Home Front Girls

that is, I assumed that you and she ... ’
    When her voice trailed away Robert threw back his head and laughed aloud before telling her, ‘You silly goose. Whatever gave you that idea? Laura and I have been friends since we were children; our mothers were very close. But Laura is happily married as it happens, with two lovely children to show for it. It’s actually her husband who wants to publish your book. Did I not mention that before? He’s an editor in a very big publishing house. The poor man is like me – we’re stuck at home unable to join the other chaps in giving Hitler a pasting. I’ve got this damn arm, and he’s in a wheelchair after a brush with spinal TB.’
    ‘Oh, I see,’ Dotty stammered, feeling more confused than ever.
    ‘Ah, that sounds like my taxi,’ he said, looking slightly embarrassed now. ‘Ring me and let me know what time your train gets into Euston next week, and I’ll come and meet you. We can talk more then,’ he promised. Then he turned on his heel and she stood as if rooted to the spot as the door closed behind him.
    She heard the taxi draw away before slowly raising her hand to her lips. They were still tingling. Her thoughts then moved on to the wonderful news he had brought for her: her novel was going to be published! She hugged herself as a shiver of delight coursed through her, but she wasn’t clear whether it was because of the kiss or the thought of becoming the author of a published novel. She felt as if all her birthdays and Christmases had come at once – and Robert had told her that she was precious to him. And the way he had kissed her – could it be that he felt something for her too? Suddenly she was so happy she could have climbed a mountain.
     
    Over the next few days, life returned to something resembling normality. The girls all went back to work and their daily routine, and the people of Coventry cleared up the mess and got on with their lives. There was nothing else they could do. But the respite was brief and within days the sound of the sirens had them all repeatedly scurrying for the cover of the shelters and the cellars again. Thankfully each time proved to be a false alarm, although other places weren’t so lucky. Everyone wondered how long it would be before the Luftwaffe came back – and which part of the city would be in the firing line next time.
     
    It was on a Wednesday as Lucy was serving a customer that she looked up to see the lift doors open and Mr P standing there. She hastily took the money from the woman she was serving and placed it in the large brass till then hurried towards him with her heart beating fast. He was as white as a sheet and she wondered what could have happened now. He saw her coming towards him, and taking his cap off he twisted it in his hands as he shuffled uncomfortably from foot to foot.
    ‘Er . . . is there somewhere we could go to talk, privatelike?’ he asked, obviously feeling totally out of place.
    ‘Wait here for a minute,’ Lucy instructed him. ‘I’ll just get Miss Lawson to cover for me then we’ll go up to the staff dining room.’
    Seconds later, they were riding up in the lift towards the top floor. Once the lift stopped, Lucy glanced through the glass doors leading into the dining room before asking him, ‘So what’s wrong, Mr P? Has something happened?’
    ‘Aye, I’m afraid it has, love.’
    When he didn’t go on, she urged, ‘Well, what is it then?’
    He sighed heavily before answering. ‘The missus sent for me from work again. Yer know she ain’t so good at venturin’ out since we lost our Freddy. But the long an’ the short of it is, a woman from the Red Cross came to see yer this mornin’ an’ seein’ as yer weren’t in, the missus invited her into our house. She left this letter for yer but she couldn’t stay, so Gladys promised that she’d see as yer got it.’
    Lucy looked confused. Why would anyone from the Red Cross be coming to see her? For a start she had been terrified that it might be a telegram informing her that something had happened to Joel, but surely that would have come from the War Department, not the Red Cross.
    ‘I’m afraid it’s really bad news,’ Mr P said in a small voice. ‘An’ I wonder if yer shouldn’t come along home wi’ me before openin’ it.’
    ‘Do you know what’s in it then?’
    ‘Aye, I do.’ He dropped his eyes as Lucy stared at the letter he had passed her as if it might bite her. ‘The lady told our