‘Isn’t it foolishness?’ Topsy said, laughing. ‘So dreadfully out of date, but there are still enough people who care about this nonsense to fill the pages of Debrett’s. Personally, I’m rather looking forward to turning my back on the business and becoming just an ordinary pilot’s wife – or former pilot, I ought to say.’
An ordinary pilot’s wife who owned her own country estate and had more money in the bank than Bobby could imagine, she couldn’t help reflecting, but she smiled at her friend’s enthusiasm.
‘It’ll be a happy occasion for us all,’ she said. ‘I’ll see you soon, Topsy.’
‘Goodbye, darling. Do remember me to your sister.’
Bobby mounted her bicycle and pedalled off as fast as she dared. She was expecting to have to work on soothing her dad’s temper before the arrival of their guests, who were coming on the five p.m. train from Bradford to spend the night. Mary’s help had been enlisted too, as had the Parry girls. All three were now at the cow house, making sure all was spruce before the newlyweds showed up. Bobby was particularly grateful for the presence of the children, whose innocent chatter usually managed to make her dad smile in spite of his mood.
At home, she found the fire lit and her dad in his chair by it, wearing his slippers. Florence was with him, prattling about some object on his knee, while Jessie helped Mary with the dusting. Rob looked a little dazed at the incessant flow of chatter from Florrie, but he was smiling. Bobby smiled too, pleased to see him looking happy for the first time since the day she had broken her sister’s terrible news.
‘Well this is very cosy,’ she said, bending to unlace her boots. ‘I’m sorry I took so long. It’s so dark in the evenings, I don’t dare ride too quickly no matter how urgently Topsy needs her precious tablecloths.’
‘It’ll soon be spring. Longer days are coming, Bobby.’ Mary nodded to a vase of snowdrops that had been placed on the table by her dad’s chair. ‘See what our Jessie picked to bring you. A little reminder of new life to come.’
Bobby went to give Jessie a kiss. ‘Thank you, sweetheart. They brighten up the room perfectly.’
‘Bobby, guess what?’ the child demanded immediately.
‘I can’t guess without a clue, Jess.’
‘All right, then the clue is… Daddy.’
‘Your dad? Has he written a letter?’
‘Better’n just a letter,’ Florrie said. She scooped up whatever it was she had been showing Rob and skipped with it to Bobby. ‘Dad sent us this from the war. He said his friend who’s been in Africa brought it back. Louis Butcher offered to swap me and Jess two bob and a go each on his airgun for it, but I said no. It’s wizard, ain’t it?’
Bobby looked at the small, squat green thing that Florence held out to her. It looked like a large seed, although Lord knew what plant it had come from.
‘What is it, Florrie?’ she asked.
Rob came to join them.
‘What, lass, so long since you’ve seen one you’ve forgotten what they look like?’ he said, smiling. ‘It’s a banana, that.’
Bobby blinked at the squat little shrub.
‘They’re not quite as I remember them,’ she said. ‘I’m sure they used to be bigger. And yellower.’
‘Happen they look a little different when they’re plucked right off the plant.’
‘Now don’t either of you be tempted to eat that,’ Mary told the little girls sternly. ‘I’ve never seen a fruit so calculated to bring on a belly ache.’
‘Oh, no,’ Florrie said, looking horrified. ‘We’d nevereatit. Not when it’s worth two bob and a go on an airgun. We’ll keep it for show.’
‘And guess what else Daddy says?’ Jessie asked Bobby.
‘Has he been given a date for his discharge?’
Florrie nodded vigorously. ‘In May. And you’ll never guess what else.’
Bobby laughed. ‘Sorry, Florrie, I’m all guessed out. You’ll have to tell me.’
‘He’s found somewhere we can live,’ the little girl said gleefully. ‘And the best thing of all is it’s not in London or anywhere far away. It’s across the bridge, where Mr Horsely lived before he died. It’s a bit frightening to live somewhere a dead person was, but I suppose old places all have had some dead people in so I’m going to not think about it.’
‘That’s wonderful news.’ Bobby crouched to talk to Jessie. ‘How do you feel about it, my love?’
‘Welllll, it’s scary still to live somewhere else,’ Jess said, cocking her head. ‘But we can walk here every day to visit. Mary says we can come to breakfast before school if Daddy says it’s all right, and I’m still to take care of my hens, and feed Boxer. Reg said our room would be left just as it is, and we can sleep over if Daddy needs to go away anywhere. So I think it will be OK.’
