The Homecoming
Dan Walsh
This is a reluctant hero kind of tale. Captain now Major Shawn Collins' Flying Fortress was shot down over Germany and manages to crash land it among beach dunes in occupied Holland saving his entire crew and getting them back to England the same day. At the same time his wife is killed on the home front in an automobile collision leaving his son in the reluctant care of the 7-yr-old boy's grandfather. There's a child care worker involved here. The grieving airman is sent home to a hero's welcome he's not sure he deserves and the less than willing recipient of a lot of attention. If you've watched Flags of Our Fathers you have an inkling of what he's up against. Or think John Basilone in The Pacific.
Shawn would just like to be left alone to grieve and bond with his motherless son but that is not to be his lot.
There's a great deal of name-dropping involved here. Shawn is from a suburb of Philadelphia. He takes Miss Thompson for Coffee at Wanamakers Department Store and later after meeting his PR Department guide, a newly minted Lt. who has never fired a gun he is casually taken for Dinner at the Waldorf, then a swank hotel next to Fennway Park where I expect he'll be throwing out the first pitch. Just a bit overwhelming for a small town boy.
Meanwhile back home Miss Thompson is learning how to be a Nanny or governess. There's a special place for Harry the train porter. The London Blitz gets mention including the dreaded Buzz Bombs. At some point an appointment with the White House for a Medal of Honour and for Katherine and Shawn an HEA that will make Patrick a happy boy. He may even get to pop THE QUESTION.
You'll have to read the book to see how it all came out.
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