Page 76 of Neighbors at War

‘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.