“Only in theory,” I said. “Frankly, I never thought I’d have to put what I learned into practice.”
“How does it feel to save a life?” the female reporter asked.
I was surprised when I teared up at the question. I’d saved a life. No doubt about it. “I’m just glad Grace and I were there at the right moment,” I said, my voice thick.
I felt Vincent’s hand on my back. “She’s being modest,” he said. “I’ve known Tess all my life, and I always knew she’d be an exceptional nurse. What she did took a clear head, quick action, and a lot of courage. She and Grace really saved the day today.”
*
Henry and I were quiet as we walked toward the Cadillac after the meeting with the reporters. He had his hand on my elbow, and I felt affection in the touch. He smiled at me as we got into the car. “I’m really proud of you,” he said.
I thought it might have been the kindest thing he’d ever said to me.
“Thank you.”
He started the car and began driving out of the clearing and we opened our windows to let in the evening air.
Neither of us spoke for a few minutes. Then he glanced at me. “So, what did that doctor mean when he said he’d known you all his life?” he asked. “He called you Tess DeMello before you corrected him.”
I hesitated, unsure how much to say. “It’s a coincidence that he’s here,” I said finally. “His family lived next door to my family in Baltimore.”
“Did he know you were here? In Hickory?”
“He had no idea,” I said. “We were shocked to see each other when he arrived at the hospital last week.”
The air felt heavy between us. I licked my lips, unsure whether to tell him more. Finally, he spoke.
“He looked at you like he cares about you.” He glanced at me.
“He’s the man I was engaged to,” I said, as simply as if I’d said the weather was balmy.
Henry didn’t respond right away and I bit my lip, waiting. After a moment, he pressed on the brake and gradually steered the car to the side of the road. He turned off the engine, then shifted in the seat until he was looking at me.
“Why didn’t you tell me this as soon as he showed up?”
“I saw no reason to,” I said.
“And he didn’t know you were here?”
I shook my head. “He didn’t come looking for me, if that’s what you mean,” I said. “He had no idea where I was. I wanted it that way.”
I felt Henry’s gaze on me. I couldn’t meet his eyes.
“Why didn’t you marry him, Tess?” he asked.
“Why do you think?” I asked. “I got pregnant with your baby. I didn’t think he would still accept me if I told him I cheated on him with you and that I was pregnant, so I never told him. I just left. And then you asked me to marry you, and…”
“He knows you’re married to me?”
“Yes. Of course. I explained everything to him.”
“And…?”
“There is no ‘and.’ I’m married to you, not to him. He and I both understand that, so you have nothing to be concerned about.”
Henry looked through the windshield at the darkening sky, his right hand rubbing his left. “I thought I was doing something good, asking you to marry me.”
“You were,” I said. “And if Andrew had lived, everything would be so different.”
“Are you still in love with him? The doctor?”
There seemed to be no point in lying. “I love him with all my heart,” I admitted, my voice again growing thick.
Henry shut his eyes. Leaned back in the seat. I couldn’t tell if he was angry or sad or indifferent. I waited. Finally, he opened his eyes and looked at me.
“This is a painful story, Tess,” he said. “I’m very sorry. Your tragedy was my salvation.”
“How?” I asked, utterly perplexed. “How is our marriage your salvation? I don’t understand.”
He reached his hand out to run his fingers down my cheek. His smile was sad. “You’re very dear to me,” he said, and then he started the car and I knew that was all the explanation I would get from him tonight.
72
Ruth was already at the dining-room table when Henry and I came down to breakfast the following morning. The front page of the Hickory Daily Record was spread flat on the table in front of her, and next to the articles about the war, I could read the headline: NURSES SAVE THE LIVES OF MAYOR FINLEY’S DAUGHTER AND GRANDSON.
“So,” Henry said to his mother as he placed his napkin in his lap, “what do you think of your daughter-in-law now?”
I wanted to hush him—he was baiting her terribly—but I couldn’t help but smile. All last evening, Henry had treated me kindly. Even tenderly, rubbing my shoulders, stiff from my day’s work. Of course he didn’t make love to me or even kiss me, but he told me repeatedly how proud he was of me. How grateful he was that I’d agreed to marry him. I would never understand my husband.
Ruth looked up from the paper. “You actually put your mouth on that baby’s mouth?” she asked. “Wasn’t it covered in all sorts of…” She shuddered.
“I cleaned him off quickly,” I said. “And I blew into his nose, not his mouth. I held his mouth closed.”
Ruth tapped the article with her fingertip. “How did you know what to do?” she asked. “How did you know how to deliver a baby?”
I shrugged. “I’m a nurse,” I said, a bit of pride creeping into my voice. “That’s what nurses do. Though to be perfectly honest, this baby really delivered himself.”
Ruth let out a worried sigh. “So now you have the polio germs inside you, don’t you?” she asked.
“It doesn’t work that way,” I said. “The baby doesn’t have polio and probably won’t get it. The virus doesn’t cross the placenta.”
“Hush.” Ruth shuddered. “This is not a conversation for the breakfast table.”
Hattie brought us plates of eggs and grits and bowls of blackberries. “You famous now,” she said to me. “Can I touch you?” She poked my shoulder with her finger and I laughed. “How’s my little Jilly doin’?” she asked.
“She’s doing very well, Hattie,” I said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if she could go home today or tomorrow.”
“Praise Jesus,” Hattie said as she headed back toward the kitchen. “Adora don’t know what to do with herself without her baby girl in the house.”
“Well,” Ruth said to me as Henry and I began to eat, “I received a phone call this morning from Madge Pilcher. She wants you to join us at our book club meeting tonight.”
“I wish I could,” I said, “but I know I’ll be too tired after working all day. Please thank her for the invitation.” I kept my smile to myself. Was I finally to be accepted by Ruth’s social group? I was not a bad person. I could still hold my head high. How was it that I’d forgotten that about myself?
“I’ll drop you off at the hospital,” Henry said between sips of his coffee, “but then I need to get to the factory. The phone isn’t working for some reason and I have to get that taken care of, but I’ll try to get back to the hospital later today.”
“Oh my,” Ruth said suddenly, her finger marking an article on the front page. She looked up at us. “Life magazine is coming to the polio hospital tomorrow! Did you know?”