Beguile them with my brilliance? Had I beguiled Dr. Philips?
His behavior was not an indication of beguilement—or was it?
The Army and Navy Club was housed in an elegant building on Farragut Square, just two blocks from the White House. It stood tall and proud, with a long and prestigious history dating back to 1885, or so the plaque near the front door said. Anna and I arrived with six other nurses who had the night off and were ready to enjoy a little fun. Even Helen Daly had joined us, surprising most of the nurses, who saw our superior as unapproachable.
I saw a woman in her early thirties who craved friendship as much as the rest of us.
The night was cool, but I felt warm in my long, pink evening gown with stiff shoulder pads and a V neck, the same one I’d worn to the White House a few weeks ago. Though I hadn’t had a lot of time to prepare, Anna was a whiz with my hair and had twisted back the sides and secured it all in a stylish snood, similar to the one I wore in 1861.
As I entered the large officer’s club, I felt attractive, especially with all the other pretty nurses at my side, laughing andchatting. We checked our coats and then caused quite a stir walking into the dark-paneled ballroom. Wall sconces offered dim light, and a beautiful mural of water nymphs near the ceiling gave a whimsical charm to the room.
A big band was playing Glenn Miller’s “Blueberry Hill,” and there were already couples dancing. At least two hundred people, mostly officers, were milling about, enjoying the revelry. Talk of war in Europe was always close at hand, and everyone weighed in on whether or not we should join the fray. The America First Committee, led by famed aviator Charles A. Lindbergh and actress Lillian Gish, advocated for staying out of the war, while President Roosevelt, trying to rebuild America’s economy and provide jobs to those who were still clawing out of the Great Depression, was eager to get involved. It was a debate that plagued America and had for nearly two years since Hitler invaded Poland.
I knew what was coming, though as I stood in the Army and Navy Club, no one else knew, and I needed—wanted—to pretend it wasn’t just a few months off.
“Let’s find a table,” Helen said to the rest of us. “That is, if we can get to one before everyone is whisked off to dance.”
Already, several officers were on their way over to us. Anna was one of the first to be asked to dance. She shied away, but I nudged her forward.
“Go,” I whispered in her ear. “Allow yourself to have a little fun.”
She went, but she cast a desperate look over her shoulder at me.
“May I have this dance?” a lieutenant asked me, giving a slight bow at the waist.
I didn’t want to dance—not yet. I wanted to ask Helen about Dr. Philips. But I didn’t want to be rude either. There would be time enough for talking later.
“Alright,” I said with a smile.
Soon, all of us, even Helen, were dancing. The lieutenant was a fine dancer, spinning me around the parquet floor with a grin. He didn’t talk much, but he didn’t need to. I smiled as I kicked up my heels. Dancing was one of my favorite activities. Whether I was dancing a waltz in 1861 or swing dancing in 1941, I could forget about almost everything else.
After “Blueberry Hill,” the band played a new song, “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy.” Everyone cheered, and dance partners were shuffled around as the up-tempo song played.
I was winded and exhausted and happy when I finally returned to our table to rest my feet. It had been a long day at the hospital, and I was drained. Helen was sitting down, enjoying a soft drink, and she smiled at me.
“Tired?” she asked.
I took the seat next to her and nodded. “I wish I wasn’t. I’d love to dance all night.”
“I’m sure there will be many more dances in your future.”
A waiter appeared at our table and offered me a soft drink. “Compliments of the lieutenant.”
Looking around the room, I finally saw the first gentleman I had danced with, and he saluted me. I raised my glass and nodded my thanks in his direction.
“It seems you gather admirers wherever you go,” Helen said.
“Not everywhere.” I chuckled, thinking of Dr. Philips. “Surely not in the operating room.”
“On the contrary,” Helen replied. “I’ve worked with Dr. Philips for years, first on the hospital ship the USSReliefand then at the Naval Medical Center. And I’ve never known him to speak so highly of a nurse before.”
I turned incredulously to her. “Speak so high—? Dr. Philips? He barely tolerates me.”
She offered a soft smile, playing with her straw. “Dr. Philips is the best surgeon I’ve ever known, and he expects excellence from anyone who helps him. He does so with a gruff exterior,but it seems to work. It’s a trial by fire. Either the nurses are fueled by his behavior and strive for perfection, or they are weeded out and move on to a different ward. You seem fueled by his personality, and though he would hate that I was telling you this, he has spoken very highly of you behind closed doors, Maggie.”
“I can hardly believe it.”
“Don’t tell him I told you.” She grinned. “Zechariah and I have worked together for seven years, and we have great respect for one another. I’ve watched nurses come and go, but none have impressed him as much as you.”
