War Baby by Beryl Kingston

Author:Beryl Kingston [Kingston, Beryl]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Agora Books
Published: 2019-05-23T00:00:00+00:00

The motorway was amazingly clear. Bobbie drove the car, at speed and in sunshine, and as they went they told one another about all the things that had been happening in the months they’d been apart, starting with the exotic places he’d visited on his various assignments, and the extraordinary people she’d met on her search for her mother. And finally they got around to the two most important events in their lives, her decision to leave Malcolm and his experiences in the Yom Kippur war.

‘I wrote you a letter about it,’ he said.

‘Why didn’t you send it?’ she asked. ‘I’d have given anything for a letter.’

‘Chickened out,’ he said. ‘I’ve still got it somewhere.’

‘Could I see it now?’

‘Get off this road and find somewhere quiet for the old dear’s picnic and I’ll show you.’

So she took another detour into the quietest piece of countryside she could find. And the letter was produced.

Bobbie read, and he watched.

‘Oh Benjamin,’ she said, when she’d come to the end of his account of the battle, ‘this is awful.’

‘Yes. It was.’

‘All those men… Oh God, it’s awful. Such a waste.’

‘Read on,’ he urged, for now he remembered the way this letter ended.

‘It’s a proposal,’ she said, dropping the letter into her lap and smiling at him. ‘Is that why you didn’t send it?’

‘Partly.’

‘Is it still a proposal?’

‘You know me. One-track-minded.’

‘This is going to sound awful,’ she confessed, ‘but I don’t think I want to get married.’

‘Not to anyone, or not to me?’

‘Not at all probably. I mean, I don’t know. At any rate not now. Not so soon after…you know, Malcolm and everything. I want to meet my mother and find out who I am first. Does that make sense? Everything’s such a muddle.’

He decided to be noble, despite the disappointment of such an unsatisfactory answer. ‘You play this just the way you want to,’ he said. ‘I’m the soul of patience.’

‘Oh, are you?’ she laughed. ‘Would your mother agree?’

Talk of Sorrel reminded them of her picnic and how hungry they were. So the hamper was carried out of the car. There was enough food in it to last them a week, and they made a very good meal.

‘Typical,’ Benjamin said. ‘Jeez! Look at this. Ginger beer. Do you like ginger beer?’

‘Yes.’

‘Well you can have it. I can’t stand the stuff. So, what shall we do next?’

He was kissing her with his eyes, turning her on most powerfully even at a distance and without touching her.

‘Get on to Manchester I suppose,’ she said.

Privately Benjamin could think of better things to do, but he maintained his patience and his self-control.

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