A Daughter’s Choice

I giggled. The wine was doing its work and I didn’t feel in the least shocked by her revelations. ‘You’re wicked, do you know that?’

‘Yes, of course,’ she agreed, her eyes bright with mischief. ‘My father was afraid I was going to disgrace the family, that’s why he packed me off here, of course.’

‘I’m sure it wasn’t.’

‘There isn’t much love lost between us, Kathy.’ For a moment sadness flickered in her eyes. ‘I respect him, but he isn’t a love-able man.’

‘My father isn’t easy to love either, but Gran is wonderful. She’s been like a mother to me.’ I looked at Eleanor as she fondled her wineglass. ‘Is there anyone you really love, Eleanor?’

‘Yes, there is one person,’ she said and her face took on a new softness. ‘My cousin Mary. If I love anyone, I love Mary. She’s sweet and good and … well, best not to say too much. I just love her.’

‘It’s good to love someone.’

‘And to have good friends like you, Kathy.’ She touched her glass to mine. ‘To love and friendship, may they continue forever …’

I echoed her toast and sipped my wine. Eleanor had seemed to have everything with her expensive clothes and money of her own, but I sensed that deep down she wasn’t any more confident about the future than either Ally or me.

‘I’ve been waiting for this for ages!’ Ally cried, a note of excitement in her voice. ‘My mother is dying to meet you, Kathy. I’ve told her all about you in my letters.’

‘I’ve been looking forward to this too,’ I said, smiling at her as she grabbed her case and jumped down from the bus. ‘I can’t believe it’s more than eight months since we met.’

‘That’s because we don’t have time to breathe let alone think,’ she said and laughed. ‘But now we’ve got four whole days to do exactly as we like.’

It was the first leave we’d been able to take together, though both of us had had a weekend in between. I’d stayed at the hospital, taking walks to the village and spending time lazing by the river, but Ally had gone home on the train.

Her mother saw us from the window and was waiting to greet us. She hugged her daughter and then turned to me. We started to shake hands politely, and then she grabbed me and hugged me to her ample bosom.

‘I feel I know you, Kathy. Ally has written so much about her friend.’

‘I hope it was good,’ I quipped and she smiled.

‘I think you’ve been good for her, Kathy. She says you’re much better than she is at all kinds of things.’

‘I’m no better than Ally, she just thinks I am, because I got good marks in the exam we took last month. We’re both trying very hard to learn all they have to teach us, but it’s hard to take it all in.’

‘Yes, I am sure it is,’ she said. ‘Ally’s father and I are very proud of her and I’m sure your family must be proud of you, Kathy.’

‘I haven’t heard from Gran in a while,’ I said. ‘I think perhaps I ought to pop over one day on the Tube and see how she is …’

‘That’s a good idea,’ she replied. ‘But come in, my dear, sit down and have a good rest. I’ve got the kettle on and your dinner will be ready in a minute. From what Ally tells me you must both be starving.’

It was warm and welcoming in Ally’s house. Her parents were kind, generous people and I settled in straight away.

Ally and I went shopping together, and Ally helped me choose two new dresses – one for afternoons and the other for dances and parties. The evening dress wasn’t as impressive as Eleanor’s, of course, but it suited me and I felt comfortable in it.

‘I’ve never had so many new things,’ I said as we went back to Ally’s home our arms full of parcels. ‘I feel terribly extravagant for spending all that money.’

I had bought a couple of small presents for Gran, and I intended to give her some money when I visited the next day, but I had spent most of the wages I’d been saving on my new clothes, and I was really pleased with my purchases.

I was wearing a new skirt and blouse under my jacket when I walked up the lane the following morning. It was nearly spring again – the spring of 1918 – and the weather was mild, the sun making the lanes seem less dreary than usual. I’d asked Ally to come with me but she said it might be better if I went alone, and in my heart I was relieved. I wasn’t sure what kind of a reception I might get at home if my father happened to be around.

As I approached the house, I saw Bridget O’Rourke coming out of the front door. She looked surprised, then smiled and waited for me to reach her, giving me a quick kiss of greeting on the cheek.

‘Your Gran will be so pleased you’ve come,’ she said. ‘She’s had a bit of a chill. I wanted to write to you, but she wouldn’t let me – she’s all right now, though, so don’t worry.’

‘Was she very ill?’

‘Not at all,’ Gran said coming to the open door. She had heard our voices and was beaming with pleasure. ‘Bridget fusses too much, lass. I’m fine and there was no need to trouble you – with you being so busy and having such a good time with all your friends.’

‘Tom said they work the girls hard,’ Bridget said. ‘I doubt Kathy has much time to go out with friends.’

‘Oh, we get out now and then,’ I replied, a faint flush in my cheeks. ‘I had a drink with your brother once, Bridget. How is he?’

‘In high fettle. He has been in France working in a field hospital for a few months. It was what he wanted all the time, you know, but they wouldn’t give him the chance, and then they happened to need a doctor with his specialist knowledge in burns and they flew him out. He’s managed to stay on there until now, but he says they are sending him back soon.’

‘Oh, I expect he will be disappointed.’ I avoided looking at her. ‘Is he coming back to our hospital?’