When Tommy and Polly walked into their honeymoon suite, they were speechless.
Tommy whistled.
‘We’re one very lucky couple,’ he said, turning a full three hundred and sixty degrees, taking in the room’s carved wooden panelling, tapestry curtains, huge oil paintings – and, of course, the most amazing four-poster bed.
‘I think that’s about triple the size of our bed in John Street.’ Tommy laughed.
Polly pulled back the covers to see that the women welders had sprinkled the sheets with confetti.
Bel had also made sure that room service had left a tray of nibbles should they get hungry during the night. She was under no illusion the pair would be wasting their last night together sleeping.
There was also a little bottle of Scotch, which she knew was Tommy’s preferred tipple, and another of port, which was Polly’s.
Polly and Tommy looked at each other. There was a tinge of sadness in their eyes.
This was to be their first night as a married couple – and their last.
At least for the foreseeable future.
Until this war was won.
And it would be won, Polly had decided.
After what she had experienced this last week there was just too much goodness in the world.
And because of that, she was sure good would triumph in the end.
It had to.
She’d realised they were all playing their part in making sure that happened.
‘There’s something that you haven’t seen yet.’ Polly turned to Tommy.
He was taking off his uniform, all the while continuing to take in the extravagance of the room.
He had never seen anything like it in his life.
‘Oh, yes? And what’s that?’ he asked, bringing his attention back to his gorgeous wife in her beautiful dress.
‘It’s something I have been wearing the entire day, yet no one has seen it. Nor will anyone else see it,’ Polly said with a cheeky smile. ‘It’s for your eyes only.’
As she spoke, she lifted her dress to just above her knee.
Her garter had dropped down a little during the course of the day.
Tommy stared.
‘Well, that’s lovely!’ He threw Polly a cheeky smile. ‘The garter too.’
He dropped down on one knee and gently pulled the unique handmade hosiery down his wife’s leg.
Polly lifted her foot off the ground as Tommy took the garter off.
He held it, inspecting its intricate design.
‘It’s lovely,’ he said simply. ‘Kate?’
Polly nodded.
‘Of course.’
Tommy handed Polly the garter and she too admired it.
Her eyes narrowed.
Something on the inside had caught her interest.
Holding it up close, she inspected what looked like swirls of pale blue stitching.
‘Kate’s sewn some words on the inside …’ She squinted some more.
Tommy saw tears form in her eyes.
‘What does it say?’
Polly looked up at her husband.
‘It’s five words,’ she said.
Tommy raised his eyebrows questioningly.
Polly smiled.
A single tear escaped and ran down her face.
‘Hope … Faith … Peace … Joy …
‘And … Love.’