Having the children for a few days meant some juggling of work schedules and several favours from the other girls at the station, but no one minded mucking in for one another, and at home there was the usual holiday feeling when Bunts and I were left in charge. Even better, Guy reported positive news from one of his meetings with Monica about investors. With Bunty’s house as our new HQ, they would come over at the weekend to talk in more detail. Thel had rung to say her mum was in a real state about Elsie, and so if it was all right with us, she would definitely stay with them until Saturday. There was, she reported, a lot to sort out.
As we had done previously when Thelma was away, the children all bunked in the spare bedroom on the same floor as Bunty and me, and from the sound of it, there was very little sleeping and far more jumping on the beds until way after lights out.
“You do know they’ll be horribly tired and cranky by the time Thel gets home, don’t you?” I said to Bunts.
“Nothing to do with me,” she said. “They can have as much fun as they like on our watch. We’re the fun aunties.”
By Saturday morning everyone was exhausted, but we all calmed down and got on with our chores, which included cleaning out Laurel and Hardy’s cage and inevitably losing them for some time in the vegetable patch. As Thel and I would be at the station in the afternoon, Bunty had promised a trip to the cinema, and when Harold arrived to go with them, excitement levels among the Jenkins children went through the roof.
“Roy hasn’t called, has he?” said Bunty as the children surrounded Harold and bombarded him with updates about late nights. “He said the other day that he would let me know if he’s at home so we can pop in to see Gert and Daisy after the matinee.”
I shook my head. “No, not a word,” I said. “That’s not like him. Perhaps he’s in hiding after the talking-to I gave him about the chickens.”
“Poor man,” said Bunts. “We’ll call in anyway. I’d better go and rescue Harold. See you later.”
I waved her off and looked at my watch. We had to be on shift in half an hour and Thel was cutting it fine. I hoped everything was all right. Her mum wasn’t in the greatest of health as it was. Humming a tune that had been playing on the wireless, I was just putting some magazines for the girls at the station into my bag when there was a knock on the door.
Mr. Parsons had promised to pop in with some yarn for Bunty, but to my surprise, when I opened the front door, it was Captain Davies from the station, with Fred, who was standing behind him.
“Oh, gosh, Captain Davies,” I said hastily. “I’m so sorry, am I late? I’ll just get my cap.”
“No, no, it’s fine, Emmy,” he said. “Are you on your own?”
Captain Davies was always a serious sort, but he was looking really quite fierce. And he only ever called me Miss Lake. Fred didn’t say anything.
“Yes,” I said. “Bunty’s out with the children. They’ve just left. Is everything all right?”
Other than for our wedding reception, the captain had never been to the house before. Now he didn’t answer but asked if they might come in.
I didn’t like his tone. I didn’t like any of this at all.
“I’ve been waiting for Roy to phone,” I said as I led them into the drawing room. We never used it, so I quickly took some dust sheets off the furniture and asked if they would like to sit down.
Then I waited. Captain Davies had taken off his cap. His face was ashen. Fred wouldn’t even look at me.
I felt my stomach tighten. I wished they would say something. I sat on the edge of my seat. Even though it was summer, my hands had gone cold.
Something was very, very wrong.
“Roy is fine,” said Captain Davies. He took a breath. “Emmy, I’m terribly sorry, but I am afraid I have some extremely sad news.” Now he came and sat beside me. “There has been an air raid on the high street in East Grinstead, with multiple casualties and loss of life.” Now he came and sat beside me. “I’m afraid we have reason to believe that Mrs. Jenkins—Thelma—was there.”
I knew the expression on his face. It was exactly the way Roy had looked when he told me about Bunty’s fiancé, Bill. “No, Captain Davies,” I said, cutting him off. “Please don’t.”
The big grandfather clock in the corner of the room ticked on.
Fred now sat down with me as well. “West Sussex Fire Service found Thel’s purse,” he said softly. “It had her identification in it.”
I didn’t believe him. This could not be happening. Not to Thelma. Not Thel.
Fred carried on speaking. I didn’t hear what he said.
I put my hands over my ears. If I didn’t listen, it wouldn’t be true.
But it was too late.
Thelma was gone.