Chapter 60

Sunday 18 June

Peggy saw Helen's delight when she, Tony and Babs walked around the house to where they supposed Daphne and she would be enjoying the sunshine and watching Bobby play with his toys on the grass.

‘What a wonderful surprise,' Daphne said, indicating chairs for them to sit on. ‘I'll fetch us all something to drink.'

Tony immediately went to join Bobby, and Peggy couldn't miss the little boy's excitement at seeing his friend again. But she noticed a marked difference in Daphne's demeanour. She was much thinner than on their previous visit and seemed jittery – probably, Peggy thought, because of the constant noise of the bombardment. It had been going on for a week now and her own nerves were on edge.

‘How's your mum?' Helen asked.

‘She's struggling a bit with all that's been happening,' Babs explained. ‘But she sends her love. She misses you and Bobby terribly even though it's been months now since the pair of you left.' She looked at Peggy. ‘We miss you both, too, don't we?'

‘We do, but you have more space here and more to do. And the garden, of course, and that's what matters.' She said the last few words pointedly to her sister, causing Babs's cheeks to redden slightly. Peggy loved her sister but she sometimes didn't think before speaking. Thankfully, Helen knew Babs well enough not to take offence at anything she said.

Helen tucked her auburn hair behind her ears. ‘The garden has been wonderful. Bobby wants to come outside as soon as he's up each morning and it's a struggle to persuade him inside for supper. I love seeing grass stains on his knees and earth under his fingernails – something I'd never thought about before. We've been very happy here, although we have missed the three of you. Please don't think we haven't.'

‘I'm sorry if I said the wrong thing,' Babs said.

‘It's fine, you didn't.' Helen pressed her hand to her heart. ‘I know what you meant, Babs.'

‘I think I worry so much about Mum. She's always been there for us and it frightens me to see her changing almost in front of our eyes.'

‘It must do.' Helen frowned.

‘Babs.' Peggy shot her a warning look.

Ignoring her, Babs continued. ‘You see, Mum's always been curvy,' she explained.

As she said it, Peggy noticed for the first time how much weight her sister had lost, too. She had been so focused on their mother and her work – how had she missed the change in Babs? She kept her thoughts to herself and listened as her sister continued.

‘When we told Mum we were worried about her losing so much weight, she pointed out how we had all changed and joked that hopefully she would never have to worry about weight management again.'

Peggy saw Helen's happiness vanish and decided to change the topic of conversation before Babs became distressed about something none of them could do anything about.

‘Mum has been trying to reduce her weight for as long as I can remember.' She crossed one leg over the other. ‘I must admit I prefer her looking the way she did before, but as she said, we're all in the same boat and we will get through this.'

Helen indicated Daphne coming out through the French doors behind Tony. ‘I'm worried about Daphne,' she whispered quickly. ‘She's looking unwell but won't hear of us changing our share of the rations in any way.'

Peggy glanced at her.

‘I see what you mean,' Babs said. ‘I wish we could have brought something with us but…'

Helen shook her head. ‘That's not what I meant. I'm just happy to see you and be able to share my concerns with someone.'

Peggy gave her a sympathetic smile. ‘We know how you feel. This blasted war is slowly killing all of us. I'm beginning to think we'll all starve before this island is liberated.'

‘I was thinking the same thing.'

‘There are some very serious faces here,' Daphne said with forced cheerfulness. ‘Now, who would like a glass of this delicious mint cocktail?'

They laughed as each took a cocktail glass of water with fresh mint in it from the tray that Tony had brought out for her.

‘I'm impressed with Daphne's style,' Peggy said.

‘This is so refreshing,' Helen said, taking a sip.

When they were seated, Tony said, ‘I was telling Daphne about the British arriving in Carteret.'

‘I've heard of that place. Isn't it quite close to the island?' Helen tried to recall what she had heard about it from conversations with her aunt. ‘I believe Aunt Sylvia used to travel there each summer when my uncle was alive.'

‘I used to love going there with my parents when I was younger,' Tony said. ‘I'm planning on going again as soon as this nonsense is over and done with.'

‘We should all plan to go,' Babs said, with more enthusiasm than Peggy had seen from any of them in a long time.

‘We should,' Peggy nodded. ‘I know. Let's promise that once this is all over, and I know in my heart it will be, we will all go away somewhere special together to celebrate.' And remember those who didn't make it, she thought, but decided to keep that to herself.

They looked up as another couple of planes passed and the firing began again in earnest.

‘I can't wait to see the back of these rotten Jerries,' Tony snapped. ‘I just hope it's sooner rather than later.'

Peggy agreed, knowing that they all were thinking the same thing. ‘Let's talk about something else,' she suggested just as a fresh bout of firing began.