Meet Me At Rainbow Corner by Celia Imrie

Author:Celia Imrie
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781526616388
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
Published: 2024-02-15T00:00:00+00:00

TWENTY-THREE

Dot’s room at the Regent Palace Hotel was dark, illuminated only by the flickering glare of the hall nightlights. Nervously knotting her fingers, June sat timidly on the edge of Dot’s bed. She looked up, enquiring.

‘Something’s wrong!’ June jumped to her feet. ‘Is he with you? He knows I’m here, doesn’t he? He’s with you…’ She rushed forward, trying to get out. ‘You don’t understand, he’ll kill me…’

‘June. Please…’ Dot had no idea how to tell her.

‘I’ll do this.’ As though to calm a wild animal, Art held up his hands and took a step forward. ‘Please, June, sit down.’

There was laughter down the hall. Dot shut the door behind them, turned on a small table lamp, then backed away to stand guard.

‘What happened to your glasses, Art?’ June reached out to touch them.

‘I’m so sorry, June.’ Art knelt before June and took her hands in his. ‘I have some very bad news. Your husband is dead. The victim of a buzz bomb. He didn’t stand a chance.’

June said nothing, just stared at Art in incomprehension. Then she started crying, in loud, racking sobs.

Dot went to her kitbag, looking for her flask.

A brisk knock and the door flew open.

‘Hey, Skipper! Why ain’t you dancing tonight? I’ve been jigging about downstairs for hours, waiting for you.’

Otis flicked the main light switch, throwing the whole scene into bright, startling glare.

‘Sorry, Art.’ Virgil edged round the doorway from the corridor. ‘Couldn’t hold him back.’ He tapped Otis on the forearm. ‘Come on, pal, let’s leave these folk alone now.’

‘But, Dot, I’m leaving tomorrow for some camp in the country.’ Otis whined like a child, as though he had not registered the atmosphere of the room. ‘I gotta dance with you tonight, Skips.’

Without taking his eyes from June, Art yelled: ‘Get that goddamned fool outta here!’

Dot looked across at Otis, all dishevelled and sweaty.

‘You really have to go now, Otis.’ She pushed him back. ‘This is not the time.’

‘Come on now, fellah!’ Virgil gripped Otis’s shoulders, but Otis struggled free and lurched towards Dot.

‘You heard the lady.’

‘Please, baby…’ Otis grabbed Dot. She could smell alcohol on his breath.

‘Another time, Otis!’ How could he not see that she couldn’t contemplate dancing when poor June’s whole life had collapsed? ‘Please go!’

‘You’re mean, Dot! That’s what you are. Mean!’

‘It’s my fault,’ June sobbed into her hands. ‘It’s all my fault.’

Running feet in the hallway.

‘I got him!’ Howard stepped into the room and took hold of Otis. ‘Come on, Oats. Leave these poor folks alone.’ He gently removed Otis’s hold on Dot. ‘I’m sorry, Dot. Until we meet again, take care of yourself. I’ll write.’

Dragging Otis out of the room, Howard led him away.

Dot turned back to June.

*

Lilly perched on a fold-up stool outside a field hospital on the outskirts of St Lô. The medical team were treating Jack, his shirt and jacket black with caked blood, his pale disfigured face unrecognisable. Someone from the animal unit came to lead the horse away.

Face in hands, Lilly gazed at the earth, watching a line of ants scurrying back and forth bringing crumbs back to their nest.

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