Wartime Brides Read Online Free PDF

ecstasy. A tear rolled down one cheek, yet the red lips were smiling, teeth showing shiny white before he clamped his lips to hers and they clung together like magnets.
    Two children glanced briefly at her but their interest was short lived. Smiling hesitantly, they eyed the man who now embraced their mother. He was obviously their father.
    ‘How I’ve missed you!’ the woman exclaimed, hugging him tightly and laying her head against his shoulder before turning to the children.
    ‘Children! Say welcome home to your father.’
    Polly sensed he was as nervous as they were. He watched them silently as they stepped dutifully forward, paused, then threw their arms around him.
    Family business, thought Polly as he clung to them, and started to ease away. She felt like an interloper and, although she only had one shoe, she preferred putting up with the coldness of the platform in order to get to the buffet as quickly as possible where the rating would return the missing one to her.
    But she wasn’t forgotten. The doctor turned round, the look in his eyes similar to those she’d seen on a dozen service personnel when they spotted a ‘looker’ like her.
    ‘Wait,’ he said. ‘We’ve still got to wait for your shoe.’
    Frowning, his wife turned to him then to Polly. ‘Her shoe?’
    ‘Look, there ain’t no need to worry about me …’ Polly began.
    His arm stayed around his wife’s waist.
    ‘A modern day Cinderella, my dear.’ As he went on to explain what had happened and made introductions, his wife’s expression became more sympathetic.
    ‘So I decided we should have tea while we wait for her shoe to re-emerge. Then perhaps we could drop you off somewhere,’ he said turning to Polly, his expression a picture of gentlemanly courtesy.
    ‘Well, seeing as me shoe might be in two pieces, I’ll accept yer offer,’ said Polly with a toss of her blonde hair. ‘That’ll get the neighbours talking.’
    ‘My word,’ said Charlotte with an excitable laugh. ‘I’ve already had tea with Edna and I must warn you that it’s very weak and only lukewarm.’
    ‘Edna? Do I know her?’ asked David Hennessey-White.
    Charlotte slipped her arm through the crook of his. ‘No, but you must meet her. She’s engaged to the man who made Geoffrey’s aeroplane, you know, the one I had a terrible job getting hold of last Christmas. He’s on the train today as well.’ Her head bobbed enthusiastically as she searched the crowd for her new-found acquaintance. ‘There she is,’ she said, her face as excited as a child’s with a new toy because she had her man back on her arm. She waved her kid-gloved hand. ‘Look! There!’
    Along with everyone else, Polly looked towards a girl with shoulder-length dark hair wearing a three-quarter coat with patch pockets. She could be pretty with a bit of make-up and some decent togs, she thought, but why’s her face so pale and why is she looking down at the ground? ‘Lost something, has she?’ she said in a careless, offhand way.
    ‘Edna!’ called Charlotte and frowned. ‘Surely she can hear me.’
    As the crowd around Edna slowly fell away, husbands with arms around wives, children bouncing high on the shoulders of fathers they had never seen before, Charlotte’s hand fell slowly to her side and her smile melted.
    ‘Poor girl,’ whispered Polly and really meant it. No one else said a thing. Silently they all took in the scene.
    Edna’s fiancé was still in uniform, medals shining on his chest, his hands resting on the enamelled arms of the wheelchair. Like ill-wrapped parcels the remains of his legs stuck out rigidly before him ending where his knees used to be.

Chapter Three
    ‘WELCOME HOME COLIN’ shouted a bold banner across the front of number 56 Nutgrove Avenue. Despite the fact that it was a cold day, an avenue of blue sky and a winter sun had tempted everyone, thickly cocooned beneath layers of Fair Isles and tweed coats, to join the party.
    Cheers went up and a host of