Wings of the Morning

by Beryl Matthews

  Rose chuckled. ‘Her name’s Madge. Charlie must have changed her.’

  ‘Oh, I do hope so.’ Annie headed for her brother. ‘Introduce me to your new girlfriend.’

  ‘Sure, Annie.’ Charlie headed for the kitchen. ‘You’ll like Madge.’

  ‘What happened to the other one?’ she asked him.

  ‘Oh, she found someone with more money. American I believe.’

  Annie regarded her brother and saw that he didn’t look at all sad about this turn of events, so he couldn’t really have loved her. ‘Thank goodness for that. She’d have drained you dry, Charlie.’

  ‘I know.’ He stopped by the kitchen door and winked at her. ‘I’m not daft, Annie, and you needn’t worry, I had a good time for a while.’

  She thumped him playfully on the chest. ‘I bet you did.’

  Madge was petite with dark-brown hair and hazel eyes. She was a homely looking girl; Annie liked her at once and was happy to see that she obviously adored Charlie. Mum will be relieved to see all of her remaining children settled at last, Annie thought.

  The youngsters were allowed to stay up; but around eleven Jacques was drooping from all the excitement, and James, now looking quite the young man, took Kate and Jacques to the cottage. He stayed with them, leaving the grown-ups to celebrate.

  Bill had bought a gramophone and lots of records – Glenn Miller, Frank Sinatra, Artie Shaw, Vera Lynn and many more of the famous singers and big bands of the war. The furniture was moved back so they could dance and sing the night away.

  The dawn was throwing golden fingers of light across the sky when Annie and Reid finally managed to slip away to bed.

  ‘This is the first day of peace in Europe,’ Reid told her as he gathered her into his arms, ‘and our life together is just beginning.’

  He made love to her until she was gasping with pleasure. Afterwards, as they drifted into sleep, it occurred to Annie that they hadn’t bothered with any precautions this time. She smiled to herself. What did it matter? The war was over and they would be married in a month’s time.

  *

  It was midday before anyone started to wander downstairs, much to the children’s disgust. And it was a rather subdued gathering around the kitchen table. After the joy of knowing that the war was over at last there was a much more serious air about everyone, as they all began to think of the future. For five and a half years the only thing to occupy their minds had been surviving the war, but now everyone had to come to grips with picking up the threads of their lives.

  Sam was the first one to announce his plans. ‘We are going back to France on the first available boat,’ he told them, holding Jacques in his arms and smiling down at his wife. ‘We shall be leaving early tomorrow.’

  ‘Then we’ll be able to travel part of the way together,’ Marj told him, ‘because we’re returning to Roehampton in the morning. I can’t wait to get back to my house again.’

  ‘Why don’t you and Annie stay here for the rest of your leave,’ Bill suggested to Reid.

  Reid looked at Annie for her approval, and then nodded. ‘We’ll do that if you don’t mind.’

  ‘What are you going to do with the house now?’ Annie asked Rose.

  ‘That’s up to James. George left it to James, so it belongs to him now.’

  ‘Oh, that’s right.’ Annie remembered now. Rose had insisted that her father leave everything to the children, so James had inherited all the Gresham property, and Kate some money in trust as a nest egg for when she married or reached the age of twenty-five – whichever came first.

  ‘We’ll keep it for holidays,’ James told them. ‘Grandpa George loved this place and I’m sure he would have wanted us to keep it.’

  ‘Good decision,’ Bill told his son. ‘It’s a fine, solid house and with our growing family it will be made good use of.’

  James looked pleased with his father’s approval and Annie could see that he was growing into a sensible boy. But with parents like Rose and Bill it was hardly surprising.

  ‘We must take Tibby and Pirate with us,’ Kate declared. ‘They will be unhappy on their own here.’

  ‘We wouldn’t dream of leaving them behind.’ Rose smiled at her daughter. ‘I’ve already got a cat box for Tibby to travel in.’

  So it was all decided. The rest of the day was spent packing as everyone prepared to return to their normal lives. After all these years it wasn’t going to be easy; there was still Japan to be dealt with, but the threat to this country was over. The time had come to look forward, and not back.

  It was chaos the next morning as everyone prepared to leave. Reid watched Jacques tearing around in a state of high excitement, the toy rabbit once again dangling from his hand by its ear. Although he was five years old now, today he looked like an excited baby. The little boy obviously had no intention of leaving the precious rabbit behind. Kate and James had given him more toys to take home with him and he was insisting that his father find room for them in their luggage. Kate was overseeing the packing of toys, looking very grown up and motherly for a nine-year-old.

  Charlie had disappeared soon after breakfast, but he was back now, rumbling up in a large air force truck. When he stopped and jumped out he gave Reid a thumbs-up sign and winked.

  ‘Where did Charlie get that?’ Annie asked as the men started to load the cases into the back.

  ‘I’ve no idea.’ Reid’s expression was one of innocence.

  Annie laughed. ‘Don’t try to fool me. He couldn’t have commandeered transport without proper authorization.’

  Reid grinned at her. ‘Just look at the number of cases everyone’s got. We had to do something. Charlie’s going to drive it back and that means the train journey will be more comfortable for the others.’

  ‘But what about Sam’s luggage; is that being loaded as well?’

  ‘Bill has persuaded them to stay at Roehampton tonight and make their way back to France tomorrow.’

  ‘Annie.’ Maria came and kissed her on both cheeks. ‘I thank you for all you have done for us. You must promise to visit soon and bring Kate and James with you. Jacques does not realize it yet but he is going to miss them very much.’

  ‘We’ll come to France as soon as we can,’ Annie promised.

  ‘Thank you.’ Maria gave a sad smile. ‘You will enjoy your next visit more. No Germans to hide from, eh?’

  Annie gave her a startled look.

  ‘Ah, yes, André has told me all about your brave action.’ Maria turned to Reid and stood on tiptoe to kiss him also.

  ‘You will bring everyone to see us?’ she asked.

  ‘Of course.’ Reid hugged Maria but his mind was racing. What the devil had she meant when she’d told Annie that there wouldn’t be any need to hide from the Germans this time?

  As everyone else came and said goodbye Reid watched Annie through narrowed eyes as she hugged Sam.

  ‘Should I call you André now?’ she asked, giving a little laugh of amusement. ‘You were ratty the last time I tried to.’

  ‘Of course, Sam is no longer needed. That part of my life is finished.’

  ‘Well, André, you and your family be happy.’ Annie kissed him on the cheek and then hugged Jacques.

  Reid put his arm around Annie as they watched the truck drive away with everyone waving from the back. They would all be dropped off at the station, leaving Charlie and Madge to drive back with the luggage and the animals. He waited until they were out of sight, and then led her back indoors. The house was strangely silent now, and he was glad they were going to have a few quiet days on their own. But first there was something he had to find out.

  ‘Tell me what Maria was talking about,’ he said, making her sit on the settee.

  ‘Sorry?’

  Reid sat next to her and turned her to face him. ‘What was that remark about dodging Germans?’

  ‘It was nothing.’ Annie tried to stand up. ‘I’ll make some tea, shall I?’

  ‘No, not until you’ve explained, Annie
.’

  She sighed, reached out and ran her finger lightly over his lips. ‘I suppose it’s all right to talk about it now. After all, Sam … sorry, André, has obviously told Maria.’

  Reid waited, giving Annie time to compose herself. Whatever this was, it was clearly difficult for her to talk about. He knew just how she felt because he had seen things he doubted he would ever be able to discuss.

  Annie began hesitantly, and for the next half hour he never said a word as the story unfolded. He saw the pain in her eyes and watched the tears flow unchecked in rivers down her face. And he knew for certain that this was the first time she’d ever taken this experience out from the back of her mind, looked it square in the face, and relived each moment.

  When she’d finished she dipped her head as if all energy and emotion was spent, and Reid wrapped her in his arms and held her. She didn’t need words at this moment, just someone who loved her and understood.

  If he felt a pang of jealousy for this man Jack Graham she had risked her life for, then he pushed it aside. He now knew how special she was and he loved her even more. If that were possible!

  36

  It was the middle of June before Annie and Reid could arrange a suitable date for their wedding. They wanted as many of their family and friends there as possible, and it had taken a lot of sorting out. In the end they’d had to settle for the 25th, otherwise Bob would have been on his way back to Australia. He had fitted in with the family as if he’d never left, although they had not seen him since he’d run away to sea as a boy. It would please her mother to have him at the wedding, and as he was leaving in two days’ time it would give them a chance to include him in just one more family celebration. Once he left again for Australia it was unlikely they would ever see him again. There was another cause for celebration as well. Bill had been out of the navy for two weeks now and already appeared relaxed and much happier.

  Annie looked over her shoulder to check the back of the dress and then turned around, admiring the way the parachute silk hung in elegant folds from a nipped-in waist. She had designed the dress and her mother and Rose had made a wonderful job of it, following her drawing with absolute accuracy.

  ‘You look lovely,’ Rose told her.

  Annie smiled. It was a relief to be out of uniform for a change.

  Marj tweaked the veil and gave a satisfied nod. ‘Now, have you got something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue?’

  ‘I don’t think so. Does it matter?’

  Her mother looked horrified. ‘Of course it does. You can’t marry without those things.’

  Annie shook her head. ‘You’re too superstitious, Mum.’

  ‘That’s as may be, but I’ll not have my daughter walking up the aisle without proper preparation.’

  ‘Humour her, Annie,’ Rose laughed. ‘I had to go through the same routine before I married Bill.’

  ‘And a good job you did, my girl. You needed all the help you could get to make your marriage survive those first two years,’ Marj accused her eldest daughter.

  ‘It was Bill who saved us,’ Rose pointed out. ‘Not some meaningless material symbols.’

  ‘I know.’ Marj smiled at her two daughters. ‘But let’s not take any chances, eh?’

  ‘Right.’ Annie touched the veil. ‘This was Rose’s, so is that old enough?’

  Marj agreed that it was, just about.

  ‘Good. The dress is new and so is everything else I’m wearing, thanks to the family pitching in with their clothing coupons. So the next is something borrowed.’

  ‘I know.’ Rose disappeared upstairs and returned with a velvet box in her hands. ‘Grandma Gresham gave me this to wear on my wedding day and you can borrow it for yours.’

  Annie let Rose fasten the beautiful row of pearls around her neck.

  ‘That’s perfect.’ Marj beamed with pleasure. ‘That just leaves something blue.’

  ‘Will this do?’ Annie lifted the long skirt and revealed a saucy garter with a pattern of blue forget-me-nots on it.

  Rose laughed and their mother gasped. ‘Where did you get that?’

  ‘Dora gave it to me. She wore it when she married Will.’

  ‘Ah, well, that will do just fine,’ Marj said. ‘They are happy enough with one babe and another on the way.’

  Rose winked at Annie. ‘This is going to be some wedding with both the maids of honour pregnant. Let’s hope Jenny doesn’t decide to give birth during the ceremony.’

  ‘She’s promised me she won’t,’ Annie told them through her laughter.

  ‘Auntie Annie.’ Kate walked into the room, followed by Dora and Jenny. ‘We’re leaving now, the car’s here to take us to the church.’

  A lump came into Annie’s throat as she saw how lovely her friends and niece looked. Their dresses were also made of parachute silk but they had been dyed a pale lilac, except for Kate’s, and that was white with a large lilac sash. It was a truly stunning sight in these austere times.

  Wally looked in. ‘Come on, girls, the car’s waiting.’

  Marj bustled off to see that everyone left at the proper time and the two sisters were left alone.

  ‘Nervous?’ Rose asked.

  ‘No.’ Annie shook her head. ‘I know I’m marrying the right man.’

  ‘Good.’ Rose stood silent for a while, and then spoke softly. ‘Don’t make the same mistakes I did, Annie. Reid’s a good man – show him you love him.’

  ‘I will.’

  Rose nodded, and then did a surprising thing. She kissed her sister, smiled and walked out of the room.

  Annie was touched by the unusual outward show of affection, but Rose had mellowed over the last few years. The tough young woman had disappeared, leaving hardly a trace of the anger and frustration that had driven her. The tight control on her emotions was still there, of course, and Annie doubted if that would ever change. Rose’s young life had been too harsh for that last barrier to come down completely, but those who knew her recognized the deep love she had for family, friends and all who suffered injustice and deprivation …

  ‘Time to go, Annie.’ Wally handed her the flowers and they went out to the waiting car.

  The church in Putney was crowded with family and friends. As Annie glanced at the smiling faces she couldn’t remember when she’d felt so happy. Her brother Will was there; his ship had docked just the night before. Charlie was serving as an usher with some more of the ground crew from Tangmere. As she looked around at the sea of air force blue uniforms her grin broadened. That airfield must be empty today!

  As the organ began to play Wally squeezed her arm to make her start the walk down the aisle. Everyone in the church faded from thought and vision as she concentrated on Reid. He was standing with Bouncer at his side and had turned round to face her as she walked towards him. He looked stunning in his uniform and Annie wondered how she could ever have believed that she didn’t like him. It was only with hindsight that she realized she must have fallen in love with him when she’d glimpsed him on the quay during the evacuation of Dunkirk.

  She reached his side and he smiled, leaning forward to kiss her gently on her cheek. ‘I love you, Annie, and you look so beautiful,’ he murmured for her ears only.

  The ceremony passed all too quickly for her. After signing the register they walked down the aisle together, husband and wife. Annie felt so proud as she saw the guard of honour waiting for them outside the church. All the pilots were in their best uniforms, sporting rows of medals on their chests, with every buckle and button shining in the brilliant sunshine.

  As they started their walk along the line Reid made a pretence of inspecting them. They stood fiercely to attention in true military style, until you looked into their faces and noticed the wide grins.

  ‘You won’t find anything wrong with us today,’ Bouncer told them as they reached him, which caused a quiet ripple of amusement to rumble along the line.

  ‘I’d better not.’ Reid cast his glance over the pilot
s again and then gave a satisfied nod. ‘You’re certainly smarter and cleaner than I’ve ever seen you.’

  They were all laughing now, including the man standing at the end of the line, holding up a pair of headphones.

  ‘Sam!’ Annie was ecstatic. ‘I didn’t think you’d be able to make it.’

  He kissed her cheek and handed her the headphones. ‘Here’s a souvenir for you. I wouldn’t have missed your wedding for anything.’ He then shook hands with Reid. ‘I wish you both a lifetime of happiness.’

  ‘Thank you. How are Maria and Jacques?’ Reid asked.

  ‘They are both well. Maria is becoming stronger all the time, and although Jacques misses Kate and James he is settling down and making friends. He keeps asking when you are coming over to see him, though.’

  ‘When can we go?’ Annie looked at Reid imploringly.

  ‘We’ll go as soon as Kate and James are on their school holidays,’ Reid promised.

  Marj hurried up. ‘They want to take the photos now.’

  ‘We’ll talk later,’ Annie told Sam, as she was hustled away for the wedding photos.

  After a great many were taken there was one Annie knew would be her favourite. Reid and Sam were on either side of her, and the pilots of Reid’s old squadron surrounded them. It was obvious to Annie that through the perilous times they had formed a bond that would never be broken, just as she had with Sam, and Jack Graham, had he lived.

  But this was not a time for sadness. She had just married the man she loved passionately and the future looked bright and inviting.

  Annie moved in Reid’s arms and he kissed the top of her head. He couldn’t remember if he’d ever felt so contented and at peace with himself. Her delicate fingers traced a pattern over his back and he shuddered with pleasure.

  ‘Are you awake?’ he asked huskily.

  ‘Yes.’ She moved her head back on the pillow so she could look into his face and smiled. ‘I’ve got a special present for you but I haven’t had a chance to give it to you until now.’