‘I’m sorry, you must forgive my comrade for his manners,’ said Gaston. ‘He’s not your typical Englishman,’ he added conspiratorially. ‘What we mean is, would you mind helping us? We’d really appreciate it and, as Rachelle said, every little bit helps.’
I didn’t need asking twice. ‘Of course I’ll help you. I’d be honoured to do so.’ I felt a small swell of pride hit my chest.
‘There, I told you she’d say yes,’ said Rachelle. She turned to me. ‘I was going to ask you myself in the next day or so and then Gaston was going to arrange to meet you.’
‘Ah, I see. Oh well, at least you don’t have to wait a few more days to ask. Is there much to do to the uniform?’
Gaston smiled at me. ‘It is just the trousers.’
‘And my trousers,’ said Marcel.
‘Yours are not so important,’ said Rachelle.
‘I would say his are very important,’ I said with a laugh, feeling upbeat at being asked to help. If I was going for humour with Marcel, I was a little off the mark. Instead of joining in with the laughter, he scowled at me instead, before mumbling something about needing to get his sleep and striding off back to his tent– his trouser legs flapping around his ankles as he did so.
‘Oh, now you’ve upset him,’ said Rachelle.
‘Take no notice of Marcel. He’s a good man, underneath that ballsy English exterior.’
‘We should get back,’ said Rachelle.
‘Yes, of course,’ said Gaston. ‘I’ll escort you.’
‘No, you don’t have to do that.’ Rachelle placed a hand on his arm. ‘Marcel is right– you need your sleep. Besides, if we run into any Germans, we are more likely to convince them we’re harmless if we are on our own.’
Gaston looked appraisingly at his sister. ‘Very well. But do not get caught.’ He kissed Rachelle on the cheek and then me. ‘Take care, cousin.’
With one last goodbye, Rachelle and I headed back through the forest, passing the Resistance members who were on guard. Rachelle had obviously done this journey many times as she didn’t falter in the route she took, weaving us in and out of the trees, on and off the beaten pathways. It wasn’t long before we were on the edge of the forest and the farmland.
Rachelle took a quick look around and, once certain there was no one about, we scurried across the field and back into the farmhouse.
The next few days passed quietly, and I spent the time helping my cousins on the farm and, in the afternoons, I spent time with Odile. I showed her my sketchbook and encouraged her to create her own designs in the book. Although she never said, I felt it gave her a sense of calm and perhaps control.
It was Wednesday morning, and I was settling into the daily life of rural Brittany, but also knew that we would return home in just a few days. I tried not to think about it as I would miss my cousins terribly and didn’t know when I’d see them again.
I was sitting with Odile down by the stream that ran along the foot of the farm, braiding her hair and telling her about all the glamorous women in Paris and what the fashions were like, when Rachelle came and sat down beside us.
‘Where have you been?’ I asked. ‘We were looking for you earlier.’
Rachelle gave a raise of her eyebrows and glanced towards Odile, who had her back to us while I fixed her hair. ‘Oh, just had to run an errand for Maman,’ she said. ‘Odile, your hair looks so pretty like that. I’ll have to get Nathalie to show me how to do it.’
‘I just need to fasten it here at the end,’ I said, admiring the braids and the way I had woven them into each other like a bun. ‘There you go, all done.’
Odile patted the back of her hair and turned to face me. ‘Thank you, Nathalie. You really must show Rachelle how to do it.’
‘Of course I will.’
‘Why don’t you show Maman?’ suggested Rachelle. She got to her feet and heaved Odile up by the hand. Then they both pulled me up. We began walking, and as the farmhouse came into sight, Odile broke into a run.
‘Maman! Look at my hair!’ she called as she neared the house.
Rachelle and I both laughed– it was lovely to see Odile animated for once.
‘So where have you really been?’ I asked as we crossed the courtyard.
‘I had to run an errand, but I also had to check for a message.’
‘A message?’
