Remember me
By Mallory Quinn
Chapter 18
"A very big decision"
Albert woke up early with Paolo. They got ready, had breakfast and they started to look for Stear in local hospitals and clinics. They finally arrived in a clinic where they were greeted by Sister Josephine. Since she spoke English, Albert was pleased.
- Sister, he said, I'm looking for my nephew. His plane crashed not too far from here... do you have Americans patients?
- Yes, we have a lot of nationalities... Let's go see the patients.
The looked in every single room, one by one, and they saw the horror the war made. Some were blind, amputated, in pain. Albert looked and he didn't see Stear among all those poor patients, fortunately.
- Let's go see those who don't remember anything, said Sister Josephine.
They searched the rooms, still nothing, no sign of Stear. Albert was discouraged.
- That's all?
- There's the man in cast, said Sister Josephine.
- The man in cast? Asked Albert.
- Yes, come with me. The doctor is going to take off the bandages on his head, today…
They arrived in the room and they found the doctor who had just took the bandages off the patient with some nurses around him. They could only see his face. When the doctor was finished, the nurses picked up the bandages and left the room. The sun was shinning and was getting coming in by the window of the room. The other nurses left the bedside of the man in cast and a ray on sunshine hit Albert in the eye, he closed them. He got into the room with his eyes half closed and he saw a young man on the bed with black hair and a growing beard, his eyes were closed; and Albert's heart jumped, he opened his eyes wide, so he would be sure that he was not making a mistake. Yes... It was him, his nephew, Alistair! He was alive...
- Albert? Said Paolo.
- It's him Paolo, it's him! Thank you God!
The patient woke up and looked at Albert, stunned. What was he doing there? He still couldn't talk; his vocal cords were still damaged.
- That's him? Said Sister Josephine.
- Yes. It's my sister's son...
- He doesn't seem to know you, said Sister Josephine.
- He's surprise to see me... Alistair? Do you recognize me?
- He doesn't have any voice; his vocal cords were damaged...
- Oh... said Albert.
- But we can communicate with the eyes... Alistair? That's your name? Blink once for "yes" and twice for "no"… said Sister Josephine.
Alistair blinked his eyes once.
- Great. It's good to have a name to your face, instead of the man in cast, said Sister Josephine smiling.
Alistair smiled. Albert came closer.
- Do you remember me?
Alistair blinked his eyes once.
- What you don't know is who I really am... I'm your uncle William, your mother's baby brother...
Alistair opened his eyes and his mouth, surprised.
- I know... you thought I was an old man, it's a shock. But I'm here to take you back home. Archie is getting married to Annie; you wouldn't want to miss that, would you? And Patricia...
Alistair smiled. Finally, some light at the end of the tunnel! He will be able to go back home, see his family and Patricia! Albert made the arrangements with Paolo to take Alistair back to America. He invited Paolo to come with them, to Archie's wedding. Paolo gladly accepted the invitation; to go to America was going to keep his mind busy. Albert, thanks to his connections, was able to be on his way to America in just a few days. During those few days, while he was with Alistair, he became very close to Sister Josephine. They had a lot in common, with their trips.
Sister Josephine, even though she was called that, hadn't taken her vows yet. Being with Albert, made her rethink a little about her future. Albert was feeling good being with her too. But since she was a nun... He talked to Paolo about it.
- You don't think I'm committing a capital sin? It's weird, but it's like I'm falling in love with her...
- A capital sin? Love is the most powerful force of the universe, if there were more love in the world, we wouldn't be killing each other in this stupid war! It's good to have feelings, even if it's for and almost nun...
- Almost nun?
- Yes she hasn't married the Christ officially yet...
- Oh... said Albert, you think I have the right to ask her to marry me instead of the Christ?
- You love her. You have the right to ask her whatever you want… don't loose any time… in love like in war, all blows are allowed…
- It's like you're talking about yourself, you're regretting not asking the girl you love to marry you. What's her name again?
- Mary-Alice... I should've married her. Now, I don't know if I'm going to see her again with this senseless war. I should've married her. So Albert, don't lose any time, if she refuses, so be it! At least you would've tried. Otherwise, you'll never know...
Albert said to himself that he didn't have anything to lose, aside from a negative response. He went the same evening to the dorm, where part of the staff from the clinic was staying. He knew her room number, it was number 27. There were other people visiting their family members or their fiancé... Albert knocked on the door. Josephine, opened the door and her heart jumped of joy.
- Josephine, good evening, said Albert smiling.
- Albert, come in, please. Are you ok? You're ready to go?
- Almost, I have one more thing to do.
- What?
- Well, here goes nothing; I know we've just met, but I can't get you out of my head... I now know, that you haven't taken your vows yet. I wanted to ask you if you want to come with me and marry me instead of the Christ. We could continue being missionaries anywhere we want. I know it's probably a shock. So, I'm sorry in advance. I'm leaving tomorrow. If you want to come, you know where to find me...
Before she was able to say a word, he took her in his arms and gave her a long deep kiss. Their tongues were caressing each other avidly for a while. She closed her eyes and responded instinctively to the passionate kiss. When Albert finally let her go, her head was spinning, and she had to sit on the bed.
- I love you, said Albert.
And he got out of the room. Josephine didn't know what to say or what to think. She hadn't said her vows yet. Being with Albert had awakened feeling in her she didn't know existed. And the kiss... My God! She had heard how good a kiss was, but she never would have thought, even in her wildest dream, that a kiss would make her head spin that way, it was so good! She kneeled to say her prayers. Dedicate her life to Christ, take the vow of celibacy for ever, and marry Albert and be able to continue the work of Christ, with the man she loved... Loved... She loved Albert! But should she take life for granted? With this senseless war... she saw how much people were torn by the death of their family members or their significant others. Life was giving her the opportunity to be happy. She'll sleep on it; she'll see things clearer in the morning.
The next morning, Albert got ready to take the train with Stear and Paolo. Alistair was on a wheelchair. Since they didn't have a lot of luggage, it didn't take them long to get into their first class compartment of the Orient Express.
Josephine woke up at dawn and she had the impression that something was missing from her life. She went to see the reverend mother at the convent, who was already awaked in her office.
- Reverend mother?
- Josephine, come in, my child.
- Reverend mother, I came to confess...
- Why, my child?
- Reverend mother, I had a man in my room last night, and I let him kiss me...
- Oh... and did you like the kiss?
- Yes, she said blushing, but... I wanted to dedicate my life to Christ... and now, a few days spent with this man, have made me rethink about my decision... I'm having feeling and desires I didn't know existed...
- Josephine, my child, you haven't said your vows yet. If your heart tells you that you're in love with this man, you should listen to him...
- But…
- Look, all your life, you wanted to become a nun and now after a few days you spent with a man, you started to have all those feelings. It would be a mistake to refrain them. Love is the most beautiful thing in the universe. To deprive yourself from it, would be a mistake, my child.
-nAre you suggesting that I follow the man I love...?
- I'm suggesting that you let love guide you...
- Thank you, Reverend mother, said Josephine smiling. I'm sorry, I have to go pack... I'm giving you my resignation.
She got out of the office like a fury. The reverend mother smiled. Cupid had his one of her novices again. Love... if there were more of it in the world, the earth would change colour...
Josephine had almost nothing in clothing, because the novices gave their clothes to the poor. She took what she had and she was ready in 5 minutes. She went to say goodbye to the reverend mother and to the other nuns and novices.
- Bye, Josephine, good luck, said the reverend mother.
- Good luck! Said her colleagues.
Josephine went to the train station. There were a lot of people, some soldiers and their families, saying goodbye the heart broken. Josephine was looking everywhere for Albert and his nephew in a wheelchair. But she couldn't see them anywhere. Was she too late?
Albert and Paolo finished installing Stear in the compartment. Albert went to the window looking at the soldiers and their families saying their goodbye, crying their eyes out. In the middle of all that noise, he saw the shape of a young woman asking something to one of the workers. He opened his eyes wide, stunned... Josephine! She came! But she didn't know in which train he was!
- Josephine! He yelled.
Paolo and Alistair were startled; Albert's voice was so loud.
- Josephine! She can't hear me! I have to go get her...
- But the train is leaving soon, said Paolo.
- I can't miss her, she came... she came!
Albert got out of the compartment to go outside and when he got to the door, the controller told him that they were leaving in 5 minutes.
- I'll be there, he said running outside in the middle of all those people, JOSEPHINE!
Josephine who was still asking for information to all the workers she could see, thought she heard her name called. She turned around and her heart jumped. She saw Albert smiling and who was running towards her. She thanked the worker and she started to run to Albert and when they finally arrived close to each other, they hugged.
- The train is leaving, said Albert, we have to hurry.
He took her suitcase and her hand; they started running to the train and they got in the nick of time. They went to the compartment, breathless facing the smiling faces of Stear and Paolo. Albert took Josephine and kissed her on the lips, for a while. When they finally stopped, Josephine said:
- I love you, Albert and I want to go with you. I want to marry you instead of the Christ...
Albert started to laugh.
- Well it's a good thing I assumed that you presence meant that you were coming with me... the train in already in motion.
- Fortunately, otherwise, we would be in a mess! Oh... but I don't have a ticket...
- Don't worry, I'll take care of it. You have made me so happy, he said hugging her.
- Likewise, she said hugging him.
Alistair and Paolo were looking at them smiling. When Albert and Josephine were done getting warm and fuzzy, she told Stear:
- Well, I will be your nurse during the trip, dear future nephew.
- That's good, whispered Stear.
- Don't force your voice, it will come back on it's own. Now, I'm going to read you some stories from the bible.
They talked about the bible and other stuff during the trip. Josephine had turned the page on her past and without a look back. Her eyes were turned towards the future.
In New York, during a reception, Eleonor Baker was talking to some acquaintances. She was always well dressed and her hair was perfect.
- Eleonor, we don't see your son anymore... did he break up with Susanna Marlowe? Asked one.
- Not that I know of. He's working in Chicago for the moment.
- But Susanna comes to every reception with Lionel Sands, the ex-playboy-turned blind who can see again - turned humanitarian! They are practically inseparable!
Eleonor didn't answer, she had also heard the rumour about Susanna and Lionel. What was going on? Why did Terry left her for so long? She saw Susanna from afar with Lionel.
- Excuse-me, said Eleonor, I'll be right back.
She walked towards Terrence's fiancée.
- Susanna, she said.
- Eleonor, said Susanna smiling, Lionel Sands. Eleonor Baker, Terry's mother.
- Miss Baker, said Lionel, you're even more beautiful in person... Pleased to meet you.
- Pleased to meet you too said Eleonor smiling, your reputation precedes you, Mr. Sands. Your crusade to help the handicap people... I'm all for it, and I've sent some cheques regularly…
- Thank you very much, Miss Baker.
- You're very welcome. The pleasure is all mine. Susanna, can I speak to you in private?
- Of course, said Susanna, Lionel, I'll be right back.
She went aside to speak to Eleonor.
- Susanna, said Eleonor, I know that Terry is gone but people are starting to talk...
- Talk about what?
- About you and Lionel Sands...
- Oh... he's just a friend, that's all. I help him with his cause and he keeps me company.
- You seem really close...
- He helped me with the prosthesis, I can walk again, I'm back on stage...
- But Terry...
- Terry married Candy, Eleonor...
- WHAT!
- He married Candy. You know he's in Chicago, especially to help Candy? She's got amnesia. A certain Neil Reagan wanted to take advantage of the situation to marry the amnesic Candy, by telling her they were engaged... to make a long story short, Terry didn't find anything better to do than to marry Candy to save her from the claws of the evil Neil!
- But what about you? He didn't tell you?
-He told me that Candy needed help and that he married her only to save her from a disastrous marriage with her worst enemy...
- So he's going to come back to you?
- Yes as soon as Candy recovers her memory...
- But in the mean time...
- In the mean time, I'm spending some nice time with my best friend. Eleonor, that's all...
- That's all?
- Yes... and I don't like your insinuations...
- Where there's smoke, there's fire, Susanna... Good. Thank you for the information. Have a good evening...
She went back to her friends. Terry married Candy? She didn't stay very long at the reception after that. She will take the train for Chicago, after taking her son's address at Robert Hathaway's.
Susanna went back to Lionel smiling.
- So? Asked Lionel.
- I think Terry is getting a visit from his mother...
- And that makes you happy...
- A little... well.
- Don't forget, she's his mother, she will follow what her son says...
- I know... she wanted to talk to me about the rumours on the two of us…
- Oh...
- I told her that you were my best friend, she said with a soft voice... she told me that where there's smoke, there's fire... and she's right.
- I can be more, Susanna, you know it... the ball is in your camp…
- I know, Lionel…
She was still hesitating, because her heart was divided; between her growing feelings for Lionel, and her obsession with Terry. The idea of leaving Terry to Candy, was making her sick. Juliet's attitude had made her so angry. Candy had left her Terry, and she had barely lived with him, that Terry had to leave to go look for her. A normal person would have understood that Terry will never love her, but not Susanna. She was obsessed by Terry. For the moment she'd rather have him miserable with her, than happy with another one... no, not another one, with Candy... Oh sorry, Juliet!
Juliet and Terrence were cooking in kitchen. Terrence came back early from the theatre. There were some knocks on the door. It was Annie and Archie.
- Good evening, said Juliet smiling and kissing them.
- Good evening, said Terrence.
- Good evening, Juliet, Terry.
- Good evening Can... Juliet, Grandchester, said Archie.
- What brings you by? Asked Juliet.
- How's the wedding planning? Asked Terrence.
- Everything is fine, thanks, said Annie.
- I wanted to talk to you, Terry, said Archie.
- About what?
- Well for my wedding, our wedding. I always thought that my brother will be my best man, but... Life decided otherwise... So, I wanted to ask you if you would stand up for me, and be the best man at my wedding...
Terrence was so surprised. Archie was nice to him? Well ever since he lost his brother, he changed... the best man at his wedding? That was certainly one big step.
- I know we haven't been on the best terms. But to see you so devoted to Candy's cause; you literally left everything to help her, without giving it a second thought. You even put up with my unbearable cousin... and you saved Candy from Neil. You're a good guy... and I'm sorry for all the hostility in the past. Life is too short to hold a grudge.
Terrence smiled and shook his hand.
- You're right, life is too short to hold a grudge. And would be honored to be step in for your brother and be the best man at your wedding. He was a really good guy. Thanks, Archie.
Annie was looking at them smiling. Juliet seemed to find it normal. Annie took her to the bedroom.
- Oh Juliet, this is a big event!
- What?
- Archie and Terry in good term.
- Really?
- Oh yeah, you don't remember... let's just say, this is a very big step...
- And you're happy?
- Yes...
- So, that's what's important, said Juliet smiling, are you staying for diner?
- No, Archie is taking me to the restaurant tonight…
- Oh... well have fun, then!
They joined the guys in the leaving room. They talked for a while then Archie and Annie left.
- Well, this was a surprise! Said Terrence.
- I'm happy for the both of you, said Juliet.
- Candy was our problem...
- Really? He was in love with her?
- I think he still is... but he resigned himself...
- Oh... I was asking myself why he was sometime looking at me with so much sadness... what about Candy?
- She liked him like a cousin. And she will never hurt Annie... Candy loves me.
- You're reassure me, British... Let's go eat our diner!