Yours Truly

6 - A Dinner With Two Families

Marie McCaden was not the only visitor to visit the hospital that month.

        During the next few days after Marie's first visit, many more people came and went. Will only had one other visitor other than his mother, and that was Mrs. Priscilla Jones, Dennis's mother, who sat at Will's bedside to idly tell him about her new lemon square recipe.

        "That's great," Will had responded, looking quite concerned for Mrs. Jones's emotional state. "I can't wait to try them if-- I mean, when I get back... your baking's the best, Aunt Priscilla." 

        Priscilla Jones had smiled airily. Charlotte thought that Mrs. Jones was a pretty middle-aged woman, with wavy black hair like Dennis's, and a face that resembled a pixie fairy-- an upturned button nose, thin pink lips, a slightly pointed chin and glittering blue eyes. "Thank you, Will. I'll remember to bake you a nice big batch to welcome you home with once you're back." 

        "You're lucky, country boy," grumbled a patient in Bed Thirteen once Priscilla Jones had left. 

        "Me?" Will asked warily. 

        "Mhm," Bed Thirteen rumbled. "My folks are in Maine. My wife's in Maine. You're lucky, country boy..."

        However, the visit of Marie McCaden seemed to have inspired some of the patients who lived in New Orleans to call their loved ones, for more townsfolk came through the hospital's front doors, visiting all different floors. The North Wing was no exception. According to the official records, there were only two patients in North Wing who lived in New Orleans-- Will, and the man in Bed Twenty, who had frequent visitors. 

        It was clear to most of the nurses that the man had come from a large family. Nonetheless, it warmed everyone's hearts to witness their embraces and their tears and their words of love and encouragement. 

        Charlotte found that it was nice, having more love and encouragement in a bleak and dire situation. It definitely lifted some spirits, although there were others who were bitter, seeing families reunite and being so alone and so far away. 

        As for Will's recovery, many of the doctors and nurses were perplexed to find that-- with supporting sticks-- Will was able to walk on his own. Granted, he could only walk at a snail's pace and even that tired him out very easily. He tried to hide it, but it was very obvious that he exerted plenty of energy just crossing the room.

        "What do you think, Doctor Ebner?" Nurse Calloway muttered under her breath, head lifted from her clipboard. Doctor Roberts and Calloway both looked at Doctor Ebner for a response. 

        Doctor Ebner-- a middle-aged Austrian man with a wispy beard-- was studying Will with amusement. "Two broken legs, you say? This boy broke both his legs in action?" 

        "Yes, sir," Calloway grumbled, looking rather disgruntled. "Compound fracture on the right. Managed to avoid infection, thank God for that. Non-displaced fracture on the left. Left is much better than the right. He's been a good patient, taking the meds and injections without complaint. The problem is, he wants to go back to active duty." 

        Doctor Ebner let out a little huff of disbelief. 

        Calloway and Doctor Roberts' expressions remained straight. 

        "You're serious?" exclaimed Doctor Ebner. 

        "I didn't stutter, Doctor Ebner, sir," Calloway said monotonously. 

        Ebner glanced at Will, who was attempting to cross the wing once more, his face red, beads of sweat accumulating on his forehead. "So he wants to go back to the front lines. D'you reckon I should write to his base? What military division does he belong to?"