Chapter 6 -Rebuilding
Hawkeye placed the groceries on top of the kitchen counter while Margaret
kicked off her shoes in favour of her more comfortable house slippers.
"This is nice, a nice place you got here!" he said looking around.
"Stop it it's a dump. It's all I can afford right now but it's
comfortable enough!"
"Well it's certainly a lot nicer than that last place you had!"
"What the tent? Yes that is true, although it's not a hell of a lot
bigger is it?"
Hawkeye smiled. It was pretty small.
"My bedroom is through there, that's the spare room which is currently
full of junk. The bathroom is there and well, you're standing in the
rest! Can I get you anything, a drink maybe?"
"Ah, just a water please!"
"You sure? I've got scotch, or I've got soda too if you'd prefer?"
"No, thanks, I'm good with the water!"
"OK. I am going to pour myself a scotch!"
Hawkeye watched as she poured herself a drink. She was so full of life,
so happy in herself. He watched her golden hair slip off her shoulder as
she bent down and then as she brushed it back over again with her hand as
she rose. If only he could reach out and pull her into his arms and kiss
those sweet lips. She smelt wonderful. He was beginning to lose his
nerve. He hadn't been this nervous around a woman since the first time he
sat eyes on Carlye.
"So" she said relaxing onto the sofa with her glass, "What have you been
up to with yourself? We've been talking about me all day, you've gotten
off lightly so far!"
"Well" he said as he took the chair opposite her "That's because your
life has been a hell of a lot more interesting than mine this past year!"
She smiled at him, he was as evasive as ever! "So come on, out with it!"
"There's not a lot to say, I'm still in Crabapple Cove, living and
working with my father." he just shrugged his shoulders indicating that
he had nothing more to add.
"So that's it! Enjoying the easy country life? Getting Crabapple Cove to
say aah?"
"Yeah, something like that!" he smiled back.
"It sounds lovely. I'd love to do that, get out of the city into a nice
intimate community like that. Just take each day as it comes!"
"Yeah well intimate communities have their drawbacks too!" he added in a
serious tone.
"What do you mean?" she asked surprised. He had never ever said anything
negative about his beloved home town before!
"Oh, nothing, I'm just rambling on a bit. It's certainly good to be out
of that pressure cooker in Korea. The Cove is just a whole other pace of
life, I like it."
"We sure did work our butts off out there didn't we?"
"Yeah" he said, sadness creeping into his voice, "Here's to peace!" he
said raising his glass.
"To peace!" she smiled.
They sat in her living room chatting the evening away. He told her of
B.J.'s progress and of his reunion plans. She talked to him about her new
job in a big city hospital. "It's busy, and stressful for sure but after
Korea I can handle anything. So when are you going back to surgery?"
The question threw him a bit. He wasn't sure how to answer it so he chose
to be honest.
"I'm not going back, at least not in the foreseeable future anyhow"
"What?" Margaret was shocked. "But you have to go back Hawkeye! You're
the best surgeon I've ever worked with, you can't let that talent go to
waste!"
Hawkeye was silent for a moment, composing himself before he would reply.
He had been through all this with his father.
"I just can't do it anymore Margaret! That place, it took all my..." he
didn't finish the sentence. Instead he looked at the floor, trying to
regain his composure.
"What is it?" she said in concern.
"Don't you see? I've done my bit Margaret! I worked on more bodies in
those three years than most doctors would in a lifetime. I can't do it
anymore. I'm tired, tired of all the pain, the misery. I just want to be
a simple country doctor..."
"I don't believe that!" she cut in. "You were born to do surgery Hawkeye.
You are, the most dedicated doctor I know. You can't turn your back on
your gift, I won't let you do it!"
He looked at her with great pain in his eyes. She could tell it was time
to back off. She obviously didn't know what was going on inside him. He
had stopped smiling now, she had struck a sensitive spot.
"I don't expect you to understand my reasons Margaret" he said quietly "I
just want you to respect my wishes. As it stands, I will never cut into
another human being again!"
She could sense that he meant what he said.
"It's just like you and your father. He had to accept your decision to
leave the army. I'm only asking the same of you!"
He looked at her with moist, pleading eyes.
"Of course, I'm sorry for being so pushy. You do what is right for you!"
"Thank you" he said as the smile slowly returned to his face.
"Oh damn" she cried looking at the time. "I've got to be at work in an
hour!"
"Oh" he said disappointed.
"Yeah, I'm filling in for one of the other nurses, working six to ten!
It's only four hours!"
"I guess I'd better hit the road then. Can I drive you to work?"
"That would be nice!"
**************************************************************
Hawkeye dropped Margaret off as near as he could to the door of the
hospital.
"It's been so wonderful seeing you again" she said leaning over to kiss
him on the cheek.
"Yeah, I only wish we had more time. Hey, let's stay in touch huh? I mean
I could come down again some weekend when you're off, and maybe you'd
come to Crabapple Cove someday, meet my dad. Give the gossip mongers
something to talk about!"
"I'd really like that" she said as she opened the car door. "Hey, I've
got a crazy thought" she cried. "Why don't you stay the night here? I've
got all day tomorrow off. You could crash on the sofa. How about it?" she
said pleadingly.
Hawkeye was taken by complete surprise. "Well, I haven't brought an
overnight bag or anything!"
"This is a city Hawkeye, there's bound to be a couple of clothes shops
around here you can buy what you need. I've even got a spare toothbrush,
never been used. So come on, we still have so much catching up to do,
what do you say?"
"Um, ok, yeah, that would be nice. I'll give dad a call. He's probably
already wondering where the hell I am!"
"Great" she said "Here's the key, you gotta jiggle it a bit a then give
the door a bit of a kick. Make yourself at home!"
"OK, hey I'll collect you tonight around ten, right?"
"Perfect, bye!"
She waved him off then walked into work. What have I just done she
thought. Am I crazy! The guy must think I'm a total nut!
***************************************************************
"No, I didn't exactly get around to looking at prices, I kinda got
sidetracked you could say" Hawkeye said from the phone box outside
Margaret's building.
"Thing is I met up with an old friend from Korea and we got to talking
and well, I'm gonna stay here tonight, at the old friend's place. So I'll
see you sometime tomorrow!"
"I see, well might I ask who this old friend is?"
"Ah who it is, ah you want to know who the old friend is? Ok, sure, it's
ah, Major Houlihan!"
"Oh I see" Daniel said with sly tone "And you're spending the night at
this Major Houlihan's place eh?"
"Yeah"
"This isn't the famous 'Hotlips' Houlihan I've heard so much about is
it?"
"Might be!" Hawkeye said cautiously.
"And you're staying at her place?"
"Yes, oh jees dad, it's nothing like that, God! I'm staying on the sofa!"
"Ok, ok. You have a nice reunion then" he said cheekily.
"Dad" Hawkeye said sternly.
"I'm sorry, enjoy your weekend son. See you tomorrow!"
"See you dad"
Hawkeye left out a sigh when he eventually got off the phone. His father
sure was quick to jump to conclusions. The truth was Hawkeye himself
wasn't too sure what Margaret's intentions were. That woman confused the
hell out of him. He was pretty sure she was sincere in that he was
staying on the sofa. He didn't care, as long as he was near her. The fact
that she wanted him to stay at all meant she had enjoyed the day as much
as he had, and that she didn't want it to end either. He didn't know what
he was going to do with himself for the next four hours. He didn't want
to take a nap in case he overslept and missed her pick-up time. Instead
he picked up one of her girlie magazines and read for a while.
"Women sure do lead complicated lives" he thought as he leafed through
pages of hair care, make-up tips and various other girlie things!
*******************************************************************
Margaret worked her shift in a complete daze. She was sure it had all
been a dream. She missed everyone from Korea so much, she had never
allowed herself to get as close to a bunch of people before as she did to
them. Col. Potter had been like a father to her. Truth was that although
she adored her own father so much, she received more affection from Col.
Potter in the short period she spent in his command than she had from a
lifetime with her father. And then there was Hawkeye!
All the feelings she for him, the feelings she was sure she had left
behind in Korea now came flooding back. She was never really sure of what
those feelings meant at least not until the day they all said goodbye. It
was then it hit her, she loved him. It's true what they say, you don't
know what you've got 'till it's gone. And when he was gone all she felt
was empty.
At first she was shocked. How could she possibly manage to fall in love
with a man like Pierce? He was everything she detested in a man,
egotistical, a pure lech! But when she thought about it more she realised
he wasn't any of those things. She began to count up all the times he was
there for her, even when she didn't want him to be. Even in the early
days when they really 'hated' each other he would still look out for her.
Like that time at the aid-station. He may have been involved in a lot of
conniving, sneaky and underhanded schemes but it was always for a good
cause.
Underneath all the bravado and the jokes, he had a good heart. He was
kind and sensitive. As it turned out he was everything she was looking
for in a man but she could never have told him. He had made his feelings
clear after that night in the abandoned hut, they would be friends. It
was just as well, how could she ever trust a man with such a reputation
for the ladies! How could she ever trust any man after what Donald had
done to her?
She had been on a few dates since she came home but resisted any chances
of a long term relationship. Truth was as long as she kept holding a
candle for Hawkeye it was pointless. And right now he was sitting on her
sofa back in her apartment! What it all meant she still wasn't sure.
Maybe it would be different now that they were out of the war, now that
the army had been removed from the equation. Maybe they stood a chance at
making it. It would all depend on how he felt but as always it was
impossible to tell what was going on inside his head.
"Ah nurse!" the man said loudly pointing to his arm.
"Oh my goodness, I'm so sorry!" she said. She had been taking his blood
pressure and got carried away with her thoughts forgetting to stop
pumping in the mean time.
That was typical of her whole shift. "You are not with it at all tonight
are you?" one of the other nurses said to her. "I have a lot on my mind"
she replied.
********************************************************************
It was a great deal cooler as Margaret walked out of the hospital at a
quarter past ten that night. Carla, another nurse and good friend of
Margaret's accompanied her.
"So tell me more about this mystery man coming to pick you up?" she
asked.
"There's no mystery, he's just an old friend, staying for the weekend!"
Margaret replied defensively.
"Oh one of those eh? Yeah I got old friends like that too!" Carla said in
a mocking tone.
"Oh, stop it. There he is!" she waved to Hawkeye as she noticed him
leaning against the front of the car. He smiled as he saw her approaching
and returned the salute.
"Oh my!" Carla declared "I've got old friends alright but none that look
like that!"
"Will you stop!" Margaret snapped under her breath.
"Margaret, have you happened to notice how incredibly attractive that man
is? I mean if you don't want him I sure wouldn't mind having a shot!"
"You have a fiancé!" she pointed out.
"Don't remind me!"
"Oh really Carla!"
"I'm just kidding, what has gotten into you?"
"Hi" Margaret said as she approached the car. "Oh, this is Carla, we work
together. Carla this is Dr. Benjamin Franklin Pierce!"
Hawkeye gave Margaret a curious look. He never introduced himself in that
way.
"Wow, that's quite a mouthful!" Carla exclaimed.
"Well if it gets too hard for you to remember you can just call me
Hawkeye, that's what everyone else does!" he said as he put his hand out
to meet hers.
"Hawkeye!" she said in surprise, "Hey, is this the famous Haw..."
"We'd better get going" Margaret cut in so Carla couldn't finish her
sentence. She didn't want Hawkeye to know that she had spent the last
four months telling the entire nursing staff all about him!
"Ok sure! Carla, can we drop you somewhere?" Hawkeye offered.
"Oh that's very kind. I'll take you up on that if you don't mind!"
"Hop in!" he smiled holding the door open.
"Thank you" she said as she watched Margaret cringe. She knew Margaret
was afraid of what she might say to him, which made her enjoy the journey
home all the more. She loved to rile Margaret up.
*******************************************************************
"She seems nice" Hawkeye said as they entered Margaret's building. "Oh
yeah, she's nice alright" Margaret said in a vexed tone. She knew very
well what Carla was up to, and by tomorrow the whole nursing staff would
have all the details.
"Listen, you take the elevator this time, I can see you're tired. I'll
meet you above!"
"Thank you, if I wasn't so tired I'd walk up with you, you know?
"I know, now go on!" he said pushing her towards the elevator.
*******************************************************************
"Here's the pillow" she said yawning. "There are more blankets in the
cupboard over there"
"Margaret, I'll be fine. Go to bed!" he ordered.
"Ok, hey did you get everything you needed?"
"Yeah, I got a pair of pyjamas, a robe and a shaving kit. Needed a new
set anyway. Now go to bed!"
"Right, right. Goodnight" she said leaning in to give him a kiss.
"Goodnight" he said returning the kiss on her cheek.
Hawkeye settled down on the sofa, it wasn't particularly comfortable seen
as he was over six feet long but it would do fine. He reflected back on
what had been an extraordinary day. It still didn't feel real, the woman
he had spent the last year pining for, the woman he thought he'd never
again see, was actually fast asleep in the next room! It took him several
hours to fall asleep himself. His head was too full of Margaret. In the
room next door, he could hear the gentle rhythm of her breathing. He
smiled to himself, I can't believe Margaret Houlihan snores!
******************************************************************
Hawkeye was roused from sleep the following morning by gentle rapping on
the door of the apartment.
"mmm" he moaned as he began to come to. The sun was streaming in the
window making him reluctant to open his eyes. Again the sound of knocking
came from the door.
"Dad, door!" he shouted.
"Margaret! Are you there!" came the voice from the other side of the
door.
"Margaret" he whispered in confusion, "Oh yeah!" he suddenly remembered
where he was. He sat up, "Margaret" he said, "There's someone at the
door!" He looked around to see that her bedroom was empty. He then heard
the sound of running water from the bathroom, she was in the shower!
"Margaret?" came the voice again followed by thump, thump, thump!
"Hang on, I'm coming!" he cried.
Hawkeye grabbed his robe and started towards the door.
"Oow!" he exclaimed as he stabbed his toe off the leg of the coffee
table. "Margaret really needs to get a bigger place!" he thought as he
finally reached the door. He pulled on the knob and then remembered how
stiff the damn thing was. Tugging harder at the door he finally got it
open to reveal a woman of medium build with shoulder length grey hair on
the other side. She looked like she was in her mid-fifties and was
carefully eyeing Hawkeye up and down.
"Uh hello" he said.
"Hello" she replied slowly, still watching him suspiciously.
"You're looking for Margaret is it? She's in the shower right now, would
you like to come in and wait?"
"Yes, I would" came her sharp reply.
He became aware of the way she was studying him and realised he must look
a state, unshaven, hair tossed and still in his nightwear.
"You'll have to excuse the way I look, I'm not much of a morning person!"
he said apologetically.
"It's eleven-thirty!" she said in surprise.
"See what I mean!" he said grinning. She didn't return the grin, "Ah,
please sit down, she shouldn't be long more!"
The mystery guest walked towards the sofa and instead sat in the armchair
when she noticed the blankets spread across it. Hawkeye noticed this
also.
"Oh, please, allow me to make the bed!" he said gathering up the blankets
and pillow. He wasn't sure what to do with them so he just flung them in
the cupboard. He then turned and smiled at the guest. She had yet to
smile, although she seemed to relax somewhat when she realised that he
had at least spent the night on the sofa.
She looked at the strange man standing before her noticing he too was
uncomfortable.
"Who are you?" she finally said.
"Oh, right, where are my manners. My name is Ben Pierce, everyone calls
me Hawkeye. I'm an old friend of Margaret's. We served in Korea together.
I was in Boston on business and she was very kind to put me up for the
night."
"Oh" the woman now smiled for the first time. "Yes, I've heard all about
you!"
"You have?" he said in surprise.
"Yes, Margaret is always talking about you, and Colonel Potter. I
understand ye all took good care of her out there?"
"Uh yeah, well we were like a family, we all took care of each other. May
I ask who you are?"
"Why I'm Margaret's mother, Lillian!" she exclaimed.
The colour drained from Hawkeye's face. Oh good God! He thought to
himself. Here I am in her daughter's apartment, dressed in my bathrobe,
what must she be thinking!
"You're Margaret's mother, the mother of Margaret?" he stuttered.
"Yes" she said laughing, he's a bit strange she thought.
"Ah ha! Pleased to meet you!" he smiled as he reached out to shake her
hand.
"Like wise! Are you staying around long?"
"No, no. I'm heading back today. So was Margaret expecting you?"
"No, I said I'd surprise her!"
"That's nice!" he replied. Oh she's going to be surprised alright he
thought to himself.
They both turned to face the bathroom door as they heard the catch being
unlocked.
"Come on sleepy head!" came Margaret's voice from inside the open door,
"Time to get up!"
She appeared at the door, her hair wrapped in a towel. She froze in the
doorway as she saw who was in the living room.
Hawkeye flashed one of his 'I'm innocent' smiles.
"Ah, you have a guest Margaret! I believe you two know each other."
"Mother, what are you doing here?" she said in shock. Oh dear God, how am
I going to explain this!
"I came to visit. I haven't seen you in ages. Thought it would be nice to
spend a few days with my daughter!"
"A few days" Margaret exclaimed. "Great!" she said still shocked. I
gather you've met Hawkeye?"
"Yes, he was keeping me company while I waited"
"That's good" Margaret replied. Well, this is an awkward situation, she
thought to herself.
The three stared at each other for a moment until Hawkeye finally broke
the silence.
"Well I'll just hit the shower and leave you two ladies to get
reacquainted!" he said as he gathered his clothes and hurriedly headed
towards the bathroom. This is uncomfortable he said to himself once he
had the door locked.
Margaret stood for a moment not sure what to do next. "You should have
called mom!" she said frowning.
"Oh I'm sorry, I didn't realise I needed an appointment to see my own
daughter!"
Margaret could see that she had hurt her feelings. "I don't mean it like
that it's just I would have tidied and stuff! You know, been a little
more prepared!"
"What were you going to do hide him in the closet all day?"
"It's not what it looks like mom!" Margaret said defensively.
"And what does it look like?"
"He's just an old friend. We met up, had lunch, talked. It got late so
instead of driving all the way home I let him stay..., on the sofa" she
added pointing to the sofa.
"Oh Maggie, its ok! You're a big girl, you can do what you like! Now are
you going to give your mother a hug or what?"
Margaret smiled. Her mother was terrific. They had always been close
since Margaret was the eldest and with father away most of the time they
only had each other. Her parents were the complete opposite of each
other. Had that been her father at the door and thank God it was not,
Hawkeye would have probably been sporting a black eye by now. Her mother
on the other hand knew all about Hawkeye and how much he meant to
Margaret. They were like best friends usually seeking refuge from
father's bad moods in each other.
"So how have you been settling in? Do you like your new life?" Lillian
inquired. She had not heard from her daughter since that Sunday evening
she had announced her decision to leave the army and was worried about
her.
"Oh I love it, it's the best thing I could have done! I love my job and
I've made loads of new friends!"
"And old ones!" her mother said pointing in the direction of the closed
bathroom door.
Margaret laughed slightly embarrassed, "Yeah!"
"Are ye going to stay in touch this time?"
Margaret nodded her head, "Yeah, we are" she said with a smile planted
across her face.
"I'm happy for you!"
"Come on, its not like we're getting married, we're not even going out or
anything. We're..."
"Just friends, yes I know. You emphasized that already!"
"I was going to say he's like a best friend. I wouldn't be without him in
my life!"
"They say best friends make the best lovers!"
"Mom stop! And don't you be saying anything to him. We only just met
yesterday I don't want to scare him away!"
"I don't have to say anything dear!"
"What do you mean?" Margaret looked at her confused.
"You're sending plenty of signals yourself. Prancing around in your robe
fresh out of the shower! It's no wonder the poor boy ran straight for the
bathroom!"
"Mother, honestly! I'm going to get changed."
"I'm just saying give the poor boy a fighting chance!"
"Oh really!" Margaret said as she stormed away.
Mrs. Houlihan chuckled at her daughter's behaviour. Meantime Hawkeye was
finished in the bathroom and emerged looking a great deal better than he
did when he went in. Hair combed, clean shaven. He made a handsome sight.
He just smiled at Mrs. Houlihan shyly. He really felt as though he was
intruding and part of him wanted to get the hell out of there.
"Margaret's just changing" Lillian informed him.
"Oh" he replied.
"So what do you do these days?"
"I work with my father in his practice back home. He's pushing towards
retirement so with me there he gets a few extra days off to go fishing or
whatever!"
"That's nice. You're from Maine right?"
"That's right yes, Crabapple Cove Maine!"
"Sounds lovely. I was in Maine once, a long time ago. Camden I believe
was the name of the place we stayed!"
"Oh yes, that's a nice area around there!"
"It was beautiful. Maine people are very different!"
"Yes we are a species unto ourselves!"
Margaret re-emerged from her bedroom wearing what Hawkeye thought was a
very sexy, slinky little pink dress.
"You look beautiful" he said once he'd picked his jaw up off the ground.
"Thank you!" she blushed.
The three found themselves looking at each other in silence yet again and
again it was Hawkeye that spoke up.
"Who's hungry? How about I cook some breakfast?"
"Breakfast was over four hours ago" Lillian cut in.
"OK then, brunch!" he declared. "How about ham and cheese omlets with a
bit of onion. Trust me I make a great omlet!"
Margaret looked to her mother and said "Sounds great I'm starved!"
"Mrs. Houlihan?" he asked.
"What the heck, I'm pretty hungry myself"
"Excellent. You two stay there and chat and I'll go find my way around
the kitchen" he smiled as he walked away.
The two Houlihan women just looked at each other and smiled. As Hawkeye
fumbled away in the kitchen Margaret asked her mother, "So have you seen
dad lately? How is he?"
"Yes, actually that's something I wanted to talk to you about. I'm going
to serve him with divorce papers!" Lillian said this cautiously knowing
that their separation had been very hard on Margaret.
"But I thought ye were getting on well now since the separation, you know
talking and all?"
"We are!"
"But then why the need to divorce? I mean it's all so final!"
"That is exactly the point Margaret, it will be final. It's so we can
both move on with our lives"
"But he loves you mom, he's never going to move on from you!"
"That's his problem!" she said with conviction.
"I don't understand, why after all these years? I mean he's retired now,
ye can finally start spending some time together!"
"That's part of the problem. Since he retired we've discovered that we've
just drifted apart. It was like living with a stranger. We had nothing in
common except..."
"Except the children right?"
"Right. I'm sorry Margaret!"
"I don't know how you can do this to him!"
"Why, I thought you of all people would understand Maggie!"
"How?"
"Don't you see, you divorced your Donald, but I stayed married to mine!"
This last statement stunned Margaret. She had never though of her father
in that way. How could she compare her father to that two-timing, lying
toad Donald?
"Ah sorry to interrupt ladies" said Hawkeye who had been out of earshot,
"But we have a small problem!"
"What is it?" Margaret asked looking up.
"Well, you've got no eggs, no ham, no onions, and this cheese looks like
it was left here by the previous tenants!"
"Oh!" Margaret said in embarrassment.
"I thought you bought groceries yesterday" he mocked.
"Yeah, just not the edible kind" she said quietly.
"I'm afraid my daughter and the kitchen were never a good combination
Hawkeye."
Hawkeye laughed, "Not to worry. I'll nip down to the store and get some
stuff." He started rummaging through the other cupboards.
"Maggie, dear Maggie, do you even own a frying pan?" he said as he came
up empty handed each time.
"Of course I do" she said moving over to kneel beside him. "Ah could you
buy one of those too while you're out?" she whispered.
Hawkeye laughed quietly and out of earshot of Lillian said "I can't
believe you don't own a frying pan! Do you eat at all?"
"Ssh shut up!" she whispered. "Please I don't want her to know! Just buy
one while you're out, I'll fix up with you later!"
"Its no problem!" he laughed.
He stood up and picked his keys off the kitchen counter. "I'll be back
soon!"
"OK"
"Bye Hawkeye!" Lillian smiled.
Margaret walked back to sit beside her mother. She was still upset by
what they had been talking about.
"He seems like a nice boy!" her mother said.
"Yeah he is, the finest kind!" Margaret smiled.
Hawkeye placed the groceries on top of the kitchen counter while Margaret
kicked off her shoes in favour of her more comfortable house slippers.
"This is nice, a nice place you got here!" he said looking around.
"Stop it it's a dump. It's all I can afford right now but it's
comfortable enough!"
"Well it's certainly a lot nicer than that last place you had!"
"What the tent? Yes that is true, although it's not a hell of a lot
bigger is it?"
Hawkeye smiled. It was pretty small.
"My bedroom is through there, that's the spare room which is currently
full of junk. The bathroom is there and well, you're standing in the
rest! Can I get you anything, a drink maybe?"
"Ah, just a water please!"
"You sure? I've got scotch, or I've got soda too if you'd prefer?"
"No, thanks, I'm good with the water!"
"OK. I am going to pour myself a scotch!"
Hawkeye watched as she poured herself a drink. She was so full of life,
so happy in herself. He watched her golden hair slip off her shoulder as
she bent down and then as she brushed it back over again with her hand as
she rose. If only he could reach out and pull her into his arms and kiss
those sweet lips. She smelt wonderful. He was beginning to lose his
nerve. He hadn't been this nervous around a woman since the first time he
sat eyes on Carlye.
"So" she said relaxing onto the sofa with her glass, "What have you been
up to with yourself? We've been talking about me all day, you've gotten
off lightly so far!"
"Well" he said as he took the chair opposite her "That's because your
life has been a hell of a lot more interesting than mine this past year!"
She smiled at him, he was as evasive as ever! "So come on, out with it!"
"There's not a lot to say, I'm still in Crabapple Cove, living and
working with my father." he just shrugged his shoulders indicating that
he had nothing more to add.
"So that's it! Enjoying the easy country life? Getting Crabapple Cove to
say aah?"
"Yeah, something like that!" he smiled back.
"It sounds lovely. I'd love to do that, get out of the city into a nice
intimate community like that. Just take each day as it comes!"
"Yeah well intimate communities have their drawbacks too!" he added in a
serious tone.
"What do you mean?" she asked surprised. He had never ever said anything
negative about his beloved home town before!
"Oh, nothing, I'm just rambling on a bit. It's certainly good to be out
of that pressure cooker in Korea. The Cove is just a whole other pace of
life, I like it."
"We sure did work our butts off out there didn't we?"
"Yeah" he said, sadness creeping into his voice, "Here's to peace!" he
said raising his glass.
"To peace!" she smiled.
They sat in her living room chatting the evening away. He told her of
B.J.'s progress and of his reunion plans. She talked to him about her new
job in a big city hospital. "It's busy, and stressful for sure but after
Korea I can handle anything. So when are you going back to surgery?"
The question threw him a bit. He wasn't sure how to answer it so he chose
to be honest.
"I'm not going back, at least not in the foreseeable future anyhow"
"What?" Margaret was shocked. "But you have to go back Hawkeye! You're
the best surgeon I've ever worked with, you can't let that talent go to
waste!"
Hawkeye was silent for a moment, composing himself before he would reply.
He had been through all this with his father.
"I just can't do it anymore Margaret! That place, it took all my..." he
didn't finish the sentence. Instead he looked at the floor, trying to
regain his composure.
"What is it?" she said in concern.
"Don't you see? I've done my bit Margaret! I worked on more bodies in
those three years than most doctors would in a lifetime. I can't do it
anymore. I'm tired, tired of all the pain, the misery. I just want to be
a simple country doctor..."
"I don't believe that!" she cut in. "You were born to do surgery Hawkeye.
You are, the most dedicated doctor I know. You can't turn your back on
your gift, I won't let you do it!"
He looked at her with great pain in his eyes. She could tell it was time
to back off. She obviously didn't know what was going on inside him. He
had stopped smiling now, she had struck a sensitive spot.
"I don't expect you to understand my reasons Margaret" he said quietly "I
just want you to respect my wishes. As it stands, I will never cut into
another human being again!"
She could sense that he meant what he said.
"It's just like you and your father. He had to accept your decision to
leave the army. I'm only asking the same of you!"
He looked at her with moist, pleading eyes.
"Of course, I'm sorry for being so pushy. You do what is right for you!"
"Thank you" he said as the smile slowly returned to his face.
"Oh damn" she cried looking at the time. "I've got to be at work in an
hour!"
"Oh" he said disappointed.
"Yeah, I'm filling in for one of the other nurses, working six to ten!
It's only four hours!"
"I guess I'd better hit the road then. Can I drive you to work?"
"That would be nice!"
**************************************************************
Hawkeye dropped Margaret off as near as he could to the door of the
hospital.
"It's been so wonderful seeing you again" she said leaning over to kiss
him on the cheek.
"Yeah, I only wish we had more time. Hey, let's stay in touch huh? I mean
I could come down again some weekend when you're off, and maybe you'd
come to Crabapple Cove someday, meet my dad. Give the gossip mongers
something to talk about!"
"I'd really like that" she said as she opened the car door. "Hey, I've
got a crazy thought" she cried. "Why don't you stay the night here? I've
got all day tomorrow off. You could crash on the sofa. How about it?" she
said pleadingly.
Hawkeye was taken by complete surprise. "Well, I haven't brought an
overnight bag or anything!"
"This is a city Hawkeye, there's bound to be a couple of clothes shops
around here you can buy what you need. I've even got a spare toothbrush,
never been used. So come on, we still have so much catching up to do,
what do you say?"
"Um, ok, yeah, that would be nice. I'll give dad a call. He's probably
already wondering where the hell I am!"
"Great" she said "Here's the key, you gotta jiggle it a bit a then give
the door a bit of a kick. Make yourself at home!"
"OK, hey I'll collect you tonight around ten, right?"
"Perfect, bye!"
She waved him off then walked into work. What have I just done she
thought. Am I crazy! The guy must think I'm a total nut!
***************************************************************
"No, I didn't exactly get around to looking at prices, I kinda got
sidetracked you could say" Hawkeye said from the phone box outside
Margaret's building.
"Thing is I met up with an old friend from Korea and we got to talking
and well, I'm gonna stay here tonight, at the old friend's place. So I'll
see you sometime tomorrow!"
"I see, well might I ask who this old friend is?"
"Ah who it is, ah you want to know who the old friend is? Ok, sure, it's
ah, Major Houlihan!"
"Oh I see" Daniel said with sly tone "And you're spending the night at
this Major Houlihan's place eh?"
"Yeah"
"This isn't the famous 'Hotlips' Houlihan I've heard so much about is
it?"
"Might be!" Hawkeye said cautiously.
"And you're staying at her place?"
"Yes, oh jees dad, it's nothing like that, God! I'm staying on the sofa!"
"Ok, ok. You have a nice reunion then" he said cheekily.
"Dad" Hawkeye said sternly.
"I'm sorry, enjoy your weekend son. See you tomorrow!"
"See you dad"
Hawkeye left out a sigh when he eventually got off the phone. His father
sure was quick to jump to conclusions. The truth was Hawkeye himself
wasn't too sure what Margaret's intentions were. That woman confused the
hell out of him. He was pretty sure she was sincere in that he was
staying on the sofa. He didn't care, as long as he was near her. The fact
that she wanted him to stay at all meant she had enjoyed the day as much
as he had, and that she didn't want it to end either. He didn't know what
he was going to do with himself for the next four hours. He didn't want
to take a nap in case he overslept and missed her pick-up time. Instead
he picked up one of her girlie magazines and read for a while.
"Women sure do lead complicated lives" he thought as he leafed through
pages of hair care, make-up tips and various other girlie things!
*******************************************************************
Margaret worked her shift in a complete daze. She was sure it had all
been a dream. She missed everyone from Korea so much, she had never
allowed herself to get as close to a bunch of people before as she did to
them. Col. Potter had been like a father to her. Truth was that although
she adored her own father so much, she received more affection from Col.
Potter in the short period she spent in his command than she had from a
lifetime with her father. And then there was Hawkeye!
All the feelings she for him, the feelings she was sure she had left
behind in Korea now came flooding back. She was never really sure of what
those feelings meant at least not until the day they all said goodbye. It
was then it hit her, she loved him. It's true what they say, you don't
know what you've got 'till it's gone. And when he was gone all she felt
was empty.
At first she was shocked. How could she possibly manage to fall in love
with a man like Pierce? He was everything she detested in a man,
egotistical, a pure lech! But when she thought about it more she realised
he wasn't any of those things. She began to count up all the times he was
there for her, even when she didn't want him to be. Even in the early
days when they really 'hated' each other he would still look out for her.
Like that time at the aid-station. He may have been involved in a lot of
conniving, sneaky and underhanded schemes but it was always for a good
cause.
Underneath all the bravado and the jokes, he had a good heart. He was
kind and sensitive. As it turned out he was everything she was looking
for in a man but she could never have told him. He had made his feelings
clear after that night in the abandoned hut, they would be friends. It
was just as well, how could she ever trust a man with such a reputation
for the ladies! How could she ever trust any man after what Donald had
done to her?
She had been on a few dates since she came home but resisted any chances
of a long term relationship. Truth was as long as she kept holding a
candle for Hawkeye it was pointless. And right now he was sitting on her
sofa back in her apartment! What it all meant she still wasn't sure.
Maybe it would be different now that they were out of the war, now that
the army had been removed from the equation. Maybe they stood a chance at
making it. It would all depend on how he felt but as always it was
impossible to tell what was going on inside his head.
"Ah nurse!" the man said loudly pointing to his arm.
"Oh my goodness, I'm so sorry!" she said. She had been taking his blood
pressure and got carried away with her thoughts forgetting to stop
pumping in the mean time.
That was typical of her whole shift. "You are not with it at all tonight
are you?" one of the other nurses said to her. "I have a lot on my mind"
she replied.
********************************************************************
It was a great deal cooler as Margaret walked out of the hospital at a
quarter past ten that night. Carla, another nurse and good friend of
Margaret's accompanied her.
"So tell me more about this mystery man coming to pick you up?" she
asked.
"There's no mystery, he's just an old friend, staying for the weekend!"
Margaret replied defensively.
"Oh one of those eh? Yeah I got old friends like that too!" Carla said in
a mocking tone.
"Oh, stop it. There he is!" she waved to Hawkeye as she noticed him
leaning against the front of the car. He smiled as he saw her approaching
and returned the salute.
"Oh my!" Carla declared "I've got old friends alright but none that look
like that!"
"Will you stop!" Margaret snapped under her breath.
"Margaret, have you happened to notice how incredibly attractive that man
is? I mean if you don't want him I sure wouldn't mind having a shot!"
"You have a fiancé!" she pointed out.
"Don't remind me!"
"Oh really Carla!"
"I'm just kidding, what has gotten into you?"
"Hi" Margaret said as she approached the car. "Oh, this is Carla, we work
together. Carla this is Dr. Benjamin Franklin Pierce!"
Hawkeye gave Margaret a curious look. He never introduced himself in that
way.
"Wow, that's quite a mouthful!" Carla exclaimed.
"Well if it gets too hard for you to remember you can just call me
Hawkeye, that's what everyone else does!" he said as he put his hand out
to meet hers.
"Hawkeye!" she said in surprise, "Hey, is this the famous Haw..."
"We'd better get going" Margaret cut in so Carla couldn't finish her
sentence. She didn't want Hawkeye to know that she had spent the last
four months telling the entire nursing staff all about him!
"Ok sure! Carla, can we drop you somewhere?" Hawkeye offered.
"Oh that's very kind. I'll take you up on that if you don't mind!"
"Hop in!" he smiled holding the door open.
"Thank you" she said as she watched Margaret cringe. She knew Margaret
was afraid of what she might say to him, which made her enjoy the journey
home all the more. She loved to rile Margaret up.
*******************************************************************
"She seems nice" Hawkeye said as they entered Margaret's building. "Oh
yeah, she's nice alright" Margaret said in a vexed tone. She knew very
well what Carla was up to, and by tomorrow the whole nursing staff would
have all the details.
"Listen, you take the elevator this time, I can see you're tired. I'll
meet you above!"
"Thank you, if I wasn't so tired I'd walk up with you, you know?
"I know, now go on!" he said pushing her towards the elevator.
*******************************************************************
"Here's the pillow" she said yawning. "There are more blankets in the
cupboard over there"
"Margaret, I'll be fine. Go to bed!" he ordered.
"Ok, hey did you get everything you needed?"
"Yeah, I got a pair of pyjamas, a robe and a shaving kit. Needed a new
set anyway. Now go to bed!"
"Right, right. Goodnight" she said leaning in to give him a kiss.
"Goodnight" he said returning the kiss on her cheek.
Hawkeye settled down on the sofa, it wasn't particularly comfortable seen
as he was over six feet long but it would do fine. He reflected back on
what had been an extraordinary day. It still didn't feel real, the woman
he had spent the last year pining for, the woman he thought he'd never
again see, was actually fast asleep in the next room! It took him several
hours to fall asleep himself. His head was too full of Margaret. In the
room next door, he could hear the gentle rhythm of her breathing. He
smiled to himself, I can't believe Margaret Houlihan snores!
******************************************************************
Hawkeye was roused from sleep the following morning by gentle rapping on
the door of the apartment.
"mmm" he moaned as he began to come to. The sun was streaming in the
window making him reluctant to open his eyes. Again the sound of knocking
came from the door.
"Dad, door!" he shouted.
"Margaret! Are you there!" came the voice from the other side of the
door.
"Margaret" he whispered in confusion, "Oh yeah!" he suddenly remembered
where he was. He sat up, "Margaret" he said, "There's someone at the
door!" He looked around to see that her bedroom was empty. He then heard
the sound of running water from the bathroom, she was in the shower!
"Margaret?" came the voice again followed by thump, thump, thump!
"Hang on, I'm coming!" he cried.
Hawkeye grabbed his robe and started towards the door.
"Oow!" he exclaimed as he stabbed his toe off the leg of the coffee
table. "Margaret really needs to get a bigger place!" he thought as he
finally reached the door. He pulled on the knob and then remembered how
stiff the damn thing was. Tugging harder at the door he finally got it
open to reveal a woman of medium build with shoulder length grey hair on
the other side. She looked like she was in her mid-fifties and was
carefully eyeing Hawkeye up and down.
"Uh hello" he said.
"Hello" she replied slowly, still watching him suspiciously.
"You're looking for Margaret is it? She's in the shower right now, would
you like to come in and wait?"
"Yes, I would" came her sharp reply.
He became aware of the way she was studying him and realised he must look
a state, unshaven, hair tossed and still in his nightwear.
"You'll have to excuse the way I look, I'm not much of a morning person!"
he said apologetically.
"It's eleven-thirty!" she said in surprise.
"See what I mean!" he said grinning. She didn't return the grin, "Ah,
please sit down, she shouldn't be long more!"
The mystery guest walked towards the sofa and instead sat in the armchair
when she noticed the blankets spread across it. Hawkeye noticed this
also.
"Oh, please, allow me to make the bed!" he said gathering up the blankets
and pillow. He wasn't sure what to do with them so he just flung them in
the cupboard. He then turned and smiled at the guest. She had yet to
smile, although she seemed to relax somewhat when she realised that he
had at least spent the night on the sofa.
She looked at the strange man standing before her noticing he too was
uncomfortable.
"Who are you?" she finally said.
"Oh, right, where are my manners. My name is Ben Pierce, everyone calls
me Hawkeye. I'm an old friend of Margaret's. We served in Korea together.
I was in Boston on business and she was very kind to put me up for the
night."
"Oh" the woman now smiled for the first time. "Yes, I've heard all about
you!"
"You have?" he said in surprise.
"Yes, Margaret is always talking about you, and Colonel Potter. I
understand ye all took good care of her out there?"
"Uh yeah, well we were like a family, we all took care of each other. May
I ask who you are?"
"Why I'm Margaret's mother, Lillian!" she exclaimed.
The colour drained from Hawkeye's face. Oh good God! He thought to
himself. Here I am in her daughter's apartment, dressed in my bathrobe,
what must she be thinking!
"You're Margaret's mother, the mother of Margaret?" he stuttered.
"Yes" she said laughing, he's a bit strange she thought.
"Ah ha! Pleased to meet you!" he smiled as he reached out to shake her
hand.
"Like wise! Are you staying around long?"
"No, no. I'm heading back today. So was Margaret expecting you?"
"No, I said I'd surprise her!"
"That's nice!" he replied. Oh she's going to be surprised alright he
thought to himself.
They both turned to face the bathroom door as they heard the catch being
unlocked.
"Come on sleepy head!" came Margaret's voice from inside the open door,
"Time to get up!"
She appeared at the door, her hair wrapped in a towel. She froze in the
doorway as she saw who was in the living room.
Hawkeye flashed one of his 'I'm innocent' smiles.
"Ah, you have a guest Margaret! I believe you two know each other."
"Mother, what are you doing here?" she said in shock. Oh dear God, how am
I going to explain this!
"I came to visit. I haven't seen you in ages. Thought it would be nice to
spend a few days with my daughter!"
"A few days" Margaret exclaimed. "Great!" she said still shocked. I
gather you've met Hawkeye?"
"Yes, he was keeping me company while I waited"
"That's good" Margaret replied. Well, this is an awkward situation, she
thought to herself.
The three stared at each other for a moment until Hawkeye finally broke
the silence.
"Well I'll just hit the shower and leave you two ladies to get
reacquainted!" he said as he gathered his clothes and hurriedly headed
towards the bathroom. This is uncomfortable he said to himself once he
had the door locked.
Margaret stood for a moment not sure what to do next. "You should have
called mom!" she said frowning.
"Oh I'm sorry, I didn't realise I needed an appointment to see my own
daughter!"
Margaret could see that she had hurt her feelings. "I don't mean it like
that it's just I would have tidied and stuff! You know, been a little
more prepared!"
"What were you going to do hide him in the closet all day?"
"It's not what it looks like mom!" Margaret said defensively.
"And what does it look like?"
"He's just an old friend. We met up, had lunch, talked. It got late so
instead of driving all the way home I let him stay..., on the sofa" she
added pointing to the sofa.
"Oh Maggie, its ok! You're a big girl, you can do what you like! Now are
you going to give your mother a hug or what?"
Margaret smiled. Her mother was terrific. They had always been close
since Margaret was the eldest and with father away most of the time they
only had each other. Her parents were the complete opposite of each
other. Had that been her father at the door and thank God it was not,
Hawkeye would have probably been sporting a black eye by now. Her mother
on the other hand knew all about Hawkeye and how much he meant to
Margaret. They were like best friends usually seeking refuge from
father's bad moods in each other.
"So how have you been settling in? Do you like your new life?" Lillian
inquired. She had not heard from her daughter since that Sunday evening
she had announced her decision to leave the army and was worried about
her.
"Oh I love it, it's the best thing I could have done! I love my job and
I've made loads of new friends!"
"And old ones!" her mother said pointing in the direction of the closed
bathroom door.
Margaret laughed slightly embarrassed, "Yeah!"
"Are ye going to stay in touch this time?"
Margaret nodded her head, "Yeah, we are" she said with a smile planted
across her face.
"I'm happy for you!"
"Come on, its not like we're getting married, we're not even going out or
anything. We're..."
"Just friends, yes I know. You emphasized that already!"
"I was going to say he's like a best friend. I wouldn't be without him in
my life!"
"They say best friends make the best lovers!"
"Mom stop! And don't you be saying anything to him. We only just met
yesterday I don't want to scare him away!"
"I don't have to say anything dear!"
"What do you mean?" Margaret looked at her confused.
"You're sending plenty of signals yourself. Prancing around in your robe
fresh out of the shower! It's no wonder the poor boy ran straight for the
bathroom!"
"Mother, honestly! I'm going to get changed."
"I'm just saying give the poor boy a fighting chance!"
"Oh really!" Margaret said as she stormed away.
Mrs. Houlihan chuckled at her daughter's behaviour. Meantime Hawkeye was
finished in the bathroom and emerged looking a great deal better than he
did when he went in. Hair combed, clean shaven. He made a handsome sight.
He just smiled at Mrs. Houlihan shyly. He really felt as though he was
intruding and part of him wanted to get the hell out of there.
"Margaret's just changing" Lillian informed him.
"Oh" he replied.
"So what do you do these days?"
"I work with my father in his practice back home. He's pushing towards
retirement so with me there he gets a few extra days off to go fishing or
whatever!"
"That's nice. You're from Maine right?"
"That's right yes, Crabapple Cove Maine!"
"Sounds lovely. I was in Maine once, a long time ago. Camden I believe
was the name of the place we stayed!"
"Oh yes, that's a nice area around there!"
"It was beautiful. Maine people are very different!"
"Yes we are a species unto ourselves!"
Margaret re-emerged from her bedroom wearing what Hawkeye thought was a
very sexy, slinky little pink dress.
"You look beautiful" he said once he'd picked his jaw up off the ground.
"Thank you!" she blushed.
The three found themselves looking at each other in silence yet again and
again it was Hawkeye that spoke up.
"Who's hungry? How about I cook some breakfast?"
"Breakfast was over four hours ago" Lillian cut in.
"OK then, brunch!" he declared. "How about ham and cheese omlets with a
bit of onion. Trust me I make a great omlet!"
Margaret looked to her mother and said "Sounds great I'm starved!"
"Mrs. Houlihan?" he asked.
"What the heck, I'm pretty hungry myself"
"Excellent. You two stay there and chat and I'll go find my way around
the kitchen" he smiled as he walked away.
The two Houlihan women just looked at each other and smiled. As Hawkeye
fumbled away in the kitchen Margaret asked her mother, "So have you seen
dad lately? How is he?"
"Yes, actually that's something I wanted to talk to you about. I'm going
to serve him with divorce papers!" Lillian said this cautiously knowing
that their separation had been very hard on Margaret.
"But I thought ye were getting on well now since the separation, you know
talking and all?"
"We are!"
"But then why the need to divorce? I mean it's all so final!"
"That is exactly the point Margaret, it will be final. It's so we can
both move on with our lives"
"But he loves you mom, he's never going to move on from you!"
"That's his problem!" she said with conviction.
"I don't understand, why after all these years? I mean he's retired now,
ye can finally start spending some time together!"
"That's part of the problem. Since he retired we've discovered that we've
just drifted apart. It was like living with a stranger. We had nothing in
common except..."
"Except the children right?"
"Right. I'm sorry Margaret!"
"I don't know how you can do this to him!"
"Why, I thought you of all people would understand Maggie!"
"How?"
"Don't you see, you divorced your Donald, but I stayed married to mine!"
This last statement stunned Margaret. She had never though of her father
in that way. How could she compare her father to that two-timing, lying
toad Donald?
"Ah sorry to interrupt ladies" said Hawkeye who had been out of earshot,
"But we have a small problem!"
"What is it?" Margaret asked looking up.
"Well, you've got no eggs, no ham, no onions, and this cheese looks like
it was left here by the previous tenants!"
"Oh!" Margaret said in embarrassment.
"I thought you bought groceries yesterday" he mocked.
"Yeah, just not the edible kind" she said quietly.
"I'm afraid my daughter and the kitchen were never a good combination
Hawkeye."
Hawkeye laughed, "Not to worry. I'll nip down to the store and get some
stuff." He started rummaging through the other cupboards.
"Maggie, dear Maggie, do you even own a frying pan?" he said as he came
up empty handed each time.
"Of course I do" she said moving over to kneel beside him. "Ah could you
buy one of those too while you're out?" she whispered.
Hawkeye laughed quietly and out of earshot of Lillian said "I can't
believe you don't own a frying pan! Do you eat at all?"
"Ssh shut up!" she whispered. "Please I don't want her to know! Just buy
one while you're out, I'll fix up with you later!"
"Its no problem!" he laughed.
He stood up and picked his keys off the kitchen counter. "I'll be back
soon!"
"OK"
"Bye Hawkeye!" Lillian smiled.
Margaret walked back to sit beside her mother. She was still upset by
what they had been talking about.
"He seems like a nice boy!" her mother said.
"Yeah he is, the finest kind!" Margaret smiled.
