“Now, tell me about your time with my Oliver,” Felicia gestures to the picture of Oliver that Savannah is holding.
“I’ve already explained,” Mrs. Irwin holds up a hand stopping her short.
“Not the version you cleaned up for me. I want the truth. Were you in love with my Son?”
“No,” Savannah sighs. “I only knew him for two weeks. He was a friend, nothing more,” Savannah murmured softly. “Oliver was a patient. I met him during the war, and he passed two weeks later.” Savannah pours a fresh cup of hot tea for each of them and hands one to Felecia, before sipping hers.
“I sense more to the story.”
Savannah looks at Felicia and places her teacup down, deciding at that moment to tell her the truth. She’s leaving in the morning, what difference does it make now?
“I have a secret obsession you see, some have called it a silly dream. I was a photographer before the war. In fact, the Sisters of Mercy agreed to let me travel with them and take photographs as long as I didn’t get in the way. I wanted to travel, get away, and this was my opportunity.” Her voice fades as the memories filter through her mind.
“It wasn’t what you expected?” Felicia prods.
Savannah shakes her head no. Eli leans in and listens intently.
“None of us were prepared for the flood of wounded and dying soldiers from both sides of the battlefield.” Savannah glances at the fireplace. “When we arrived at our first camp, it was like something out of a nightmare. Makeshift tents, filthy conditions. How could they have thought that ten nurses could make a difference?”
Eli runs a hand over his face, wondering if he misjudged her.
Mrs. Irwin doesn’t speak, she merely listens and watches as Savannah jumps from her chair to pace in front of the fireplace. “I dreamt of romantic pictures, showing the bravery of war, but instead I discovered the many shades of death.”
“I see. In the midst of that, you found no bravery?”
“Oh, I found it and much more. Bravery, courage, and hope.” Her voice grows stronger, “Men like Oliver.” Savannah smiles when Mrs. Irwin nods her head proudly. “Not just in the men and soldiers, but in those ten women who tried so desperately to make a difference.”
“Thank you,” she sniffs. “I strive to remember him as a hero.” She falls quiet for a moment, “Forgive my ignorance, but I don’t understand, Savannah, if you went in as a photographer how did you become a nurse?”
“Necessity.” Savannah sits back down and stares at the fire, wrapping her arms around herself to ward off the chill. “In the midst of all that filth; disease and infection spread. Five nurses died within two weeks of our arrival.”
Felicia gasps and covers her mouth with her hand as she pictures the images of war. Eli stomps into the room and glares at Savannah. Sitting so close to the fire with her flaming curls flowing loosely around her shoulders, he is stunned by her pure beauty and grace. The picture she represents infuriates him. He’s seen this mirage before.
“Mother, enough of this filth,” he forces himself to turn away.
“Eli Irwin you dishonor your brother’s last wishes. I need this, and I think the least we could do is hear this young woman out! Now sit down and be quiet or leave us!”
Eli turns back to Savannah who has fallen quiet. She glares back at him. How dare he come in with his dangerous, brooding, good looks and challenge everything she has to say! Who does he think he is?
‘The brother of the lost…’ a small voice echoes back at her, and she’s ashamed at her thoughts. “Continue, please.” Savannah rips her eyes from his and stares at Felicia.
“I’ve not spoken of this with my family, nor my friends,” her voice is hoarse and trembling, but she stiffens her spine and continues.
“We had two hundred sick and wounded at the first ward. Patients had been laying in filth, with dirty bandages unchanged for weeks and little to no food, except hardtack and salt beef. The first thing the sisters did was wash the blood-stained walls and floor. They instituted good nutrition, cleanliness, and gentleness with the patients.”
“I’m not sure I could have handled that,” Felicia replied.
“I wanted to run home, so badly,” Savannah exclaims.
“Why didn’t you?” Eli asks. She looks at him, wondering at the challenge she hears in his voice.
“Sister Beth was the first to get sick, and I offered to sit with her while the others worked. She asked me if I wanted to live a life of meaning.”
“How did you respond?” He asks.
Savannah laughs softly, “I was offended. Sister Beth, I said, I’m hoping to do that with my photography. She looked at me and said, “Give your lens to the Lord and stop hiding behind it.”
“Sister Beth sounds like a smart woman,” Eli quips.
“She passed three days later. They needed help, so I put my camera down and stepped into the real world. For two years I worked with the Sisters, and that is how I met Oliver. You know the rest.”
“You trained under fire with some of the best nurses in the world,” Felicia replies. “He was lucky to have you at his side, Savannah.”
“Thank you,” she murmurs.
“Thank you for sharing this with me.” Felicia stands and waves off any help. “I will retire now, the excitement of the day is catching up to me.”
“I understand. Goodnight.”
Savannah stands and waits for the fury she is sure to feel from Eli. After his mother leaves the room, he turns around and stares at her. Stiffening her spine, she ignores him and grabs the bags from behind the chair.
“Mr. Irwin, this is the promise I made to Oliver.” She
