In the allotment hut, Reenie angrily started to stuff the parsnips into sacks, her movements quick and jerky as her mind went over and over what Wilf had said. If you have doubts, listen to them. Arrogant man! Of course she didn’t have doubts! But then she remembered what Terence had said about Jimmy’s secret being safe with him . . .
She had just finished when the door opened and a tall figure stood silhouetted against the light and her heart leapt.
‘I thought you might be here.’ Jim came forward to give her a hug.
She stepped back and folded her arms.
Jimmy’s arms dropped to his sides and he looked at her in bemusement. ‘Have I done something wrong?’
‘I don’t know, Jim, have you?’
Jimmy’s brows furrowed and he took his cap off, slapping it against his thigh nervously. ‘I mean . . . I . . .’ He shrugged. ‘Not that I know of,’ he said eventually. ‘In fact, I came to find you because I have good news. I applied for a special licence yesterday and I just picked it up. We can get married one week today!’
Her heart stuttered. ‘Really? One week?!’
He smiled uncertainly. ‘That is, if you still want me?’
The genuine anxiety in his expression reassured her more than words ever could have, and suddenly, she felt foolish for worrying so much about what Terence Carter had said – everyone knew he was a nasty piece of work. As for Wilf . . . well, whatever his reasons for saying what he had, she didn’t care! He didn’t know Jimmy like she did.
She rushed over and threw her arms around his neck. ‘Yes, yes! Of course I still want you!’ She stood on tiptoe to kiss his mouth, revelling in the warmth of his hard body pressed close to hers. She pulled him closer and deepened the kiss and for a moment the cold hut and the damp smell of earth disappeared.
After a while he lifted his head and looked down into her eyes. ‘Thank God! When I came in, I thought you’d changed your mind.’ He pressed his forehead to hers. ‘Is something the matter?’
Reenie shook her head. ‘Not now you’re here. But before you came . . . Well, it was something Terence Carter said to me.’ She wouldn’t tell him what Wilf had said. ‘He wanted me to give you a message.’
‘Terence Carter?’ Jim asked in astonishment. ‘I hardly know the bloke.’
‘Well, he seems to know you. He said that you’re not to worry because your secret is safe with him. He also said you should speak to Bert, then go find him in the Oak.’ She kept her eyes on his face and even though the light was dim in the hut, she could have sworn Jimmy blanched.
After a long pause, she said. ‘What do you think it’s about?’
‘I have no idea.’ Jimmy swallowed and looked down at the rough planks under his feet.
‘Are you in trouble? Is there something you need to tell me?’
‘No! God, no!’ He took her hands. ‘I’ve never had anything to do with that man! But as for Bert . . . God knows. You know how reckless he’s been recently. He probably owes Terence money.’
Reenie nodded. ‘I thought it must be something like that.’ She examined his face, but he wouldn’t meet her eyes, causing a flicker of doubt to return. ‘Are you sure that’s all it is? Because when I mentioned it to Marianne, she looked spooked. And so did you just now.’
Jim ran his hands through his hair. ‘You told Marianne?’
‘She’s my mate, of course I told her. But she reacted weirdly. What’s going on?’
‘Honestly, I don’t know, love.’ Jim put his arms around her again and rested his cheek on her head. ‘You’ll have to ask her that.’
Reenie pulled away. ‘I did! But her first loyalty is to you! And even though she’s one of my oldest friends and I’ve known your family forever, it made me wonder whether I’d ever fit in. All the secrets and lies . . . Where will that leave me?’
Jimmy looked utterly bewildered now. ‘What do you mean? You’ll be my wife, Reens. Mrs Jimmy Castle. You’ve been more or less part of the family all my life. When we’re married, you’ll be even more part of it.’
Reenie looked away. ‘I love you, Jim, but I won’t be living at the café. Once we’re married, I’m staying with Aunt Ethel and Uncle Brian till the war’s over and we can find a place of our own.’
‘Has Mum upset you?’ he asked.
‘No. Although she’s definitely annoyed me. But there’s something up with her. Something more than usual. Her and Lou Carter were having a furious row earlier. And it all leads back to Terence again.’
‘Mum and Lou are always arguing, so I don’t know why you’re surprised. Honestly, Reenie, everyone loves you. And I know things have been a bit . . . well, a bit up and down in the family recently, but take no notice of Mum. She’s taken Gladys’s death really hard. As for Terence, I’ll pop up and see Bert soon as I can and find out what’s going on.’
‘If Bert owes him money, don’t you dare pay him a penny! He can sort out his own mess.’
‘And that’s what I’ll tell him,’ he said. ‘But first I need to talk to him. If he weren’t already hurt, I’d bloody injure him myself.’ He gave her a disarming smile. ‘But I don’t care about that. I care about us; about the fact that you seem to be getting cold feet, and just when I’ve spent a fortune on the licence. Don’t you love me anymore?’
Reenie softened; she never could resist him when he gave her his little-boy-lost look: his blue eyes wide and pleading, his beautiful mouth downturned.
‘You know I do,’ she said. ‘Sometimes I wish I didn’t. It would save me a whole lot of trouble.’
Jimmy smiled radiantly and bent to kiss her lips. ‘You won’t regret it, I promise. I’m going to be the best husband ever.’
Reenie put her arms around his neck and kissed him again, trying to pull him closer, but Jim put his hands on her waist and urged her away slightly. ‘Much as I’d love to continue,’ he murmured against her mouth, ‘I have to get back.’
Reenie groaned. ‘Can’t you spare just a few more minutes.’ She gestured to a pile of sacks. ‘We could cuddle a bit more and . . . maybe even take things further,’ she whispered shyly.
Jim shook his head and kissed her quickly on the nose. ‘I really can’t. I’m already a bit late.’ Seeing her disappointment, he gave her a tight squeeze. ‘I’m sorry. Something’s always coming up, isn’t it? But don’t worry, it won’t be long till we’ll have all the time in the world.’ He reached into his pocket and pulled out a piece of paper. ‘Soon, you will be Mrs Jimmy Castle.’
‘Will you be able to get a night’s leave?’
‘Fingers crossed. Might even be able to swing a forty-eight-hour pass.’ He stroked her cheek. ‘No more doubts?’ he asked.
Reenie regarded him soberly. ‘You’ll tell me what Bert says? And I’ll come with you to see Terence.’
Jimmy looked hesitant.
‘Look, if we’re getting married, I don’t want any secrets between us.’
Jimmy blew out a long breath. ‘All right,’ he said softly. ‘No more secrets. But you will not be coming to see Terence with me. If he turns nasty, I don’t want to be worrying about you.’
Reenie nodded. ‘All right. Next Friday then. No more doubts.’
Jimmy smiled with relief. ‘This time next week I will be the luckiest man in the world.’
She gave him a little shove. ‘No lies either,’ she teased. ‘Now, go sort out your brother’s mess and let me know what happens – otherwise I’ll spend every hour worrying.’
He brought her hands up to his lips, kissing the back of them. ‘I love you. And whatever Terence wants to talk to me about, I’m sure it’s nothing for us to worry about – Bert might need to worry, but not us, all right?’
Reenie watched as he put his cap back on and hurried out of the hut. They were as bad as each other. She’d asked for no more secrets and lies. But she’d lied when she told him she had no more doubts . . . And he’d lied when he said there was nothing for them to worry about. From his expression when she’d told him what Terence had said, there was most definitely something to worry about. And she was pretty sure Jimmy knew what it was.
Outside, Jimmy walked quickly up the hill towards Drop Redoubt, trying hard to keep his nerves under control. Terence Carter making veiled threats to him through Reenie was making his imagination run wild. Logically, he knew his theory about Bert and gambling was the obvious reason the man wanted to see him, because if it had been anything else, wouldn’t he have got his claws into him by now? But Reenie had been clear, Terence had said that his secret was safe with him.
‘Oh God,’ he whispered, rubbing his face. ‘Surely it’s not possible?’ But the more he thought about it, the more likely it seemed.
With a heavy heart, he gazed out at the choppy grey sea, as miserable and turbulent as his own feelings. Maybe he could brazen it out. Now he was marrying Reenie, it would be Terence’s word against his. He took a deep, calming breath.
Yes, let the man say what he liked, with Reenie by his side, for the first time in his life, he had nothing to hide.