Sorrento Girl Page 19

  “I’d like that very much. Thank you.” Ann had missed seeing the children regularly last year, and they were growing so fast. The best part of working for the Delzer family was that they treated her like family. “When do you want me to start?”

  ***

  Throughout September, Ann lived in a state of anxious expectation. Had Paul left London in time? That question invaded her thoughts persistently as she went about her days. London was now being hit with bombs daily by the German Luftwaffe. The devastation, according to radio and newspaper reports, was extensive. Even if Paul had left London for New York before the bombing started, his journey home across the Atlantic was far from safe. At the end of the month, Ann still hadn’t received any communication from Paul.

  Ann was walking through the arboretum with Rose on a crisp Sunday afternoon in October, enjoying the chance to catch up with her aunt and talk about school, books, and the latest movies they had both watched. The topic of Paul, and why he might be missing, was one that Ann tried to avoid. By this point, she couldn’t talk about it without tears spilling or her voice shaking.

  Rose must have known what was on Ann’s mind though, because she eventually asked in a gentle tone, “Ann, honey, what’s going on with Paul?”

  “I think something happened to him,” Ann admitted as she fought back tears. “And it’s my fault. If I wouldn’t have been so selfish … if I just would have married him, he wouldn’t have gone to London. He’d be working at The Oregonian right now. He’d be safe. I would have been fine.”

  “It’s not your fault. And you don’t know that something has happened. Paul could just be delayed. Did you ever stop to think that a little more time is what you both needed? Time to grow, time to find out who you are, what you want, and to have your adventures? You’ve both been doing that, and that’s a good thing. You weren’t made for a life that is just fine. You’re made for more than that.” Rose placed a comforting hand on Ann’s shoulder. “You could call the Associated Press office in New York and inquire about Paul, if that would give you some peace of mind. You can make the long-distance call from my house.”

  Rose was an angel in Ann’s eyes, always knowing the right thing to say and do, still watching out for her. Ann stopped and watched a squirrel scurry across the path, considering her aunt’s words. “I’ll do that. Thank you.”

  “Trust God’s timing on this. If you and Paul are supposed to be together, then it will happen. Worrying won’t change anything.”

  ***

  On Monday, Ann decided she’d take the trolley to her aunt’s house and miss class so she could make that phone call. It was the first time she’d skipped class in all her years of school. If Ann wanted to reach Paul’s New York office during business hours, there was no way around it. But when she came downstairs and into the lobby, Robert, the desk clerk, had a telegram for her.

  Hands shaking and heart-pounding, Ann took the message into the Fireside Room to read in privacy. The short message was from Paul. He was hurt. He’d been in a hospital in London, and he’d been transferred to New York. Now he was on his way to Swedish Hospital in Seattle. She had no more information beyond that. Ann raced out of the lobby and up Madison Street to the hospital.

  Checking in at the front desk, Ann was disappointed to learn that Paul was not there. The stern woman behind the counter squinted her eyes as she assessed Ann. “Are you a family member?” she asked.

  “No, I’m a friend.”

  “Miss, I’m afraid I can only tell you that he’s not here.”

  “Can I leave a number with you to call, so I can know when he arrives?”

  “Not unless you’re family.”

  Ann thanked the lady and walked back to the Sorrento. There was nothing else to do but go to class. She’d figure out something. Nothing was going to keep her away from Paul now, not when he needed her most. Nora and Peggy could help her. They were both in the nurse’s training program, and they worked at Swedish. At dinner that night, Ann asked them if they could let her know when Paul arrived.

  Two days later, Nora knocked on Ann’s door after dinner. She looked serious. “Paul arrived today. I told him I’d bring you by to see him tomorrow during visiting hours.” She paused and took a deep breath. “He’s got some serious injuries, Ann. Some burns, some broken bones, and some hearing loss. His building was bombed.”

  ***

  The sight of Paul in his hospital bed nearly took her breath away. He was sleeping when she arrived. Bandages covered his arms, and his right leg was in a cast. Paul wasn’t alone. His mother was seated in a chair next to him, knitting. She glanced up and nodded when she saw Ann, then motioned for them to step outside the room.

  “He was asking for you,” Mrs. Lewis said. She didn’t seem upset about that. She seemed warmer toward Ann than she’d ever been before. “Go on. He’ll be happy to see you when he wakes up. I’ll give you some time alone. I need to get some breakfast.” She rubbed her eyes, as though she needed a moment to collect herself. “He can’t hear very well right now. We’re hoping it’s temporary. You’ll find a pen and paper on the table. You can use those to communicate with him.”

  Ann nodded, gratefully, and said thank you. A few minutes later, Paul woke up. Seeing Ann, he smiled and reached toward her, taking her hand. She leaned down and kissed him. “I was so scared. But you’re here now. You’re going to be okay. I love you so much!”

  A grimace of pain flickered across Paul’s face. He knew she was speaking to him, but he couldn’t hear her. Reaching for the notepad and pen, he took it and wrote something. When he handed it to her, it said, You’re the most beautiful sight I’ve ever seen. I wish I could hear you, but my ears aren’t working right now. I guess a man can’t have everything.

  She didn’t cry until she left the room. The tears were from relief more than sadness. Nora was there, waiting in the hallway. Paul’s mother was there too. Ann could see the love in her eyes and the concern for her son. The woman didn’t always know how to show it, but Ann knew. She cared about Paul in her own way.

  Throughout that week, Paul remained in the hospital. The burns on his arms required intensive and painful treatments. Other than the obvious physical limitations he was dealing with, he was the same old Paul. The doctors thought he was lucky to be alive. Ann thought about all the prayers she’d said while he was gone—asking God to keep him safe. Luck had nothing to do with Paul’s return. God had protected him.

  Thirty-Three

  The burns were healing. The doctor had removed the cast, and Paul was leaving the hospital today. Ann carried his bag and a vase of flowers as she walked behind Mrs. Lewis and the nurse who was pushing his wheelchair down the long white corridor toward the entrance. A car was waiting to take Paul to his grandmother’s home—only his grandmother was no longer there. Getting used to that would be hard. Paul’s parents had inherited the grand old house after Elizabeth’s passing, and they’d taken up residence there after selling their home in Tacoma. Gloria had prepared his old room for him and had hired a nurse, allowing Paul to finish his recovery at home.

  Ann and Gloria Lewis had grown more comfortable around each other over the past couple of weeks, seeing each other often as they came and went from Paul’s bedside. It wasn’t precisely friendship, but at least there was more understanding between them.

  Being careful to turn toward Paul so he could read her lips when she spoke, Ann said goodbye to him as the nurse helped him into the car. She promised to come over to visit as soon as she was free that evening. When she brushed his cheek tenderly, he took her hand and kissed it, then waved goodbye.

  Hurrying down Madison Street toward the college, Ann did her best to make it to her next class in time. The last of the fall leaves were covering the sidewalk, creating a crunching sound as she stepped on them. Ann had missed a lot of classes lately, due to her frequent visits with Paul. But now, without the restraints of the hospital’s strict visiting hours, she’d be able to see Paul more often in the evenings.


  Ann knew Paul was struggling. He did his best to remain hopeful, but his hearing had only returned a small amount—and just in one ear. Paul had become somewhat proficient in reading lips if people were looking at him when they spoke. The doctors reminded them to give it time, but with each passing day, the hope he’d had faded a little more. Paul missed his work, and it made her sad for him when he’d been released from his position with the Associated Press. Even though it meant he was in Seattle with her, this wasn’t how she wanted it to be.

  The previous afternoon, when Ann had been at the Delzer house, she’d spoken with both David and his mother about Paul’s hearing loss. David, though only a boy of eight, had some understanding of what Paul was facing, because of his own deafness. He might even be able to help Paul adjust to this new reality. She’d asked if she could take David with her to visit Paul sometime. Both David and Barbara had readily agreed, and David had offered to teach Paul some sign language. She’d broach the subject with Paul tonight. It was a sensitive area—that blurry place between hope and acceptance.

  Sliding into her seat toward the back of the room, Ann took out her notepad and pen, ready to listen. She had made it to class with a minute to spare. The professor started his lecture, and Ann tried to concentrate. Before long, she found herself reading the other notebook she had with her. It was the same one she and Paul had been using to communicate each day in the hospital, and now it was nearly full. She read the conversations they’d had—his familiar scrawl alongside hers, alternating back and forth. Some of it was funny, and in other parts, Paul had described the terror of the bombing. It was a slow way of communicating, but Paul was a good writer, and she loved reading what he had to say.

  ***

  Paul sent a cab to pick up Ann and bring her back to his house each evening so she could have dinner with him. He’d been advised by his doctor not to drive until his leg healed. Ann knew he was going stir crazy being stuck in the house all day. He was used to his independence, and he wanted it back. It was a cause to celebrate when on Wednesday night, a week after he’d been released from the hospital, Ann saw Paul pull into the front drive in front of the Sorrento in his red Plymouth.

  “Look at you!” Ann was grinning. “Do you want to come in and see some old friends?”

  He paused, then nodded. Paul was self-conscious about his hearing, and he was uncomfortable with speaking, but Ann also thought it would be good for him to start seeing more people besides herself, his nurse, and his parents.

  “Hold on. I’ll run upstairs and get Helen, Peggy, and Nora if they’re around. They’ll be so happy to see you!” Ann said.

  When Ann came back downstairs with her friends, she found Paul sitting near the fireplace. For the first time since he’d been back, he seemed like himself—healthy and at peace. Facing away from her, watching the flames, Paul didn't know she was there. When she approached and said his name, he didn’t respond. Of course, he didn’t hear her. It caught her off-guard. He looked the same, but at that moment, she was reminded, once again, of the adjustments she’d need to make and get used to as they faced this new reality together. Would he really never hear her voice again? Would he never be able to listen to music or hear laughter? Her heart ached.

  “Paul! Welcome back!” Helen said as she approached. Paul stood, smiling. He greeted everyone with hugs. It was a warm reunion, full of happiness, and even champagne. Peggy had somehow procured a bottle and some glasses, which she brought out for the group.

  Nora raised her glass toward Paul and Ann. “To a couple that we all love, admire, and celebrate. Paul, happy homecoming!”

  ***

  Paul was back in the hospital again that November for skin grafts on his arms. He rarely complained about the pain, but Ann could tell, it was brutal. She was by his side as often as possible. Focusing on her schoolwork was hard. Often, she’d bring her books to the hospital and read while sitting next to Paul’s bed. It was the Tuesday before Thanksgiving when Ann was studying quietly by Paul’s side when he started pointing toward a monitor next to him.

  “Ann! I can hear the beeping. It’s that machine. Say something!”

  ***

  When the last day of school arrived before Christmas break, Ann was never more excited to be done with a semester. If it hadn't been for Paul’s encouragement to keep going, she probably wouldn’t have made it. “Don’t slack off on account of me!” he’d say.

  She only had one more semester of classes and one semester of student teaching to go. She was on track to graduate early, thanks to the full class loads she’d been taking. Ann and Paul had begun to talk more about their future together. But this time was different. They had both changed. They cherished each other with an intensity they hadn’t known was possible before. They were treading carefully and taking it slow. Second and third chances weren’t gifts to be squandered.

  Ann dug through her closet and chose a beautiful blue dress for her evening out with Paul. They were going to the Terrace Room at the Mayflower as they had on their very first date. She gave herself a spritz of Bourjois, a perfume she knew was Paul’s favorite before going downstairs to the lobby. He was waiting for her, looking like a movie star with his charming smile and perfectly tailored suit. He greeted her with a kiss. She felt like the luckiest girl in the world.

  Over the salad course, she could tell Paul had something important on his mind. He put down his fork. “I need to work again.”

  “Okay.” Ann chose her next words carefully, not sure if she wanted the answer to her question. “Are you going back to your last job?”

  “No. I want to be with you. I’m going to find something here in Seattle. Is that what you want? Do you want me to stay?” His tone was anxious.

  “I want you to be happy. But yes! If that’s what you want, of course!”

  “I should probably start searching for my place too. It’s getting a little crowded at my folks’ house.”

  Ann laughed at the image of that enormous house being crowded with three people, but she knew what he meant. The frosty relations between him and his parents had thawed somewhat, but they were still not the most comfortable people to live with. “Don’t you need to find a job first?”

  Paul smiled. “Not really. I need to work. The newspaper business is where I always wanted to be. It’s an important part of my life that’s missing right now. It’s not about the money. My grandmother’s estate was settled today, and as it turns out, she was a shrewd businesswoman, more than we ever knew, and she was very generous.”

  “The way you feel about the newspaper business … I think that’s the way I feel about teaching,” Ann said, thoughtfully. “It’s a part of me. I need it.”

  Thirty-Four

  The Sorrento girls were hosting another game night in the Fireside Room on the first Thursday after everyone had returned from the holiday break. Ann had invited Paul with the hope of finally introducing him to Pete, who would also be there. Her friendship with Pete was not something she wanted Paul to feel uncomfortable with. Pete was important to her, and she figured once Paul got to know him, he would see for himself that they, too, could be great friends. The only problem—a snowstorm had rolled in that day. The roads were icy, and the authorities were telling people to stay off the streets. Nineteen-forty-one was bringing some of the coldest winter weather anyone in Seattle had seen in recent memory.

  Ann was having dinner upstairs with Helen, Nora, and Peggy that evening, telling them about her plan.

  “I don’t know, Ann,” Nora said. “You and Paul are finally doing so well again. Are you sure? What if Pete does have feelings for you?”

  “I’m sure,” Ann said with confidence, taking another bread roll and smothering it with butter. “Pete is like a brother to me. Paul will see that. But now, as much as I’d love to see him, I’m hoping he stays home tonight. I don’t want him driving across the city in this weather.”

  After dinner, the women took the elevator down to the lobby. When the doors opened, b
oth Paul and Pete were there, chatting amiably, backs turned away as they stood near the bar.

  Ann nudged Nora, grinning. “Look at that. By the way, we need a fourth player. Want to join us?”

  Without waiting for an answer, Ann grabbed Nora’s hand and pulled her toward the bar to say hello to the guys. Nora had been asking a lot of questions about Pete lately, and he always blushed when she was around. Ann would do her part to fan that little spark she saw between them.

  “Pete, Paul, hello! I see the two of you have already met,” Ann said. “Paul, how on earth did you make it through all that snow?”

  “Hi, Ann. Yes, we just met. I didn’t drive if that’s what you were thinking. I had an old pair of Nordic skis at the house that I used to get here.” Paul’s skin was flushed from the cold, but he had a big smile. He looked the healthiest she’d seen him since his return.

  “That’s a smart way to do it,” Pete said. “I wish I had a pair of skis to get around on right now.”

  By the end of the evening, Ann could see that her plan had worked. Everyone was laughing and having fun together, and she was happy to see how comfortable Paul and Pete were together. Even better, arrangements were made for a double-date with Pete and Nora at the Black and Tan club the following weekend.

  ***

  Sunday dinner at Aunt Rose and Uncle Gary’s house was a new tradition that Ann anticipated each week. Today, Paul had come along too. The whole house smelled delicious when they walked in. A turkey was roasting in the oven, and the table had already been set with a bounty of mashed potatoes, Jell-O salad, deviled eggs, and buttermilk biscuits.

  “Aunt Rose, you’re spoiling us! Is there anything I can do to help?” Ann asked.

  “You can pour some water in the glasses and see who wants wine. Thank you, dear.”

  “How was your week? Anything new?” Ann filled a pitcher with water from the sink.