Danny shifts as his phone starts ringing in his pocket. “It’s Maddie,” he tells me. “I’d better take this.”
I nod as he makes his way back through the room to the exit where it’s quieter.
“Trudy,” I call out to the woman now slumped down in her chair so far she’s practically taking a nap.
“Hmm, yes?” She smiles beatifically.
I see my chance and I’m not about to let it pass me by. “Can I ask you a question about Delores during the war?”
“What do you want to know?” she replies. “I worked in one of the munitions factories because I wasn’t as smart as Delores, so I don’t know much about what she did, only that she moved around a lot.” There almost seemed to be a hint of resentment in her tone, or maybe envy, but it’s gone almost as soon as I notice it.
“It’s not about that.” I’m about to elaborate when Danny appears back at the table and leans over my shoulder.
“Tris,” he whispers. “I’m really sorry but I need to go. Do you want me to give you a lift home?”
I glance at Trudy, who’s still watching me.
“No, I’ll stay a while.” I pat his hand where it rests on my shoulder. “I’ll head back with Chan.”
“Are you sure you’ll be alright here on your own?” He frowns in concern.
“Excuse me?” Chan wrinkles his nose in indignation. “And what am I? Just here for decoration?”
“No.” Danny’s mouth twitches. “Just try not to get into too much trouble, you two. I’m still traumatised from last time.”
“Oh my god, are we never going to be allowed to live that down?” I roll my eyes. “It was hardly our fault.”
“Fine. Call me if you need me.” He drops a kiss on my cheek and from the corner of my eye, I see Ivy’s gaze narrow in my direction. “And stay out of trouble.”
“I make no promises,” Chan replies breezily as Danny leaves.
“Trudy,” I call out to her again, and for some reason she’s now staring at her hands as if they’re the most fascinating things in the world. “Er… Trudy?”
“Hmm.” She blinks. “Sorry, dear. What were you saying?”
“I was just wondering, did Delores ever mention a man she met during the war? He would have been American, tall, handsome, dark hair. Someone she might have been involved with.”
“How do you know about Beau?” She frowns in confusion. “Beau… Beau…” she makes an exaggerated ‘o’ shape with her mouth. “Such a pretty name for a man, don’t you think?”
She’s acting very strangely. Trudy is usually so eloquent and poised, but now her speech sounds a little slurred and she appears distracted, like her mind keeps wandering off on a tangent.
“Trudy?” I try to draw her attention back. “Can you tell me about Beau?”
“Delores was so in love with him… Beaumont Olsen, a gorgeous hunk of an American.” Trudy sighs. “All the ladies had stars in their eyes for him, but he only had eyes for Delores.”
“So they were in love?” I ask. That certainly explains a lot.
“Very much so.” She sighs dramatically. “It’s sooooo sad.” Her bottom lip sticks out. “So very terribly sad.”
“What’s wrong with her?” Chan whispers and I shrug.
“I don’t know,” I mouth back, a bit perplexed.
“They were supposed to meet up after the war, you see, but they never did,” Trudy says pensively.
Well, that would certainly explain the unfinished business.
“Trudy, why didn’t they meet up?” I ask, afraid I already know the answer.
