(One year earlier, Ottumwa Iowa)
"Radar! There's someone to see you!"
The sound of his ma's singsong voice made Radar smile. "Be right there, Ma! I still have a few chores to do in the barn!"
"That's all right, Walter! Just go ahead with what you were doing!"
Radar stopped for a moment, his eyebrows raised. "But what about the visitor? And who is it?"
"It's all right!" was the reply he received.
He shook his head in disbelief. Then he felt a tinge of sadness. Gee, he loved his ma an awful lot, but sometimes he worried about her, especially when she said stuff like that. They didn't get too many visitors on their farm and the visits they had were something special. Perhaps she was seeing things again. It was happening more frequently and even though Dr. Bonnet said she was perfectly fine, Radar couldn't help but worry. She was, after all, his ma. He considered writing to Hawkeye about it, but he knew that his friend had enough troubles trying to adjust to real life after so many years in Korea. There was no sense in making him worry about something that wasn't even his concern. Besides, there wasn't much the guy could do, being that he was in Maine. That was a long way from Iowa.
Boy, at times like these, he missed his Uncle Ed like crazy. Several years had passed since Radar had returned to Ottumwa from Korea and for the longest time he found it very hard to cope. He was worried about his ma, missing his Uncle Ed and also worried about the friends he'd left behind in Korea. How were they going to get along without him? It wasn't arrogance that made him wonder about their well-being. He knew that camp backwards and forewords; probably better than anyone. But whenever those worries clouded over him, he simply concentrated on his ma's health and took time to mourn his Uncle Ed.
He tried again and again to talk to his ma about how she was doing, but he didn't know what to say. She was hurting too. He had his cousins and a slew of other family members, but he, Radar, was the man of the family now. Losing Uncle Ed was the worst thing ever. Not only was Uncle Ed his ma's brother, but he was also the closest thing that Radar had to a father. Not counting Colonel Blake and Colonel Potter.
The familiar pain resurfaced in his chest thinking of his friend, Colonel Blake. Boy he really missed him-a lot. Even after so much time had passed since that terrible, terrible day. Radar would never forget the way his chest constricted in pain and disbelief when Sparky told him the news over the radio. And having to deliver the message in the OR was the absolute worst;
…Shot down over the Sea of Japan. There were no survivors.
If only he could see or talk to his friend, just one last time.
When he blinked, he realized that his eyes had filled with tears. He had to be strong. This was no time to collapse. He stood as tall as possible and took a deep breath, willing the sad thoughts from his mind.
He returned to his chores. Henrietta and Frederick were getting restless as they often did around this time. But they were chickens, so they didn't know any better. And Radar certainly couldn't blame them.
"Okay guys, just hang on. I'm coming!" He walked to the shelf in the barn and grabbed the metal bucket and a wooden scoop.
Henrietta and the other chickens swarmed around him, clucking like mad. It made Radar laugh. They knew they were about to eat and they didn't want to wait. He wasn't sure how they knew, but chickens were smart.
"Okay guys, come on out here. Follow me."
The chickens clucked excitedly and ran out of the barn, eager to be fed.
"Radar!"
At the sound of his name, he looked up. And then he froze. The metal pail of feed fell from his hand, landing on the gravel with a thunk.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to startle you." The words were accompanied by the sweetest laugh and smile he'd ever encountered.
"You didn't. I-I was just…"
He couldn't take his eyes off of her. It was her, Lieutenant Linda Nugent. The swellest girl he'd ever known. The prettiest girl in the entire world. He knew this was true because he'd met her in Korea, which was on the other side of the planet and now here she was in Ottumwa, Iowa. In all that time he'd never seen anyone prettier. He pushed the reminder of Patty, whom he'd met at the bus station, from his mind.
"Linda?"
Another laugh. "Yes, Radar! It's me! Don't you recognize me?"
This wasn't the Lieutenant Linda Nugent that he'd known in Korea, and taken on a date to the Officer's Club where she'd worn a soft brown sweater and brown pants.
Wearing a flowy sleeveless red dress that rustled when she walked, her hair fell in waves just below her shoulders. This Linda was much more beautiful. And yet, she was the same person.
How could that be?
"Radar, are you okay?"
He felt lightheaded for no reason at all. Well, except one. He didn't want to faint. She might think he was just pretending, like he'd pretended to be injured in the Mess Tent when Major Winchester was doing a demonstration for the nurses.
"Radar?"
"I-I…"
Linda laughed. "I really didn't mean to startle you. And I'm sorry about-."
Before he knew what was happening, she placed the empty pail in his hand.
"I would like to help you clean up, but I'm afraid the chickens have already taken care of that."
"Oh gee, what a mess. Now I'm going to have to make a trip to the feed store for some more food and we don't really have the extra money."
Her smile faded and she looked… hurt.
Instantly he realized what he'd said and he gasped in horror. "Oh, no! No! It wasn't your fault at all! It was mine! I'm the one who dropped the pail! I don't usually do things like that. I was just…. Surprised to see you."
"When I went to the door, your mother said you were back here. I heard her calling you, but then she told me to come around to the barn. So, here I am."
"Here you are."
A long silence followed. And then she touched his shoulder. "Radar, are you sure you're okay?"
He looked up, in a daze. "What?"
"You're not going to faint, are you? Because if you are, remember that I'm a nurse and I'll take care of you."
Around him, the chickens were still running wildly, taking advantage of the smorgasbord of food on the ground. Food that he couldn't afford. How could he have been so clumsy? And what was he thinking, upsetting her when it wasn't even her fault? What was wrong with him?
His eyes met hers and his heart fluttered even faster.
"Radar, what are you thinking about? Are you okay?"
"I-I…what are you doing here? Not that I mind, but-."
"Well, it was a long trip and I thought I'd never get here. But I'm so glad that I finally found you."
He couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Y-you came here for me?"
She laughed. It was the sweetest sound he'd ever heard. "Well, is there another reason to come to a farm in a town called Ottumwa, Iowa?"
When his smile faded, she touched his shoulder. "I'm sorry, Radar. I didn't mean it like that. I just… well, I missed you. I really missed you a lot."
"You missed me? Really?"
His question was answered by a hug that was completely bewildering. The scent of her perfume consumed him, bringing back all of those memories of dancing with her at the Officer's Club at the 4077.
"Well, gee, I missed you a lot, too."
She drew back and smiled at him. "So what have you been up to?"
"Oh, well, for the last few years, I've been here, helping my ma. I would have stayed in Korea until the war was over, but they sent me home. I love my ma and all, but I really didn't want to leave."
"Why did they send you home?"
He sighed deeply, willing himself not to get upset. To cry in front of her would be the most humiliating thing a guy could do.
"To take care of Ma. You see, my Uncle Ed died, and he was sort of like the father I never had. And he was her only family, being her brother and all. My ma hasn't been the same since Uncle Ed died. He was the one who held us all together." When tears threatened, he looked away, hoping she hadn't noticed. "I really miss him."
Another surprising hug was accompanied by a pair of soft lips on his cheek. She moved closer, enveloping him into her arms. "I'm so sorry, Radar. I lost my dad not too long ago. It was awful."
He gasped lightly at the unexpected news and he drew back slightly, but only so that he could look into her eyes.
"I'm so sorry. I bet that was awful. Are you okay?"
She nodded. "I am now, but sometimes…"
"I know…"
His heart ached at the sadness in her eyes. The sadness that was hidden by her smile. He thought it best to change the subject.
His eyes moved up and down her petite figure. "Gee, Linda. You look…"
The compliment lit up her face and she turned around in a circle, causing the hem of her dress to flow around her. It was a beautiful sight.
"Thank you. You look nice, too, Radar."
He looked at his worn plaid shirt; the one he should have given to charity ages ago. But it was comfortable.
But the compliment rang in his ears. "You're just saying that."
"No, really! I've never seen you in jeans and a plaid shirt."
"Oh, well these are my work clothes. Gee, how did you get all the way here from Pennsylvania? That's a long way from here!"
"Tell me about it. I took a train. It really was a long trip and so many stops. And then from the train station, I took a bus. I got a ride to your farm from the nice lady that sat next to me on the bus. She lives in the next town."'
Radar's eyes widened. "You did all of that? For me?"
She hugged him again. "Of course!"
"Gee, I don't know what to say. If I weren't so worried about Ma, I would have taken a bus and a train to Pennsylvania. "
"Oh Radar, you're so sweet."
The heat filled his cheeks. "I am?"
"Yes! And I can't wait to meet your family and your animals."
"Oh well, we can start with the animals because they're right here. The chickens you already met. There's Henrietta and Frederick. Over there is Tom and the little guy is Trapper. I named him for a friend of mine, although I don't know if Trapper would be so happy about me naming a chicken after him."
Linda laughed again, filling his ears with the wonderful sound. She nodded politely when he introduced her to the rest of the chickens, the ducks, the horses and the cows.
"And last but not least, the rabbits."
"You asked me about rabbits once."
"I did?"
"We were in the supply room and I was getting some stuff for Major Houlihan. You asked me if I liked rabbits and you were trying to tell me all about them."
"Oh yeah, and you told me to get lost."
"Did I say that? If I did, I'm sorry."
"Well, I got the message. But you were busy, so the fault is mine."
"Radar that was years ago! And I'm not busy now."
Her grin warmed his heart. "Your animals… they're wonderful." She kissed his cheek, making him blush. "And so are you."
Once more, he felt as though he could fly.
