A Song At Twilight by Lilian Harry

Author:Lilian Harry [Harry, Lilian]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781409130246
Publisher: Orion Publishing Group
Published: 2010-08-19T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eighteen

All along the south coast, something new was happening.

On I April, an order was made to close a ten-mile-deep belt of coastland from Land’s End to the Wash. Nobody who lived outside the restricted area on that date would be permitted to enter it unless they were vital to the war effort, and those who lived inside must carry their identity cards at all times. Once again, the smell of invasion was in the air.

This time, however, without it being talked about much, everyone knew that the invasion would come from the British shores. This time, the Allies would be invading Occupied France.

‘And let’s hope they make a better job of it than they did at Dieppe,’ Andrew said grimly.

The RAF losses were still heavy, and every night, as the bombers and fighters took off, Alison would listen in dread, knowing that Andrew and his squadron were on another dangerous mission; she was always awake with the first distant snarl that meant they were coming back. After that, she stayed awake, unable to settle to anything until she heard Andrew’s key in the door and his voice calling down the passageway.

Her parents came to stay for Easter, her mother fussing and anxious.

‘Why don’t you come home with us for a while, and have your baby there? We could look after you and help with Hughie. You can come back as soon as you’re ready.’

Alison shook her head. ‘I can’t leave Andrew. He needs me here. And it’s not as if I were in any real danger. We get the occasional German plane over, but the boys soon see them off. And I’d never forgive myself if anything happened to him and I wasn’t here,’ she added quietly.

Her mother sighed. ‘I knew you’d say that, of course, but I had to try. If only I could stay here, but I’m so tied up with committees and the WVS and the rest of my war work.’

‘It’s all right, Mummy. It’s not as if this is my first baby. I’ve booked into a nice little maternity home in Horrabridge, so even if Andrew’s not here I shall be all right. And May’s promised to come and sleep here when it’s nearly time, and she’ll take Hughie home with her when I go in. Everything will be all right.’ Alison got up and went indoors to put on the kettle. Her father had taken Hughie for a walk around the perimeter and Andrew was on readiness, so the two women were enjoying some peace and quiet in a patch of spring sunshine in the garden.

‘You do seem to have it well organised,’ her mother admitted when Alison came back, carrying a tray of tea. ‘I still don’t like being so far away, though. And you should have let me do that. I’m not here to be waited on.’

‘I had to go in anyway.’ Alison put down the tray. ‘And at least we’re still able to write to each other. I’ve been talking to one of the Polish pilots just lately.

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