Josh arrived in the city in the early evening. Constance had been shocked by the news and had wanted to take Josh straight to Sheffield there and then to see Emily, but Josh had shaken his head. ‘No, no, this afternoon will be fine. You do whatever you have to do here and then we’ll go.’
‘I’ll bring you back tonight of course . . .’
‘There’s no need. Amy has agreed that I should stay the night with Emily.’
‘Yes, of course, but you must let me drive you back tomorrow – or whenever you’re ready. You know I can get extra petrol because of running this place as a convalescent home.’
‘Thank you. I will accept that kind offer.’ He smiled at her, but the smile did not reach his eyes, so deep was his sadness.
Trip opened the door to his knock. ‘Josh – what a nice surprise. Come in, come in. Emily’s in the—’ He stopped as he saw Josh’s face. ‘Ah, there’s something wrong, isn’t there? Is it Harry?’
Wordlessly, Josh nodded.
‘Come through and tell us both.’
He opened the door into the living room. Emily was sitting darning socks by the fire. As soon as she glanced up, the smile of welcome faded from her face. She laid her sewing aside and stood up, going at once to put her arms around her brother.
‘It’s Harry, isn’t it? Sit down and tell us.’
When he had explained – however many times was he going to have to repeat the awful words – Emily asked, ‘How are they all?’
Josh sighed heavily and told them how each member of the family – and Lucy – had reacted to the news.
Emily wiped the tears from her eyes. She rarely cried; but this was the worst news she’d ever had in her life. Even her father’s return from the Great War hadn’t been as bad as this. At least he’d come back, even though he was terribly injured. And he had been much better since the family had gone back to Ashford, but now . . .
‘How’s Dad?’ Emily asked, her voice shaking.
‘Not good, nor is Amy’s dad. They’ve taken it very hard. We all have.’
‘Is there anything we can do?’
Constance had asked the same question as she had dropped Josh outside Emily’s house, but what was there that anyone could do? Their beloved Harry was gone.
Sadly, Josh shook his head. ‘Amy is clinging to the wording “missing” and if that’s the way she can deal with it, then who am I to argue? We – we’ve each got to come to terms with it in our own time and in our own way.’
‘Just let us know, Josh, if there’s anything – anything at all – that we can do,’ Trip said.
‘Could I stay the night? I was wondering if I should see Lizzie while I’m here.’
Emily bit her lip. She could hardly tell them of her fears that, if she saw him again, Lizzie might rekindle the flame she’d held for Josh.
As he saw his sister hesitate, Josh smiled wryly. ‘Amy knows. I wouldn’t go behind her back, Em.’
Emily smiled weakly and nodded. ‘I’ll take you to see her after I’ve found you something to eat. She’s working with Ruth Nicholson at the shop, though she refuses to serve customers. The left-hand side of her face is badly scarred, Josh. It might shock you, but please don’t let it show on your face when you see her.’
‘I won’t. I’m used to such sights at Riversdale.’
Emily stared at him for a moment and then murmured, ‘Of course you are. Now, I wonder . . .’
The two men exchanged a glance. ‘What’s buzzing through that busy little head of yours this time?’ Trip asked.
‘I was just wondering if it really would do Lizzie good to visit Riversdale. Your mother suggested it before, Trip, but I’d thought of it as just a holiday, you know, to get her away from the city, but now I can see that it might do her good to meet some of the soldiers and see how they cope with their injuries.’
‘Would she agree to go there, though?’ Trip ventured. ‘It’s taken you long enough to get her to go to the shop, and even then she hides herself away in the back and refuses to meet anyone.’
‘It’s not Lizzie I’d be concerned about, it’s the wounded. I wouldn’t want them to think we were treating them like – guinea pigs.’
Despite the terrible news they had just received, Josh laughed. ‘You needn’t worry about that, Em. That’s what Archie McIndoe calls all his boys. “The Guinea Pig Club”. They’re all proud to be members.’
‘I’m sure the sister at the hospital in Leeds mentioned him, but to be honest, I was so worried about Lizzie that I didn’t really take in what she was saying, only that it was about some kind of new treatment they were using. Who is he?’
‘A brilliant man,’ Josh said. ‘A lot of our lads have been operated on by him and have come to us to recuperate. Those who still have to have more operations stay at his hospital in East Grinstead, but once he’s done all he can for them, they come to homes like Riversdale to heal. He’s doing some marvellous work. He’s a real pioneer.’
‘And you think this great man might help Lizzie?’
‘I don’t see why not. She’s a war casualty just the same as the RAF lads who’ve been burned in their planes—’ He stopped suddenly and stared at Emily before whispering hoarsely. ‘Oh my God, don’t say that’s what happened to Harry.’
Emily enfolded him in her embrace. ‘Keep the faith, Josh. Be like Amy and believe what they’ve said. “Missing”. We must all cling to that.’
Emily was a little fearful as they stepped into the shop.
‘You remember my brother, Josh, don’t you, Ruth?’
Ruth smiled and held out her hand. ‘I do indeed. How are you, Josh? It must be twenty years since I’ve seen you.’ She searched the man’s face. He’d altered in the intervening years. He was no longer the fresh-faced, slightly diffident young man, who had relied so much on his sister’s strength of character back then. Now, he had confidence. He was broad and tall, but he was just beginning to show signs of his forty years. His hair was thinning and he was starting to have a double chin and a slight paunch. He was a nice-looking man with a kind face, but he was no longer the handsome young feller with whom Lizzie had been infatuated.
‘And what brings you to the big bad city?’
‘He—’ Emily began and then faltered. Josh put his arm around her and faced Ruth. ‘Sadly, I’ve had to come to see Em and Trip with some bad news. Harry is missing.’
Ruth’s face contorted. ‘Oh Josh, I’m so sorry. So very sorry.’ She, more than anyone else they knew, understood what it meant to receive such heartbreaking news. She wiped her eyes and then said, ‘I’ll tell her you’re here. I don’t know if she’ll see you though, Josh.’
But moments later, Ruth came back and said, ‘Go through, both of you.’
As they stepped into the back room, Lizzie kept the left-hand side of her face turned away from them, but Josh went towards her with his arms outstretched wide and bent to kiss her forehead. He would have liked to have made a point of kissing her scarred cheek but, although the wound was healing well, he didn’t want to cause infection. Tears welled in Lizzie’s eyes as she looked up at him.
‘I’m not the pretty girl you knew, Josh. Not any longer.’
He smiled down at her. ‘Of course you are.’ Gently, he took her by the shoulders and turned her to face him. Watching, Emily held her breath. ‘You’ll always be beautiful, Lizzie,’ Josh murmured and then added, more strongly, ‘I want you to come to Riversdale. There are people there I’d like you to meet.’
‘Oh Josh, I can’t. I – I don’t go out – except to come to work.’
‘Mrs Bayes will bring you to Ashford if I ask her.’
‘Who – who is it you want me to meet?’
Josh tapped the end of her nose playfully. ‘That’s a secret. You’ll see.’