Page 84 of Neighbors at War

Helen and Peggy swapped glances and Ida frowned suspiciously. ‘And what might that be?’

Mrs Edwards gave her a tight smile before continuing. ‘I have a bungalow, Mrs Hamel. It’s up Mont Cochon, so not too far from here. It has a mature garden with lots of trees.’ Her voice was gentle. ‘Most importantly, I don’t have neighbours close enough to overlook either house or garden.’

Helen heard Ida mumble something. She wasn’t sure why Ida seemed unhappy with what Mrs Edwards was telling them. Come to that, she herself didn’t know what Mrs Edwards was getting at. Then it dawned on her. ‘You’re inviting me and Bobby to stay with you?’

Mrs Edwards nodded. ‘I am. I appreciate it might not suit you and it is only a suggestion. Tony is aware that I am alone and have space for two more people, also that my home is relatively private.’

‘I didn’t realise you knew each other,’ Helen said surprised.

‘It’s a small island,’ Mrs Edwards said. She breathed in deeply before exhaling slowly, then added, ‘We met though my personal circumstances. You see, my mother lived with me until earlier this year when she passed away.’

‘I’m so sorry,’ Ida and Helen said at the same time.

‘Thank you. Soon afterwards Tony delivered paperwork for his father, who has always looked after my mother’s affairs, which is how we know each other.’

Helen couldn’t think what to say. On the one hand she loved living with the Hamels. She sensed it must have been her comment about Bobby that had caused Peggy to speak to Tony, and then Tony to speak to Mrs Edwards. Whether she liked it or not, she needed to put her son’s health first. She was going to have to be brave and not let the gratitude she felt towards the Hamels cause her to turn down this offer.

As if aware of her thoughts, Mrs Edwards said, ‘Naturally you will all be welcome at my home at any time.’

Helen turned to Ida. ‘What do you think?’ she asked, wanting her to feel involved.

Ida stared at her silently for a few seconds. Then she lowered her gaze to her fingers. ‘It’s a generous offer. And –’ she sighed, turning her attention back to Helen, ‘– although I haven’t seen Mrs Edwards’ home, it does sound exactly the right place for Bobby.’

Peggy gave Ida a surprised look. ‘Tony wouldn’t have approached Mrs Edwards if he hadn’t thought it the best option.’

‘I understand he’s done what he thinks best,’ Ida said, her tone resigned.

‘But we’ll miss you and Bobby,’ Babs said miserably. She sat back in her chair and folded her arms. ‘Ignore me, I’m being selfish,’ she said when everyone looked at her. ‘It is a good idea.’

Ida turned to Helen. ‘We will all miss you and the little one,’ she said. ‘But this isn’t about us. It’s about what’s best for the pair of you.’ She wrung her hands. ‘I’ve also been concerned that Leutnant Müller has come here a couple of times. I’ve worried that he might spot either one of you.’

‘Don’t you mean Captain Engel, Mum?’ Peggy asked, looking stunned.

‘No, dear. This was that younger one who came that time Hauptmann Shneider was here searching the attic.’

Helen couldn’t understand why Ida hadn’t told them before now. ‘I never heard him.’

Ida raised her hands. ‘I didn’t like to worry you. You’ve all got more than enough to contend with and I wasn’t going to add to your concerns.’

‘But Mum, we need to know,’ Peggy argued.

‘Leutnant Müller?’ Mrs Edwards turned to Helen and gave her a thoughtful look. ‘He was at the house when you worked there, wasn’t he?’

Helen nodded slowly. ‘He was. He moved in next door when they took the place over after my aunt died. That was when the Hamels kindly took Bobby and me into their home.’

Mrs Edwards puffed out her cheeks. ‘I always thought him a rather kindly young man, but there was something about him.’

‘He’s a Nazi,’ Tony said.

‘Tony, stop.’ Peggy smiled, probably to soften her words, Helen supposed. ‘I don’t like him coming here for any reason.’ She narrowed her eyes. ‘There’s more, isn’t there, Mum?’

Ida hung her head. ‘I’m afraid there is.’

Babs knelt at her mother’s feet and took her clasped hands in hers. ‘Tell us, Mum. What’s been going on?’

‘That other one, the nasty one. Hauptmann Schneider, he came once in the day when you girls were at work.’

Helen felt sick. He had been in the house while she and Bobby hid upstairs? What if they had made a noise when he was there? She swallowed bile as it rose in her throat. ‘When?’