When Major Black arrived back at the flat it had gone nine o’clock. He found Polly and Tommy in the kitchen making a big pot of tea. Polly was in her overalls, looking as though she had only recently come back from work.
‘I was just on my way home,’ Polly said. ‘There’s a fresh pot of tea if you want a cup?’
‘No time, my dear,’ the Major said, bringing his wheelchair to an abrupt stop at the entrance to the kitchen. ‘I’m needed elsewhere for the next week or so.’
He pushed both wheels forward towards his room.
‘Glad to see you two have sorted out your differences!’ His voice trailed behind him.
The sound of a wardrobe door swinging open could be heard.
A few moments later he bellowed out, ‘Give us a hand, Tommy lad!’
When Tommy arrived at the bedroom doorway, he saw the Major had already got out an overnight bag, flung it on the bed, and was now pulling clothes from the drawers of his dresser and plonking them in his lap.
‘Listen, laddie,’ the Major said as he did a 180-degree turn back to the bed. ‘The flat’s yours from now on until you go,’ he said, transferring the clothes into his holdall.
He zipped up the bag.
‘Which means, if you want your fiancée to stay here until you fly out, then that’s more than all right with me.’
Tommy’s face lit up.
‘That’s very kind of yer, Major. Are yer sure?’
‘Never been more sure.’
The Major heaved the bag onto his lap. Tommy knew not to help. He followed the Major as he wheeled himself to the front door.
‘If you need me,’ he opened the front door, ‘I’ll be at the Grand.’
Tommy looked out into the darkness and saw the outline of a military car parked up on the cobbles.
Seeing the look of confusion on Tommy’s face, the Major explained.
‘Big powwow going on there. Army and navy. Putting our heads together. They reckon it’s easier to have me there. On tap, as it were.’
The Major carefully eased his wheelchair down the ramp.
Tommy heard him chuckle.
‘Who am I to complain, eh?’
‘Really?’ Polly said, holding her tea. ‘He says I can stay here until you go?’
Tommy nodded.
‘Like man and wife?’
Tommy nodded again.
‘Which we will be soon,’ he added. They had agreed to go to the registrar on Monday to see how quickly they could get married.
‘What do you say?’ Tommy asked, a little unsure.
‘Yes.’ Polly put her tea down.
‘Yes, yes, yes.’
She put her arms around Tommy’s neck and kissed him.
Tommy kissed her back.
‘But …’ he hesitated ‘ … what about yer ma?’