Misplaced Devotion

Felix Santos and Mary Sawyer were childhood sweethearts growing up in Brooklyn during the nineteen forties. He helped her through rough times when her mother Alice couldn’t handle the news that her husband Lou was missing in action in Europe. When Felix turned eighteen he enlisted in the Army and was stationed in Berlin with the American occupation forces. He expected Mary to wait for him to return at which time they could wed.

During his absence Mary was the victim of rape. She conceived and had no intention of telling Felix what had happened. His brother Miguel had always had passionate feelings for Mary. Although he couldn’t understand why Mary wouldn’t tell Felix about her circumstances he eagerly jumped in to marry her and had no compunctions about raising the child he thought was his brother’s.

Mary’s guilt was so severe she kept Miguel at arm’s length for several years. He accepted her dictates and doted on the boy he called his son. When Mary finally realized how devoted Miguel was she happily allowed him to consummate the marriage. A much belated European honeymoon brought the couple face to face with the disconsolate Felix.

Felix remained in Berlin and found a sense of purpose in helping reconstruct the devastated country. He fit in well with the citizens and was befriended by a girl named Minna. Eventually an acquaintance from Brooklyn was assigned to Berlin. David Green fell in love with Minna at first sight. The three friends spent a month’s furlough in Brooklyn where the couple married and Felix was once more set adrift. It took a lovelorn female from Felix’s past to set him straight.