I nodded. The life-saving medicine was being used in England to great success, especially with peritonitis. In the coming year, penicillin would be brought to America and mass-produced, further revolutionizing the medical world.
But for now, sulfonamide wasn’t as widely known, even in medical circles.
No one spoke as they waited for Dr. Philips to address my suggestion. I watched him, wondering if he’d tell me I was a fool or simply ignore me.
In the end, he ignored me and continued with the surgery. With deft, able hands, he removed the appendix and cleaned out the infection as best as he could.
When he was finished, and after he had stitched up the surgical wound, he took off his rubber surgical gloves and tossed them into the garbage.
“Nurse Hollingsworth, see that Private Edmund receives the sulfonamide. If you cannot locate it, let me know immediately. I want him to start the treatment as soon as possible.”
I stared at him, shocked he had taken my suggestion. “Thank you.”
“I’m not doing it for you. I’m doing it for him.” His gruffness had returned. “If I do nothing, the private dies. I’m willing to try whatever it takes to save his life.”
He absent-mindedly scratched at his hand, which was covered in dermatitis. Was it from the rubber gloves he was wearing or something else?
He noticed my gaze and put his hands behind his back. “The next surgery is in an hour. See that the operating room is ready.” With that, he left.
As the patient was rolled out to recovery, I was thankful I still wore my mask so my grin was concealed. Private Edmund would live, and perhaps Dr. Philips would know that I was just as competent as he was.
The sun had already set by the time Anna and I arrived at the White House that evening to attend a dinner with my grandfather. We wore cocktail-length gowns and jackets with stiff shoulder pads, but it was chilly, and I was eager to get inside.
Lights illuminated the White House as we greeted Grandfather, who was waiting for us outside the East Entrance. He had been a permanent fixture in Washington, DC, since he was elected to the US House of Representatives from Virginia in 1910 and had befriended Franklin Delano Roosevelt when FDR served in the Senate.
What Dr. Philips didn’t realize was that if Rear Admiral Stark hadn’t recommended me for the navy, President Roosevelt would have—though I would never admit that to the doctor.
“Anna,” Grandfather said, folding her into his arms for a hug. He briefly closed his eyes, and I suspected he was praying for her, as all of us had been doing these past few years. “How are you, my girl?”
Anna attempted a smile and said, “I think the move will be good for me.”
My heart soared at her declaration, and I prayed it was true. Grandfather put his hand on her cheek and smiled.
He turned to me, then, opening his arms. I accepted his hug, reveling in the smell of pipe tobacco emanating from his suit. He was a time-crosser and had lived in the 1500s but had ultimately chosen this path. I had loved hearing stories about his life while growing up. It made me feel less lonely, knowing my parents and grandfather had gone before me, but they had all made their choices and mine was yet to come. They had each other. If I chose a different path, I would have none of them.
“Maggie, my love,” he said. “Have you made your choice yet?”
It was as if he had read my thoughts. I shook my head. “How did you choose?”
Anna looked away, as she often did when we spoke of such things. It had been hard for her growing up without the mark that set the rest of us apart. She’d had our older brother, Teddy, who wasn’t marked, but they’d never been close. I didn’t wantto leave her out, but I had such a big decision to make, and any wisdom or advice my grandfather could give me was priceless.
“I didn’t choose,” he said with a smile. “God chose my path for me. You’ll know when you need to.”
Anxiety filled me at his words. I wasn’t the type of person who liked to sit around and let things happentome. I wanted to know what my future would hold or, at the very least, how I should choose. I couldn’t decide based on my loved ones, because each of them was equally important to me. I couldn’t choose based on my career, because I loved what I was doing in each path. I was confident and sure of myself in each life I lived, yet I was a ball of uncertainty when it came to this decision.
“Now,” he said, rubbing his hands together and pushing the conversation aside as if it bore no consequence on this evening. “Are you ready to meet the President of the United States? He’s been looking forward to meeting both of you.”
I knew this evening was important to him, so I turned my thoughts away from me and teased him. “I dined here with the Lincolns four days ago and was here for a congressional party in the East Room just yesterday.”
Grandfather chuckled and shook his head. “And here I thought this was a special treat for you.”
“Seeing you is always a special treat.” I took one of his arms, and Anna took the other as we walked into the East Entrance.
Anna had never been to the White House, and if 1941 were my only path, this would be my first time as well.
The security guards let us through with little trouble, since they were expecting us and they knew Grandfather. Everything looked very much the same as it had when I was there for Mom’s congressional party, though the carpet was different and some of the light fixtures had been changed.
As we passed the China Room, Anna asked if she could look inside.
