Chapter 44

1 May 1943

Peggy loved Saturdays and was looking forward to this one especially because it was her birthday. She had told her mother, sister and Helen that the only present she wanted was to have a calm, pleasant day with no visits from the Nasties, as they had now taken to calling their next-door neighbours.

The only visitor she wanted today was Tony. She looked at her watch, happy to know he would be arriving in the next couple of minutes.

She brushed her hair. It needed a trim as it was now below her shoulders and too long for her liking. She wished she had thought to ask Babs to cut it the previous evening but it was too late now, and in any case her sister was working her Saturday shift. She would ask her later.

She went to the living-room window and saw Tony crossing the road. He looked up at her and beamed when she waved. Excited to see him, Peggy ran to the hall and pulled open the front door before he had a chance to knock, just as she heard the door close at number 2, and Captain Engel's voice calling to her.

‘Good morning, Miss Hamel,' he said with a quick tilt of his head. He spotted Tony and she could see by the change in his expression that he recognised him from work. Now he would know there was something between them, Peggy thought.

‘Good morning, Advocate,' the captain said.

‘Good morning,' Tony replied politely.

Peggy wasn't sure if Tony could place him, but she could tell by his set expression that he sensed something was not quite right.

‘Shall we go in?' Peggy said trying to keep her tone light. ‘Goodbye, Captain,' she said with a half-smile before shutting the front door. She closed her eyes and gathered herself for a moment.

‘I know where I've seen him before,' Tony said quietly as they heard the soldier's footsteps passing her home. ‘Didn't he come to deliver documents to you once?'

‘A few times, unfortunately.'

‘Does he make you feel uncomfortable? If you like I could arrange for the documents to be left at reception and brought up to you.'

Peggy loved him wanting to protect her. ‘He's always behaved like a gentleman,' she admitted.

‘What does Captain Engel talk to you about?'

‘That's the thing. Nothing much. I think he just likes talking to me. It's always when I'm in,' she added thoughtfully. ‘Mum said he's never called while I'm out. I've never invited him in and he's never seemed fazed by the lack of an invitation.' She remembered one of his remarks. ‘He did mention that Mum reminded him of his mother. He's probably just homesick.'

‘Maybe.'

She realised he didn't know about the attic being searched and Helen and Bobby almost being discovered. She told him what had happened.

He narrowed his eyes. ‘I sense there's something else worrying you.'

‘I was thinking about another officer who could be a problem. Hauptmann Schneider,' she explained. "Helen recognised his voice when her window was open one evening and she heard him talking in Sylvia's house. She knew him from the where she used to work. Thankfully a Leutnant she also knew from there came in and distracted the Hauptmann and saved her and Bobby from being found when Hauptmann Schneider searched the attic. Unfortunately now we're aware they would both recognise Helen, we know we can never pass her off as being my sister if either of them returns while she's downstairs.'

‘Hmm, that's not good.' He thought for a moment. ‘I can't see what can be done about it unless Helen and Bobby move to another safe house.'

Peggy sensed she wasn't going to like what he was about to say. ‘Go on. I can tell you've had an idea.'

‘Only that I'm happy to find somewhere for them to move to and will make arrangements if Helen is worried about being here with them next door.'

‘I'll keep that in mind. I know she was unsettled by them coming so suddenly, but I don't think she's ready to move. We're being extra vigilant.'

‘I'm glad. You know I'll always be here for you, Peggy.' He pulled her into his arms and kissed her. ‘Please don't hesitate to ask me anything. If I don't have an answer, I'll do my best to find one.'

‘I will.'

He cupped her cheeks in his hands and gazed into her eyes. ‘Happy birthday, my sweet Peggy.'

She studied his handsome face, his dark eyes full of love. She didn't think she could love him more as she wrapped her arms around him and kissed him again.

‘Would you like my gift now, or after our walk?'

Peggy pulled him into the living room, sat him down on the sofa and sat next to him. ‘I'd like it now, please.'

Tony laughed. He put his hand into his pocket without taking his eyes off her and took out a rectangular flat package wrapped in newspaper and tied with string. ‘Sorry about the unexciting wrapping.'

She took it from him and ran her hands over it. ‘What is it?'

He pulled a face. ‘Maybe you should open it and find out. I hope you like it. I had no idea what to buy you and there's so little in the shops.'

She carefully untied the string, wrapping it around two fingers neatly before setting it down on the small table at the end of the sofa. Then, unfolding the newspaper which she planned to use to start the fire in the living room later, she unwrapped the present lying in her lap. It was an oak photo frame with daisies engraved on it. Inside was a photo of the two of them. ‘So that's why your father insisted on taking a photo of the pair of us. How kind he is.' She beamed at Tony. ‘I couldn't love it more.' Or you, she thought.

The photograph had been taken by his father the month before when she was invited to spend the afternoon at their home. Peggy had been surprised so see her boss with a camera, Only people with a permit were allowed to use them.

‘That was such a lovely afternoon.' She kissed his cheek, then studied the photo again. ‘Did you ask him to take this especially?'

‘Yes.' He raised his eyebrows. ‘He was reluctant at first but when I told him it was for your birthday, he insisted that if anyone asks about it, we say it was taken in '39.' He sighed. ‘If you ever take the photo out of the frame you'll see Dad has written that date on the back in pencil in case anyone ever checks.'

‘How typical of your father to think of everything,' she said, impressed but not surprised. ‘Don't worry, I'll remember.'

She carried the frame over to the mantelpiece. ‘I'll leave it here until we come back then I'll take it up to my room. I can't believe I'll have you with me all the time now.'

He kissed her cheek. ‘I asked him to make a print for me, too, for that very reason.'

Peggy giggled. ‘What, so you have a photo of yourself?'

He tickled her making her squeal in protest. ‘No. Right, shall we go for our walk now? It's such a lovely day.'

She glanced at the photo one more time before leading him to the hallway. As she straightened the permit hanging next to the front door – a document every household was required to have, declaring who was in the house in case of an inspection – her thoughts turned once again to Helen and Bobby, whose names were of course not on it.

‘When this is all over, I'll be glad not to have one of these things reminding us that we're doing something illegal by giving our friends a home,' she said, trying to quell the anger she felt every time she saw it. Today was her birthday and she was going to do her best to enjoy it.

‘You're not the only one,' Tony said, helping her on with her jacket and taking her hand. ‘Let's go and enjoy some fresh air.'

As they passed number 2, out of the corner of her eye Peggy saw the curtains twitch. She didn't react, determined not to let whoever was spying on them know they had been spotted. She had thought having nosy neighbours was bad but that was nothing compared to being watched by Nazis.

They had walked most of the way to town when Tony's hand gripped hers more tightly.

‘What is it?' Peggy asked, anxiously.

He was looking up at the sky, then pointed. ‘A plane. My God,' he gasped. ‘It's American. A bomber. Look.'

She followed the direction of his gaze. Then machine guns began firing. She shrieked and clung to Tony in fright.

‘It's fine,' he said calmly, though there was excitement in his voice. ‘Whoever the pilot is he's making a point to the Germans by flying that low.'

Anti-aircraft guns began pounding as the Germans tried to hit the plane. Peggy covered her ears to block out the noise, then noticed that the bomber was accompanied by two fighters.

Tony stepped backwards instinctively, pulling Peggy with him and holding her protectively as two bombs dropped from the plane and landed in the harbour. ‘This is incredible.'

He sounded like a child on Christmas Day, clearly enjoying every moment.

The sound of the planes faded. ‘Why weren't you frightened?' she asked, her heart pounding.

‘It gives me hope, seeing things like that,' he said cheerfully. ‘Confirms to me that we haven't been completely forgotten.' His smile slipped. ‘Are you all right?'

‘Just about,' she said, forcing a smile to reassure him.

They resumed their walk. ‘Did you hear about the RAF planes that flew over the island at the beginning of the week?'

She shook her head. ‘I heard the foghorn so I knew something was happening. They bombed German ships in the Channel, didn't they?'

‘They did. Dad was ecstatic and I must admit to feeling the same way.'

Peggy was glad there had been some retaliation on their behalf but still didn't like to think of men being killed. Even enemy men. Not all of them were evil, she knew that much. She thought of Captain Engel. As much as it unnerved her to have him appearing on her doorstep every so often, she still wouldn't like to think of his mother having to grieve for him.

‘What a birthday treat,' Tony said giving her hand a gentle squeeze. ‘Maybe the Americans put on the display just for you.'

Peggy laughed. ‘Somehow I doubt it.'

‘But you don't know for certain,' he teased.

She nudged him, catching him off-guard and making him stumble. ‘Sorry,' she laughed, biting her lower lip.

‘You're a bit of a toughie on the quiet, aren't you, Peggy Hamel?'

‘I certainly am.' She liked to think she was strong, in determination, even if physically she wasn't as tough as most men would be. ‘I'll always stand up for myself.'

‘I think I've worked that out already,' he said, and grinned.