Page 64 of Neighbors at War

‘Mum, what were you thinking, speaking to him like that?’ Peggy didn’t know whether to be impressed or concerned.

Her mother shrugged. ‘He didn’t seem to take offence. Anyway, they did keep us awake last night and it’s not right.’

‘Maybe not, but you really shouldn’t do that again. Who knows how he might react next time?’

‘Are you insinuating I was impertinent?’ Ida asked with an amused glint in her eyes.

Worried that her mother might get into trouble if she continued to act this way, Peggy grimaced. ‘I wouldn’t put it quite like that, but we both know it’s not the way these soldiers expect to be addressed.’ She placed a hand on her mother’s shoulder. ‘I couldn’t bear it if something happened to you.’

She hadn’t meant to worry her mother, only to try to warn her before she confronted the wrong officer, who might take umbrage and retaliate in a less friendly way.

‘Don’t worry, lovey. I enjoyed that exchange, but I’m not silly enough to try it a second time. I saw the shock in his face before he thought of his mother. He’s probably still a bit hungover from last night, and even I know his reactions could be different if he was in a less convivial mood.’

Relieved, Peggy smiled. ‘That’s good to hear. Now, let me have a look at that wine. I think we’re going to enjoy drinking it while we toast our absent friends.’ She couldn’t bear to mention her father, aware that it might be too much for her mother when she was doing her best to make sure they had the best Christmas possible.

‘That’s a wonderful idea, Peggy. We’ll do that.’

They had only been in the kitchen for a few minutes, looking at the unappetising meat that was to be their Christmas lunch, when there was another knock on the door.

‘For pity’s sake.’ Ida pushed the sleeves of her cardigan up to her elbows and went to leave the kitchen. Horrified to think her mother might be about to do something reckless, despite her protestations a few minutes before, Peggy grabbed her arm.

‘No, Mum. Let me get this.’

They stared at each other for a moment before her mother relented. ‘Fine. You go but don’t get drawn into another conversation with that man.’

Drained by the thought of yet another awkward conversation on their doorstep, Peggy braced herself before opening the front door. Her forced greeting died on her lips when she saw Tony standing there holding something wrapped in newspaper.

‘May I come in?’ he asked eagerly.

Peggy immediately stepped back and ushered him inside, closing the door behind him. ‘Of course. I wasn’t expecting you.’ She leant forward and kissed him lightly on his lips. She looked at the item he was holding. ‘What’s that?’

‘A chicken.’

‘A real one?’ Babs asked, running downstairs to join them. ‘For us?’

‘Yes.’ Tony laughed. ‘A real one. It’s fresh, too, and I’m hoping you’ll accept it for your Christmas meal.’

‘We haven’t had such a treat for ages.’ Babs pressed her hands to her cheeks. ‘This is so kind of you.’

‘I also have a small gift under my arm for you, Peggy, if you want to take it,’ he said, turning sideways to her so she could remove the brown paper bag with something soft inside. ‘It’s not much but my mother knitted it when I said I wanted to give you something to keep you warm.’

‘That’s kind of her.’ Peggy was about to have a look inside when her mother interrupted.

‘Bring that chicken through to the kitchen, will you, son?’ She led the way while Peggy took out a pretty red and blue knitted hat with matching scarf and gloves. ‘The wool is lovely and soft. Please thank your mother for me,’ she said, following them into the kitchen.

‘She’ll be thrilled you like them.’

She could tell by the look on his face that it meant a lot to him that she liked his gift. ‘I have a little something for you. I’ll just fetch it.’ She ran through to the living room where she had left his gift and returned to the kitchen and handed it to him. ‘It’s only a book that I found in the attic and thought you might like it. Don’t worry if you don’t.’

He took the book out of the newspaper wrapping and beamed at it. ‘Thank you,’ he said, smiling as he looked at the detective novel she recalled him saying he wanted to read. ‘I look forward to reading this.’

‘I’m pleased.’

‘Well, I can’t wait to have lunch, now that I know we’re going to be treated to something delicious,’ Babs said.

‘Me, too.’ Ida motioned for them all to leave the kitchen. ‘Why don’t you join the girls in the living room?’ she suggested to Tony.

‘I’m afraid I can’t stop for more than a couple of minutes,’ he said. ‘My parents are expecting me home soon.’