When Amelia returned, she found me outside, reading in one of the lawn chairs scattered all over the grass, eager to soak up a bit of sunlight and warmth after having been confined indoors for so long by the surgery and bad weather. She had a big smile on her face and waved to me as she approached, still in her civilian clothes.

"Hey, Carpenter! You look so much better." She pulled up another chair and sat down. "You won't believe where I went."

"Not to Sydney?" I asked quizzically.

"Yes, of course I was in Sydney, but guess what Nora and I did on Saturday? We attended the most exciting book presentation. There was a young woman, some kind of researcher, reading from the book she'd written and showing some photos, too. You won't believe what her book is about: she was living with some savage tribe in the Trobriand Islands! She's been making quite a big wave in the local press with her story since the book came out very recently, and I could hardly believe my ears when she mentioned the Trobriands. That's where you said you'd lived, isn't it? Could it be that you even met her? Uh … are you okay?"

My heart had begun to race. Could it be … of course it must be her.

I only nodded to Amelia's question, and she rattled on, "She's incredible. Just imagine, there's that feisty young woman, Evelyn Spence is her name, no older than twenty-five, I'd say, all alone among those savages after her husband's died of some disease, and she's not running off for the next ship home but stays right on there and does her own research, and writes her book! Really, really amazing. You'd never think she'd have it in her from the look of her. You know, she's actually quite small and dainty, and … Carpenter?"

I didn't react. Instead, I finished her description in a voice suddenly gone hoarse. "And she's red-haired, with fair skin and brown eyes. She's very determined, she's got an iron will and you certainly don't want to cross her, but when she laughs, you just can't help laughing along, and when she smiles, she lights up the darkest day. She's not a good dancer, but otherwise she's very fit, and not afraid of anything. She'll go scaling the highest palm tree if she's set her mind on it. And although she's used to a certain wealth and comfort, she can make do with a cot in a palm-leaf hut or even a mat on the floor of a cave."

Amelia was gaping at me. "You do know her! Oh my gosh, how do you know her so well?"

"There was a time when I thought I'd spend the rest of my life with her", I said calmly. "A wonderful, blessed time. But that was before … this happened." I brushed my right leg lightly with my hand.

"So she left you because of …?" Amelia's eyes narrowed in disbelief and disappointment.

"No. She doesn't even know that I'm … that I lost my leg. We … we got separated earlier in the war and lost track of each other. Actually, I still owe her my finest pearl."

"You know, she's got a reading planned in Cleveland. It's just a short train ride from here."

Half a year ago I wouldn't have hesitated for a second, but now I said, "It's a lovely thought, Amelia, but I can't. Not … not the way I am now. She deserves better than a crippled soldier."

Amelia snorted angrily. "Bullshit! Any woman could count herself lucky to get you, Carpenter, leg or no leg."

I was adamant. "No, I can't do that. But … but what about you?"

"Me?"

"Yes … maybe you could go to Cleveland and give her the pearl for me."

"Carpenter – are you nuts?" She was really furious now. "You get the chance to meet the woman who's obviously the love of your life, and you send another woman round instead? If she loves you, and I definitely think she does from the way she spoke of an American trader who became her friend, she's not going to dump you just because you came home from the war with a leg missing, for God's sake! Be a man and go see her!"

Astounded at her bossy tone, I gave a mock salute and, knowing she wasn't going to take no for an answer, replied, "Yes, Ma'am!" to have her out of my hair for the moment.

I was anything but sure I would be going, but when Amelia had left, I remained sitting in my lawn chair for a long time, my book closed and forgotten in my lap, staring pensively ahead.

What I saw was not grass and trees and other patients but red-golden hair and warm brown eyes and a smile that made the darkest day bright.

She lives.
If it be so, it is a chance which does redeem all sorrows that ever I have felt.
(Shakespeare, King Lear)