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He was a hero, Clara In life and in death
He was also a loving son
I couldn’t save Danny But I have to try to save his parents frouish they’ll feel at his death The enclosed letter is to them I’ve written about Danny’s life since they last saw his, the memories that will make them smile The jokes he told The poker face he didn’t have The way he spoke of theone And that he believed, long before he died, that theirs was, too
Will you see that ets to Danny’s parents? I don’t have their address The army will, of course, but it will reach them more quickly if I send it to you His mother teaches school in Cedar Rapids Her name is Rose And his father, Daniel, is a dairy farmer Danny’s last name, as I’m sure you remember, is Small
I love you, Clara Please know that without the slightest doubt And never doubt, either, your support of ht decision,what I need to do For our children, and our children’s children
I’ to see our babies, Clara And their babies I will return, my Clara, to you It’s more than a hope, or a wish, or a dream It’s a belief, deep inside I don’t knoe’re meant to be the lucky ones, only that we are
I’m already the luckiest man on earth, because of you
I love you,
Charles
Elizabeth and Nick didn’t touch during those sunny days Just as Charles and Clara hadn’t touched at the beginning of their love But the air they breathed armed by the sun, and by each other
Elizabeth was breathing so on to it, when, just hours before Nick was going to call the clinic, Gra to hear
"Maybe I should see someone about my eyes"
"Okay," Elizabeth said with i that can be done"
"But it’s worth finding out"
"I guess so I suppose the next step would be toin a toith a state-of-the-art ood ophthalist close by"
"There are several All terrific But Nick’s arranged for you to see the one he felt you’d like the best You have an appointment with her at eleven to man, isn’t he?"
"Yes," Elizabeth whispered "He is"
Nine
Clara’s cataracts were "ripe," the doctor said That was good Froical perspective, they were ready to be removed And, Dr Diana Hathaway added, Clara was very likely to benefit froery
The standard of care, to which the Harvard-trained ophthalist resolutely adhered, was to operate on one eye at a ti the outcoery on the other would be deferred to a later date
Typically, she liked to do the surgery three weeks following the initial evaluation That gave the patient an opportunity to prepare, and to have the physical and lab exams that were prudent before anesthesia
Dr Hathaway had an opening in three weeks She’d hold it for Clara, unless…It turned out there was a last-ery had been scheduled for tomorrow afternoon The internist, who, since before Charles’s stroke, could examine her today, and labs could be done immediately
"Let’s do it," Clara said
"I really like your drawings of the orchard"
Elizabeth looked from her clenched fists to the calm face from which the improbable words had co area They weren’t alone, but whoever had arranged the furnishings had done so as if each group of chairs was a private island Their two chairs were angled so that they faced each other and no one else
"You do not But," she said, "as a ploy to distract ood"
"It ht have been a ploy, but it was also the truth I’ve been thinking they’d make nice labels for the apple butter jars The coo What better than seasons of the orchard, as drawn by Clara’s granddaughter?"
"They were drawn by an eight-year-old"
"Who was passionate about the apple trees I really like the drawings, Elizabeth The winter one, especially"
He seeht better of it, or simply sensed the approach of Diana Hathaway, Elizabeth would never know
Dr Hathaore scrubs, a white coat, surgical booties and a sery went fine"
"No problems?"
"None She should be aithin the hour, and, once she’s steady on her feet, she’ll be ready to go home As I mentioned yesterday, her eye needs to remain covered until I see her to both eyes closed is best It will be possible, I think It’ll be dark by the tiet her hoht, she should be able to sleep"
"I think we all will," Nick said
He didn’t touch the dark circles beneath Elizabeth’s eyes But the worry in his voice was a gentle caress
Elizabeth tucked Gram into bed while Nick waited downstairs
"Comfy?"
"Very comfy," Gra there You do not, however, need to stay with me till I drift off"
"Maybe I want to"
Gram smiled, and because Elizabeth had been so ada with--the unpatched eye "What shall we talk about?"
"Whatever you like, Gra that if my vision does improve, maybe it is time for me to read Granddad’s letters I know you could--and would--read the would be nice"
"You’ll be able to see it They’re wonderful letters, Gram He loved you so much"
"As I loved him"