Chapter 57

6 June 1944

Bobby found it too difficult to say Daphne's name and insisted she was Aunty Daffy, so the name stuck. Helen was relieved Daphne seemed to be rather fond of his pet name for her.

It delighted Helen to see her little boy running around the garden, playing hide-and-seek with her and Daphne, his arms and legs growing stronger with each passing day. For the first time in his young life she was able to see his previously milky white skin turning a golden brown in the sunshine, as his hair lightened and became almost auburn like her own.

‘I'll never tire of watching this sweet boy having fun,' Daphne said one morning as they sat in the garden enjoying the sunshine. ‘He's brought so much joy into my life since his arrival.'

Helen was glad to hear it. It warmed her heart to know that those who had risked so much to shelter her and Bobby found such pleasure in his company.

They had been lucky so far: no one had come to inspect Daphne's home. Maybe, she mused, that was because Daphne had worked with senior officers for the past four years and they trusted her, so didn't look too carefully at her life outside her job.

‘We both love it here,' Helen confided, hoping Ida would never know how much happier they were, living at Sans Souci.

‘I'm happy to hear you say so. You two arrived just as I was struggling to cope. I admit to feeling very lonely after losing my mother. I think that young Anthony Le Gresley helped us both enormously with his thoughtfulness.'

‘Were you very close to your mother, then?' Helen asked, thinking of her own difficulties.

Daphne took a sip of water and placed the glass on the small wooden table between their chairs. They were sitting on the small terrace in front of the bungalow's open French doors. ‘We always had a close relationship,' she said, gazing at her colourful garden, deep in thought. 'Especially after my husband died over a decade ago. I struggled without him and my mother suggested it was silly the pair of us keeping two homes and both being lonely. She moved here and we got along very well. When she died, I not only lost my mother, but the person I spent all my free time with. It was strange not to feel needed by anyone. It's a lonely place to be.'

Helen supposed it must be. ‘In that case I'm glad for both of us that we are here, because I certainly needed your help, as does Bobby.'

Daphne smiled for the first time since they had come to sit outside. ‘And I've been happier in these past months than I can remember being for a very long time.' She leant back slightly in her chair, still smiling. ‘I know Bobby has to keep fairly quiet while he's playing out here, but having a child in the house lightens the mood somehow. Just watching his face light up with excitement whenever he's given permission to run around the garden and kick his ball on the grass cheers me up more than I can say.'

‘I feel the same. As much as I loved living with the Hamels, and I did, I struggled more as time went on, seeing Bobby cooped up. Although it might sound strange, the fact that he was so well behaved and quiet concerned me. He wasn't like any other child I remembered, growing up.' She laughed. ‘He's more boisterous now and has so much enthusiasm for everything out here.'

‘It's a delight to watch him blossoming,' Daphne said. She picked up their empty glasses. ‘I'll go and refill these.' Helen offered to go instead. ‘No, you make the most of the sunshine.'

She returned a few minutes later and placed their glasses of water on the table. ‘Did you manage to catch any sleep with all that bombing last night?' she asked, referring to the bombardment taking place in France.

Helen thought back to the distant thuds and sounds of planes roaring past the island, made far worse by the constant noise of anti-aircraft guns as the Germans did their best to shoot them down.

‘Not really.' She yawned. ‘What do you think is happening? It's obviously something going on in France.'

They heard someone calling and Helen leapt to her feet, her eyes immediately searching for Bobby. She was braced to run and hide him in the hedgerow at the bottom of the garden, which she had planned to use if they were caught unawares like now.

Daphne grabbed her arm to stop her. ‘It's only Tony and Peggy,' she soothed. ‘Maybe fetch a couple more chairs for them.'

Helen's heartbeat slowly returned to normal as she brought out two chairs and glasses of water for their guests.

‘How delightful to see you both,' Daphne was saying as Helen joined them.

‘We have wonderful news,' Tony announced, keeping his voice low even though the nearest neighbour wasn't very close.

‘We do,' Peggy continued, obviously excited. Helen assumed it must be something to do with the noise that had disturbed them. ‘The British army is in Normandy. Isn't that incredible?'

Helen covered her mouth, barely able to believe what she was hearing. ‘It is. Do you think they'll be here soon?' She saw Tony's doubtful expression and her hope slipped. ‘You don't think so?'

He shrugged. ‘I've no idea but I think we need to be prepared in case they do come.'

Peggy took a sip of water. ‘Gosh, I needed that.' She looked at Helen, then Daphne. ‘There's going to be a proclamation in the Evening Post tonight.'

Helen realised Peggy had probably been asked to translate it.

‘It's from Kommandant der Festung, warning us that whether the British forces arrive or not, now that they are on the French mainland he expects islanders to behave.'

‘What a cheek,' Helen groaned.

‘We do have to take note though,' Daphne said sagely.

‘I agree. Sabotage or anything like that won't be tolerated and if there is any he will give the order to close all the streets.' She frowned. ‘Even more frightening is that he's said he'll punish any unrest by death.'

Helen couldn't think what to say.

‘That sounds a bit harsh. Do you think the Bailiff will make an announcement?' Daphne asked.

Tony shook his head. ‘I think if he was going to he would have done it by now.'

Peggy nodded. ‘I agree. Babs said that the Royal Square was packed with islanders earlier waiting in case he did.'

‘Don't look so miserable,' Tony said, smiling. ‘Whatever this means for us, it can only be good news for everyone eventually.'

‘I hope you're right,' Helen said, wondering if they dared start hoping that the end of the war was in sight. ‘It's been such a long time now and we all ran out of luxuries long ago.'

‘Never mind luxuries,' Peggy grumbled. ‘I'd be happy with the basics, although I wouldn't mind some scented soap.'

‘Or shampoo,' Helen sighed, wishing she had taken care to use what she had more sparingly.

‘For me, it's the thought of a long, deep, luxurious bubble bath,' Daphne added and they laughed.

‘I wonder if we'll ever be able to enjoy those things again?' Peggy said dreamily.

‘Aunty Peggy, Uncle Tony,' Bobby called, keeping his voice low as he ran to greet them.

‘What a relief,' Tony said, standing up, catching him in his arms and spinning him round a couple of times before lowering the little boy to his feet. ‘Someone cheerful to speak to.'

The women laughed.

Helen watched her son being hugged by Peggy, before being surprised by an apple from Tony. ‘It's washed so you can eat it straightaway.'

He sat on a step and began munching happily.

‘We do need to take care, though,' Tony continued, glancing at Bobby and seeming satisfied that he was too focused on his apple to listen. ‘Now we've all been witness to so much Allied activity, I worry that the Germans will be more ready than ever to clamp down on us. If the Allies take France, then they'll lose their connection to their own country and will feel very much on their own here. And what happens when you corner a rat?'

His warning made sense. ‘We need to take precautions even more now not to bring attention to ourselves' Helen said trying not to panic.

‘Especially you and Bobby,' Peggy said sombrely.' And above all you, Daphne, now they live with you. Those rotters might be harsher towards someone they don't consider suspicious.'

‘You're right,' Helen agreed. ‘We'll take extra care and I'll be careful not to let Bobby play at the front of the house.'

Things were obviously changing, Helen mused, but in a way that none of them could predict just yet. The thought unnerved her even more.