The last night with Charlie was like every night they’d spent together condensed into one. Everything was the same only more so. When they ate fish and chips together under the arches in Settle town centre, they tasted better than they ever had because they were the last fish and chips. Charlie’s arms, when he spun her around the dance hall that evening in her best blue crepe dress with the sweetheart neckline, felt warmer and stronger than ever before. The two young lovers held each other more tightly than ever, knowing that tomorrow they’d be lovers no more.
But every storm must come to an end, Charlie had said, and so, too, must the sunshine. The last night had to end, and it did so when Charlie helped Bobby to dismount from the trap outside Cow House Cottage at midnight.
‘Here you are, Cinderella, home safe and sound,’ he said, smiling. ‘I’d better put Boxer away before he turns into a mouse.’
‘Charlie…’
He took her in his arms.
‘Not yet,’ he whispered. ‘When you say goodbye.’
And he kissed her like he never wanted the kiss to end. But it did.
Chapter 28
The big goodbye took place in the garden of Moorside Farm the following morning. Charlie looked bashful as he came out of the house in his smart new uniform, freshly pressed by Mary. He was to catch the bus from the Black Bull to the station in Skipton, and from there he’d make his way to his billet in East Yorkshire. The family had lined up to say goodbye to him.
Mary was standing next to Bobby. She glanced down at her left hand.
‘What is it?’ Bobby said.
‘Nowt. Only I thought, after the two of you went out last night, happen I might see summat new there this morning.’
‘Then you were wrong,’ Bobby said quietly. Mary looked at her, eyebrows raised, before falling silent.
‘Now then, young man,’ Bobby’s dad said, stepping forward to shake Charlie’s hand vigorously in both of his own. ‘Got your Brylcreem packed, have you?’
Charlie laughed. ‘Been buying it by the gallon, Rob.’
‘Well, lad, good luck up there. Steady as she goes for your first few flights.’
‘I’ll be earthbound for a while yet. I understand there’ll be eight weeks of solid square bashing before they let me anywhere near the Tiger Moths they use for training.’
‘Buy the other lads a round on me when you get there, eh?’ Rob said, pressing a note into his hand. ‘Mind how you go, Charlie. Looking forward to another sing-song when you’re home on leave.’
‘That’s generous of you. Thank you.’
Bobby cast a concerned look at the note Charlie was tucking into his pocket. Her father seemed to be very free with his money lately. He’d come home from the market yesterday with a basketful of apples for the girls, biscuits for the dogs, and some little treats for her and Mary too. It could only mean he’d been gambling again. She wasn’t sure if that was better or worse than the poaching, but if Pete was running it then it was certainly just as illegal. That worried her.
The two evacuees went up next to say goodbye, following a little push from Mary. Ace bounded over with them, walking by Florence on his lead.
Jessie immediately threw herself at Charlie and burst into tears. Florrie, however, seemed to be sulking, folding her arms and looking the other way while her lower lip wobbled.
‘Now, Jess, none of that,’ Charlie said gently, crouching down to give the sobbing Jessie a hug. ‘I’ll be home on leave in no time at all, I promise.’
‘But… we won’t have… any good games till you come back,’ the little girl sobbed.
‘Don’t be daft. Bobby’s still here, and Reggie and Mary. They know all sorts of good games. And you’ve got Ace to play with, and Barney and Winnie, and Boxer to go for rides on. I say, won’t your dad be impressed when he visits on leave in a fortnight and you can show him all the tricks Ace has learned?’
This seemed to mollify Jessie a little. She drew a sleeve over her nose, much to Mary’s horror, who immediately rushed forward to press a clean handkerchief into the child’s hand.
‘I wish you could stay and meet Dad, Uncle Charlie,’ Jessie said.
‘I do too, but there’ll be other times for that. And you and Florrie can write and tell me all about his visit, and about how the animals are doing and the new games you’ve made up. So I shall feel almost like I’m here after all. And I’m going to give you the most important job of all while I’m gone, because you’re the only one I trust to care for Boxer for me. Can you do that?’
Jessie looked pleased. ‘Oh yes, I can look after him all right. I know when he’s to be fed, and how to rub him down and all like that.’
‘I knew you did. You’ve been a good little learner.’ He took a coin from his pocket and pressed it into her hand, lowering his voice to a whisper. ‘Here’s two bob. Don’t tell Mary you’ve got it and you can spend the whole lot on spice.’
