Spoils of War Read Online Free PDF Page A

suppose.’
    ‘She is. And respectable.’
    ‘And my Will isn’t?’
    ‘Tina – Tina …’ he shook his head in mock despair, ‘love is supposed to be blind not stupid. Will and Diana’s mother has been in jail for receiving stolen goods, Diana was married to a queer before Ronnie took up with her, and Will’s played around with half the female population of Pontypridd …’
    ‘Not since he married me.’
    ‘Not since he married you because he’s only been home twice in the last six years,’ Tony murmured, deliberately keeping his voice low in contrast to her high-pitched outrage. ‘But I wouldn’t answer for the female population of wherever he’s been stationed. You’ve only got to look at Vera Collins’ son. He bears a closer resemblance to your William than George Collins.’
    ‘If he is Will’s son, then why did George keep him when he threw Vera out for carrying on with GIs?’
    ‘I have no idea. All I’m saying is that if Mama can put up with Will and Diana –’
    ‘First Will, now his sister. Are any of us good enough for you?’ Tina demanded hotly, rising to her feet. ‘If we were anywhere other than here, brother or not, I’d punch you into the middle of next week.’
    ‘Thanks for the floor show,’ Tony drew her attention to the people staring at them, ‘and the warm welcome,’ he added caustically. Tossing his napkin on to the debris on his plate he left the table.
    ‘You’re not thinking of going home.’
    ‘Where else?’
    ‘Do you intend to tell Mama about this woman?’
    ‘Her name’s Gabrielle.’
    ‘Tony, how can you forget it was the Germans who killed Papa and put Angelo in a prison camp for five years?’
    ‘Gabrielle’s twenty-one. She didn’t kill or imprison anyone.’
    ‘And I suppose she didn’t even know that her country declared war on the whole world.’
    ‘Of course she knew,’ he retorted impatiently, ‘but she spent the war studying not fighting. She has a degree, she speaks four languages, she likes needlework and cooking and she’s quiet and gentle. There’s something else, Tina. Her family has suffered just as much as ours. Her two brothers died on the Russian front and her father was killed fleeing from the Russians when they invaded East Prussia. She was lucky to escape with her life.’
    ‘How can you set our family’s suffering against that of a – a – German!’ Tina’s indignation was superseded by shock as she realised Tony was deadly serious. ‘Papa was drowned …’
    ‘It was the good people of this country who interned innocent Italian businessmen, in 1940, not the Germans.’
    ‘It was a German torpedo that sank the Arandora Star and killed Papa.’
    ‘Are you absolutely sure about that, Tina? Because I’ve heard different.’ He walked behind the counter and picked up his kitbag.
    ‘Tony, you’re not going?’ Gina called as her husband, Luke, helped her down the stairs. ‘Everyone’s asking about you …’ She looked from Tina to her brother. ‘Is anything wrong?’
    ‘I’ve work to do.’ Brushing past Luke, Tina ran back up the stairs.
    ‘Tony?’
    ‘You and Luke will be home later?’
    ‘We’ll be leaving as soon as we’ve helped Tina clear up here,’ Luke answered, confused by Tina’s hasty departure.
    ‘Then I’ll see you in Danycoedcae Road.’ Swinging his bag over his shoulder Tony turned his back on them.
    ‘Tony, come upstairs, just for five minutes,’ Gina pleaded, as the door slammed shut behind him.
    ‘It can’t be long before Ronnie comes home,’ Bethan reassured Diana as they watched Megan and Dino leave the top table.
    ‘I hope you’re right. At this rate Catrina will be celebrating her third birthday without seeing her father.’
    ‘Knowing Ronnie, he’ll make up for it when he does come home.’
    ‘How did you and Alma cope, Beth, all those years alone? Eddie was, what, four and a half before he saw Andrew, Theo, three and a half when Charlie came home? Do you ever catch