Chapter 13 #2
“I understand,” Ivy said. “Although that dreadful man started it, I didn’t mean to run him off, but I can’t say he’ll be missed. What will his wife do?”
“He’s the reason she came here to hide out,” Nan replied, punctuating the air with her finger. “I’ll make sure to invite her to the Spring Fling. Her sister is so thankful, she’ll probably call you.”
Just then, Arthur emerged from the back carrying a stack of leather-bound books. He wore a brightly colored vintage Hawaiian shirt.
“Ivy, I thought I heard your voice. Always good to see you.” He set the ledgers on the counter and noticed Kiko. “And you’ve brought a friend.”
“Arthur, this is Kiko. She’s a guest at the inn, and she’s researching her grandmother’s connection to Las Brisas del Mar. During the war, she worked as a nurse in its convalescent home era. We’re trying to identify a patient who was there then.”
Arthur’s eyebrows lifted with interest. “Is that so? Sounds like you have another mystery on your hands.”
Arthur was already moving toward a filing cabinet behind the counter. “I’ve been cataloging what I could find from that period. We don’t have access to military records—unless you’re a relative.”
He pulled out a filing drawer and began to thumb through files. “Did you know about the children’s librarian in San Diego who corresponded with children at the camps in California and Arizona?”
“He’s talking about Clara Breed,” Nan added.
“She met the children she served at the library at Union Station as they were being sent away to those horrible assembly centers. She gave them self-addressed, stamped envelopes so they could write to her. Many friends and extended families were separated, ending up in Manzanar in California, or Postin and Gila River in Arizona, among others.”
Kiko nodded sadly. “The history is sobering. I can’t imagine being treated that way. It was inhumane how they were housed in horse stalls for weeks at the assembly points. And then came the camps.”
Nan touched her heart in empathy. “For many, Clara Breed was their lifeline to the outside world. She passed messages back to friends and loved ones from whom they were separated. She also sent many books and care packages to the kids. Miss Breed was a local hero here in the Southland, rest her soul.”
“Ah, here’s something.” Arthur pulled out a slim folder and opened it on the counter. “This is from an interview with another military nurse who’d served there. She might have known your grandmother. I’m afraid she was the last in her line.”
Ivy and Kiko leaned in.
The documents were sparse. A partial list of patients typed on yellowed paper, some with only names and ranks. A few pages of correspondence between the commanding officer and the city regarding supplies and road access. A brief report on the facility’s closure in late 1945.
Kiko ran her finger down the patient list. “This looks incomplete. Some don’t even have first names. Or last.”
“It’s all we have,” Arthur said. He adjusted his glasses. “Who are you looking for?”
“We think the first name is Raul,” Kiko said. “I don’t have a surname.”
“It could be a Spanish one,” Ivy added.
Arthur scanned the list. Ivy watched his finger move down the column. He paused once, then moved on.
“No Raul on this list,” he said. “But as I mentioned, this is partial. There were dozens of patients who rotated through Las Brisas during those years. This is a fraction of them here.”
Kiko’s shoulders drooped. “Is there anywhere else to look?”
Arthur folded his arms and thought for a moment. Nan, who had been reading over his shoulder, spoke up.
“What about Ken?”
Arthur turned to her. “That’s a thought.”
Ivy looked between them. “The one with the Japanese garden?”
“That’s him,” Arthur replied. “His grandfather served in the Pacific before moving here. Maybe some enlistees remained here, and he might have known them. I don’t know if Ken would know anything about them, but it’s worth a try. There aren’t many World War II veterans left in Summer Beach.”
“It’s a possible lead,” Ivy said, trying to give Kiko some hope. “His grandfather’s garden is on the Spring Fling tour.”
Kiko turned to Ivy. “I met him at Java Beach, and Bennett introduced us. I asked Ken if I might visit him to see his garden before I leave. I’ve heard it’s amazing.”
“Ken is such a nice young man,” Nan said. “He returned to town when his father became ill. Gave up a good Wall Street job in New York City to tend to him. Now, that’s character.”
“I’ll ask him when I see him,” Kiko said. “I appreciate any ideas you might have.”
“We’re always delighted to help you.” Arthur gathered the documents back into the folder. “History has a way of surfacing if you’re willing to do the research. However, it takes patience.”
Kiko reached into her bag. “I have a photo of him if you come across anything. You can snap a picture of it.”
“Good idea,” Nan said. “I have my phone right here.”
They waited while Nan took a photo of the front and back of the photo. “Is this a relative of yours?”
“No, but it was someone who meant a great deal to my grandmother,” Kiko replied. “She’s passed away, but for whatever reason, I can’t get this out of my mind.”
They thanked Arthur and Nan and stepped back onto Main Street. The village was busy now. A couple walked past with ice cream cones, and a surfer jogged across the street with his board wedged under his arm.
A smile tugged at Kiko’s lips. “I have to confess, Ken asked me to dinner, but I turned him down. Maybe I was too quick to say no.”
Ivy was surprised. “But you’re visiting him, right?”
“Only because I’m interested in seeing what he’s done with his gardens.” She hesitated. “He’s very attractive, but I won’t be here long.”
Ivy had heard that before, but she didn’t say it. “Bennett thinks highly of him.”
Kiko smiled at that. “Sounds like Ken has a fan club here.”
“Word travels fast in Summer Beach. I need to stop by Nailed It on my way back for Shelly. Do you want to come with me?”
Kiko glanced around. “I see some boutiques I’d like to visit. Can you recommend a nice restaurant for an early dinner?”
“People your age like Spirits & Vine. They have jazz and tapas, and full-course meals if you want something more. It’s buzzy and fun, if you like that kind of atmosphere.” Ivy pointed out the restaurant across Main Street toward the beach.
“I’ll think about that,” Kiko said. “I also want to look inside the greenhouse soon, if that’s okay with you.
I have no idea what I’m looking for except my grandmother’s letter told me to visit it.
Maybe there’s nothing there but the fond memories she had of it.
Even if I don’t find anything, this trip will have been worth it.
I get so caught up with work that I sometimes forget there’s another side to life to see. ”
Ivy had heard that before. She enjoyed welcoming people to Summer Beach and watching them unwind and relax into the slower pace.
“Anytime you want to visit the greenhouse is fine,” Ivy said. “I’ll tell Shelly. The teen gardening club is starting today, so there might be some noise until sundown.”
They said goodbye, and Ivy set off to run her errands.
On her way to the hardware store, her phone dinged with a message from Poppy. Her niece was working on getting the family together this weekend. It was short notice, but she thought some of her cousins could show up.
Ivy opened the message.
Good news! The cousin crew will be here on Saturday.
Ivy smiled at that and replied with a big happy face. Operation Spring Fling was underway. They didn’t have much longer now.