The District Nurses of Victory Walk (The District Nurse, Book 1) by annie groves

Author:annie groves
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-05-31T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

‘Come on, Joe, you can dig faster than that.’ Stan stood with his hands on his hips, observing his two sons. He was fiercely proud of them, both in the way they had matured as young men and because they had immediately signed up for the conflict that was to come. That didn’t mean he had to be soft on them though. ‘We’ve got to get this done before you go.’

Joe stepped out of the trench that he’d dug in what he thought was double-quick time and came to stand beside his father, taking a breather. He wiped his brow with the back of his forearm. ‘Only if I have another cup of tea,’ he hinted. ‘And some of Ma’s Bakewell tart. Then I’d be even faster.’

‘You’ll get your reward at elevenses, same as the rest of us,’ Stan told him. ‘Otherwise it will be unfair on Harry. Won’t it, son?’

Harry was making such a clatter dragging the corrugated sheets that he hadn’t heard a word of the exchange. ‘What’s that?’ he asked, coming to a halt. Stan repeated what had been said.

‘Sooner I’m finished the better,’ Harry said. ‘I’ve got to look my best for this evening.’

Joe nodded in acknowledgement. ‘Can’t keep Edith waiting, especially as it might be the last time you see her for a while.’

Harry had received his notification and had to report to a base in Northwest London on Friday, prior to being trained somewhere as yet unspecified. But it was unlikely he’d be anywhere within easy reach of the nurses’ home, so evenings out with Edith would have to be shelved after tonight.

‘I want her to remember me as my handsome self, not covered in sweat and grime like this,’ Harry told his brother, looking down in dismay at the state of his old work shirt.

Stan snorted. ‘You’re going to have to get used to a bit of dirt wherever you’re going, my lad. The army won’t think twice about asking you to get covered in mud.’

Harry shrugged. In a way he was quite looking forward to it. He was certain he was in better physical condition than anyone else he’d be training alongside, and then there was the promise of boxing to keep him at peak fitness. He had no doubts that he would excel at whatever was asked of him.

Two hours later and the shelter was close to being finished, in no small way thanks to the extra fuel from Flo’s tart, banana bread and several fruit scones. Harry was just about to ask when it would be time for dinner when there was a squeal from inside the house, floating shrilly through the open back kitchen window.

‘Lennie! It’s Lennie!’

Harry, Joe and Stan looked at each other and, as one, wiped their hands and faces and strode inside.

The kitchen was dim compared to the brightness of the garden, but there was no mistaking the man who had just walked in – also because Mattie was hugging him tightly, face revealing her delight and surprise.

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