As it happened, she did rather well. The greengrocer had not only carrots and potatoes but that rare thing, an onion. Bobby hadn’t used up any cheese yet and she had Kathleen’s book to get another portion, which ought to make a decent supper of Welsh rarebit with fried onion.
But her real lucky find was in the butcher’s. Bobby and Charlie were registered at the butcher’s in Settle for their rations, but she’d entered with the forlorn hope the Skipton butcher might have an off-the-ration oxtail to sell her. It was the butcher’s wife who had been behind the counter, however, and she had taken pity on the heavily pregnant woman struggling around town with her shopping. With a wink she had produced two sausages from under the counter, and sold them for thruppence each. Half a sausage with their rarebits would be a treat indeed.
Bobby felt weary after making her purchases, and her ankles had swollen painfully. She was hobbling in the direction of a bench when a Canadian voice hailed her. She turned to see Ernie King, jogging to catch her up.
‘Oh. Hello, Ernie.’ Bobby felt suddenly very conscious of her bloated figure, her ugly swollen ankles and the unbecoming maternity dress she was wearing. She hadn’t seen her friend since she had been forced to abandon her pre-pregnancy wardrobe. No doubt she looked a fright, especially compared to the Dorothy Lamour lookalike Ernie was engaged to. He beamed at her like old times, however.
‘Here, give me that,’ he said, taking the basket. ‘A man can’t let the mother of his godchild lug heavy baskets around.’
‘It isn’t that heavy.’
‘Baloney. Now, take my arm. Where are you headed?’
‘I was going to find a bench. I’m rather tired.’
‘I don’t wonder,’ he said, glancing at her stomach. ‘You’re huge, Slacks.’
‘I wish people would stop telling me that,’ Bobby said impatiently. ‘I know I’m huge. I’ve never felt huger in my life. Everywhere I turn, there’s some man waiting to tell me what a great ugly lump I am.’ She rubbed her head. ‘Ugh, sorry. I had a bad night’s sleep.’
‘You’re right, it wasn’t very chivalrous. You look great, kid.’ Since Bobby had ignored the instruction to take his arm, Ernie did it for her, tucking it through his. ‘What’s been keeping you awake? Has my godchild been kicking you?’
It made Bobby smile to hear his repeated use of ‘godchild’. He swelled every time he said it.
‘No, unexpected visitors,’ she told him. ‘My brother turned up to pay his wedding visit.’
Bobby chose not to mention that the wedding was yet to come rather than in the past, in case Jake and Kathleen should be spotted in the village.
‘In that case, congratulations to your brother.’ Ernie guided her to a bench opposite the Plaza cinema. ‘Here, rest up a minute.’
She flashed him a weary smile. ‘Thanks. When is your wedding to be? I’m still waiting to meet this girl of yours.’
He shrugged. ‘Everything in its season, as the Good Book has it. Seems hard to ask a girl to tie herself to me when I never know if I’ll be coming back. If I get through this tour, perhaps.’
Bobby examined his face. Ernie looked wistful behind the broad grin, and there were heavy bags under his eyes. In fact he looked more exhausted than she did.
‘You’ve been working too hard, Ernie,’ she said gently. ‘What is it they’ve got you on? The Ruhr?’
‘Not sure I’m allowed to tell but yeah, I’ve been flying a lot. Nearly every night.’
‘You must be wiped out.’
His gaze was blank as he stared ahead. ‘You know, Slacks, I do a roll call in my head when I’m in bed. The name of every guy I’ve met since we started this thing who’s gone – I memorised them all, so they weren’t forgotten. The list’s so long now that I’m always asleep before I get to the end. It’s as good as counting sheep.’
The mingled expression of grief, defiance and exhaustion was too familiar. Bobby had seen it on Charlie’s face, and on dozens of airmen who had been in the privileged yet often deadly position of being selected as aircrew.
‘And Chip last of all,’ she said softly.
He gave a bleak laugh. ‘You’d think, but no. We’re dying like swatted flies up there. Two more pals gone since Chip’s Lanky came down.’
‘Poor Ernie,’ Bobby said with a sigh. ‘Poor all of you. I wish there was something I could do.’
He summoned a smile. ‘Sorry, kid, didn’t mean to go all morbid on you. Can’t help feeling like there’s been some terrible mistake is all, that I’m still around when so many are gone. Especially these days, when it seems to be op after op. Butcher Harris isn’t letting up at the moment.’
‘You must have a guardian angel.’
‘Then that means someone must be remembering me in her prayers,’ he said, squeezing her shoulder. ‘Where do you need to be now, Bobby? I don’t like to leave you here.’
‘If you don’t mind walking me to the bus stop, I’d be glad of your company and basket-carrying services.’
