Love at War by Sandra Howard

Author:Sandra Howard
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: FICTION / Historical / World War II
Publisher: Troubador Publishing
Published: 2022-06-29T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 27

Harry

Harry had his commission. He felt quite proud and overjoyed too that Laura was coming with him to Nairobi and they could be together for however long he had. She was driving and he lifted her hand from the wheel, rubbed his thumb over her palm. It was their last weekend in Nakuru, only the packing up at the barracks, only a few more days…

It was a sparkling day and they were on the way to the lake, and without Cyril for a change. Laura had said it would be a special last time there together and he wasn’t about to argue with that. A small cloud fogged his eyes; why hadn’t she got pregnant? Was it biological? Something wrong? He felt irrationally angry, so badly wanting a child.

They found a good spot and spread out his old rug that lived in the car, enjoying seeing the great shifting pink mass of flamingos. They were literally in their thousands, fuchsia pink, wings flapping, wading and dipping their long swan necks deep into the shallow, alkaline lake.

Harry said, ‘See the pelicans and cormorants and the little grebes and white-winged black terns? It’s amazing how the small birds can get a look in.’

‘My handsome, knowledgeable birdman.’ Laura grinned and gave him a kiss.

They idled around, strolled a bit, talked about nothing very much till the shadows grew long and she said it was time to be getting back. ‘You’ll take the car for your kit? I’ll be all packed by early morning, Tuesday, and ready for the off. I just wish we knew whether it’ll be days or weeks in Nairobi and, of course, to have some idea of wherever you’ll be.’

‘Well, it pretty much has to be north!’

Harry couldn’t say more; secrecy and censorship were vital. His commission was all very fine, but he could hardly swallow for the lump in his throat, thinking of the length of their imminent parting.

Back at camp, there was a lot of backslapping and suppressing of fears and he was feeling carved up at having to say goodbye to Toppy, squatting to fondle his spanielish ears, almost about to cry. Toppy seemed to sense uncannily too that this was no short-term parting. His feathery tail drooped and he slunk into the shadow of a Jeep as Harry got to his feet. Tim, who was staying on for a week or two, had promised to try to find Toppy a loving home. There must be a family in Nakuru who’d be glad to take him on.

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