Home Front Girls

sell ... Well, we’ll just have to tighten our belts a little more and shut some of the rooms off. But it isn’t all doom and gloom. If I do manage to sell it, we can buy a smaller house somewhere that’s more economical to run. You can come with me to look. That’ll be nice, won’t it, choosing it together?’
    ‘No, it damn well won’t!’ Annabelle spat churlishly. ‘I want to stay here!’
    ‘Then that’s a shame because I’m afraid we are moving if we get the chance, whether you like it or not. It isn’t a matter of choice any more. It’s necessity. I want a home for your father to come back to and we’re so much luckier than most. Many people don’t even have a home any more. They’re leaving the city in droves to live with relatives or anyone who’ll take them in, God bless them. So I suggest you forget your tantrums for now, young lady, and count yourself amongst the lucky ones. Everyone is having to make do and mend at the moment!’ And with that Miranda turned and stamped from the room, leaving Annabelle to stare after her mother open-mouthed. She was beginning to hate that phrase – make do and mend! It seemed that that was all everyone did any more.
    *
     
    When Robert next met Dotty off the train at Euston he instantly noticed a change in her, although he couldn’t quite put his finger on what it was. She was as polite and friendly as ever, but then he realised that she hadn’t welcomed him with a kiss today, which was unusual. Normally she would hold his hand too as they strolled along, but today she had put some distance between them as if she didn’t want to get too close. It hurt him far more than he could say, although he didn’t comment on it. After all, Dotty was a young girl compared to him and she’d probably met someone who was nearer to her own age. Robert was just surprised that some lucky chap hadn’t snapped her up before.
    ‘We’ll go and see Paul first,’ he suggested. ‘I think he has a cover design to show you for War-Torn Lovers.’
    ‘Really?’ Dotty’s face lit up. She had made a conscious effort to put their relationship back on a more professional level, but it was proving to be very difficult, especially now, after hearing that she might get a glimpse of her very first book cover. Her first instinct was to throw herself at Robert and kiss him soundly, but she had finally decided that there was no point in becoming any more involved. It could only lead to heartache and she had already had enough of that in her lifetime.
    Even so, she was determined to enjoy the day. Who knew how long it might be before she could get to London again? The Germans were targeting train lines and stations all over the country now, especially the ones that were transporting the parts that were needed for the tanks and the aeroplanes. And so many stations were being closed down while men worked frantically trying to repair the mangled tracks.
    She casually mentioned this to Robert as they walked through the busy streets. ‘I wonder if it wouldn’t be better if we just stuck to corresponding via post and telephone for the time being after today?’ she suggested, and was shocked to see his face fall. ‘What I mean is, the raids are coming so regularly now I never know if I’m going to be able to get here.’
    Unwilling to show her how hurt he was, he answered curtly, ‘Of course, if you think that’s best. I understand how busy you must be with writing and working, and I wouldn’t want to impose on your time.’
    Now it was Dotty’s turn to be hurt but she hid it well as she hastily changed the subject and told him all about Harry and how Lucy had adopted him.
    ‘It might turn out to be the best thing she’s ever done,’ he said. ‘I mean, you’ve told me how devastated she’s been since she lost Mary and I believe that animals are meant to be very therapeutic.’
    Dotty nodded. She had told him about Mary’s death but not the fact that Lucy’s mother had stabbed her father to death. That knowledge would stay strictly between the people that Lucy had confided in, although sometimes Dotty wondered how Lucy had managed to cope with keeping such a terrible grisly secret for so long. It must have been eating away at her.
    She and Robert spent the rest of the day pleasantly. After going to have a peep at Dotty’s book cover that featured a handsome young soldier in uniform and a pretty girl who looked exactly as Dotty had described her, which she positively