of things.
‘Oh no – I just need to – well, talk.’
He took a deep breath. ‘Right. Shall we have it here?’
‘No, there’s a place round the corner I use.’
They walked together, not touching, through a street of people in drab, shabby clothing, past a torn poster exhorting the populace to ‘Dig for Victory’.
The place she led the way into was a narrow ‘hole in the wall’ with a serving counter, a couple of tables in the back, and a row of stools facing a shelf.
The man operating the big tea-urn gave her a friendly greeting. ‘Morning, miss. The usual?’
She waved her hand in Bill’s direction. ‘Two coffees please, Mr Archer, I’ve got company today.’
As she led the way to one of the wooden tables Bill got the distinct impression that Mr Archer was surprised by his presence – to say the least.
They sat down, said nothing as they waited while the proprietor prepared the coffees. He turned and held them out. Bill started to get up but Mary put her hand on his shoulder as she beat him to it.
‘Let me.’
Bill subsided back into the chair, feeling increasingly uneasy.
With the cups set down on the table he waited.
She took a sip, seemed to be steeling herself.
He could bear it no longer. ‘Well?’
Mary glanced up at him, then away again. She’d been agonizing all night, and had come to a decision.
‘Are we – is this – well for me it seems very special, but for all I know this is just what people experience all the time….’
Bill felt tremendous elation.
It just came out.
‘Mary, I love you.’
She searched his face. Slowly it dawned on her that what he had said was sincere – was really meant .
She took a deep breath, let out the air slowly. ‘That’s good. Because I love you so much – and it’s happened so suddenly – so fiercely. I just had to know … had to hear you say it. I was frightened that it was me – I’m not very experienced in these things – well, actually, I’ve had no experience at all.’ She hung her head down in embarrassment .
Bill leaned forward, kissed her gently on the forehead. ‘I’m glad you did. I’ve been so worried that I was going to make a fool of myself, that you would think I was just another Yank on the make.’
Mary smiled weakly, her hand finding his. ‘I’d never think that.’
They drank in silence for nearly a minute, conscious of a turning point, of a new closeness.
He was just about to ask her what she would like to do when Mary swallowed hard and said: ‘Bill?’
‘Yes.’ He wondered what was coming next.
She’d gone red, found it hard to look at him directly. ‘Only if you agree of course, but I’ve a friend …’ She paused, took a deep breath, then finished with a rush … ‘who has a little cottage in the country, miles from anywhere. She’s not using it so I wondered if you’d … if you’d…?’
She couldn’t get it out. Her face seemed to be on fire.
Bill suddenly understood. He set his cup down, foundboth her hands and made her turn towards him. To be absolutely sure, concerned that he’d got it wrong, he gently asked: ‘Mary, is that to stay – tonight?’
Silently she nodded. There was no mistaking her intent. He leant forward, kissed her gently on her forehead.
‘I love you.’
She looked down into her lap.
‘I know.’
Relieved but still shaking she brightened up. ‘To get there we bike – that’s if you can ride one?’
He pulled his chin into his chest in a manner, she realized , reminiscent of Cary Grant.
‘I practically grew up with a bike between my legs. Lead me to it.’
Mary came right back to her normal efficient self.
‘Good. But first I’ve got some shopping to do. I’ve got my ration book with me.’
Bill was careful. ‘Can I help there?’
Sheepishly, Mary put a hand on his arm. ‘I was being silly last night. Of course you can – but we’d better get started, there will be queues at the butcher’s by now.’
‘Queues – what are
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