“If we both survive this mess,” he said calmly, “why don’t we both go to medical school, together. I have no idea how I’d pay for it. But my mom seems to be doing okay. She has a decent job now since the war started, and all my brothers and sisters are out of the house now and have jobs.” Two of his brothers were medically disqualified from military service, and young male employees were in high demand. His other three brothers were in the army, but all had survived thus far. One of his sisters had married the son of the local butcher when he was home on leave, and her husband’s family could provide good jobs for both of them, and his other sister was a nun, so suddenly Ed’s burdens were going to be lighter after the war. “There’s talk about veterans’ loans when this is all over. And educational opportunities. I could drive an ambulance with the training I’ve had, but if I survive this godforsaken war, maybe there’s a reason for it, other than the fact that I love you and we found each other. And if you don’t go to medical school, Lizzie, it will be nothing short of a crime. You’ve got more medical talent than any doctor I know.”

“So do you,” she said, smiling at him. They were both reluctant to make plans. There were too many unknowns in their lives, and they were afraid to tempt fate. “And then what? Practice medicine together?” She loved the idea, but it seemed a long way off. “Where would we go to school? We’d have to practice in the country where we go to medical school,” she said practically. And she had to go back to Boston for her parents.

“Don’t forget, I have a cousin in Boston,” he teased her. She knew she’d have to go home to Boston after the war, since the family lost Greg. “What specialty would you want, or just general practice?” he asked her.

She thought about it for a minute before she answered. “Maybe pediatrics. It seems like a nice, happy practice after all this. You?”

“I’ve thought about it. I like the idea of obstetrics for the same reason. If I never see another bleeding male body, torn to bits and broken beyond repair, it will suit me just fine.”

Suddenly the idea of medical school didn’t seem like it would cause such a battle with her father. She had the feeling that he might not fight her on it so vehemently after the war. But they all had to stay alive and get home first. They couldn’t make plans yet.