Page 81 of Neighbors at War

‘I suppose you’re right.’ Her confidence waned slightly.

‘You’ll be out there and back in here before you know it.’ Peggy thought for a moment. ‘Your accent is different to mine, so maybe try not to speak to anyone.’ Helen nodded feeling her nerves getting the better of her. ‘I’ll go and speak to the others, and you follow me down with Bobby when you’re ready. Better put on a couple of layers now, and then I’ll lend you my coat, boots and hat.’ Peggy stopped at the door and raised a finger. ‘And don’t think about it too much.’

* * *

Half an hour later, Helen was waiting for Ida to open the front door, her heart racing so fast she wasn’t sure she could make her legs work properly. Peggy’s navy beret was pulled low over her hair and ears, and a thick woollen scarf wound around her neck covered her lower face. She looked down at Peggy’s coat, wishing she had one as beautiful. Even her friend’s boots were more comfortable than her own.

‘You ready?’ Babs asked coming to stand next to her.

‘It’s a bit slippery out there,’ Tony warned, doing up his coat and putting on his hat. ‘You’d better slip your arm through mine because that’s what Peggy would do.’

She did as he asked, feeling a little awkward at first, but relaxing slightly when Peggy gave her an encouraging smile. ‘I’ll go into the kitchen and take Bobby, in case anyone comes past,’ she said. ‘It would ruin everything if either of us were seen.’

‘Shall we go?’ Tony asked.

Helen took a deep breath before exhaling slowly. ‘Yes, let’s do this.’

Ida smiled and opened the door. ‘Off you go then, lovey. And remember, enjoy every moment.’

‘I will, thank you.’

She stepped out onto the front steps and faltered as her courage began to fail. She hadn’t been outside for so long and the shock of being exposed to danger hit her like a slap. ‘I…I’m not sure I can do this.’

Babs followed them out. ‘You have to. There’s one of the officers near the window next door and if he sees you acting oddly, he’ll suspect something.’

Helen took in a slow deep breath, closing her eyes briefly and remembering herself standing at her attic window each day, wishing she was outside like everyone else. Now she was.

‘Let’s go this way, shall we?’ Tony suggested, leading her away from number 2 so they had their backs to anyone watching. He patted her hand that rested on his arm. ‘You’re doing well,’ he said, leaning his head closer to hers and keeping his voice low.

As she walked, her discomfort lessened, and when Babs came up next to her and gave an excited squeak, Helen relaxed enough to laugh.

‘Having fun yet?’ Babs asked.

‘I think so.’ Helen was enjoying the cold night breeze brushing past her legs. ‘This is wonderful.’ She took care not to be over enthusiastic about gazing up at the stars. She could do that from inside her attic room. Instead she focused on taking in all the sights and smells she had missed while being in hiding for so many months. It was a joy to pass houses she recognised from her walks to and from work. How oblivious she had been then, unaware that the simple act of walking down the road could be taken from her for so long.

‘Evening,’ a man and his wife said, giving them a nod as they passed.

‘Good evening,’ Tony said, squeezing her arm to his side slightly when she didn’t react.

Recalling Peggy’s warning not to speak, Helen nodded feeling as if they could see straight through this act of hers. It occurred to her that this was the first time she had been addressed by anyone other than Tony or the Hamel family since going into hiding.

Most people they passed huddled into their clothes and kept to themselves, and when they walked all the way to Millbrook, Helen was shocked at how much her legs ached. It wasn’t surprising that she was tired, she mused, realising how unfit she must be through lack of exercise and food.

‘I hope your feet aren’t becoming sore in Peggy’s boots,’ Babs whispered.

‘I hadn’t noticed if they were,’ Helen said with a laugh. She didn’t care about blisters. This was far too exciting and special to have it dampened by those little blighters.

‘Good.’

‘I thought we’d pop into the shop for something,’ Tony suggested. ‘Give us a reason to come this far. Would that be all right?’

Helen tensed, then, wanting to make the most of her outing, agreed. ‘Good idea.’

‘How do you feel?’ Babs asked, her excitement clear in her voice.

‘I’m loving every moment,’ Helen assured them. ‘Thank you both from the bottom of my heart. This is something I’ll never forget.’

Tony patted her hand in reply.