Neighbours at War, page 22
Her footsteps came towards the kitchen. She stood at the door holding up an envelope with the Red Cross emblem on it. His heart raced as he dared hope it might be from Helen. ‘Is that for me?’
She frowned and held it out to him. ‘It is. But it’s from a Tony Le Gresley. Unusual name.’
His excitement instantly evaporated. Not from Helen then. The disappointment felt like a punch to his gut. ‘Tony Le Gresley?’ He had never heard of him.
‘Who is he, son?’
‘I’ve no idea.’ He opened the envelope and read.
Our friends next-door well. Send best. Missing loved ones and waiting for news. Hoping all fine. Please respond soonest to Ida Hamel. Your schoolfriend, Tony
He read the words several times. It didn’t make any sense. Who was this guy and why was he pretending to be an old schoolfriend? Who was Ida Hamel? Could the telegram have been mixed up with someone else’s?
He reread it another few times. Then it dawned on him. ‘The message is in a kind of code.’ He laughed, excited and relieved.
‘Why would it be in code?’ his mother asked, picking up a tea towel and drying a plate.
‘Because they have to be careful on the island.’ When she shook her head in confusion, he added. ‘The Germans, Mum?’
‘I see.’
He wasn’t sure she did, but the explanation satisfied her.
Richard sat at the small kitchen table and studied the message trying to work out exactly what it was meant to convey. ‘Our friends’, he presumed, must be Helen and Bobby. Ida Hamel? He thought he recognised the name. Maybe he had heard Helen mentioning the Hamels in the past? He supposed she might have done if they were her aunt Sylvia’s next-door neighbours. Next door. That was it: he needed to address his reply to Ida Hamel who lived next door.
But which side? Did the Hamels live at number 1 or number 3? Richard rubbed his throbbing temples lightly. He had no way of knowing and would have to take a chance, hoping that whoever delivered the telegram would hand it to the addressee regardless of whether he used the correct house number or not. If she didn’t reply then he would address his next telegram to the house on the other side of number 2.
Richard’s heart seemed to skip a beat as it dawned on him what must have happened. ‘This chap has contacted me on Helen’s behalf,’ he said, needing to say it out loud. He felt rather than saw his mother stiffen, but was in no mood to hear what she thought of his situation with the woman he loved. ‘That must have been what’s happened.’
‘It all sounds very complicated to me.’
‘I’ve been sending messages to her aunt’s home, but she’s moved to the house next door by the looks of things.’ Anxious to work out why, he looked at his mother. ‘I wonder why she moved, though.’ Sensing it must have been something serious, he hoped nothing too dreadful had happened to her aunt. Helen adored her. She had reminisced about summer holidays staying with her Aunt Sylvia many times.
He felt his mother’s hand on his sleeved arm. ‘I’m happy for you, son. Now you can contact her and let her know you’re all right.’
‘I’m going to do it right now,’ he said, patting his trouser pocket to check he had his wallet on him. ‘Sorry to run off like this, Mum. I’ll try not to be too long.’
She pushed him gently towards the door. ‘You take all the time you need. I’m relieved to see you looking cheerful again.’
He rushed out into the street, his mind racing as he thought over the message he had just received. They were alive and, he hoped, well. Now he had a way to contact her thanks to this Tony chap, which must also mean Helen wanted to hear from him. Richard didn’t think he could be happier.
He wished he had time to think of a perfect response, but having seen the date Tony had sent his telegram, Richard realised it had taken the best part of a couple of months to reach him. He wanted to reply immediately so that Helen heard from him as soon as possible, certain that hearing from him was more important than his actual message. He just hoped it wouldn’t take too long to reach her.
As he hurried to the telegraph office all he could think of was what might have happened if the telegram had arrived the following day, after he had returned to base. Forcing himself not to dwell on what might have been, he struggled to come up with the most eloquent way to show his love for Helen and Bobby in a message that would be received by a supposed schoolfriend.
Chapter Forty-Seven
HELEN
3 September 1943
Helen lay on her mattress resting her head on one hand as she watched Bobby colouring in the book Babs had found for him. She didn’t think she could be more miserable. She still hadn’t heard back from Richard, the attic was airless and muggy, despite the window being wide open, and today marked the first day of their fifth year at war. Even the Great War only lasted four years, she thought, covering her mouth so Bobby couldn’t hear her sobs.
She wasn’t sure how much longer she could keep living in this purgatory. Even people in prison had a break walking around a yard outside for an hour, or so she believed. All she and Bobby had to look forward to was going downstairs for a couple of hours.
The thought of not being able even to step outside was driving her mad. An hour outside. Just one. Surely that wasn’t too much to ask? She wiped her eyes with the backs of her hands. Unfortunately, it was too big a risk to take with the soldiers living next door. If they weren’t there then maybe she could take a brief walk when darkness fell, but in summer, when it didn’t become dark much before nine o’clock, she wouldn’t have much time to go anywhere and be back inside before the eleven o’clock curfew. Maybe she could persuade the sisters to let her borrow Babs’s coat and hat so she could join Peggy for a walk some winter evenings when it was darker.
She decided she would broach the subject that evening. She needed something to look forward to, because it didn’t look like there was much else in her life to give her hope.
There was a gentle tug at her sleeve and she opened her eyes to see Bobby holding his colouring book near her face. She took it from him and sat up, impressed with his attempt to keep most of the colouring between the lines of the farm animals printed on the page.
‘Clever boy,’ she said, putting the book down and clapping, sad to think he had never seen a cow, or even a dog close up.
Bobby jumped up and down and gave her a cheeky smile. If only that was all it took to cheer her up. She might feel endlessly guilty about him being stuck in the house but it helped that it didn’t seem to faze him. ‘Does Mummy’s clever boy want to give her a hug?’
He stepped into her arms, wrapping his own tightly around her neck and making her laugh. He might spend his life within the walls of the house, but he was certainly strong. Another thing she should be grateful for, she decided.
‘Shall we look out of the window and see what birds we can find?’ He nodded. ‘Remember, we must whisper.’ She lowered her voice to remind him how quiet he must be. ‘We don’t want the Nasties to hear us, do we?’
His eyes widened and he shook his head. ‘No, Mummy.’
She lifted him and sat him on the wide window ledge, taking care to hold onto him. They both enjoyed these times each day, when they watched for birds. Helen reminded herself that she might be stuck up in the attic most of the time but at least she had a changing view of the sea in St Aubin’s Bay. She wasn’t sure which view she preferred: like this, with the sea so calm it was almost mirror-like, reflecting the azure of the sky, or on stormier days. Stormy days had always been her aunt’s favourite. One summer day, when Helen and her family were holidaying with her, Sylvia had come to Helen’s room and pointed out of the window at the view. It wasn’t as clear as this because they were a floor below, but Helen could still see the sea. On this particularly dismal day, her aunt had commented that the sea was the colour of her favourite jade ornament.
Helen thought of the small jade netsuke her aunt had treasured and wondered what might have happened to it. If only she hadn’t been in such a rush she might have thought to bring it with her to number 3. She sighed cross with herself for not picking it up when she was packing her aunt’s precious things. Maybe it would still be in the house after all this was over, she thought, doubting it but hoping for the best.
Bobby’s small hands rested on her cheeks and turned her face towards him.
‘Mummy, are you crying?’ he whispered, his eyes welling with unshed tears.
She forced a smile, angry with herself for letting her emotions get the better of her when she needed to stay strong for him. ‘No,’ she whispered. ‘Mummy was thinking, but not of bad things.’ She spotted a bird and was glad of the distraction. ‘Look, Bobby, there’s one.’
He forgot his concerns and immediately pressed his palms together with excitement. ‘Birds, Mummy. In the sky.’
Hearing voices coming from her aunt’s house, Helen put a finger to her lips, then lifted Bobby from the windowsill and lowered him quietly to the floor. She pulled the windows closed, careful not to make a sound. She hated having to shut out what breeze there was, especially on a day as warm as this one, but had little choice. She kissed the top of Bobby’s head, thinking how good he was not to make any fuss.
‘Shall we have your afternoon nap?’ she asked. She should have put their mattress and bedding away when they got up that morning but had little energy to do much these days.
He looked at her as if he was trying to make up his mind then went to join her, and they both lay down on the mattress.
‘If you close your eyes, Mummy will tell you a story.’ She wasn’t sure what to tell him but watched as his eyelids fluttered shut, a smile on his sweet face. She loved him so much her heart ached. She took a long, deep breath. He was the most precious child and all she needed in her life. So what if she was stuck in this room? She had Bobby with her, and they were safe. They wouldn’t always be here, she was sure of it.
She gazed at him and made a silent promise that when they escaped the confines of the house once and for all, she would make up for all the times they had missed running on the beach, playing in the woods or with kites, swimming in the sea. And if they couldn’t do all the things she wanted them to do, she would help him imagine how it would feel to push his feet into warm sand and run into cool waves.
‘Are you ready for Mummy to begin?’
‘Yes,’ he whispered.
‘This is the story of a little boy called Bobby,’ she began, and his cherubic lips drew back in a smile. ‘And his first trip to the rock pools on a magical beach.’
Chapter Forty-Eight
PEGGY
Peggy finished her final translation, removed the two sheets of paper with carbon paper between them and placed them neatly on her desk. She rubbed the muscles on either side of her neck. She wasn’t sure if it was the heat in the airless office or tension that caused her neck to ache so badly. Maybe it was knowing that they had completed four years of war. It was all too depressing.
Nothing seemed to be improving, only dragging endlessly on with more restrictions and tightening of rations. For the last couple of months there had been less bread for each person – and they were already struggling to have enough to eat, having committed to share what they had with Helen and Bobby.
Her office door opened and she heard someone come in. Before she looked up, Tony spoke. ‘Want a massage?’
She smiled at him. ‘Yes, please.’ She rubbed her right shoulder. ‘I’m all achy today, worse than usual.’
He walked around to stand behind her and began massaging her neck muscles. ‘How’s this? Too much?’
‘No,’ she groaned. ‘Keep going. This is heavenly.’
‘You sound a bit down,’ he said, kissing her right shoulder. ‘What’s the matter? Other than the usual.’
She heard the smile in his voice. ‘I was just pondering.’
‘About anything in particular?’
‘Just about how nothing ever seems to get better.’
His fingers worked on her muscles for a few more seconds before he stopped and moved in front of her to sit on the edge of the desk.
She looked up at him and saw a hint of – what? Amusement? ‘Has something happened?’
He raised his eyebrows and nodded slowly. ‘Two things.’
Two? When he didn’t elaborate, she poked him in the chest. ‘Well, tell me, then.’
‘The first one is exciting for all of us.’
A feeling she wasn’t used to flowed through her and it dawned on her that it must be excitement. She hadn’t felt it for so long that she had almost forgotten how it felt. ‘Go on.’
‘The allies landed on the Italian mainland today.’
That could only be a good thing, that much she knew. ‘Really?’
‘Yes. The Canadian and British forces. It will hopefully lead to more good news in time.’
Her heart raced. ‘That is exciting. I can’t wait to tell them at home. We need something to hang on to right now. We’re all struggling to remain upbeat, and I suspect Helen is finding it the most difficult. She’s been very stoic and brave since losing her aunt, her home and, let’s face it, her freedom, but the dark circles under her eyes are more apparent every week.’
‘Then I think this might be exactly what she needs.’ He slid his fingers into his trouser pocket and withdrew an envelope.
Peggy immediately recognised what it was. ‘Please tell me that’s from Richard?’ She wasn’t sure why she was whispering. Her office door was closed.
‘It is.’ He handed it to her. ‘I’ve not read it, but it has his name there.’ He pointed.
Peggy clasped it to her chest, closing her eyes, near to tears. ‘This is the best news.’
‘You don’t know what it says yet.’
‘No, but he’s still alive if he can send a telegram, and he cares enough to reply.’ She leapt up and flung her arms around Tony’s neck. ‘You’re so clever to have thought of this. I know Helen is going to be over the moon. Thank you.’ She kissed him again and again. ‘Thank you so much, clever, clever Tony.’
He laughed. ‘Hey, steady on.’ He pulled her into his arms and kissed her slowly and Peggy lost herself in his love for her.
Hearing footsteps they leapt apart and, remembering she was holding the telegram, Peggy quickly pushed it into her pocket, not wishing anyone to see.
‘It must be time to leave,’ she said, hearing more footsteps coming down the stairs.
‘I’ll fetch my jacket and meet you downstairs. I’d like to see Helen’s face when you hand her Richard’s telegram.’
Chapter Forty-Nine
HELEN
Helen was surprised when Babs came to fetch her earlier than usual, insisting she join Peggy and Tony downstairs. She followed Bobby down the narrow attic staircase and down to the kitchen, where Peggy and Tony were sitting chatting to Ida as she filled the kettle.
Everyone seemed in high spirits for some reason, and she wondered what could have happened to cheer them up so much.
‘Good afternoon, everyone,’ she said as they all took it in turns to look at the toy Bobby was waving in the air.
She realised they were all staring at her; Peggy with a strange look on her face.
‘You’re all looking very cheerful,’ she said, as Peggy took something from her pocket. It took a couple of seconds for Helen to see that it was a telegram.
‘For me?’ she whispered, hardly daring to believe what she was seeing. ‘Is it from Richard?’
Tony nodded.
‘It is, Helen,’ Peggy said handing her the buff-coloured envelope and hugging her.
Ida stepped forward. ‘There’s this one, too.’ She held it out for her.
Helen gasped, unable to take in that she had not one but two messages from Richard to read. ‘But I don’t understand.’
‘I presume the one addressed to me,’ Tony said, ‘was in case you didn’t receive the one he sent here.’
Babs started to cry. ‘This is so romantic.’
‘Hush, foolish girl,’ Ida said. ‘We don’t know what they say yet.’
Helen stared at the envelopes in her trembling hands, unsure what to do for a moment. ‘I hope you don’t mind if I take these to the living room to read?’ she said. She would prefer not to be watched while she read his words, at least for the first time.
‘You do that, lovey.’ Ida smiled. Then, addressing Babs, she said, ‘The blackouts are up everywhere, I hope? I don’t want those buggers next door walking past and spotting Helen in there.’
‘Yes, Mum. No one can see inside.’ She grinned at Helen. ‘I’m ever so happy for you.’
‘We all are,’ Peggy agreed.
‘Thank you. May I leave Bobby in here?’
‘Yes, of course,’ Peggy said with a laugh. ‘Now go and see what he’s got to say.’
As soon as she was in the living room, Helen closed the door. She took a deep breath to steady herself, determined not to cry, then read the twenty-five words Richard had written to Tony, wanting to save the one to her for last.
Thank you for excellent news. Missing all. Please send fondest love to all. Am fit and well but longing to see everyone. Your friend, Richard
Helen reread his message, conscious that Richard’s fingertips had touched this piece of paper. It was far more than she had ever hoped for, or expected to need, especially from the man she had promised never to bother with again.
She folded the piece of paper and slipped it neatly into its envelope and set it down on the table next to her. Then, her legs feeling like they might give way beneath her, she sat on the nearest chair and took a steadying breath as she opened the next envelope and unfolded the single sheet of paper it had been holding.
Ecstatic to know you are both well. Missing you dreadfully. Sorry for everything. Determined to make amends to you both. Deepest love and hugs, Richard
