Chapter Twenty-Six

Dr Parker was skimming the papers as he sat at a table in the hospital canteen, his mind only half on the latest developments across the globe. He checked his watch. Helen would be arriving any minute. He knew she was going to try and slip away early from the launch of Weybank at Doxford’s. He thought of Matthew Royce. He couldn’t believe he’d been convinced they were courting. Not that it would have made any difference. Helen wanted him only as a friend.

‘A penny for your thoughts!’

Dr Parker jumped. ‘Dear me, I was in my own world there.’ He stood up and kissed Helen on the cheek before pulling out her chair.

‘It’s wonderful to see you,’ he said, as he sat down and started to pour their tea.

‘And you,’ Helen said. If only you knew how wonderful.

‘It feels ages.’ Dr Parker pushed her cup towards her.

‘I know,’ she said, taking the cup and feeling their fingers touch briefly. ‘Work just never seems to stop.’ If only he knew she’d come here to see him every day if she could, even if she was working twelve-hour shifts. Still, she had to be content with being able to see him at all.

‘First of all, how’s Henrietta?’ Dr Parker asked. Helen’s grandmother, he knew, was bringing so much joy into Helen’s life. It had been wonderful to see.

‘Oh, she’s doing incredibly well,’ Helen enthused, her face lighting up. ‘Kate’s sorting her out with a new wardrobe – a new up-to-date wardrobe.’

Dr Parker knew about Henrietta’s rather theatrical appearance.

‘It’ll be great to meet her one of these days,’ Dr Parker said. ‘It seems crazy she’s literally just down the road and I’ve never met her.’

‘I know,’ Helen said a little guiltily. She had purposely kept the two from meeting each other for fear of complicating an already precarious situation, but most of all because she was sure her grandmother would have no qualms about telling John how her granddaughter really felt about him.

‘Hopefully, you can meet her at the Christmas Extravaganza – when she’s in her new outfit,’ Helen suggested, thinking that would give her enough time to prime Henrietta on what she could and could not say.

‘What if, by some remote chance, someone recognises her at the do?’ Dr Parker asked.

‘Then the line is that dear Miss Girling is always being mistaken for her poor long-dead relative, Mrs Havelock, which I’ll say is hardly surprising as they are blood relatives. And then I’ll subtly change the subject.’

‘You sound as though you’ve got all your bases covered,’ Dr Parker said.

‘Let’s hope so,’ said Helen. ‘And talking about the Christmas extravaganza …’ she said, with a slightly weary sigh.

‘Let me guess,’ he said. ‘Dorothy has given instructions.’

Helen laughed. ‘She has – and I thought I was meant to be the boss.’

‘Clearly not when it comes to Christmas,’ Dr Parker chuckled.

Helen smiled, looking into John’s sparkling brown eyes. She would actually like to thank Dorothy for being such a bossyboots and going totally over the top when it came to organising the soldiers’ Christmas party, for it provided her with a convincing excuse to see a little more of John than she could have orchestrated otherwise – a legitimate excuse, should Dr Eris try and put a stop to it.

‘So, tell me,’ Dr Parker said. ‘What part do I play in Dorothy’s plans?’

‘You, Dr Parker, get off scot-free, all in all,’ Helen said. ‘You just have to think up some ideas about what your “recruits” would like in the way of presents.’

‘Deal. I shall endeavour to gently prise out of them what they’d like from Father Christmas this year.’ Dr Parker was purposely making light of it when what he was really thinking was that he knew exactly what their answers would be: the return of their limbs, their minds, their former lives, the comrades-in-arms they’d seen die, friends they’d never see again.

‘I’m guessing Tommy won’t be back?’ Dr Parker asked.

‘He’s told Polly he’ll stay until the end of the war, even if he’s allowed back earlier.’

‘And Polly’s all right with that?’

‘Not really,’ Helen gave a sad little laugh, ‘but she understands. And more than anything, I think she’s just eternally grateful he’s survived the worst.’

Dr Parker nodded, remembering the heartache Polly had gone through when Tommy had been admitted to this very hospital at death’s door, only for him to recover and then go back to his unit – back to removing limpet mines off the sides of Allied ships.

‘And dare I ask about the divorce?’ Dr Parker watched Helen’s reaction. He smiled when he saw her face light up with a mix of mirth and mischievousness.

‘Have we got time for another cup of tea?’ Helen asked.

Dr Parker hooted with laughter.

‘I knew you had something up your sleeve. Wait there, I’ll get us another pot and you can tell me all about it.’

Helen watched Dr Parker as he headed over to the counter. She could stay here all day with him, chatting, drinking tea.

How she loved him.

If only she had realised it earlier.