A Rose and a Promise, page 2
‘And what about when she met Jez on the docks?’ Poppy went on doggedly. ‘Telling him how you and Aled had been whispering in corners and keeping secrets behind his back?’
Cadi shrugged. ‘We had.’
‘Because he was going to Africa, and you didn’t want him to worry needlessly,’ Izzy put in, her tone rising with exasperation. ‘You were doing the right thing by Aled and Jez!’
‘I know, but if I’d’ve said something sooner …’
‘Could’ve, should’ve, would’ve,’ said Poppy simply. ‘Nobody knows what effect it would’ve had on Jez if you had said something sooner, so lay blame at blame’s door. Daphne caused all this.’
Izzy nodded wisely. ‘And let’s not forget that her meddling put Aled in the worst position of all; rear gunner on a Lancaster Avro.’ She paused before adding, ‘Plus had it not been for Daphne, Aled and Jez would never have been in that dreadful car crash.’
‘And if Jez hadn’t acted as quickly as he did, things could’ve turned out very differently,’ said Poppy.
Cadi nodded slowly, deep in thought. ‘I suppose there’s always been a small part of me that felt sorry for Daphne, even though I know she brought everything on herself.’
‘You’ve got a big heart, as well as a forgiving nature,’ said Ronnie, before hesitating as a sudden thought entered her mind. ‘Hang on a mo – isn’t Daphne on the same base as Jez? If she is, I think someone should warn Aled.’
Cadi shook her head fervently. ‘She was, but she put in for an immediate transfer after accosting Jez down the docks.’
Poppy spoke through pursed lips. ‘Not surprising. She was probably worried that Jez might get his own back by telling everyone what she’d done.’
‘People in glass houses, and all that,’ Cadi agreed.
Poppy continued, still annoyed at the thought of Daphne’s behaviour. ‘What sort of person lights the flame then scarpers before the fireworks?’ she snapped, before answering her own question. ‘A coward, that’s who.’
‘I still think Aled was a fool for letting sleeping dogs lie,’ said Izzy. ‘I’d have shouted it from the rooftops if it were me.’
‘I think he was just glad to get shot of her,’ said Cadi simply, ‘and what’s more, I don’t blame him. If I never see that woman again, it’ll be a day too soon.’
Izzy pulled a face. ‘If she’s any sense, she’ll have asked to remuster from the WAAF to one of the other services.’
‘They say you reap what you sow,’ concluded Ronnie, ‘and boy oh boy did she ever plant some seeds!’
As soon as Cadi returned to her base, she headed straight for the NAAFI to telephone Jez.
Lifting the receiver, she waited patiently for the operator to put her through to RAF Finningley. Hearing Jez’s voice come down the line, a smile flashed on her lips.
‘Mrs Thomas! To what do I owe the pleasure?’
Cadi giggled. ‘I don’t think I’ll ever tire of hearing you call me that.’
Jez grinned. ‘I think it rolls off the tongue nicely. How did your lunch go with the girls?’
‘Lovely. Ronnie’s finally moved to Waddington, so she joined us, which was a nice surprise.’
‘I’m glad she’s moved further inland. Those coastal bases don’t half take a battering.’
‘The bullseye of Jerry’s target, that’s what Ronnie used to call them,’ said Cadi. She paused briefly. ‘Talking about people getting new postings, have you heard about Aled?’
‘No …?’
Cadi went on to recount how Poppy had bumped into Marnie, and the subsequent conversation.
‘I knew we had a new bombing crew coming in, but I didn’t think much of it, save to say I hoped they’d have better luck than the last lot.’
Cadi nodded silently. The RAF were forever replacing aircraft as well as the crew who hadn’t made it back to Blighty. ‘That’s why I’ve always been grateful that you have both feet firmly on the ground,’ she said, ‘and why I wanted you to know about Aled, not because I thought there’d be a problem …’
Jez intervened. ‘I know, queen, and I appreciate you keeping me in the loop, but there really isn’t any need, not after everything Aled and I have been through.’
‘That’s a thought. You’ll be able to show your pals the man whose life you saved.’
Jez laughed. ‘Blow my own trumpet, you mean?’
‘I don’t see why not. You should be proud of what you did. I know I’m proud of you.’
‘I pulled an unconscious man from a car that was about to burst into flames,’ said Jez. ‘If I’d left him to perish what would that have made me?’
Cadi tutted. ‘I know what you’re saying, but not everyone would’ve rushed to his rescue. Some people would’ve put their own safety first.’
Jez felt his chest begin to swell with pride, but he was far too modest to allow Cadi to continue. ‘I wonder how he is?’ he mused. ‘I’ve not seen him since the crash, and I know he took a fair old crack to the head.’
‘He was lucky to get away with a few scrapes and bruises – you both were – and you heard what his father said: Aled was soon up and at ’em, which was why he couldn’t make our wedding.’
‘Doesn’t say much; you know what these fellers are like. Take that Douglas Bader chap: lost both his legs, and yet he still gives the Luftwaffe a run for their money!’ He hesitated as a thought entered his mind. ‘Here, I wonder if I’ll be working on Aled’s plane? I worked on the one it’s replacing.’
Cadi grimaced. ‘Do you know what happened to that one – the plane, I mean?’
‘Gunned down over the Channel,’ said Jez briefly.
The operator cut across their conversation, letting them know that their three minutes was up. Aware that she could see fit to end their call at any moment, Jez went on hastily. ‘I’m due some leave next month. If I let you know when, maybe we could spend a bit of time together?’
‘I’ll see what I can arrange—’ were the only words Cadi managed to get out before hearing the click as the operator terminated the call.
‘Honestly! You could’ve waited,’ huffed Cadi, but it was no use; she was talking to empty air.
Tutting at the unfairness of it, Cadi headed for the house she was sharing with five other Waafs. She had only been sent to help get the base up and running, and she supposed it wouldn’t be more than a couple of weeks before she would be moving on to yet another satellite station, not that that bothered her. She thoroughly enjoyed the challenge of starting from scratch. It meant she was always meeting new people, and seeing the bases go from derelict pieces of land to working airfields gave her a sense of achievement.
She entered the house and checked the kitchen to see who was about, but it seemed the girls were either out or in their rooms. Taking the kettle, she filled it with water before putting it on the range. She had stayed in many places over the past year, some of which had been rat-infested and derelict, the worst one being served by a well which instead of a pump had a bucket on a length of rope. She had thought fishing newts out of the bucket was bad enough until she came across an unfortunate rat, and now she pulled a face as she recalled watching the bucket plummet back into the well, rat and all. But, just as she had with the others, she had soon got things shipshape, arranging for a proper water supply as well as freeing the site of vermin. By the time she left, the airfield was one of the best she’d ever organised.
Now, as she waited for the kettle to boil, she gazed out over the open fields. The view reminded her of Rhos, with its rolling countryside, and meadows bursting with wild flowers, but here she wasn’t having to share a bedroom with her three older brothers. Cadi had no idea how her mother managed to keep everything clean with four miners living in a two up, two down.
She glanced around the quaint kitchen with its beamed ceiling and thick walls. She had never envisaged herself wanting to move back to the country, but she quite fancied the idea of herself and Jez in a house much like this one, with her making the Sunday roast whilst Jez read his paper in one of the chairs that flanked the fireplace.
Seeing wisps of steam rising from the kettle’s spout, she took a tea towel and poured the hot water into the pot. Absentmindedly scooping the tea leaves in, she stirred the contents and left them to brew.
Cadi was a great believer in fate, and so far every cloud had had a silver lining. Maybe Aled was being sent to Finningley for a purpose which hadn’t presented itself to her yet, but if past events were anything to go by, she was sure it wouldn’t be long before the reason behind his posting was revealed.
It was over a year since Aled had last been home, and with his new posting being even further away than the previous one, he was currently sitting beside the fire in the kitchen of his parents’ farmhouse.
‘It’s a shame Marnie couldn’t join you,’ remarked Aled’s mother, Gwen, looking up from her knitting. ‘Such a nice girl, and she’s a real help around the house.’
Aled stretched his legs out. ‘She’s not long been posted herself, so she can’t take any more leave just yet.’
John Davies looked at his son over the top of his newspaper. ‘Am I right in thinking that Fiskerton’s not too far away from Finningley?’
‘You are indeed.’
Gwen moved her hands to release more yarn from the ball of wool. ‘That’s nice. You’ll get to see a lot more of each other now that you’re being posted nearby.’
‘Have you given any more thought to your plans for when all this is over?’ John asked, before glancing down at his newspaper again.
‘What is there to think about? I certainly don’t want to stay on in the RAF as tail-end Charlie.’
The news that his son planned to return home was music to John’s ears. ‘It’ll be good to have you back.’
Arching a single eyebrow, Gwen continued to knit whilst eyeing her son over her needles. ‘And are we to take it that you’ll be returning with Marnie as your wife?’
Leaning forward in his seat, Aled used the poker to stir the coals in the fire. ‘I shan’t be asking Marnie to marry me until all this is over.’ He held up a hand to quell his mother’s objections. ‘We won’t be living here in sin, if that’s what worries you.’
‘Then what?’ asked Gwen testily. ‘A long-distance relationship? How’s that going to work when you’re busy on the farm?’
Aled leaned back in his seat. ‘As soon as peace is declared, I shall ask her to marry me, and not a moment before.’
His mother gave a snort of contempt. ‘I hope you’re not holding out in the hope that Cadi will leave Jez? Because—’
Aled tutted irritably. ‘What sort of fool do you take me for? That ship has long sailed, and I’m pleased for Cadi. If you must know, I’m waiting until the war is over because there are too many young widows …’ He didn’t get a chance to finish his sentence. Hurriedly placing her knitting needles down, Gwen left the room before her son could see her tears.
Aled had half risen out of his seat when his father waved him back down. ‘You wait here. I’ll see to her.’
Gwen was standing at the foot of the staircase, drying her eyes. ‘I can’t help it, John,’ she murmured through trembling lips. ‘The thought of our boy …’
John put his arms round his wife. ‘I know, cariad.’
Aled arrived in the hallway. ‘I’m sorry if I upset you. I’m just trying to do the right thing by Marnie.’
Gwen left her husband’s arms for Aled’s. ‘I know you are, cariad. I shouldn’t have poked my nose in.’
Aled winked at his mother. ‘Isn’t that a woman’s job?’
Laughing raucously, John clapped a hand on his son’s shoulder. ‘You’ve hit the nail on the head there, son.’
With the atmosphere lightened, Gwen smiled. ‘I’ll have you know I don’t gossip, but I do take an interest, and the good news here is that our son will be returning home, and in time he will marry Marnie, and they will continue running the farm, just as we have.’
‘Aren’t we jumping the gun rather?’ said Aled. ‘After all, we don’t know for certain that she’ll say yes.’
Gwen gave him a playful pat on the chest. ‘As if she’d say no to you.’
Aled roared with laughter. ‘You’re biased!’
Gwen shook her head. ‘I saw how she looked at you when you brought her back home the Christmas before last, and she was smitten.’
John pushed his hands into his pockets as he rocked on his heels. ‘I’m just glad to hear you’re coming home.’
‘Wild horses couldn’t keep me away,’ replied Aled, and he meant every word. Having completed countless operations, he knew that he and the crew of the Ulysses had had more than their fair share of luck. He would just have to hope that it would hold out until the end of the war.
Cadi waved goodbye to her housemates as she set off on the long trip to Northumberland. The officer in charge of her next posting had assured Cadi that she would only be there for a couple of weeks, but Cadi knew from past experiences that the WAAF could turn weeks into months at the drop of a hat. The station she was bound for had been used as a dummy airfield, but the powers that be wanted to turn it into a training base, and they needed someone like Cadi to make sure that everything ran smoothly. She glanced at the brand new sergeant’s stripes that now graced her arm. She had only ever hoped to reach the rank of corporal, so to be promoted to sergeant was a real feather in her cap. Up until now, she’d told no one of her promotion, wanting Jez to be the first to hear the news. As her route would take her in the direction of Finningley, she had informed him that she would be popping in on her way past, but she had mentioned nothing about her stripes. She smiled. Northumberland was a world away from Lincoln, but if it meant she got to see her husband en route, then it would be worth the journey.
With Cadi due to arrive within the next couple of hours, Jez had swapped shifts with one of his friends. It would be the first time he had seen his wife since their wedding, and he intended to make the most of every minute.
‘Blimey, will you look at the smile on your face!’ remarked Craig, one of Jez’s fellow engineers. ‘Doesn’t take a genius to work out who you’re seeing today.’
Jez held his hands up. ‘What can I say, apart from guilty as charged.’
Craig chuckled softly. ‘Married bliss, eh? You can tell the two of you are newly-weds.’
Jez winked at his fellow airman. ‘You’re nowt but an old cynic. I love my Cadi more and more with each day that passes.’
Craig, who was considerably older than Jez, laughed. ‘That’s cos you ain’t been married long enough.’ He pointed to the ring on his wedding finger. ‘You’ll change your tune after you’ve had ten years of earache.’
Jez wagged a reproving finger. ‘Don’t give me that. We all know you dote on your Maisie.’
‘Only because she’d swing for me if I didn’t.’ Craig tapped the side of his nose. ‘Do you want to know the secret to a good marriage?’
Jez stretched his legs out in front of him. ‘Enlighten me.’
‘Two words,’ said Craig, holding up two fingers. ‘Yes dear.’ He grinned. ‘If you can remember them two words, you’ll not go far wrong.’
Jez laughed. ‘So the secret to a long marriage is to agree with whatever your wife says?’
Craig gave him the thumbs up before adding, ‘Take it from one who’s had years of practice. And besides, just because you say yes it doesn’t mean that you agree with her, but it will make for a peaceful life.’
‘Cadi’s not like that,’ said Jez loyally. ‘In fact, we never really argue.’
Craig coughed on a chuckle. ‘Never really argue? I seem to remember you havin’ a right old barney over that bird.’
Jez rolled his eyes. ‘I take it you’re referring to Daphne, but that was different.’
‘Still an argument though,’ said Craig evenly, adding, ‘and a humdinger it was too, as I recall.’
‘But only because of that interfering …’ Jez bit back the words without finishing his sentence. ‘Now I come to think of it, we’ve only ever argued over summat that woman said or did.’
‘Nasty piece of work by all accounts,’ Craig agreed. ‘At least she had the decency to skedaddle before you come back here. I take it she’s well and truly out of the picture?’
‘Long gone,’ said Jez.
Craig clapped a hand on his shoulder. ‘Good riddance to bad rubbish. And when it comes to Cadi, I’m only teasin’. I may’ve only met her a couple of times, but she seems like a grand lass to me.’
‘She certainly is,’ said Jez, before adding, ‘She’d have to be, to put up with all the nonsense Daphne threw our way.’
‘A woman that stands by her man is like a gift from God,’ said Craig. ‘I might make light of my Maisie, but I know she’ll always stand by me.’
‘Cadi’s the same,’ said Jez. ‘I just wish I’d learned that sooner, as it would’ve saved a lot of heartache.’
Craig popped a peppermint into his mouth before proffering the bag to Jez. ‘Marriage isn’t a bed of roses; you have to work at it, and that doesn’t stop just because you get older.’
‘That’s what my nan used to say,’ said Jez, ‘but I honestly think Cadi and I have seen the back of our troubles.’
Craig pushed the small bag of sweets back into his pocket. ‘I must admit, I certainly think you’ve had your fair share!’
Cadi cursed beneath her breath. Road closures were the bane of her existence. Not only did she have to plot an alternative route, but a blocked road could add hours on to a journey. Getting out of her car, she walked over to the fallen tree to see if there was any possibility of getting past, but with the main bulk of the trunk lying across the road she realised she would have to look for another way.
Climbing back into the car, she opened the map and began tracing her finger along the different options. Concluding that there were only two, she chose the shorter one, turned the car round, and headed back on to the main road. Keeping her eyes peeled for the new turning, she slowed down as it came into view, and pulled a disgruntled face as she reached it. Hardly a road, Cadi thought to herself. I’ve seen bigger tracks. She glanced in the rear-view mirror. If she were to take the longer route, she reckoned she could be looking at adding another hour on to her journey, but if she did turn here she might discover the road to be unfit for anything other than a horse and cart. Torn between the two decisions, Cadi decided to do something she hadn’t done in years.
