The Docklands Girls Read Online Free PDF Page B

blossomed and become physical. They would sometimes book into a hotel for the night, which had caused ructions in the Dickson household. Olive felt she was losing her grip on her daughter.
    Milt had persuaded Hildy that she must be strong and lead a life of her own. He’d met Mrs Dickson on a few occasions when he’d been to the house to collect Hildy for a date and thought the old woman an evil old devil. He saw just how she used emotional blackmail to get to her daughter.
    But Olive was unrepentant. ‘Well, what do you expect? War is war and lives are lost. In any case, when it’s all over, these men will go home and forget the girls they met over here and if you think that isn’t the case, think again.’
    Hildy rose to her feet. ‘But some of them get married, mother!’ She grabbed her coat. ‘I’m going out.’
    Olive leant back in her chair, astounded at her daughter’s outburst. Then the true significance of the remark penetrated her mind. Had Hildy decided to marry her GI? If so … what was to happen to her?
     
    Cora and the other brasses were still kept busy despite the restrictions on the American troops. The French sailors came and went and now Canadian firefighters had moved into the town and there were the British troops too, who were also waiting to be shipped out and were longing for a woman.
    She had still managed to keep her real occupation from Hank, whom she had been seeing regularly until the clamp down on leave. But she’d had a few scrapes in doing so. One night as she was sitting in the Horse and Groom waiting for clients, Hank had entered the bar. Cora had managed to slip out of another door before he saw her and she plied her trade elsewhere for a few days until she knew he was on exercises. But it had unsettled her.
    This evening she was sitting in the Lord Roberts as usual before work when, to her surprise, Hank came into the bar and seeing her rushed over.
    Kissing her briefly, he said, ‘I hoped I would catch you. I’ve a few hours’ leave and wondered if there was any way you could come out for a drink? God knows when I’ll get another pass.’
    She was so delighted to see him she immediately answered. ‘Yes, I’m sure they won’t mind me missing one night.’
    He bought them both a drink and sat down. ‘Your business must be mighty accommodating if you can just take time out like this,’ he remarked casually.
    She froze for just a moment. ‘There’s plenty who can cover for me,’ she said.
    ‘What is it you do?’ he asked. ‘You’ve never really told me.’
    ‘We look after the troop’s welfare,’ she answered. ‘Try and keep them from feeling homesick.’ Well, that wasn’t far from the truth, she thought.
     
    Later, as they were sitting in a bar, one of her punters walked in with another GI and seeing her smiled.
    ‘Hi Cora! How you doing?’
    Then to her horror he grinned at her companion. ‘Howdy Hank, great to get out of camp for a night, isn’t it?’
    Hank agreed and continued to talk to Cora as the soldier sat at a table.
    ‘You know him?’ she asked fearfully.
    ‘Yep! We’re in the same company,’ he replied to her consternation.
    Oh my God! she thought. If they get talking, he would discover her secret. And if he did, that would be the end of their friendship. She had never taken Hank to her bed. She had wanted their relationship to be different. Kissing and petting was as far as it had ever gone. Hank, thinking she was a good girl, hadn’t pushed her for more and had respected her wishes. But now …
    She was so lost in thought, she hadn’t been listening until Hank said, ‘Cora!’
    ‘Sorry, sorry I was miles away for a minute. What did you say?’
    ‘I said that I didn’t know when I’d be free again. We’re off to do some exercises for the next week.’
    ‘Oh, right. Well, you know where to find me.’ She caught hold of his hand. ‘I’ll miss you, Hank. You take care now.’
    He put her hand to his lips. ‘Make sure you do the