Spoils of War Read Online Free PDF

up with those missing years?’
    ‘Truthfully?’ Bethan looked across to where Andrew and Huw Davies were trying to draw Charlie into conversation. ‘Not yet, and perhaps not ever, but don’t forget Ronnie hasn’t been away anywhere near as long.’
    ‘Two years six months four days and,’ Diana glanced at her wristwatch, ‘five hours and thirty-five minutes.’
    ‘You two didn’t have that much time together, did you?’
    ‘I just wish he’d write.’
    ‘I’m sure you will hear soon.’
    ‘It’s not just me who misses him, Billy does. He can just about remember what it was like to have a stepfather, but there’s a world of difference between two and a half and five. I only hope Ronnie can live up to his expectations when he does finally make it back.’
    ‘Time to wave off the bride and groom,’ Andrew interrupted. ‘Angelo’s bringing the car round from the White Hart car park.’
    ‘I’ve hardly had a minute to say a word to you, love.’ Megan stopped in front of them and kissed Diana.
    ‘Got one of those for your stepfather, Diana?’ Dino asked.
    ‘You know something, Dino,’ Diana smiled, ‘that stepfather bit sounds wonderful.’
    ‘We’ll be back in a week …’
    ‘Mam,’ Diana shook her head fondly at her mother, ‘nothing is going to happen in a week.’
    ‘I’m not so sure. That cough of Billy’s …’
    ‘Is something he puts on whenever you’re around because he likes the taste of that syrup and vinegar medicine you make for him. I know you’ll take care of her, could you try and stop her from worrying as well?’ Diana planted a kiss on Dino’s cheek. ‘But you’d better watch that smile, if it gets any wider your face will crack in two.’
    ‘Ronnie’ll be home soon to put one just like it on yours.’
    ‘That’s what I’ve been telling her, Auntie Megan.’ Bethan picked up her handbag. ‘Come on, time to wave you off.’
    ‘Do you two know where Dino’s taking me?’ Megan pumped, ‘because he refuses to say a word to me.’
    ‘Probably booked you into a dosshouse by the gas works in Cardiff,’ Diana joked.
    ‘Angelo disappeared into the car park of the White Hart for two hours first thing this morning,’ Gina confided to Bethan as they followed Megan, Dino, Diana and the rest of the guests down the stairs. ‘He met the colonel there but I couldn’t get a thing out of either of them when they came back into the café, other than they’d been swapping the colonel’s car for a Jeep so the honeymoon couple could travel in comfort. There was also talk of one of the mechanics from Ianto Myles’ garage helping them to get it perfect for the bridal couple, but judging by the amount of schoolboy sniggering, it’s my guess they weren’t checking the engine.’
    ‘As long as the army doesn’t disapprove.’
    ‘How will the army find out if David doesn’t tell them?’
    Diana peered round the crowd blocking the doorway of the restaurant and started to laugh.
    ‘Oh my God! David Ford, are you responsible for that?’ Megan demanded.
    The colonel’s standard, US Army-issue officer’s car was virtually unrecognisable. Strings of red, white and blue paper flowers that looked suspiciously like the ones that had been made for the VJ celebrations six months before, festooned the bodywork from bumpers to roof. ‘Good Luck’ and ‘Just Married’ messages had been scrawled in bright pink raspberry syrup over all the windows. But the absolute crowning glory were two four-foot boards tied to the roof, decorated with expertly-drawn, comically accurate cartoon images of a coy Dino and seductive Megan bearing the caption, ‘FELLOW MOTORISTS BEWARE, DRIVER’S HANDS OTHERWISE OCCUPIED.’
    ‘I am not driving anywhere in that.’ Megan glared from Dino to David. ‘And I recognise the artwork, Angelo Ronconi. There isn’t another man in Pontypridd who can draw like that.’
    ‘Come on, darling,’ Dino coaxed, ‘just as far as our house. I’ll clean it up