Echoes of Love by Rosie Rushton

Author:Rosie Rushton [Rushton, Rosie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781848121720
Publisher: Piccadilly Press

Cassandra had got up and left her seat quickly, without waiting for them.

‘Oh God, now what’s she doing?’ Felix grabbed Anna’s wrist and pointed across the room. Cassandra was striding up to the commanding officer, and her shrill tones could be heard above the babble of the assembled guests.

‘Glorifying war, that’s what you lot are doing . . . hypocrisy . . . make it sound like a jolly game of soldiers . . .’

The commanding officer grew more red in the face with every second, and several people paused and turned to stare in amazement.

‘All your talk about a nuclear capability . . .’

Felix pushed his way through the crowd and strode over to his mother. Anna couldn’t catch what he was saying as he seized Cassandra’s arm but she noticed the officer nod imperceptibly before turning and walking briskly away.

‘It’s all propaganda and . . .’ Cassandra stopped in mid-sentence and glared at his retreating back.

‘Well, that makes a change from the usual routine I must say!’ A short, stocky man glanced at Anna as she pushed past him and shoved a notebook into his breast pocket. ‘Livened things up a bit, that did.’

‘They say there’s lunch!’ Cassandra beckoned to Anna as if nothing untoward had happened. ‘I need the loo – see you in the mess hall in ten minutes?’

She gave a cheery wave, apparently oblivious to the critical glances of the other parents, and headed for the door. Anna scanned the room for Felix, and saw that he had caught up with the officer and was deep in conversation. He was rubbing the back of his neck with his left hand, the way he always did when he was uptight.

‘Are you OK?’ she asked, several minutes later, when he finally made his way towards her.

‘I’ll never forgive her, never,’ he said, his voice shaking. ‘The Commandant was great; he said he didn’t hold me responsible.’

‘He could hardly do that, could he?’ Anna reasoned.

‘I’ll be a laughing stock with the lads,’ he mumbled. ‘Thank God she’s gone.’

‘Actually, she’s waiting for us over at the mess hall – they said lunch is ready,’ Anna ventured.

‘She’s what? You mean, she expects us to sit and eat with her after all she’s done? She’s got to be kidding.’

Anna followed as Felix strode across to the mess hall. They found Cassandra sitting calmly at a table surveying the menu card.

‘Now before you start, I’m sorry,’ she said, the moment Felix was within earshot.

‘It’s a bit late for that,’ Felix said. ‘Mum, what were you thinking?’

‘I know, I know, I should have kept my mouth shut,’ Cassandra admitted. ‘I just got so angry when that man went on about . . . Oh damn!’

She paused as her mobile phone shrilled from her handbag.

‘Mum, they’re supposed to be switched off,’ Felix hissed.

‘Sorry, I’ll just take this . . .’ She flipped the cover and clamped the phone to her ear.

‘What? No! Really? They said that – oh my God!’

As her voice rose to a crescendo, diners at the nearby tables stopped speaking and turned to stare.

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