Chapter 33

Bern, May 1916

Wisteria bloomed wildly at the Botanical Garden, and Rebecca inhaled the sweet scent briefly, but it gave her little joy this morning. Her knees kept shaking, the bicycle rattled as a result, and she nearly fell off. Where was Mark? Every second without him was wasted!

She had sent a note to Mark’s boardinghouse an hour ago and then rode her bicycle to wait for him. He’d forbidden her to come to the student colony for fear she’d be followed and would be in danger because of her association with revolutionaries. She heard the creaking of the black iron gate at the garden’s entrance and then the crunch of the gravel path under his feet. She slowly lifted her head, worried, terribly afraid it wasn’t him walking quickly next to his bicycle. But it was!

“I was hoping you would come!” She almost sang with happiness, stretching her hand to him, her heart full of love. And terrible worry. Kids played around them, but she hardly noticed.

Mark was here! Father would be saved now!

She started pedaling, beckoning him to follow. There was no time to stand around.

“Your note?” he asked, pedaling behind her. “How long has your father been ill?”

She took a moment to catch her breath. “He started having pains last night. He went to bed saying he suffered from indigestion. Then, this morning, he began to moan and scream from sudden attacks. Nothing gives him comfort. We’ve tried tonics, heat, and enema.”

“Is it possibly appendicitis?”

“He says it’s gallbladder disease. I agree. He has all the symptoms of it. He asked me to send for you.”

They reached the house in minutes. Mark rushed into Father’s bedroom, past her crying mother. Father was moaning loudly and holding his right side. The housekeeper stood helpless at the bedside, holding a hot water bottle.

“Can everyone please leave and allow me to examine Dr. Miller? Rebecca, where can I wash my hands?” Mark asked.

“I remember you,” Father said weakly, as Mark gently palpated his abdomen a few minutes later.

“Do you?” Mark’s eyes were closed. He was intent on his examination.

“I remember I saw you kissing my daughter. Without my permission.”

“Father! Never mind this now. Concentrate on feeling better. Mark is a great surgeon. You need his help.”

Father waved her away. “I didn’t ask for a woman’s opinion. We are having a conversation like men. I know who he is. I asked for him, remember? Leave us!”

Rebecca looked at Mark, and he nodded his head. She found Mother in her parlor, Grandmother next to her, teacups in front of them, untouched.

“What did Mark say?” Grandmother asked.

“You know him, Fräu Miller?” Mother asked.

“That’s a tale for a later time. So what is it, my dear?” she asked Rebecca.

“I don’t know yet, Grossmami. Mark is examining him. But Father is in a delirium; he is confused about the year.”

Mother burst out crying again.

“Mami, it’s only a simple case of gallstones. He will not die from this if Mark removes the gallbladder.” Rebecca paced in agitation.

“What do you mean ‘removes’? Does Joseph require an operation?”

“Most likely. Unless it’s something else.” Rebecca regretted saying this as soon as the words left her mouth. Mother turned paler than fresh snow.

“Shush, Rebecca. It will not be anything else, Helene. Joseph will have the operation and live a long happy life yet,” Grandmother said in a firm tone.

“He will. I promise, Mami.” Rebecca poured herself some tea, but her hands shook so hard she had to set the cup down.

Mark came down the stairs minutes later and went directly to her mother. “Fräu Miller, I’m afraid your husband was right. It is indeed an attack of gallstones. He requires an operation. I am going to phone the hospital and have him transported there.”

“Will he…die?” Mother grabbed onto Mark’s hands.

“God willing, he will live a long life still, Fräu Miller.” Mark gave her hands a firm squeeze and went to the phone to make arrangements.

Hours later, Rebecca sat by her father’s bedside and held his hand. Grandmother had gone home, reassured that he was out of danger. Mother was asleep in a small chair nearby. Rebecca felt a squeeze on her fingers.

“He’s done well, your young surgeon,” Father said, voice cracking and weak.

“Papi, try not to talk too much. You must rest.”

“On the contrary, Dr. Miller must cough to clear his lungs of ether. It will prevent mucus from becoming stale in his lungs,” Mark said, coming near her, fingers lightly brushing her arm.

Father’s eyes focused on the two of them, narrowing, but he kept his observations to himself.

“And how is your pain now?” Mark asked, listening to Father’s lungs.

Father coughed, then answered, “I’m much improved, thanks to you, it seems. You have good surgical skills. Very impressive.”

“Thank you. This means so much to me.” Mark examined the dressing.

“And yes, you may be allowed to spend time with my daughter,” Father said.

“What?” Rebecca stood up.

“I may be ill, but I’m not without my mind, Rebecca. I’ll speak to your mother about this when she wakes up. Now, both of you, go. I must sleep.” He turned his head to the side and closed his eyes.

Mark took Rebecca’s hand and kissed it. “It’s done now. We’ll be able to marry.”

“Yes,” she said. “I’ll have you forever.” She took his hand and pulled him outside the room where she could kiss him happily. There was no need to shock her parents.

****

A few days later, Mother decided to move Father to the lake house from the hospital, to recuperate. He insisted he would have done just fine resting up in his study, reading, but she packed up the house and had everyone traveling almost before they realized what was happening. Rebecca could also have remained in the city, but she needed a break from the hospital routine and her clinic and thought a week’s rest would not harm her patients. She also thought this would be an excellent opportunity to discuss her engagement to Mark with her parents. Father hadn’t spoken to Mother yet, due to his illness, but nothing would prevent them all from talking about it now. Hannah was married, and it was Rebecca’s turn.

She was settling Father into his bed and airing out his room for him when she heard Edward’s voice downstairs.

“You may go.” Father leaned back on his pillows. “I’d rather like a nap. The journey exhausted me.”

“Edward can wait, of course. I need to give you your medicine.”

“Nonsense. Go greet your guest. I’m capable of taking my own medicine.”

“Well, if you’re sure.”

She slowly backed out of his room and ran downstairs. Edward and his sister were seated in the parlor, talking to Mother.

Eva jumped up at seeing Rebecca. “I’m so happy to see you here, so early in the summer. I hardly ever see you in the city anymore, now that you’ve cured me.”

“I do apologize for not visiting more often.”

“Oh, not at all. I know how busy you are as a doctor.” Eva hugged her.

“And we will forever be grateful to you for Eva’s restored health, of course,” Edward added.

Rebecca turned to him. “Thank you for coming to visit.”

“We’re very glad your family is here to keep us all company. And your skills will be quite useful over the summer if you stay.”

“Oh, yes, you probably haven’t heard,” Eva said, her eyes wide.

“Haven’t heard what?” Rebecca asked.

“We have hundreds of prisoners of war here for convalescence. They’re living in hotels and pensions and even in family houses,” Eva explained.

“I thought this was only happening in the cities. How are they receiving medical care?” Rebecca asked.

“These soldiers are the ones who don’t need medical care, just fresh air and exercise, mainly. Anything better than what they received in German prison camps,” Edward explained. “My sister and Mother are working with the Red Cross to arrange visits for them with their families.”

“That’s wonderful!” Mother exclaimed, walking in with a tea tray.

Eva blushed, not accustomed to receiving praise.

Rebecca examined her flushed face, concerned. “How is your health, Eva?”

“Perfectly fine. I just wish we could finally go home.”

“We’ll go home soon enough, dearest. The war is nearly over,” Edward said, touching her hand gently.

“It must be nearly over, if the Germans are allowing so many soldiers to rest in the Alps,” Mother remarked.

“I guess I could stay here for a while,” Rebecca said. “I suppose the Red Cross would appreciate my efforts here as much as in Bern.”

“I prefer for her to be near me and Joseph and not in the city alone. And if she has your company, so be it,” Mother said.

“Colonel Hauser heads the internment program. I’ll introduce you to him, Rebecca. He’ll be pleased to have another physician around. The spas and sanatoria have many physicians, but not enough to care for the thousands arriving every day,” Edward said.

“Yes, would you believe it? We had twenty-seven English officers and four hundred-eighty-eight English soldiers arrive yesterday. Last week, it was two hundred French and American ones,” Eva added.

“Are they only coming to Spiez?” Mother asked.

“They are coming to all the villages and towns in the Alps. Any place that can provide accommodations and is easily accessible by rail, for transport,” Edward explained.

“How remarkable,” Rebecca said. “I definitely wish to be involved in this. Thank you for telling me. I suppose Lara can manage the clinic without me for a little while.”

After tea, Eva stayed to talk with Mother about the efforts underway to arrange the wives’ visits for the soldiers, while Rebecca and Edward took a walk to the lake. The air was still rather chilly by the lakeside, but the promise of spring was definitely near. The grass and leaves were brilliantly green, and the scent of spring flowers permeated the air. There was mist hanging around the mountains, but the lake was emerald clear, as always.

“I’m sorry your father’s been ill,” Edward said.

“I do believe he’s on the mend now.”

“And how have you been since I saw you last?”

“Very well. More than well.”

He turned to her. “Your clinic is still successful, then?”

“Very successful, thanks to your support. We had enough medicine last winter to take care of hundreds of families. You helped save many lives.”

“Surely it wasn’t just the medicine. Eva told me you have a gift for healing. She said it seemed magical, the way you eased her breathing.”

Rebecca laughed. “Some of what I do may seem magical, but most is pure medical science. I’m proud of my work. I think Lara and I have accomplished a great deal with the poor families in the city. And the hospital has seen hundreds of prisoners of war, as well, so I feel I’ve contributed to helping in this horrid war somehow.”

They walked in silence for a while, watching the birds fly from tree to tree, building nests. Rebecca hesitated, then asked, “You’ve been caring for your family for a long time, but you haven’t thought of starting your own yet?”

He laughed. “I have indeed thought of it. But I haven’t found anyone worthy of the honor of becoming my wife.”

“Maybe when you return to New York.”

“Maybe,” he said, turning his head and examining her. “And when will you make the leap into marriage, dear friend?”

“Not any time soon, I’m afraid,” she said. “I do love someone, and I’ve agreed to marry him.” She looked carefully at Edward, wondering how he would take the news.

“Well, I hope he deserves you,” Edward said firmly, turning toward her. “You’re a unique woman and should only have the best man to share your life.”

“He does deserve me, and I hope I deserve him. I have some concern that he may love his work more than he loves me. And then there’s a matter of my mother approving of him.”

“Your mother will come to see reason, if he is a worthy man. You must forgive his devotion to his work. It’s important for a man to be proud of his work. Family life alone is not enough for a man’s happiness.”

“I’m afraid marriage is rather complicated for a woman. It’s much easier to avoid it. I might just do that. I do have my own means of earning an income.” She wasn’t sure why she was telling Edward all this, except that it seemed they’d been friends for a long time and she knew he was someone who never passed judgment.

“Nonsense. You are someone who should be loved and married.”

She laughed. “Sometimes I feel as if you are my brother.”

His face scrunched up. “I hate when beautiful women only see me as brother potential. But, in your case, I’ll accept it.”

“We should probably walk back. I must check on Papi. He was feeling ill from the travel.”

They walked back to the house on the worn path still muddy from the spring rains. Rebecca thought of how kind Edward was to step into the role of a brother for her. She missed Karl still, and likely always would. She wasn’t sure she and Hannah could ever be fully kind to each other. But she could accept a stranger’s kindness if freely given.