Wartime Friends by Margaret Dickinson

Author:Margaret Dickinson [Dickinson, Margaret]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pan Macmillan
Published: 2022-01-17T17:00:00+00:00

Thirty

‘Where’s Beryl?’ Carolyn asked Noreen when she got back to the billet.

‘In her room. She’s got some sort of stomach bug. Keeps being sick, she says, and she looked as white as a sheet this morning. Mr Lawrence has given her the day off. She’s neither use nor ornament in that state.’

Carolyn hurried to the room they shared. She found Beryl lying on her bed, her face swollen from shedding copious tears. She paused a moment in the doorway, her heart turning over at the sight of her friend in such hopeless distress. She closed the door and moved to sit on the bed at Beryl’s feet.

‘Now, you. Sit up, I’ve got something to tell you.’

Beryl groaned. ‘Leave me alone. I just want to die.’

‘No, you don’t. At least you won’t when you hear what I’ve got to say.’

‘It can’t be that good.’

‘Oh it is. It’s better than you could ever imagine.’

Even in the depths of her misery, Beryl was intrigued. Slowly she pulled herself up and leaned against the bedhead. ‘Has Jeff come back and said he’s going to divorce his wife? Because if that’s what you’re going to say, then I don’t believe you.’

‘No, sorry, it isn’t that.’

‘Don’t be sorry. I don’t want to spend the rest of my life with such a lying bastard.’

‘Now, just listen and hear me out, will you?’ Swiftly, Carolyn told her all that Frank had said and, while she talked, Beryl’s mouth dropped open.

‘You’re not serious. He can’t be serious.’

‘Grandad never says anything he doesn’t mean. I promise you.’

‘But – but – why? He hardly knows me. Why would he want to help me?’

‘He took a liking to you and I think . . .’ Here she hesitated.

‘Go on,’ Beryl prompted.

‘I’ve never told anyone this . . .’

‘I won’t say a word. You know I won’t.’

Carolyn took a deep breath. ‘I volunteered for the ATS because of something that happened at work. It was when all the trouble blew up about me and Peter. His mother came to where I worked . . .’

‘Woolworth?’

Carolyn nodded. ‘She caused a dreadful scene. I was so embarrassed, I just had to leave. Amongst all her accusations against me about Peter, she said something about my parents. She implied that my birth was too soon after their marriage, if you know what I mean. And then, a while back, my father admitted that there was rather a short time between their wedding date and my birthday and then, yesterday, when we were talking, Grandad confirmed what Dad had said and that we lived with him and Grandma until I was about three years old. I can’t remember it, but I expect it explains his understanding of – of the situation you’re now in. He and Grandma stood by their daughter and now he wants to help you because your parents won’t. Sorry if that sounds a bit blunt.’

‘Don’t apologize. It’s true. What a wonderful man he is and you’re the most wonderful friend anyone could have.’

She flung her arms around Carolyn and they hugged each other.

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