelievable."
"How has he changed?"
"When I talked him into coming down here, he was depressed and wanted to bury himself in work and Crabapple Cove forever. This morning at breakfast, he was happier than I've ever seen him. It's a good thing,"
"I'm glad it's good," Margaret said, letting his words soak in. Happier than he'd ever seen him...
"Hello kids, what did I miss?" Hawkeye asked as he sat back down.
"Nothing much," Toby said as he and his wife exchanged a knowing glance.
"Your friend Toby is simply charming," Margaret said when the four had decided to call it a night.
"He's a fast learner. Hey I just had an idea," he said, and started to steer her toward the parking lot.
"Where are we going?"
"Step in mademoiselle."
"Where are you taking me?"
"Away from the boardwalk. Unless you wanted to go to bed."
"Not a chance. It's only ten thirty."
He fiddled with the radio he kept in the trunk of his car. "I hope you dance... I hope you dance," floated out into the night. "Dance with me. There's no one but us."
That was the truth. They'd driven far down the coast until they came to a deserted spot of beach, far from the nightlife, and crowds. She kicked off her heels, and put her arms around him. "You look gorgeous tonight," he whispered. "You said that already." "I can't get over it. I've missed you much more than I realized." "I've missed you a lot too," she said. "I think I'm falling for you."
Her heart quickened. "What?"
"Margaret, I know you've been burned. But I don't' want to burn you. I don't want to be a one night stand or even a weekend fling. I want to be yours."
"Don't be. Just love me."
"I already do."
"You lied," Hawkeye said as he rose from his bed, and started pacing the floor, snapping out of his memories. She had looked so beautiful that night, and he had been so in love with her. How could everything have turned out so wrong? How could she have neglected such a major detail? Or had he made a mistake? He didn't think so. She had given him every indication. He didn't know what to think anymore. He started to throw odds and ends into a suitcase. Maybe he could convince his dad to take off earlier than they'd planned.
"Flight 238 from Salt Lake to Honolulu now boarding," a flight attendant called over the intercom. "That's us," Daniel said, as they rose from the hard airport chairs, stretching the cramps out.
"It will be great to see Aunt Mimi again," Hawkeye remarked as he took a seat by the window.
"It's been awhile."
"At least a couple of years since before I left for Korea."
Shortly after takeoff, Daniel Pierce was sound asleep, leaving Hawkeye with plenty of time to think, something he'd been trying to avoid. Not that it would make any difference. Nothing would change that horrible day.
He'd woken up in her room again. It seemed the only thing he used his room for was showering and changing. Which was exactly what he'd gone back to do. There was a knock on his door.
"Come in."
"Hey Hawk."
"Good morning Toby."
"Hey another buddy of mine came down here too. He's surprising his fiancé, but then we're going to play pool."
"That sounds like fun. Count me in."
"So you feel like coming to breakfast with my family?"
"Let's go."
"Why good morning," Toby called to a gentleman they passed on the way.
"Good morning Toby," the gentleman greeted him. He was dressed in formal military uniform decorated with more than a few symbols of recognition. "Hawkeye, meet my friend, George."
"I'm pleased to meet you, George. It's been awhile since I've seen an outfit like that."
"Is that so?"
"Hawkeye served in Korea."
"Oh so did my fiancé. Speaking of my girl, I had better go. I can't wait to see her."
There was a waiting line at the restaurant. "It will be about twenty minutes," the hostess told them. They waited on a bench, and Cherie, Toby's oldest daughter climbed on Hawkeye's lap.
"How are you this morning?" sheasked, her little brown pigtails bouncing.
"I'm good," he said, reaching down to adjust his wallet. Wait where was his wallet?
"Toby, I forgot my wallet. I'll be right back."
He wanted to ask Margaret to join them, but she was probably busy with her sister's family.
"Hawkeye," a small girl asked as he unlocked the door to his room. "Oh hi Emily, how are you this morning"
"Can you come and play with me. Aunt Margie's busy."
"What's she doing?"
"Talking to some man, and totally ignoring me."
"What man? Where are they?"
"She keeps calling him Colonel," she said, and pointed to over to where Hawkeye saw George. "My fiancé served in Korea," echoed in his mind. He had never dreamed they were talking about the same woman. George reached for Margaret's hand. They were completely engrossed in conversation, and Margaret had the same look on her face she had had last night. He wondered how many more times she had used that look. The question made him sick. He felt the blood drain from his face. She was just having fun with him. Heck, she'd never taken him seriously, outside of OR, in Korea. Why should it be different now?" He noticed Emily still stood there waiting for an answer. "Actually sweetie, I'm going home. Tell your auntie goodbye for me when she's done talking to the Colonel."
Margaret banged on the door. "Hawkeye, Hawkeye." A hotel maid opened it. "Can I help you miss?"
"I need to speak to the gentleman who was checked into this room. Is he here?"
"There's no one checked into this room now miss. I'm sorry but it looks like they checked out this morning."
"Thank you," she said, in a voice that didn't sound like her own.
"I'm sorry. He said not to until you were done talking with that man," Emily said in a small voice. She looked as though she were about to cry. "Don't worry sweetie," Margaret said, scooping her niece into a hug.
don't worry, more to come. Please feel free to review what you've read so far!
