SERIES: Memoir, Novel, Love Story
Honey Ko, Chapter 21, Part One
Barrio Barretto, Philippines
The astonishment on Frank’s face could not have been more apparent. My own astonishment at seeing Frank having lunch with Sister Arnalita caused me to pause mid-step as though I had entered the wrong house and stumbled into a dream world. I blushed, more from embarrassment for the stumble than seeing Frank, but I recovered and composed myself as a confident woman does: I whipped my hair out of my eyes, threw my shoulders back, lifted my chin, and strode to the table. The men rose like gentlemen at my approach.
A bright flush of happiness settled over Sister Arnalita’s face as she greeted me. She hugged me like the favorite she always told me I was and kissed me on both cheeks.
“Oh, oh, oh. Oh, my dear, Marie. I am so happy to see you, my child. Come. Come. Sit here, sit next to me.”
Sister Arnalita tugged my hand, but Frank’s presence had rattled my nerves, and I needed time to assess the situation before joining the group at the table. What in the world brought Frank to the orphanage?
“Hello, Sister Arnalita. Hello, Father Roland.” I paused before greeting Frank, still enjoying his surprise at seeing me. “Hello, Frank.”
My voice was hurried. I forced myself to calm down and speak normally. I took a deep breath as I paused in front of Sam. I gave him my hand and introduced myself.
“Hello. I do not believe we have met. I am Marie. How do you do?”
“Fine, thank you. I’m Sam. I’m happy to meet you.”
Sam shook my hand. He seemed nice, but I sensed sadness in his eyes. His hand was soft, almost feminine, but not unmanly, and his touch was more of a caress than a grip. I warmed to him right away.
I was still a bit out of sorts, and continued speaking as I walked to the refrigerator. “I am sorry I arrived late, Sister Arnalita. I have not missed anything, have I? May I serve you anything, Frank? A bottle of water, perhaps?”
To say I was happy to see Frank would be an understatement. I felt like a little girl in love for the first time and lingered at the refrigerator until my excitement subsided. I tried to appear nonchalant when I returned to the table, but couldn’t help feeling transparent.
“No, thank you. I’m fine.”
I hardly knew him, but hadn’t stopped thinking about Frank since he left Rufadora. Our conflicts had troubled me, but I overruled them in favor of a second chance. I didn’t need another heartbreak, but there was something about Frank that made me sure he wouldn’t turn out to be another Edward. That bastard.
Sister Arnalita interrupted my train of thought. “Well, Marie. So, you know Frank? No, you have not missed a thing, dear. We will be painting this afternoon and just happen to have an extra brush for you. Will you join us?”
“Of course, Sister Arnalita. That is why I came today.” Sister Mary Ann slid down the bench to make room for me. “Frank and I met at Rufadora yesterday. We had some rather interesting conversations, full of twists and ninety-degree turns, did we not, Frank?”
“Yes, we did. I never thought we would meet here, though.”
“You think I do not belong here, Frank?”
“That’s not what I think at all. I’m just surprised at meeting you again so unexpectedly.”
“I come every chance I have to help the sisters.”
“She does,” said Sister Arnalita. “And she is a big help. The children love her, especially when she drives them to town in her automobile. I think they love her most for the ice cream she buys them.”
“It is the least I can do after all you did for me when I lived here.”
I loved the surprise on Frank’s face. “You lived here?”
“Yes, I came here after my parents died. I was three years old. The sisters cared for me until I was adopted.”
“I had no idea, Marie. I’m sorry for the loss of your parents.”
“Thank you. I have no memories of them. I was so young when they died and came here so soon after. I had little time to wonder what happened. I missed them for a while, but soon forgot them as I came to love the sisters. Everyone here treated me like a princess. I am afraid you spoiled me, Sister Arnalita.”
“Yes, we did. But you have grown into a wonderful, beautiful, intelligent young woman despite our best efforts.” Her eyes closed and her shoulders shook as she laughed quietly. She patted my cheek. “Marie is like a daughter to me.”
Sister Arnalita shook her head. “We also owe her a debt of gratitude for the wonderful gift. It is thanks to her that we have made so many repairs.”
“Oh, Sister Arnalita. It is I who owe you so much for all the love you have shown me. I am so blessed to have you.”
“I worry about you, though, Marie. Why you do not marry and bring us children to play with? To play with, not to care for. There are far too many orphans in the world. When will you find a husband, Marie? When?”
“Sister Arnalita, you always want to see me married. Would you have me marry Frank just to give you children?” I caught myself and spoke quickly. “I meant marry any man, not Frank. Oh dear.” I attempted to recover and made light of the slip of the tongue. “Would you like that, Sister? What do you think, Frank? Shall we marry and bring children for Sister Arnalita to dandle on her knee?” I looked at Sam, who smiled behind his hand. “Sam, you know Frank. Would he be a good husband?”
“You know, Marie, I think he would at that. He babysits a whole passel of Sailors every day.”
Frank clearly enjoyed the thought. “I suppose there are worse fates in the world. If I had to marry Marie so Sister Arnalita could have children to dote on, why, I guess I wouldn’t mind.”
I arched my eyebrows at Frank’s response. “How kind of you, Frank. Thank you.”
Father Roland spoke up. “Well, to hasten that day, I’ll perform the ceremony and Sam can be best man. Little Lucy will be the flower girl, and all the sisters and children will be the honored guests. When shall we begin?”
Laughter rippled around the table. Frank’s wonderful laugh sent a thrill through me. Sister Arnalita leaned against me and patted my hand.
“You may laugh, but someday Marie will bring her children to see me. When that day comes, I shall retire and spend my days taking care of them. Maybe Frank’s children, hey? Hey? What you think?”
Sister Arnalita’s eyes crinkled and her shoulders shook as she laughed again.
“Marie, Marie, look what Sam let me wear. Isn’t it pretty?” Little Lucy ran in from the playground, covered in dust and holding the medallion high.
“Ohhh, hello, dear Lucy.” I hugged Little Lucy, who danced on her toes in excitement. “Now then, let me see what Sam is kind enough to let you play with.” I left my reading glasses in the car and had to squint to see the medallion up close. “Why, it is beautiful, Lucy. Oh. The jewel looks alive. How odd. Do be careful not to lose it, now.”
“Okay.” Little Lucy ran outside again, still holding the medallion above her head.
Sister Arnalita smoothed her habit as she stood. “Come friends, we have been lazybones enough. We must begin.” She clapped her hands and shooed everyone out of the dining hall, closing the door behind her. “Back to work, now. Frank, you shall paint the treatment room with Marie. I can see you want to be near her, and her eyes look at you often. Yes, yes, I see it. I know you too well, young lady. Come, Sam. Bring Little Lucy and we will clean up the dispensary.”
“Sam?” The name came to me. “Are you the Sam of whom Lucy speaks so often?”
“That would be me.”
“Susanna was your wife?”
“Yes.”
“Ohh. I do not know how I missed the connection when we said hello. I have heard so much about Susanna. I know how much everyone loved her.”
“Thank you. We had planned to adopt Little Lucy.”
I placed my hand on Sam’s shoulder and squeezed him tenderly. “I am so sorry, Sam. She must have been a wonderful person. Lucy would have been fortunate to call you and Susanna father and mother. I am sure I would have felt that way. I wonder that we never met when you visited the orphanage with Susanna.”
“We came here often. I wish you had met her.”
“I lived in Baguio for many years and could not visit as often as I would have liked. I would have loved knowing Susanna.”
Little Lucy ran in and I said, “Come, Lucy, we must join the others.” Sam and I took her hands and swung her between us as we walked.
Sam’s loss touched me, and I resolved to cultivate a close friendship with him while I pursued a determined relationship with Frank. Sam seemed the type to cherish friendship, and I sensed a close bond between the two men.
“Oh, Sam, I nearly forgot; I must speak to Sister Arnalita. Please go ahead. Tell Frank I will be right there.”
I waited as Sam and Little Lucy walked on, then looked for Sister Arnalita. She was alone in the kitchen. “Sister Arnalita, may I have a word with you?”
“Of course, Marie, what is it.”
“Edward is having me followed.”
“Oh dear. Does he know you are here?”
“I do not think so. I saw nothing unusual on the drive over. He knows I am working at Rufadora — he came by the bar last night — but I do not think he knows I came to the orphanage. I would not be surprised if he looks for me here, though. In fact, I know he will.”
“Shall we close the gate to deny him entrance?” She pursed her lips and frowned. “No, I suppose we cannot. It would be dishonest. Well, we will just have to go on with our work. If he comes, he comes. Do you know why he is looking for you?”
“No. I have no idea. As far as I am concerned, our relationship ended when he and that woman were together in my house.”
“Yes, my dear, I remember. What a sad time for you. What will you do now? Does Edward know where you live? Would you like to stay here for a few days?”
“Yes, I would like that. I do not want to worry about seeing him in town. Maybe he will get the idea, if he has not already, that I do not want to see him and will go away. Though, I cannot believe he would come all the way from Baguio to have a drink at Rufadora. Now I am even more concerned for his intentions. I hope nothing has happened to his parents. He may be a bastard — sorry Sister — but I adored his parents, and they loved me. They were as upset over the breakup as I, maybe more so since they lost not only me, but a measure of respect for their son.”
“We will make up a bed for you. If you would like your own room, I will ask Sister Annabelle to move into the girls’ ward.”
“No, I do not want to trouble anyone. I will sleep in the girls’ ward if you do not mind.”
“Okay, but I must warn you that it will be noisy.”
I patted Sister Arnalita’s cheek. “Dear Nanay, are you forgetting I slept there for six years?”
I left Sister Arnalita and joined Frank in the treatment room. The butterflies in my stomach made me feel like a teenager getting ready for her first date.
He was painting the doorframe when I walked in. Flecks of paint dotted his face, and his hands were virtually a different color.
“There you are. Ready to paint?” He handed me a clean brush.
“Yes. I came prepared to help, although I had no idea I would be painting. I usually assist with the cleaning and preparing of meals for the children. Painting is a new exercise. Perhaps I will leave behind a masterpiece.” I dipped the brush in the paint can, knocked off the excess with a flick of my wrist, and gave Frank my best innocent-eyed look. “Where do I begin?”
“The door jambs. Have you painted before? Shall I give you some pointers? It’s easy.”
“Judging by the paint on your face and the color of your hands, perhaps it is you who needs pointers. Are you sure you have painted before, Frank? Besides yourself?”
“There are two skills every Sailor learns early in his career, Marie: how to handle a swab, and how to paint. Oh, and a third: how to wash clothes.”
“How to wash clothes. Excellent. You must be an expert by now.”
“Haha. I had no idea you were a comedian.”
“Oh, Frank. I am only teasing.”
I gave Frank a smile and began painting the doorjamb. I caught myself several times watching Frank from the corner of my eye. I liked this side of him. No ninety-degree turns, no barroom politics to hinder plain talk, only a pleasant afternoon dotted with light, airy conversation. He had an easy manner. On the one hand, he could appear gentle, like he would fold into himself if shaken. But he also had a firmness that I was sure could stare down a tempest. I determined to stay near him as often as I could to enjoy his breezy, witty side and soft laugh.
End of Chapter 21, Part One
Chapter 21, Part Two will be available on December 26th
Previous Chapters may be found here
