The Winter Rose by Katie Flynn

Author:Katie Flynn [Flynn, Katie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781529157857
Publisher: Cornerstone

Cadi stared open-mouthed at the page in front of her. Gosport was close to Portsmouth, which is where Raquel lived. She might not be able to check things out for herself, but she was almost positive Ronnie would do so for her, especially as she was only a stone’s throw away – or at least she was at the moment.

Hurriedly spooning down the rest of her lunch, Cadi took her tray back to the counter, then dipped her irons into the hot water, almost scalding herself in the process. She had to get to the telephone and call Ronnie, post-haste.

Rushing out of the cookhouse, she made a beeline for the NAAFI. Crossing her fingers, she pushed the door open and trotted towards the phone, which was, as yet, unoccupied. Picking up the receiver, she wasted no time in asking the operator to put her through to Gosport. As soon as she heard Ronnie’s voice, she relaxed.

‘Cadi! Did you get my letter? Is everything all right?’

‘Hunky-dory,’ said Cadi, ‘but I do need to ask you a favour, and as I’ll shortly be travelling halfway across the country, I thought it best to speak now.’

‘Fire away.’

Cadi explained, as briefly as she could, her predicament, ending with, ‘So I could really do with your help.’

‘It’ll be my pleasure. I love all this cloak-and-dagger stuff,’ said Ronnie excitedly. ‘Will I need a disguise, do you think?’ she said, thrilled at the prospect of her new adventure.

Cadi giggled before answering, ‘Why would you need a disguise? It’s not as if she knows who you are.’

‘I suppose not.’ She hesitated. ‘What is it you want me to do exactly?’

‘Verify that it’s her,’ replied Cadi simply.

‘Only what’s my excuse? It’ll look a bit odd if I knock on her door and say “Are you Raquel Taylor” and then – if she says yes – walk off without saying another word.’

Having been in a rush to set the wheels in motion, Cadi hadn’t thought this far ahead. ‘True …’ She fell momentarily silent as she sought a solution, but Ronnie got there first.

‘Got it! I can pretend I’m looking for women to join the Women’s Voluntary Service and I want to see whether she’s interested in joining.’

‘What if she says no or that she’s already joined?’ asked Cadi uncertainly.

‘I’ll take a clipboard with me and write a load of names on it. When I see her, I’ll ask her what her name is, so that I can tick her off on my list,’ Ronnie said triumphantly.

A slow smile crossed Cadi’s cheeks. ‘Do you know, Ronnie, I think that might just work.’

‘And is that all you want to know or is there summat else?’

‘That’ll be all for now,’ said Cadi. ‘Once I know for definite, I can plan my next move.’

‘So you’re not one hundred per cent certain about the writing then?’

‘Raquel wrote to Eric twenty-odd years ago,’ considered Cadi, ‘when writing was still new to her. She’ll have had a lot of practice since then, which is why I’m thinking the writing – although still childlike – looks improved.

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