Page 26 of Neighbors at War

Leaving her aunt to find somewhere to hide the meat, Helen rushed to the front door, relieved that she had thought to clean the pram before doing anything else.

She smoothed down her hair, hoping she didn’t look as flustered as she felt, before turning the door handle and opening the door.

‘Babs, it’s you.’ She exhaled sharply, unable to hide her relief.

‘I thought I’d better come and check you’re all right,’ Babs said, lowering her voice as two women walked past the house.

‘Yes, thanks to you.’ Helen gave the nosy women a pointed look when they glanced up in her direction. ‘You’d better come inside.’ She stood back to let her friend in. Closing the door, she pulled Babs into a hug. ‘I can’t thank you enough for what you did back there,’ she said, her voice tightening with emotion.

‘Don’t be silly.’ Babs patted her on the shoulder. ‘I was happy to do it. Mind you,’ Babs said widening her eyes, ‘I wasn’t sure it would work.’

Helen recalled how promptly the two soldiers had responded, spotting her pretty friend in distress and running to help her. ‘Well, I’m eternally grateful for your quick thinking. Come through to the kitchen, I have a little thank-you gift for you.’

As she walked through, Helen decided there and then that she needed to get rid of the pram. Bobby was too big for it, anyway, and with nowhere to hide parcels in a pushchair she would have the perfect excuse to refuse any further offers of meat.

Chapter Fourteen

RICHARD

It took a while before Richard was able to recall the name of the aunt Helen had mentioned whom she and her family stayed with each summer, but he was determined to find a way of contacting her. After all, if he hadn’t waited to finish with Felicity and had been open about his engagement from the start of his relationship with Helen, she never would have left to go to Jersey. It was his fault entirely that she was in this predicament now and he needed to let her know he was there for her.

It was Sylvia, Sylvia Bowman. He remembered Helen talking about the house and where it was on the island, and after looking at a map he hoped he was right in concluding that she lived on St Aubin’s Road. He had cobbled together an address of sorts. It wasn’t perfect but, preferring not to upset her mother and brother by visiting them again to press them for details, he decided to send a telegram and hope for the best.

‘Twenty-five words only?’ he asked, astonished, at the telegraph office. What could he say with so few words? He stepped aside to let the next person in the queue take his place, then took a pencil and piece of paper and began to draft his message.

Rereading it for the fourth time, Richard knew it didn’t say exactly what he wanted but hoped Helen would understand his meaning behind it – if it ever reached her.

No longer engaged. Sorry you left without knowing. Desperately hoping you are safe and well with Aunt Sylvia. Please send word. Fondest love always, Richard

He queued again and, handing his message over the counter to be transmitted, paid and thanked the woman.

All he could do now was pray Helen received his message and took it in the way that was meant. He loved her – had always done – and ever since he’d discovered she was being held captive on the island by those damn Nazis, he’d realised even more how deeply.

For once he was grateful that he only had a brief leave and was due to return to base in the morning. He needed to be busy so his thoughts had little chance to torment him.

What would he do if she didn’t reply? The thought that she might choose not to worried him, then it occurred to him that there might be some reason why she wouldn’t be able to. His heart raced as he thought about her and what she might be suffering at the hands of those Nazis. He clenched his fists, knowing there wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do to protect her. If he was ever given the chance to see her again, he would find a way to make up for all that she had gone through. He prayed he would be able to.

Chapter Fifteen

HELEN

November 1941

The afternoon dragged and it was a relief to have an excuse to pop into the Hamels’ home on her way back from work. Ida had been looking after Bobby again because her aunt had needed to go to the doctor’s surgery for another check-up. Despite her prayers it was clear to them both that her aunt’s health was declining by the week. She pushed the troubling thought aside and knocked on number 3’s front door.

She hated the early nightfall of the winter, especially now the streets were filled with uniformed soldiers who always seemed to be watching them from under their caps. Hearing German voices she looked up to see three of them coming in her direction. Aware she had to pass them, and not wishing to do so, she picked up her pace and crossed the road, taking care not to catch their eye.

‘Hello, love,’ Ida said waving her in. ‘Hurry up and get inside, we’re trying to keep the worst of the cold air out of the house.’ Once the door was closed behind Helen, she added, ‘You sound slightly out of breath. You all right?’

‘Yes, thanks.’ She didn’t add that she was in a rush to share what she had discovered with Peggy. ‘Is Peggy home yet?’

‘She is, love. You’ll find her and Tony in there with the little one,’ she said indicating the living room door before making her way to the kitchen.

‘Thank you.’ Helen was relieved she would be able to speak to Peggy and Tony alone, excited not to have to wait to share her news with the pair of them.

‘Hello,’ Peggy said smiling at her as she walked in. ‘Come and sit down with us for a bit.’

Helen sat on the chair opposite the sofa where the couple were seated, aware that Peggy assumed she would be in a rush to get Bobby home. She leant down to ruffle Bobby’s hair. ‘Obviously too happy playing with his toys to bother with his mummy,’ she joked.