Page 44 of Neighbors at War

Tony widened his eyes at Peggy and she could tell he was embarrassed.

‘What are you doing back home so early?’ Ida noticed Peggy’s ripped tights and bedraggled appearance, moved forward and touched her daughter’s leg. ‘Are you hurt?’

Peggy shook her head. ‘I slipped, Mum. I’m fine. Tony spotted me and insisted on walking me home.’ She didn’t elaborate, and was glad when her mother didn’t ask questions.

‘That’s very gentlemanly of you, Tony.’ Ida gave him a grateful smile then, turning her attention to Peggy, raised her eyebrows. ‘Go to your room and change before you catch your death.’

Not wishing him to leave before she was back down again, Peggy said, ‘Maybe Tony would like a warm drink before he sets off to work?’

Her mother winced. ‘Where’s my manners? Babs, show Tony through to the living room.’

‘Please, it’s fine,’ he argued. ‘I really should speak to my father without delay.’ He caught Peggy’s eye and that usual flutter in her stomach increased. ‘I’ll see you on Monday, then?’

‘It’s all right, Mum, I’ll see Tony out.’

Her mother gave a resigned sigh. ‘Fine, but be quick about it. I want you in dry clothes in the next couple of minutes.’

She waited for her mother to return to the kitchen. Babs gave her a cheeky grin then said goodbye to him and joined Ida.

When they were alone, Peggy hugged him. ‘Thanks again for bringing me home.’

‘Thank you for trying to rescue me.’ He looked over her head, then lowered his voice. ‘We’ll speak at the office on Monday. I doubt your mother will be happy with you going out in this weather tonight and I assume my parents will have a lot to say to me.’

‘Could we meet tomorrow?’

He didn’t catch her eye for a second then sighed. ‘I would love to, but I have a meeting.’

Peggy mood dipped and her head ached with worry. ‘Oh, no, Tony⁠—’

He put a finger to her lips and shook his head. ‘I’ll be fine, I promise.’ He checked they were alone then pulled her into his arms and kissed her. ‘I really must go now.’

She held onto his hand, hoping that whatever he was doing wouldn’t get him into more trouble. ‘You’re not going to tell me what you were doing when they arrested you, are you?’

‘It’s safer if you don’t know.’ He gave her a searching look and she knew he was trying to gauge whether she trusted him.

‘It’s fine. I understand, but please be more careful in future.’

He stared at her thoughtfully for a moment and Peggy hoped he was about to confide in her about something. ‘I will,’ he said, kissing her. ‘I promise never to get caught again.’

‘I don’t see how you can say that.’

‘Peggy,’ her mother’s voice boomed from the kitchen. ‘You’d better not still be in those wet clothes.’

‘Go and change.’ He kissed her quickly and was out of the door before she had a chance to say anything else.

‘I’m changing now, Mum,’ she shouted, running upstairs to her room praying Tony would keep safe.

Chapter Twenty-Six

HELEN

Helen sat opposite her aunt in front of the small fire that had gone a little way to heating the front room. If only the ceilings weren’t so high in these Victorian houses, she thought, watching as her aunt snoozed, a knitted shawl around her shoulders and two blankets covering her from her chest to her feet. It was peaceful with only the occasional voice passing their front window.

Bobby was asleep on the sofa snuggled in blankets, his toy train clutched in his tiny hand. Helen thought how perfect this scenario would be if it wasn’t wartime and her aunt wasn’t unwell. Sylvia had developed another chest cough and there was a greyish pallor to her skin and purplish circles under her eyes. Helen had pleaded with her to let her go for the doctor, but Sylvia had refused to allow it, telling her she was fine and there was little he could do anyhow.

As she watched the closest person to her after Bobby, fear shot though her at the realisation that one day she might be staring at an empty seat. Her aunt might do her best to reassure her but Helen wasn’t fooled. Aunt Sylvia was dying, and there was little she could do about it.

Helen’s throat constricted and she wiped away a stray tear just as her aunt opened her eyes.