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Meg sat in front ofJimmy Langdon’s radio and looked up at him. He was young, just turned nineteen, he’d told her, but practical and organised. For once, the army had got the right person in the job, she thought.
‘You’re sure you won’t get into trouble for this?’
‘No, Sister, it’s all good, but keep it short, okay.’ He glanced over his shoulder before he nodded to her. ‘Go ahead. I’ll be just outside keeping watch.’
‘Thank you.’
Jimmy took up a position near the entrance, struck a match and lit a cigarette. He should have been at university studying the classics, not fighting in this dreadful, dreadful war. He should have been dating girls and going to dances and having fun, like all the other young men.
She pressed her lips together and turned her full attention to his radio set and suddenly, there was Seamus’s voice coming down the line.
‘Meg, my sweet. How are you?’
‘Fine. Well.’
We might be having a baby and I’ve been throwing up and it’s awful, but . . .
Her courage failed her as she stared at the dark machine. It was wrong to tell him she might be pregnant like this – over the radio. He deserved to hear it from her lips, and she wanted her lips close enough to his when she told him. Close enough to kiss her; his arms close enough to enfold her. ‘How are you?’
‘Delighted to hear your voice, my darling. Are you sure everything’s okay? This call is risky.’
She cleared her throat. ‘I just had to let you know - I’m being transferred to Townsville. My orders just came through.’
‘Meg, macushla, grand news. Do you want me to see if I can chase up a priest so we can . . .?’
‘Not a priest. I’m not Catholic, remember?’ But it thrilled her that he was so keen to marry her. Her, not the maybe-mother of his baby. Why, she might even have her wedding night this week!
‘Hmm, what about an army chaplain? All-denominations catered for. Shall I ask around, Meg?’
Jimmy began whistling Tipperary. Someone was approaching.
‘Yes. Do it. I’ve got to go. I love you, Seamus.’
‘I love you, Meg. See you soon.’
Meg stood abruptly and shoved Jimmy’s seat back under the radio table then took up her agreed position behind the seat, a couple of pieces of paper in her hand.
Jimmy stuck his head inside and spoke clearly. ‘I’m sorry, Sister, but I’ll have to deal with your request a bit later. The captain needs me.’
Meg took a deep breath and stepped outside. ‘No problem, Private. I’ll come back after my shift.’ She saluted Captain Keller. ‘Sir.’
‘Sorry to interrupt your business, Sister.’
‘It can wait, sir. I’m needed on the ward.’
She turned on her heel and headed towards the hospital, her steps matching the joyful refrain running through her mind.
This week. I’ll be marrying Seamus this week.
