‘Marmaduke’s barely the size of a nectarine yet, the doctor says.’ Bobby fixed him with a stern look. ‘He also says I’m to make sure you’re getting enough rest. You’re still healing, Charlie.’
‘Oh, he’s an old mother hen. Sitting on my backside isn’t healing anything.’
Bobby got up to put on her dressing gown, the chill in the air making her shiver. ‘At least let me bring you a cup of tea.’
‘Bobby, there’s no need to fuss. I can make my own tea.’
‘Please, let me. I want to make you one.’
There was an embarrassed pause.
‘Go on.’ Bobby forced a smile. ‘Let me feel like a wife before I go out to work, eh?’
Charlie caught her arm and pulled her down so she was sitting on his legs.
‘Oh, you want to feel like a wife, do you?’ he said huskily, nuzzling her neck. ‘You should have said.’
Bobby giggled. ‘Charlie, get off. We don’t have time for that.’
‘I won’t have you complaining to Mary that your conjugal rights aren’t being respected. Why don’t you come back to bed for quarter of an hour?’
‘You can lure me into bed this afternoon if you like. Not now.’
‘Why not both?’ he murmured against her skin. ‘I’m a hot-blooded young husband.’
He pulled aside her nightdress to kiss her shoulder. Bobby let him continue for a moment, relishing the softness of his lips, before wriggling away.
‘We can’t, love,’ she said. ‘I’ve been late twice since I went back to work because of morning sickness, and you know how your brother gets. We can’t risk Reg realising I’m in the family way until we’re ready. He’s bound to let me go once he knows, and with you out of work we need the money.’
Charlie slumped against his pillow. ‘You had to remind me.’
‘Oh, you know I didn’t mean it like that.’ Bobby sat down by him. ‘It’s a fact, that’s all. Our savings won’t last long with neither of us bringing in a salary. We need to be putting aside as much as we can while I’m still able to work.’
‘What if I can’t find anything, Bob?’ Charlie said, rubbing his temple. ‘No veterinary practice wants a large-animal vet with abad limp and one arm practically useless, and if I’m too broken for that, what else is there? I was only good at three things my entire life: charming girls, fettling beasts and flying. The RAF’s ruined me for the last two, and I imagine you’d have something to say about the first.’
‘I certainly would. I expect all your charms to be reserved for me,’ Bobby said with a smile. ‘There’s plenty of things you could do. You’ve a good brain, a good education, and you’re hardly long in the tooth at twenty-eight. Something’s bound to turn up.’
‘Huh. I wish it’d hurry.’
‘You only left hospital a month ago. Be patient.’ Bobby reached up to stroke his hair. ‘We’re all right, aren’t we?’ she said softly. ‘I’ve got my job, for now at least. We’re adding to our nest egg, little by little. We’re home, we’re together, and best of all we’ve got Marmaduke. It wasn’t long ago that my every waking minute was filled with worry about whether you’d survive the night, so I’m not going to complain that things aren’t quite perfect yet.’
Charlie wrapped her in his arms.
‘You’re right. I’ve been given the moon and I’m complaining they forgot to put sugar on it for me,’ he said. ‘It’s a good thing I’ve got you to remind me what an enormous fathead I am.’
‘Yes, but you’re my enormous fathead.’ Bobby kissed his nose. ‘Come on. You can build the fire and I’ll make breakfast. How does that sound?’
‘Perfect.’ He released her so he could put on his dressing gown. ‘Just make sure you don’t spend too long jawing with Mary and Lilian after work. I haven’t forgotten that promise to let me lure you into bed on your afternoon off.’
Dawn was breaking when Bobby left for work. She paused to look at the cottage before setting out. She had only moved in two months ago following compassionate discharge from the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force, with Charlie joining her a month later, so married life was a novelty yet.
Number 4 Church View was the middle home in a row of seven that had once been almshouses. It was small, the best she and Charlie could afford to rent: bedroom, parlour and kitchen, all on one floor, and an outhouse with a flush privy. There was no garden, only a yard, but they did have the luxury of indoor plumbing.
It was modest, yes, but neat and snug, and Bobby couldn’t help feeling houseproud. The place wasn’t only her first marital home. It was also where she and Charlie would truly become a family when Marmaduke joined them there in spring.
Before leaving for work, Bobby had prepared breakfast, swept the flagged kitchen floor and made the bed, to lighten Charlie’s load when he tackled the daily chores. When she left, he had been sitting withThe Veterinary Record, frowning over the vacant positions while he smoked a cigarette.
Bobby had cast a worried glance at his hands while she said goodbye. They shook so, these days.
