Reenie and Edie watched tensely from the bedroom window as the medics worked on the casualties.
‘They didn’t cover his face,’ Edie breathed with relief. ‘Bert, they didn’t cover his face, which means he must be alive. I’m going down to speak to Jim.’
Reenie stayed where she was and kept her eyes on Marge and Phil. She desperately wanted to comfort her friend, but she couldn’t leave Bobby to wake alone in a strange place; he was traumatised enough. But when Marge collapsed onto the ground, she nearly left anyway, unable to bear the sight of her in such distress. Then Rodney took the decision away from her. A lump formed in her throat as she watched their long embrace, before they walked away, heads bent close to each other. Any fool could see they were perfect for each other, but they were stubborn, so neither would ever admit it. Maybe this would finally push them together, then at least something good could come out of this terrible carnage.
Now the field had been cleared, exhaustion overwhelmed her and she lay down beside Bobby, putting her hand on his chest. Gradually, the steady beat of his heart and the warmth of his sweet breath on her cheek soothed her and she fell asleep, waking only when the door opened and Jim came in.
He looked terrible; his pale face streaked with mud and blood, and his eyes haunted. She sat up and held out her arms, and without hesitation he came to sit beside her, gathering her into a tight embrace.
‘How’s Bert?’ she whispered.
She could feel his shrug. ‘I don’t know, they’ve taken him to the hospital.’
‘I was terrified you’d die out there,’ she said.
He breathed out a long sigh and tightened his arms around her. ‘Then we’re even. When the plane started shooting and I was so far away from you, all I could think was that I needed to get to you. I didn’t even think about Bert and Edie. I couldn’t bear to lose you.’ His voice was thick.
Reenie wanted to answer but found her throat was too full, so she turned her face and kissed the side of his neck, hoping it would be enough to show him that she felt the same.
‘You mean so much to me, Reens.’ He pushed her away slightly so he could look into her eyes. ‘I . . . I love you. I honestly just love you.’ His beautiful blue eyes were brimming with tears and shining with sincerity.
‘Oh Jim. I love you too. I don’t think I can even begin to tell you how much.’
He smiled softly. ‘If anyone had told me just a year ago that you and I . . .’ He shook his head. ‘You came to me just when I needed you most. You helped patch up my wounded soul.’ He kissed her. ‘You’ve been like an angel in my life.’
Reenie laughed shakily, brushing the moisture from his cheek. ‘You don’t half talk some rot, Jimmy.’
‘But you have,’ he said earnestly. ‘When I lost Colin . . .’ He closed his eyes briefly and took a deep breath. ‘You helped pull me back.’
‘You pulled yourself back, Jim. You’re stronger than you think.’
He shook his head. ‘Not without you, I’m not. And I’ve been thinking and thinking these past couple of weeks, and this has made my mind up. We nearly lost each other today and I don’t want that to happen again. We should get married.’
Reenie’s mouth dropped open in astonishment. ‘What?’
‘You and me. Let’s make a life together.’ With a burst of energy, he dropped onto one knee and took her hand. ‘Will you marry me, Reenie Turner, and make me the happiest man in the world?’ He smiled tremulously.
The tears that had been gathering in Reenie’s eyes started to trickle down her cheeks and Jim caught them with his thumb.
‘Are those good tears or bad tears?’
Reenie let out a little cry and threw her arms around his neck. ‘Good tears!’ she exclaimed. ‘Always good tears with you, Jimmy.’
He jumped to his feet, pulling her up with him. ‘And I promise that for the rest of your life, I will never cause you to shed bad tears. Only tears of joy and happiness.’
Reenie clasped Jim’s cheeks between her palms. ‘And I promise the same,’ she said. Then, going up on tiptoe, she pressed a gentle kiss to his lips. For a long time they stood, holding tightly to each other, rocking gently back and forth, until a whimper from Bobby forced them to let go of each other.
She sat down on the bed, Jim crouching on the floor beside her.
‘One day, we could be sitting on a bed with our own child,’ Reenie said softly. ‘It’s all I’ve ever wanted. Husband, family. Love.’
‘Me too,’ Jim said, his voice croaky with emotion. ‘I never thought I’d have it, though.’
His words were so quiet, Reenie thought she must have misheard. ‘But you’re so young. Why would you think that? You could have any woman you want, Jim. You’re a wonderful man. And you’re not bad-looking, I suppose.’
Jimmy smiled slightly. ‘You suppose?’
‘Stop fishing, you know you are. So why would you think you’d never have a family of your own?’
He shrugged. ‘I don’t know, just me being stupid, I guess. But . . . I think we should keep this to ourselves for a bit. Especially given Bert . . .’ He drew in a deep shuddering breath.
Reenie nodded. If the worst happened, their marriage would always be overshadowed by grief. Could any marriage survive such a start? And was his offer serious, or just a reaction to what they’d been through? ‘Maybe this isn’t the right time to make this decision. Maybe we should wait until we’re more in our right minds,’ she said hesitantly.
Jimmy grasped her hands. ‘There will never be a right time, not while this war carries on. And I am in my right mind. I’m shocked, upset and worried, but I know what I want. And what I want is a life with you. Just a normal life with no fear and no tragedy. And a family of our own to cherish. If today has shown us anything, it’s that we need to snatch at happiness while we can, Reens, or before we know it the chance will be gone. We’ve lost so much already, I don’t want to lose you too. And if Bert . . .’ He swallowed. ‘He wouldn’t expect us to stay apart because of him.’
It was true. They’d both lost people they loved. He’d lost Colin and Gladys – the woman who’d been like an aunt to him – and she’d lost Daisy. Dear friends, gone forever.
She nodded and rested her forehead against his. ‘You’re right. Shall we do it soon?’
‘Next week?’ he said. ‘I’ll get a special licence.’
She laughed slightly. ‘They’re a bit pricey. Why don’t we get a normal one?’
‘Because I don’t want to wait, and I don’t care how much it costs.’
Reenie tried to reach for the happiness she knew she should feel at his words. But it was buried under the weight of the disaster they had witnessed, and the looming shadow of Bert, who even now might have left them. She wanted to marry Jimmy, but how she wished it hadn’t taken the deaths of so many people for him to propose.
To hide her uncertainty, she leant forward and hugged him. ‘All right then,’ she said. ‘Let me know where and when and I’ll be there.’ They sat in silence for a moment, wrapped once again in each other’s arms.
‘Why don’t you go to the hospital? There’s nothing more to be done here,’ Reenie suggested after a while. ‘I’ll see if anyone knows who Bobby’s mum is and take him home when he wakes.’
He shook his head. ‘I don’t think I can stand to hang around there waiting for news. But I do need to speak to Mum.’ He sighed heavily and stood up. ‘So why don’t you and me take Bobby down to the café. Mum knows just about everyone, so she’ll probably have an idea who he belongs to and where he lives.’
Jim removed his coat and gently wrapped the little boy in it before picking him up and resting him against his broad shoulder. Bobby murmured softly, but didn’t wake as they went downstairs.
The office had emptied now, except for Edie, who was sobbing quietly into Mr Pearson’s shoulder.
He looked up at them. ‘Will you be going to the hospital?’ he asked.
‘Not right now,’ Jim replied. ‘Why don’t you go, Edie?’
Edie shook her head, wringing her hands. ‘Bert won’t want me, and Mum’ll be there. I can’t.’
‘You’re not keeping this up even now?’ Jimmy said, aghast. ‘We need to pull together, not split further apart!’
Edie wiped at her cheeks. ‘I don’t expect you to understand.’
‘Too bloody right I don’t understand.’ Jim kept his voice low so as not to wake the child in his arms. ‘She’s your mother! She loves you and you’re breaking her heart.’
‘And she’s broken mine,’ Edie responded angrily.
Mr Pearson sighed heavily. ‘That’s enough! Your brother is gravely injured, people have died in front of our eyes; this is not the time for a family squabble.’
Edie looked away, tears rolling down her cheeks. ‘I-I’m sorry,’ she whispered.
‘So come with us.’ Reenie held her hand out.
For a long time, Edie looked at the outstretched hand, then shook her head. ‘I don’t expect either of you to understand. If he’s awake, tell Bert I love him.’ Then she got up and went up the stairs.
‘Do you know what?’ Jim muttered. ‘I don’t give a fig anymore. After what we’ve just been through, the fact she can just walk away . . .’ He stalked out of the door.
Reenie stood uncertainly for a moment. ‘Will she be all right?’ she asked Mr Pearson.
The man rubbed his eyes wearily. ‘Between you an’ me, Reenie, I’m not sure. But don’t go tellin’ your man that. He’s got enough to worry about. Meantime, I’ll look after Edie.’
Reenie nodded and impulsively leant forward to kiss him on the cheek. ‘Thank you,’ she whispered. ‘Look after yourself as well.’ Then she turned and followed Jimmy out of the door.