THE CALVERTS
Chapter Fifteen
April 1918
Much to John’s
surprise, the first person who came to visit him when he returned to America
was Elizabeth Anders. People stared as she walked around the hospital in her
expensive traveling suit, trying to locate him.
"There you
are!" she exclaimed, walking over to him. "I got a telegram saying
you were here, but no one could point me in the right direction." She
found a chair and sat down next to him. "How are you doing? I’m assuming
you’re going to live."
"It looks like
it." John tried to sit up, but the pain in his midsection stopped him. He
lay back down, looking at his mother-in-law apologetically.
"It’s a wonder
you’re alive, from what I’ve heard."
"Well, after
the battle, I was in the part of the triage that wasn’t expected to live, but
when I didn’t die, they took care of me."
"Amazing. And
how are things here?"
"It’s good to
be back in the United States. I was in England for a while, but it isn’t really
home anymore."
"How would you
like to come back to New York City?"
"You won’t be
able to keep me away, once I’m recovered."
"I was
thinking a little sooner. I don’t like the looks of this place, and it’s so
disorganized--it’s a wonder they haven’t killed anyone yet."
"I think it’s
mostly run by volunteers."
"Volunteers
can do a good job if they know what they’re doing, but I don’t think these do.
I’ve already gotten permission for you to come back to the city, where you will
have private home care until you are recovered."
"What about
the girls?"
"I was
thinking that you would stay in my home, with them, until you are completely
recovered, and then you can return to your own home and your new position with
Anders."
"You’re still
planning on promoting me?"
"Business is
booming. That’s something I can say for this war--it’s good for business, even
if it isn’t good for families with young children."
"How are Mary
and Nadia?"
"They’re doing
well, though they still miss you. Mary is going to be in the school play in
May. She tried to get Nadia to be in it too, but I’m afraid that Nadia has a
shy streak. When the girls were supposed to try out for parts, Mary got right
up on stage and auditioned, while Nadia hid and couldn’t be found until it was
over. Mary made things worse by patting her on the head and telling her that
next year it will be better. They finally got Nadia to open and close the
curtains. She has good timing, even if she doesn’t want to be stared at."
John nodded.
"Nadia always was rather shy, from the first time I met her. She and Mary
got along from the beginning, but she was still afraid to be far from people
she knew. I don’t know if she’ll ever outgrow it."
"Some children
are shy, and never change, but others get more comfortable with people when
they grow older."
"For a mother
of one, you certainly seem to know a great deal about children."
Elizabeth shrugged.
"Some of the servants had children. I observed them, especially before I
had one of my own to care for."
Seeing that
Elizabeth was uncomfortable with conversation, John wisely changed the subject.
"You said in one of your letters that you visited Rose in California last
Christmas. How is she?"
"She and
Christopher are making a go of it. Christopher is five years old now, and she
plans to put him in Kindergarten next fall. Rose herself had just won her first
speaking role in a moving picture when we visited."
"Speaking
role? Do moving pictures have sound now?"
"No, but her
words show up on the screen. The picture is supposed to be released in June.
It’s called ‘The Endless Sea’, about the family of a man who died on the
Lusitania."
John winced.
"How was she dealing with the subject material?"
Elizabeth
considered for a moment. "She said that she had to face what she went
through on the Titanic sometime, and this was as good a way as any. But she
always looked sad when she’d been going over the script, even though her part
wasn’t very large."
"She’s doing
well, then."
"Yes. She
writes often, telling the girls, especially Mary, about acting and Hollywood.
Nadia, I believe, is more interested in her descriptions of the beaches and the
people she meets."
"When will we
be going back to New York City? You sent pictures of my daughters from
Christmas, but I haven’t actually seen them in over eight months."
"We’ll be
taking a train back tomorrow. When I told them you were coming home, they were
eager and excited. They’ve missed you."
"Who’s been
taking care of them during the day?"
"Mostly their
teachers, though I also hired a governess who walks with them to and from
school, helps them with their work, and watches them when I’m away."
"Have you been
away much?"
"No, actually.
I’ve been sending others on the business trips, although they were off from
school recently and I took them with me on a trip to Washington, DC. It’s good
for them to see where the country’s laws are made. Mary still insists that
democracy is dumb, but she was impressed with the Capitol."
"They’re home
in New York City now, aren’t they?"
"Yes. We
returned at the beginning of April, just after I got word that you were being
sent home. They’ve heard some of the stories of what was happening over there,
and both were very relieved to hear that you were coming home and weren’t going
back. I’m afraid I didn’t tell them why you were coming home, though. I had
hoped that you would be better by now."
"If I was
better by now, I would probably have been sent back to the trenches to be cut
to pieces again."
Elizabeth grimaced.
"Do not tell that to the girls. Nadia has enough nightmares as it
is."
"I won’t it
put it in so many words, but I don’t look so good. They’re sure to
notice."
"Yes, but once
you convince them that you’re home to stay, and you start recovering, they’ll
feel better."
"I hope so.
Lord, it’s going to be good to be home."
*****
Elizabeth and John
boarded a private railroad car the next morning. Elizabeth had already hired a
nurse to look after John until he was well, and she had accompanied Elizabeth
to the hospital to get him.
By afternoon, they
were back in New York City. John listened to the cacophony with a growing
feeling of anticipation. It was good to be back in America, good to be in place
where the noise of everyday life could be heard. There were no gunshots, or
bombs exploding, or grenades. For all that it was overwhelming at times, New
York was home.
They drove to the
Anders’ mansion in a vehicle designed with reclining people in mind. John was
feeling better than he had the whole time he was away, looking forward to
seeing his daughters again. When they pulled up in front of the mansion, he
pulled himself to a sitting position in spite of the pain.
Mary and Nadia came
running out the front door, followed by their governess. She tried to restrain
them, but the two girls were too excited. Their father was home at last!
It was only when
they got closer that their excitement faded. "Daddy?" their voices
chorused, uncertain now.
"It’s me,
girls. I’m finally home."
Nadia looked like
she was going to cry. Mary walked closer and looked him in the face.
"Daddy, what
happened to you? You’re so scrawny."
John smiled in
spite of everything. Mary had never been one to mince words. "I got hurt,
Mary. That happens sometimes in war."
"I know. I
read the newspaper sometimes. Are you going to get better?"
"Of course.
I’m already getting better. Nadia, come here. Please don’t cry. That’s no way
to greet me after I’ve been gone all this time."
"I’m sorry,
Daddy." Nadia tried not to cry.
"Come here,
you two." He gave both girls a hug, poking Nadia’s nose and making her
smile through her tears. "I’m feeling better already. You two are just the
medicine I need."
"Are you going
to go away again?" Nadia asked, still looking fearful.
"No, Nadia,
I’m home to stay. I’ll be staying here until I’m better, and then we’ll move
back to our old house."
"Do we have to
go to another school again?" Mary wanted to know.
"No. Your new
school isn’t as far from the house as I’d thought. You can take the train there
every day."
"Good. I’m
going to be in the school play, Daddy."
"And I’m
opening and closing the curtains," Nadia added.
"Well, then,
it’s a good thing I’m home, isn’t it? I’ll be able to watch you."
Nadia brightened.
"I’m gonna tell my friends about this. Mabel Ross is gonna be so jealous.
Her Daddy’s in Europe, and he won’t get to see her."
"That’s not
good. I’ll bet she misses him."
"Yeah, she
does. She says that she hopes he comes home soon. Her mother got a telegram,
and started crying, but wouldn’t tell her why."
John felt immediate
sympathy for Nadia’s friend. He had a strong suspicion that the girl’s father
wasn’t coming back, but he didn’t tell Nadia that.
"Let’s go
inside," the nurse, Diane Cromley, suggested. "You shouldn’t be out
here, Mr. Calvert."
John didn’t object.
He was beginning to feel better, but he was tired. He lay back on the gurney as
she pushed him into the house with the help of one of the servants. Mary and
Nadia walked at his side, chattering about everything that had happened while
he was gone.
Once he was settled
in a large, airy room, he was at last able to rest. The girls’ governess had
taken them outside to the garden to cut daffodils for him, giving him a chance
to get settled in.
Elizabeth came in
to see him just after Mary and Nadia had delivered their large, bright
bouquets.
"How are you doing?"
"Better. Much
better. Coming home was just what I needed."
"I hope you
aren’t allergic to flowers. Mary and Nadia were discussing plans to get more of
them from the florist."
John laughed.
"They’re welcome to bring flowers, but why don’t you have them choose some
live plants that we can take home and put in the garden. I like flowers better
when they don’t die so quickly."
"You don’t
really strike me as a flower person."
"No, but it
makes the girls happy. And I would like to start a new flower garden at the
house once I’m recovered. There weren’t any flowers in the trenches. We blew
them all up."
"Another thing
not to tell Mary and Nadia. Dr. Reinhart, James’ personal physician, will be
seeing to you. He should be visiting later this afternoon, and will continue to
do so until you’re recovered."
"Thank you,
Elizabeth. You don’t know how good it is to be home."
"I can only
imagine. Rest now, John. The girls will be pestering you with questions before
you know it."
*****
John recovered
quickly after coming home, especially with the help of his daughters. Their
chatter and smiles were better medicine than anything the best doctors could
have done for him, and soon he was out of bed and walking around. Mary and
Nadia accompanied him on his ever lengthening walks, dragged along by a
rambunctious Allegro, who had jumped up on John’s bed the first chance he got
and settled down to sleep on his feet. Nurse Cromley objected, but John finally
convinced her to allow the dog to stay. Allegro had stayed with Mary when she
had pneumonia, and was unwilling to leave John until he recovered from his
injury.
In May, John took
his first trip outside the mansion since he had come home, to see Mary and
Nadia’s school play. He stood up and applauded with the other relatives of the
children, even when the younger ones forgot their lines or came on stage in the
wrong places.
Mary shone on the
stage, doing better, in John’s opinion, than any of the others. Of course, he
admitted, he might just be a little biased, since she was his daughter. He
applauded all the children, though, and after the show gave carnations to both
Mary and Nadia.
By June, he was
completely recovered. He would always carry the scars, but he was as healthy as
he ever was. He and his daughters returned to their old home, though Mary and
Nadia missed their grandmother. Life was good, though, and John fell into his
new position in the company as though he was born to it. He had a good mind for
business, and was grateful that he had come home to continue his career.