“The way you said it,” Henry howled.
“I’m so sorry, Andrew,” Emma said.
“It’s all true, and I do brag about it, even though it’s pretentious,” said Andrew graciously.
She pressed her palm to her forehead. “I feel like an idiot.”
“We all say things we don’t mean from time to time,” said Sydney, slinging an arm over Emma’s shoulder.
Even though she knew she should shift out from under Sydney’s arm for a number of reasons, ranging from boundaries to professionalism, she didn’t. A long dormant part of her craved the platonic touch of friendship.
“Anyway, you’re not getting off the pub quiz team that easily. We’ll need you next week,” said Sydney.
“Jaya’s husband will be back,” Emma pointed out.
“Which will only be helpful if we get an entire round of cricket questions,” Henry countered.
“The last time that happened, half the teams registered complaints,” said Andrew.
When Emma glanced at Henry, he explained, “We heckled the quiz master.”
Sydney slowed to a stop at a fork in the road. “This is us. Henry?”
“I’m going to walk Emma home,” Henry said.
“That’s not necessary,” said Emma. “It makes more sense for you to go with Sydney and Andrew.”
“I insist. Indulge me as I pretend to be a gentleman,” he said with a smile.
She thought about protesting but let him have his way.
After Sydney and Andrew waved them off, she and Henry turned in the direction of Bow Cottage.
“You really didn’t have to do this,” she said, breaking the silence.
“Actually, I had some news for you. I’ve finally had some time to go through Nan’s old papers. I found some of those sketchbooks you were looking for.”
“Are there sketches of the garden?” she asked hopefully.
The corners of his mouth tipped up. “Sketches of the garden. Some details of plants. Some of the soldiers as well.”
“I’d love to see them.”
“I could drop them by your place,” he said.
She hesitated, but then nodded. “I’d like that.”
“All right, then,” he said. “I’ll do that.”
“This is me,” she said when they reached Bow Cottage.
She shifted her groceries higher on her shoulder so she could reach into her handbag for her keys, but as she pulled them out she fumbled them and they fell to the pavement. She stooped to pick them up, but Henry was faster. His hand had already grasped the keys as her own hand covered his. Their eyes met, and for a moment all she could process was the sound of his breath and the slight wave of his dark hair in the nighttime breeze.
“I’m glad you came in tonight,” he said softly.
“Even if it was accidental?” she asked.
“Sometimes the best occasions are accidents.”
He straightened then, giving her the keys. Her hand trembled a little as she took them.
“Good night, Henry,” she said.
She walked up the short garden path to her front door and managed to get it open in one go. She flicked the light on, and when she turned to close the door behind her, she saw he was still waiting, watching that she got in safely. When their eyes met, he gave her a small smile, stuffed his hands in his pockets, and turned to make his way down the lane.
? STELLA ?
Thin, cheap paper crinkled in Stella’s hands as she read Joan’s letter again. The kind postmaster, Mr. Jeffries, had brought it straight to the kitchen door when he delivered the afternoon post.
20 April 1944
Dear Estrella,
Writing doesn’t come easy to me and paper’s harder to come by now than ever. With the new string of air raids over London, I can’t risk having Bobby back here in Bristol. The entire city is still a bomb site from earlier raids.
I need you to take him a little while longer. There’s no one to look after him here. I’m working long hours at the munitions factory, and I can hardly get away before dark. Tell him that his mummy misses him very much, and I’ll get up to see him quick as I can. And before you ask, no, I don’t know when that will be exactly.
You asked in your last letter about money for his things. Didn’t you get the money I sent you two weeks ago? Maybe there are light fingers at your post office. I’ve heard of employees stealing envelopes that look like they might have cash in them. You really should be more careful, Estrella.
I’ve been bursting to tell you, a few of us girls were invited up to a dance with some American soldiers the other night. The GIs all looked like movie stars with close-cut hair and the best teeth I’ve ever seen on a man. I danced the jitterbug and…