Home Front Girls

realised how much it meant to you, to know who your mother was.
    Dotty nodded, looking perplexed.
    ‘With that in mind, I felt that you might also like to know the identity of your father.’ Seeing her shock, he hurried on, ‘I happen to know who your father was, and seeing as he is now deceased, I see no harm in you knowing too – if you want to, that is?’
    ‘Oh I do!’
    ‘Very well then. I’ll begin by telling you that when your mother first started work, she was employed here, in this very office, as a receptionist. My dear, your father worked here too, as a solicitor. His name was Jeremy Matthews and he was a very nice chap. Anyway, it transpires that after a time he and your mother began an affair. Now I know you might condemn him for that, but his wife, to be perfectly honest, was a shrew of a woman. However, they did have two lovely children – which is why your father chose to stay with her. He had no idea that your mother was having you until after you were born, by which time it was too late to do anything about it. But I can tell you that he was absolutely mortified and riddled with guilt, and before he left the firm to join the RAF he entrusted to me a sum of money, with the instructions that should you ever be found, it would be passed to you on his death, which sadly occurred when he was out on patrol with his squadron recently.’ Mr Jenkins went over to a safe in the wall, opened it and returned with a large envelope.
    ‘He wanted you to have this,’ he told her solemnly. ‘And he also asked me to tell you how sorry he was, and that in other circumstances, he would have been proud to be your father.’
    ‘I see.’ Dotty stared at the envelope as if it might bite her. She had no idea how much was in it, nor did she care, for there was a feeling of pure joy racing through her veins. Now she truly knew who she was, and although she would never have the chance to get to know her father or enjoy spending time with Miss Timms in the knowledge that she was her mother, she felt complete.
    ‘Thank you, Mr Jenkins,’ she said sincerely. ‘Not just for the money but for helping me to understand. It seems that neither of my parents truly abandoned me, and you’ll never know how much it means to me to learn that. Now I can hold my head high and name both of them if asked, and I can also get on with the rest of my life.’
    ‘You are very welcome, my dear,’ the kind-hearted man said with genuine warmth. ‘I shall only be a phone call away, should you ever need my services, and may I say it has been a pleasure to know you. I think both of your parents would have been very proud of you indeed.’
    Dotty rose and walked towards the door, clutching the envelope. She really must find a phone and ring Robert to tell him the happy news. At last she felt truly at peace and one day she hoped she would be able to tell her own children the names of their grandparents – Alice and Jeremy.
     
    ‘Can’t you tell me what’s wrong, darling?’ Miranda asked later that night. Lucy had set off for home and Dotty had gone to bed, and now she was snatching a few precious minutes with her daughter.
    ‘I . . . I think I’ve been rather unfair to you,’ Annabelle answered in a small voice and Miranda instantly drew her into her arms and kissed the top of her head.
    ‘My back is broad, I can stand it,’ she told her affectionately. ‘Let’s just try to put what’s happened behind us and go back to the way we were, eh? But are you sure there isn’t anything else bothering you?’
    Annabelle didn’t answer immediately but then she said slowly, ‘Before he left the hospital, Joel told me that he could never leave Lucy. But don’t you think that’s strange? I mean, she’s only his sister, isn’t she?’
    Ah, so that’s it, Miranda thought. My girl is in love and doesn’t know what to do about it.
    ‘Perhaps he just feels responsible for her and doesn’t want to leave her alone after what happened to Mary and her mother?’ she suggested, but Annabelle shook her head.
    ‘No, there’s more to it than that,’ she answered. ‘He said that Lucy had only told us half of the secret. You don’t think that they’re . . . Well, you know – more than brother and sister, do you?’
    ‘Absolutely not, you’re just letting your imagination run away with you,’ Miranda said firmly. ‘But why are you so concerned anyway? Do you have feelings for Joel?’
    Annabelle opened her mouth to deny it but