‘But we haven’t seen either of you for months. We have a lot of catching up to do,’ Kate protested. ‘Now, my brave young hero. Come here, so that I can hug you again.’ Her eyes were full of happiness. ‘Dot’s told me all about your daring exploits coming to the aid of damsels in distress, jumping off sea walls and rescuing drowning children. Just like you, Ronnie, not to brag of your exploits.’
‘Just one child,’ Ronnie replied. ‘And anyone would have done the same thing.’
‘But they didn’t, you did,’ Kate said, ‘and I’m sure his mother will be forever in your debt.’
‘I hear she’s made plenty of recompense since Ronnie dragged her son from the jaws of death.’ Tilly chimed in, a cheeky grin on her face.
‘Leave the poor boy alone, Tilly. You’re hardly in the door before you start teasing him,’ Kate said, smiling. ‘Things don’t change much, do they?’
‘I’m not teasing. I’m genuinely in awe of my brave brother,’ Tilly replied.
‘It’s so good to have you both here again,’ sighed Kate.
The banter went on for as long as they could all stay awake. The family went off to bed, leaving Ronnie and Tilly beside the last embers of the fire. Tilly had deliberately hung back to get Ronnie on his own and make use of the private time between them to find out a bit more about Sarah.
‘So, her name is Sarah and she has a son. What else can you tell me about her and when am I going to meet her?’ Tilly asked.
‘You don’t waste much time, do you?’ Ronnie replied. ‘Well, she moved from Wales to be close to her aunts who live in East Cowes; she works at the canteen on the docks. I don’t know much more than that and, as far as meeting her is concerned . . .’
‘Oh, I will be gentle with her, Ronnie, don’t worry,’ Tilly replied. ‘I won’t give her the full interrogation.’
‘Dot and Amelia haven’t even met her yet, but I’m sure you will all meet her in the fullness of time,’ Ronnie said. He wanted to change the subject. He wasn’t quite ready for Tilly in full flow. ‘How about you?’ he asked. ‘How are you finding working in the nursing profession?’
‘Well, it’s not been so much a professional training as being a general dogsbody sometimes, I have to say,’ Tilly explained.‘But I’m pleased to announce that we are now beginning to learn a little more about the medical side of things, having ticked bedmaking and the introduction to bedpans off our induction list. And how’s life for you at Saunders-Roe, Ronnie, all engine oil and greasy fingers?’
‘Not all,’ Ronnie replied. ‘There are some fairly testing facts and figures to learn in studying aeronautical engineering. Not your cup of tea, sis. Too many mathematical formulae.’
Tilly liked the way he called her ‘sis’, even though she was really his aunty. They were after all, exactly the same age.
‘Are you suggesting that I would never make it in your chosen profession?’ Tilly asked.
‘Aaaah,’ Ronnie began.
‘Well, you’d be no good at giving an injection, either, would you?’ Tilly said with a self-satisfied grin on her face. ‘We practice on some fruit just to make sure we don’t inflict too much pain and damage on our patients.’
‘I’m sure the fruit squeaks loudly if you hurt it,’ Ronnie joked.
‘Ha, ha,’ Tilly replied.
The following day was Christmas Day and the family went together for the usual church service. Ronnie and Tilly were surrounded by locals who wanted to know all about their exploits on the Isle of Wight. When they’d run the gauntlet of all their enquiring (or as Tilly put it, nosey) neighbours and finally escaped to go home to their Christmas lunch, they settled down to an enormous meal in the tradition of many Hampshire families. The table was laden with a brace of pheasants, one of their chickens who sacrificed her life for the appetites of the family, and all the trimmings plus roast potatoes and parsnips and Brussel sprouts from Albert’s allotment. The meal was topped by one of Kate’s wonderful Christmas puddings with oodles of custard.
The family made the most of their short time together, for the Christmas holidays would soon be over and Ronnie and Tilly would be returning to the Isle of Wight. After clearing everything up, the family sat down to relax and share mince pies and a glass of port.
Ronnie knew that everyone would want to hear all about Sarah and Anthony, and he wanted them to get to know her for she had found a place in his heart. They would need to know how much she meant to him.
‘So, tell us all about your Sarah,’ Kate said. ‘Sounds like a very dramatic way to meet. Reminded me of that time you fell in the water near the mill and you were rescued by that lovely young artist. I suppose you were too young to remember it now.’
‘It was a good thing I decided to go for a walk that evening,’ Ronnie said.
‘He’s a very lucky young man,’ Albert said. ‘Just like you were. No wonder you made sure you learned to swim after that.’
‘It was all meant to be,’ Rose said.
‘You were fated to meet that day,’ Annie added. ‘You are brave, Ronnie, jumping in after him like that, risking your own life.’
‘Aah, Ronnie the hero saves the day. Very romantic,’ Tilly jibed, rolling her eyes.
‘Stop it, Tilly. You are a tease,’ Kate said. ‘Let Ronnie tell us for himself.’
