Shadows of Conflict

by Jennifer Bohnet

  ‘Vicky not back yet?’ she asked.

  ‘Waiting for a flight change. My mother has finally agreed to come for a holiday,’ Noah Snr said. ‘Should arrive sometime next week, fingers crossed.’

  Trisha and Emma were the next to arrive. Katie locked the door and followed them upstairs.

  Lara and Henri, who’d apparently been a keen sailor in his youth, were talking boats.

  ‘I’m looking forward to a trip on the river next week,’ Henri said. ‘Not sailing, though, unfortunately.’

  ‘If you fancy a sail, get Mattie to take you up to my brother’s boatyard,’ Lara said. ‘He’ll lend you a boat – might even crew for you if you’re lucky.’

  ‘Merci Lara, not sure time will allow, this visit,’ Henri said, looking across at Mattie. ‘But next time it would be a treat.’

  Katie was pouring a glass of champagne when Lara sidled up to her. ‘So what gives with you and Leo?’

  Katie shrugged. ‘You tell me. Haven’t seen him in ages. I didn’t even speak to him when I rang to invite him this evening, just left a voice message asking him to let me know. I haven’t heard a word. Top-up?’ she asked, holding the bottle out to Lara and pouring when she nodded.

  Lara frowned. ‘Not like Leo to sulk. You must have really upset him.’

  ‘Oh, sure. It’s bound to be my fault,’ Katie said.

  ‘If he doesn’t come this evening, I’ll ring him in the morning,’ Lara said. ‘Sort it out.’

  ‘Don’t you dare.’ Honestly, Lara could be so bossy and interfering sometimes. ‘I’m quite capable of talking to Leo and finding out just what is bugging him.’

  Katie was handing blinis topped with local crabmeat around when she heard the shop door slam. Dexter was back. A minute later he appeared holding a party gift bag – and followed by Leo.

  ‘Hope you like this,’ Dexter said, handing Katie the bag.

  ‘Thank you,’ Katie said. ‘Hi, Leo. I’ll get you both a drink.’ She moved across to the table. Leo had come after all. Shame he hadn’t bothered to change out of his usual jeans and sweatshirt, though.

  Once everyone had food and a drink, Katie opened her present from Lara and Dexter. A Simon Drew rabbit print that had Katie laughing out loud. ‘Oh, that’s brilliant. I know just where I’ll put it. Thank you.’ Hoping Leo would offer to hang it for her she glanced across at him but he didn’t say anything.

  ‘Mattie and I haven’t seen you recently,’ Katie said. Better to include Mattie rather than admit she’d missed having him around.

  ‘Been busy. Silage-making time,’ Leo said.

  ‘Not avoiding us, then?’

  Leo sipped his champagne and didn’t answer.

  Katie, taking his silence to mean yes, bit her lip before saying quietly, ‘If you haven’t heard, I turned both Patrick’s offers down.’

  Leo turned to look at her.

  Katie shrugged. ‘Just wanted you to know. Not that it appears you’re interested.’

  Leo stared at her. ‘I’m glad you said no to Patrick. But is living down here always going to be enough for you, Tiggy?’ Leo asked. He put his glass down and gently kissed her on the cheek before she realized his intention. ‘Sorry I can’t stay. Got a sick sheep back at the farm.’ He raised his hand in farewell. ‘Sorry, folks, got to go. Mattie, Henri, I’ll see you.’ With that, he was gone.

  Katie sighed. Sick sheep explained his clothes but not his offhand attitude with her. Getting their friendship back on track was clearly going to be difficult.

  Sitting chatting over a leisurely lunch out on the terrace on the Monday after the party, Mattie told Henri about the planned drive around the area with Noah Snr. ‘It’s been arranged for later today. You will join us? We could always go on our own another day if you prefer.’

  ‘I’m fine,’ Henri said. ‘I’ve been reading up on Operations Overlord and Tiger so am interested to see the actual places. Going with someone who knows their history will make it special too.’

  ‘Noah Snr is a lot more knowledgeable about it all than I am,’ Mattie said. ‘Which makes me feel rather ashamed as it’s part of my history. But then, I have rather avoided learning about certain issues in my life.’

  ‘I’m sure you know more than you realize. It’s amazing the amount of information one unconsciously absorbs as a child and then forgets.’ Henri glanced at her. ‘It’s also possible you have deliberately blocked the memories of that particular aspect of your childhood.’

  Mattie nodded. ‘I’m sure there’s a certain amount of truth in what you say, but Noah has done a serious amount of research for his documentary.’ She stood up. ‘I’ll clear these things and then we’ll walk down into town.’

  Noah Snr was waiting for them in the shop when they arrived and apologized for being alone.

  ‘Noah Jnr has gone up to Bristol to collect Vicky and my mother,’ he said. ‘They finally got a flight out.’

  Mattie turned to Katie. ‘Are you joining us for the trip out to Torcross?’

  ‘No can do I’m afraid. Stuff to do down here.’

  ‘Can I leave Bert with you then?’

  ‘Of course,’ Katie said. ‘I’ll take him for a walk when I close and then pop him back to the cottage. Shall I organize some supper for later – or will you be eating out?’

  ‘I was planning to introduce Henri and Noah to the delights of fish and chips at the pub,’ Mattie said. ‘So don’t worry about us.’

  TWENTY-ONE

  Henri looked around him appreciatively as Noah Snr negotiated the narrow twisting road out through Stoke Fleming, past Blackpool Sands, up the steep hill into Strete and then finally dropped down and round the last bend onto the long coastal road that led to Torcross.

  ‘It’s certainly a beautiful part of the world. Is that obelisk significant?’ Henri asked, looking at a large granite stone erected on the seaward side of the road as they drove past.

  ‘Sure is. Shall we take a closer look?’ Noah said, pulling into the nearby car park. ‘It was a gift from the United States.’

  Standing in front of the obelisk and reading the dedication to the people of the South Hams from a grateful US Army, Henri shook his head. ‘Operation Overlord must have come as a terrible shock to the people in the villages.’

  Noah nodded. ‘It was a sacrifice they had no say in, which made it harder, I imagine. For the common good at a time of war. But six weeks isn’t long to literally pack up everything – from the smallest chick to the largest bull – and leave your home to face who knew what.’

  ‘All because the coastline and beaches resemble those in Normandy where the invasion of France was to happen?’ Henri asked.

  ‘The exercises they were able to practise here were invaluable for the actual D-Day landings,’ Noah said.

  ‘It’s all so normal now. As if nothing ever disturbed the peace and beauty of this place – no visible scars. Just the obelisk to remind,’ Henri said.

  ‘Every now and again we get unexploded bombs turning up, especially after a storm,’ Mattie said. ‘Sometimes it causes a mini-evacuation along the coast road. Haven’t had a scare for a few years, though.’

  ‘Ready to move on to Torcross now?’ Noah asked. ‘I want to show you the tank and tell you something about Operation Tiger.’

  Mattie gave a mock groan. ‘What is it with you men? Anything mechanical connected to the war and you’re fascinated.’

  ‘Mattie, this tank was under the sea for about forty years,’ Noah said. ‘Amazingly, the tracks still moved when it was pulled out onto the road.’

  There was the usual crowd of tourists surrounding the tank when Noah pulled into the car park a few minutes later.

  ‘I’ll leave you to tell Henri all about it. I’ll go across to the restaurant and organize a table for supper,’ Mattie said. Supper conversation tonight would, of course, revolve around the war and that tank. Was she ready to join in with her childhood memories of that dreadful time? Speaking about it would at least show Henri she was trying to
keep her promise to him to put past events into perspective. A glass of wine before they joined her would help.

  Half an hour later when the two men sat at the window table she’d managed to reserve, the bottle of red she’d ordered was half empty. Henri, holding a book, glanced at her.

  ‘Are you OK? Tonight is difficult for you?’

  Mattie smiled. ‘I’m fine. What have you got there?’

  Henri handed her the book. The Forgotten Dead by Ken Small and Mark Rogerson.

  ‘Have you read it?’ Noah asked.

  Mattie shook her head. ‘No.’ Looking at Henri she said, ‘When you’ve read it you’ll have to tell me what it says about Operation Tiger.’

  ‘I’ll lend you the book. You can read it for yourself,’ Henri said.

  ‘I know Operation Tiger changed the direction of my life,’ Mattie said. ‘I became my mother’s only daughter. A daughter she expected to do the things Clara was supposed to do. Of course I could never take her place in my mother’s affections, a fact which was spelt out to me for the rest of her life. “If only Clara had lived” was my mother’s constant refrain in my ears.’

  Mattie poured herself another glass of wine from the carafe on the table.

  ‘Clara’s birthday was April 18th and Hal had managed to get a couple of hours leave and they spent the evening together. Clara was so happy when she came home. She waltzed into my room and whispered to me that after the war was over Hal wanted her to go to America and live with him there – and she was going to marry him whatever our parents said.’ The wine in Mattie’s glass slopped over the edge as she twirled it round. Gently Henri took it from her and placed it on the table before taking hold of her hand.

  ‘A few days later,’ she continued, ‘there were these rumours circulating about E-boats torpedoing several tank landing craft out in Start Bay killing hundreds of American servicemen – and no word from Hal to say he was OK. Clara was beside herself. It was his best friend who finally came to find her and tell her Hal had definitely been on one of the tank landing craft that had been torpedoed.’

  Mattie fell silent, gazing out of the window at the sea where the tragedy had happened all those years ago. She bit her lip, remembering the awful scream that had rung throughout the house as the young officer, who had only narrowly escaped death himself in the incident, broke the terrible news to Clara.

  Henri squeezed Mattie’s hand tightly.

  ‘Clara sank into a decline that day,’ Mattie finally continued. ‘My parents said she’d had a breakdown and packed her off to stay with cousins for a month in Penzance to get over it.’

  ‘When she came back, how was she?’ Henri asked.

  ‘Different. Morose. My lovely big sister had changed out of all recognition.’ Mattie reached for her glass and took a sip.

  ‘On June 5th as we were all watching the harbour emptying she upped and left. I never saw her again. For months I kept hoping she’d come home and then the accident happened.’ Mattie pressed her knuckles against her lips in a forlorn attempt to keep the tears at bay.

  Silently Henri handed her a handkerchief and Mattie smiled her thanks. ‘I’ve spent all my life wishing Operation Tiger had never taken place. It’s only now I’m realizing how big a tragedy it really was – not only for me but also the Americans.’

  TWENTY-TWO

  ‘Come on then, Bert old boy. We’ll walk out to the castle and then take you home to the cottage,’ Katie said, locking the shop door behind her.

  It was a lovely evening and Katie strolled along thinking about her decision to give up all ideas of a career in the media and concentrate on A Good Yarn. She had so many ideas for the shop now she knew for certain where her future lay.

  Having her own space again was great. And Mattie surely appreciated the cottage being her own especially now Henri had arrived. Living above the shop would hopefully be more of a deterrent to burglars than any burglar alarm, despite Leo and his misgivings about her moving in. Ah, Leo.

  Still no word from him since his brief appearance at the party. She needed to talk to him if only to clear up any misconceptions he still held. She wanted him to know returning to live here was the best decision of her life and she had no intention of leaving again.

  Dodging around the holidaymakers still loitering on the paths near the castle and its grounds, Katie impulsively carried on round the steep bend that lead to the Compass Cove footpath. She’d go and see him right now. If he wasn’t home it would be a wasted journey but at least Bert would have had a good walk.

  Shortening Bert’s lead to keep him closer to heel, she ignored the lower coastal path and took the narrow lane that wound its way up past the old coastguard cottages. Leaving the breathtaking view to her left, she began to make her way along the inland coastal path.

  Twenty minutes later, Katie – walking down Castle Farm track – was relieved to see lights on in the kitchen. Leo came out of the farmhouse when Meg began to bark her welcome.

  ‘Hi,’ Katie said.

  ‘Bert looks like he could do with some water,’ Leo said, pointing to the small trough he kept filled with water for Meg at the side of the door.

  Katie slipped Bert’s lead off. ‘Could I have a glass too, please?’

  Silently, Leo ushered her into the kitchen and poured her a glass of water.

  ‘Thanks. Why did you run out on me at the party?’ she asked quietly, looking at him.

  ‘I told you. Sick sheep. I wasn’t in the mood for partying.’

  Katie drank her water, willing Leo to say something more. Ask her how she was. Jeez, why didn’t he say something, anything, rather than just stare at her? She put the glass down on the working surface.

  ‘OK. Thanks for that. I’d better be getting back to the flat. Lots to do. Can’t quite believe I’ve been living there for nearly a week. No sign of a break-in yet. So that’s got to be a result.’ Ha. Leo’s lips twitched as if he was trying not to smile at that.

  ‘I’ve got one of my famous lasagnes in the Aga,’ he said. ‘Stay for supper?’

  The unexpected invitation took Katie by surprise and she hesitated – torn between the two of them having a proper talk and wanting to get home to the flat. Besides, the shop accounts were also crying out for her attention.

  ‘I can probably find some raspberries and clotted cream for dessert,’ Leo added. ‘If that helps you decide.’

  ‘Mmm,’ Katie laughed. ‘You sure know how to persuade me. OK. But I mustn’t stay too long. I want to get at least an hour’s work in on the accounts this evening.’

  ‘How’s Mattie? Henri? How’s he with Mattie?’ Leo placed a chopping board and a knife on the work surface.

  ‘Very attentive,’ Katie said. ‘They complement each other well,’ she added. ‘Mattie and Noah have taken him out to Slapton and Torcross as he’s interested in the World War Two history of the area.’

  Leo moved across to the fridge. ‘Wine?’

  ‘Please,’ Katie said, nodding.

  Sipping her wine by the Aga with Bert settled at her feet Katie looked around the kitchen appreciatively, while Leo, having refused her offer of help, prepared a salad.

  ‘I love what you’ve done to this kitchen. It’s how I always imagine a farmhouse kitchen should be.’ She kept the thought, ‘It’s a real family kitchen,’ to herself.

  ‘Thanks. How’s business at the shop?’

  ‘Fine. Trying to organize the publicity for the Worldwide Knit in Public Day at the moment. The club are having a knitting marathon in Avenue Gardens.’ Katie sighed. ‘It’s going to be a busy week. Could do without it being so close to the D-Day anniversary celebrations but nothing I can do about that.’ She took a sip of her wine. ‘Mattie was talking about the commemorative river trip on the sixth. Are you coming to that?’

  ‘Of course. Dad always insists we join in. Don’t remember Mattie ever joining that before, though. She must definitely be coming to terms with things.’ Picking an onion out of the veg basket, Leo glanced at her.
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br />   ‘Katie, about the other day,’ he said, expertly peeling and cutting the onion ready to toss it into the salad bowl.

  ‘You want to apologize for calling me stupid? And for storming off for no reason? Not to mention being a party pooper?’

  ‘No, I certainly don’t. I was so angry with you that Sunday when you were meeting Patrick; I didn’t dare stay in the same room.’ He picked up a tomato and sliced it into quarters. ‘I don’t want to apologize about anything. I just want to talk to you about the evening in the shop when you fell of the ladder. And about how I feel.’

  ‘Oh, that evening,’ Katie said, smiling at the memory.

  ‘Yes. Before Patrick arrived and interrupted things.’ Leo picked up another tomato and concentrated on slicing it into quarters for several seconds before giving her a serious look.

  ‘Katie, I just want to know,’ he began. At the same moment, an urgent ‘beep beep’ began to emit from a pager on the work surface.

  ‘Damn! Fire shout. Gotta go. Stay and eat something. If you leave before I get back, lock up and take the key with you. I’ve got a spare. Bye.’

  As he spoke Leo shrugged himself into his jacket, grabbed the pager, took his motorbike keys off the rack and ran out of the door.

  Katie, standing in the farmhouse doorway, watched him roar down the farm track as if his life – or someone else’s – depended on it. She sniffed the air. Already there was a pungent smell of smoke drifting up from town.

  ‘Be careful, Leo,’ she called out to his disappearing back. Just what was he about to encounter in town?

  Back in the kitchen, she finished preparing the salad and placed it in the fridge before washing the utensils and wiping the work surface down. Carefully she lifted the lasagne out of the Aga and checked it before placing it in the slow oven. There was no way she could eat anything without Leo. She glanced out of the window. Should she wait for Leo to return or go – walk down Weeke Hill and the long descent into South Town?

  Walking alone in the countryside in the dark, even with Bert at her side, wasn’t something that appealed. Moving across to close the kitchen window and draw the curtains, she heard the siren of a fire engine in the distance. Had she left anything on in the flat? Iron? Hairdryer? No both those items had been disconnected – in the case of the iron, for many days.