4

Molly walked back to her motel. When she got in she called her grandmother.

"Hello?" The woman answered.

"Gram," Molly said, "It's me."

"Oh, Molly," she said, "How is your trip going?"

"I met him Gram," Molly said proudly, "I met him, and his father."

"That is wonderful, dear. Is it what you have hoped for?"

"Yes, and more," Molly told her, "He asked me to go to dinner with him tonight. He wants to know more about me."

"I am happy for you," her grandmother said.

"Well, I have to go, and get ready for dinner. Bye." Molly said hanging up the phone.

Molly put on a black skirt, and a white button down shirt. She took her hair down, and brushed it. When she was satisfied with her reflection in the mirror, she picked up her bag, and headed to the Lobster Shack.

"May I help you?" A man working there asked.

"I am waiting for my father," Molly told the man. She looked at her watch, and it was six thirty.

"Are you here with Hawkeye Pierce," he asked her.

"Yes," she told the man.

"He is at the table waiting for you," the man informed her, "You can follow me." The man took her to a table at the window, overlooking the harbor of Crab Apple Cove.

"Molly," Hawkeye said.

"Hi," she responded, "I am sorry I kept you waiting."

"It was no problem at all," Hawkeye reassured her, "I ordered for us. I hope you don't mind. There really isn't much of a selection here. In fact there isn't a selection here. It is just lobster. I hope you like coke, because I ordered one for each of us."

"Coke is fine," Molly smiled.

"So tell me a little bit about yourself, Molly," Hawkeye broke the ice.

"I am a senior in high school," Molly started, "I have lived with Mom in Boston all of my life. I plan on studying pre-med next year. I would love to go to Harvard, but I haven't been accepted, yet."

Hawkeye looked at her with a smile. She seemed so bright. He was so proud of her. "I am sure you will get in," Hawkeye smiled.

"I have been saving my money," Molly informed him, "I work four days a week after school at a grocery store, and have half of what I have earned in three years saved for college, and medical school. What about you? I want to know so much about you."

Hawkeye looked flattered, "I am a surgeon at a hospital in the neighboring town," he started as the waiter brought out their food. "I spend my free time with my father, or reading books."

"Are you married?" Molly asked not truly wanting to know the answer.

"No," Hawkeye said. "The only woman I ever wanted to marry was your mother. I got the feeling that she didn't want the same thing, so I never mentioned it."

"I am sorry, that really wasn't any of my business," Molly said.

"Yes, of course it was," Hawkeye told her, "I am your father, and you a have right to know if you have a step-mother, and brothers or sisters. Which you don't, do you?"

"You mean brothers, and sisters?" Molly asked, "No. I am an only child. My mother never dated much after I was born."

"What has your mother been up to?" Hawkeye asked.

"Mom is still a nurse at Boston General," Molly said, "and she is writing her memoir. In fact, she is in New York as we speak trying to find an editor for her book."

"A memoir?" Hawkeye asked.

"Yes," Molly answered, "Actually it is very interesting. She has it almost complete. The only part she hadn't written yet is the part about Korea. That is the reason I became so interested in my father. Mom never told me much about you. I didn't even know your name, until I figured it out this fall."

"How did you find me?" Hawkeye asked intrigued.

"My mother told me that my father was a man she met in Korea, and that was all I had to go on," Molly started, "she kept a box full of things from Korea, and I started to investigate. I found lots of pictures, and letters. Most of the things just made me more confused, and then I found the packet of letters from you. It took me awhile to figure out your real name, because everything said Hawkeye accept two envelopes which had B.F. Pierce as a return address. I called the telephone operated, and she informed me that a Benjamin Franklin Pierce and a Daniel Pierce lived at your address."

"You would make a great detective," Hawkeye commented, "What were the things in the box that confused you? Maybe I can help."

"There was a picture of a man in a dress. That was the first one I found," Molly told her father, "I was afraid that he might have been my father."

Hawkeye looked at her, and started to laugh. "That was Maxwell Klinger," Hawkeye told her, "He wanted out on a section eight. There was no way he could be your father, Molly. He was in Korea when you were born."

"If he wanted out so badly," Molly started, "Why did he stay so long?"

"He fell in love with a Korean woman, who wouldn't come to America until she found her parents," Hawkeye shared with her. "Anymore questions?"

"Yes a few more," Molly told him, "Who was Frank?" Molly asked, "Mom has a picture that said 'me and my Frank'."

"I am not at liberty to say," Hawkeye told her.

"What?" Molly was confused.

"Frank was a married asshole, whom your mother dated for awhile when he was in Korea," Hawkeye began to tell Molly, "I couldn't stand the man. I don't know how your mother could. Don't worry Molly. I am the only one from Korea that could be your father. You figured it out, anyway. Frank couldn't have, because he loved his wife more than your mother."

"Mom had another picture of you, and her, and a man named BJ. He had a cheesy mustache. Do you know who he was?"

"Of course I know who he is," Hawkeye said with a laugh, "BJ Hunnicutt is my best friend. We were tent mates. He lives in Mill Valley, California with his wife and three children. I visit them often, and they come to Crab Apple Cove once a year or so."

"What are his children's names?" Molly asked a bit interested.

"Erin, she is about twenty, Ben is about your age, and Sherman is about fifteen," Hawkeye told her. "I think you would like the Hunnicutts."

"I have one more question about Korea," Molly said as she was finishing her lobster, "In some of my mother's letters, people refer to something that happened when the two of you were leaving Korea. Will you tell me what happened?

"Of course, Molly," Hawkeye told her, realizing that she had a right to know, "Leaving Korea was a very bittersweet moment for all of us. No one could wait to be home, and go back to a normal life, and normal housing, and bathing. We all missed our families a lot, and were tired of war. We had all seen to much. I don't know if your mother told you, but I had a break down towards the end of the war. That really doesn't matter during this story though. On the other hand, no one wanted to leave. We had all gotten to be closer than family. We knew each other better than anyone else. Molly, we went through hell and back together. Everyone supported each other, for the most part," Hawkeye smiled recalling Frank and Charles. "We lived so closely together. The people were what we all were going to miss. I had fallen in love in Korea, and that has changed the rest of my. Your mother was leaving for the 8063rd, another MASH unit, to help shut it down. I was going on a chopper, and then I would take a plane to the states. Your mother had said good-bye to everyone else, and it was my turn," Hawkeye wiped a tear from his eye. "It was awkward. There was so much each of us wanted to say. Instead of speaking, which would have been too hard for us. I took your mother in my arms, and we kissed. My father always told me that 'actions speak louder than words,' and this was an instant that proved it. Those witnessing it told me they thought it might never end. Does that answer your question?"

"Yes," Molly told said, "Thank you. Hawkeye, do you still love my mother?"

Hawkeye looked down at the table for a moment. He was totally off guard when it came to that question. He then looked across the table at his daughter. He looked into her eyes, and saw Margaret reaching out, "Yes, Molly," he replied, "I still love her very deeply," the two sat for a moment just looking at each other, and then Hawkeye said, "Do you want dessert? The chocolate cake is the best in Maine."

"I guess, I'll have to try some then," Molly smiled.

Hawkeye called for their waiter. "One chocolate cake, and two forks, and two large glasses of milk," he ordered.

Molly looked at him. "You only ordered one piece of cake," she told him.

"No, I didn't," Hawkeye said slyly, as the waiter brought out two glasses of milk two forks, and one whole chocolate cake. "You still are hungry aren't you?" Molly looked at him. He was laughing as hard as she was. "What are you waiting for? Eat!"

A half of an hour later, There were two empty glasses, two forks, an empty plate, and two very sick people. "I told you it was the best cake in Maine," Hawkeye said to her.

"It may be, but I don't think I will ever be able to eat chocolate cake again, so I will never find out," Molly groaned.

"Come on," Hawkeye said after he paid the bill, "I'll drive you back to your motel." He did just that. "I can show you around town tomorrow if you want me to," Hawkeye told Molly.

"Sure," she said smiling, "I would like that. Just no more chocolate cake."

"It's a deal," Hawkeye said with a laugh, "I'll meet you here around ten, tomorrow."

"Okay," and as Molly got out of the car she looked at Hawkeye and said, "Good night."

The next day Hawkeye took his daughter to all of the sights in Crab Apple Cove. They saw his elementary school, and his junior high school, and high school. He took her to see the hospital where he works, and the parks where he used to play as a child.

The two had so much fun together. They learned that they had a lot in common. At the end of the day, Hawkeye invited Molly to dinner at his home. She agreed. She learned more about her grandfather, and her child as a boy, through the stories Daniel told. Hawkeye once again drove Molly back to her motel.