The Line by Rachel Lynch

Author:Rachel Lynch
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Canelo
Published: 2022-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 26

‘Sit down, Fleet,’ Major Graham said.

Tom fidgeted. He was understandably nervous. This was his chance to put a case forward for marrying Ani. He told himself over and over that it wouldn’t be the first time, and not the last. It happened all the time: soldiers and officers alike, posted overseas, fell in love. That was all.

But she was Russian. It was complicated.

Which is why he was sat in front of the colonel’s eyes and ears, and not some warrant officer, chewing the fat over the details and choosing their quarter of marital bliss, back in Blighty.

‘I’ve read the reports. It’s the opinion of the battalion that you need to give this some airtime.’

All army officers spoke in code. It was like an ancient rite. But it was most annoyingly deployed when trying to avoid the plain truth. Airtime was a euphemism for no.

‘Sir?’

‘Look, lad, we all understand how one gets carried away with the locals. There’s nothing wrong with that, son, but marry her? Do you even know her?’

‘I do, sir. She’s a trustworthy and good woman.’

The major snorted and Tom’s hackles went up. He didn’t like the senior officer at the best of times, no one particularly did. It wasn’t that the major was of deficient character, he was simply aloof, but then Tom guessed that was his job. Most senior officers became wankers in good time. Would he one day?

Unfortunately, this senior officer held Tom’s future in his hands. Tom fiddled with his beret.

‘She still takes clients?’ the major asked.

Tom expected this, but there was something about the major’s tone that made Ani sound contaminated.

‘Yes, sir. It’s her job, but if I can give her some reassurance, then she’ll stop. She’s scared of them, sir. She daren’t go against them unless I can guarantee her safety.’

‘Guarantees? Doesn’t that sound suspicious to you? Do you talk to her about your job, Lieutenant?’

‘No, sir! It’s not like that.’ Tom’s stomach felt heavy. He knew this would be the route they’d take – after all, they had to be careful. But Ani wasn’t like that. This was different.

‘I’m sorry, son, I’ve got some bad news for you,’ the major said.

Tom watched the older man get up and pace about a bit, before going to a filing cabinet. He waited anxiously. But then he’d waited so long, another few minutes wouldn’t hurt. He’d met Ani the first week he was stationed here and they’d been together ever since. He took precautions, of course, but only against things that Ani couldn’t control. He used condoms. As soon as she was his, she could clean herself up and he wouldn’t need to. They wanted children.

The major finally spoke as he held up some paperwork. ‘These are previous applications, from both soldiers and officers, to marry Miss Anastasia Lebedev. Seven in all, over the last five years.’

Tom’s mouth fell agape.

‘I’m sorry to do this to you, Tom. The colonel is regretful too, but we see this kind of thing all the time.’

Tom flushed.

Major Graham placed the forms on the table between them.

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