Wartime Brides and Wedding Cakes by Amy Miller

Author:Amy Miller
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781786813237
Publisher: Bookouture

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‘Stupid old fool,’ Maggie muttered as she sat on the bench, hugging her knees. She stared out to sea, thinking she’d like to wring Uncle John’s neck, for ruining everything for her, when there was a tap on her shoulder. Quickly wiping her eyes with her hanky, she turned to see George smiling down at her. The skin around his eyes crinkled into tiny smiles, making his face light up. Despite her embarrassment, she couldn’t help return his smile.

‘May I?’ he said, taking a seat next to her on the bench. They looked at one another and he reached over, lifted her hand and held it in his. ‘Maggie, I love you, no matter what,’ he said. ‘Audrey explained about what’s happened. Why don’t you start from the beginning and tell me everything? You know I’ll be posted overseas as soon as we’re married and I don’t want there to be secrets between us.’

‘I just didn’t want to mess it up,’ she said, her voice barely audible. ‘I wanted to be a girl you couldn’t resist. I would love to be your wife, but I didn’t think you’d be interested in me once you saw where I was really from. We… we… don’t have a penny to our names. My grandmother lives for fags and any booze she can get her hands on, and I’m, well, I’m just a shop girl.’

‘You’re not “just” anything,’ he said. ‘You’re Maggie Rose, the girl of my dreams, my wife-to-be. It’s not your fault that your grandmother is a ruin.’

‘I know what I did was wrong,’ she said. ‘Audrey is so kind, she has been so kind to me. I don’t know what I’d do without her.’

‘She’s a big-hearted lady,’ said George. ‘In wartime, that’s refreshing. Anyway, there’s something I need to tell you too. I haven’t been entirely honest with you either…’

‘What?’ said Maggie, suddenly stricken by an all-consuming fear that George was going to tell her something dreadful, like that he was already engaged.

‘I’m to be involved in a dangerous mission, with an elite group of pilots,’ he said in a serious, quiet voice. ‘You mustn’t talk to anyone about this, but after we’re married, that’s what I’ll be doing. I’m fearful for my life, Maggie. I must be honest.’

Maggie felt as if she could hardly breathe. The prospect of losing George, just as soon as she had met him, filled her with unspeakable dread. But, in her usual fashion, she knew she must remain upbeat, positive and hopeful. Perhaps he would be lucky, perhaps he would escape whatever this mission was, unscathed. She knew not to dismiss his fears or pretend that he wasn’t facing danger, but instead squeezed his hand, trying to transmit all her love to him through her hot palm.

In the warm sunshine they sat there together, looking out to sea, not knowing what was waiting around the corner, or whether they would have the luxury of a future together. For now, they were together and for that she was grateful.

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