making her feel dull and dowdy by comparison, but she really should make an effort to get to know them better. After all, she acknowledged, this wasn’t the first time she’d been the stranger among close-knit groups, and she’d learnt very quickly that it was important to fit in.
She sneaked a glance at Anne, who looked radiant with happiness, her skin clear, her eyes shining, her whole demeanour proof of her robust health and confidence. Did she realise how lucky she was to have such a wonderful home and supportive family? She hoped she did, for Danuta would have given anything for that right now.
She felt the tiny flutter in her own belly and shielded the barely discernible mound by surreptitiously drawing her cardigan over it. Her baby was as eagerly awaited and just as precious as Anne’s – if not more so. For it had been conceived in the last few weeks of its father’s life, and was the last tangible proof of the love they’d found amidst the horrors of this war. But the ensuing trauma of her desperate race to escape the SS firing squad, and the lack of medical attention and good, wholesome food must surely have had an adverse effect on that tiny, half-formed being inside her?
She closed her eyes as the menacing drone of enemy aircraft grew louder and the crack of gunfire split the night. The heavy, booming thunder from the guns along the seafront and on the cliff-tops shook the earth beneath her feet, but after the terror of hiding in ditches from enemy tanks and fighter planes, she felt ridiculously safe under this bit of tin in the back of an English suburban garden. The sound of the Dorniers and Messerschmidts was overhead now, and it was clear that it would be a massive raid – probably on London again.
She listened as the others chattered. It was still difficult to tune in to the different accents, and she felt a little shy when she did try and make conversation, not wanting to make a mistake with her English, all too aware that her accent set her apart and that she must appear strange to them. The interview with Matron had reinforced this wariness, and she felt the shame flood through her again as she thought of how proudly she’d told them she was also a nurse. Had Peggy told them about her humiliating rejection and the lowly laundry post she’d been forced to take? She hoped not, but realised it wouldn’t remain a secret once she started her shift in the morning.
She took a deep breath and forced herself to concentrate on a more pressing matter. She felt surprisingly well considering what she’d been through, but she knew she must find a doctor and have a proper prenatal check-up. And that could pose another serious problem, for he would have to have no connection with the hospital if she was to keep her pregnancy secret and not incur the wrath of Matron, and the very real possibility of getting sacked.
The all-clear startled Polly awake, and she peered at her watch to discover it was seven in the morning. She’d fallen asleep perched on her case, and now she had a stiff neck, a crick in her back and didn’t feel at all refreshed. The thought of yet another long day of travelling made her wearier still.
She became aware of the activity surrounding her, and scrubbed her face with her hands, trying to bring some life to her cold flesh. Everyone was bustling to collect their belongings, and already there was a crush as people began to climb the long flight of stairs that would take them above ground. Polly slowly gathered her things together and, with a renewed determination to get this endless journey over with as soon as possible, struggled after them.
She emerged into a smoky dawn which stank of burning wood and hot metal, and was heavily laden with thick black dust and flying ash. Horrified by the sight that met her and incapable of moving, she let the others swirl round her as she looked at the smouldering skeletons of once-graceful buildings, the high jets of water spewing from a
She sneaked a glance at Anne, who looked radiant with happiness, her skin clear, her eyes shining, her whole demeanour proof of her robust health and confidence. Did she realise how lucky she was to have such a wonderful home and supportive family? She hoped she did, for Danuta would have given anything for that right now.
She felt the tiny flutter in her own belly and shielded the barely discernible mound by surreptitiously drawing her cardigan over it. Her baby was as eagerly awaited and just as precious as Anne’s – if not more so. For it had been conceived in the last few weeks of its father’s life, and was the last tangible proof of the love they’d found amidst the horrors of this war. But the ensuing trauma of her desperate race to escape the SS firing squad, and the lack of medical attention and good, wholesome food must surely have had an adverse effect on that tiny, half-formed being inside her?
She closed her eyes as the menacing drone of enemy aircraft grew louder and the crack of gunfire split the night. The heavy, booming thunder from the guns along the seafront and on the cliff-tops shook the earth beneath her feet, but after the terror of hiding in ditches from enemy tanks and fighter planes, she felt ridiculously safe under this bit of tin in the back of an English suburban garden. The sound of the Dorniers and Messerschmidts was overhead now, and it was clear that it would be a massive raid – probably on London again.
She listened as the others chattered. It was still difficult to tune in to the different accents, and she felt a little shy when she did try and make conversation, not wanting to make a mistake with her English, all too aware that her accent set her apart and that she must appear strange to them. The interview with Matron had reinforced this wariness, and she felt the shame flood through her again as she thought of how proudly she’d told them she was also a nurse. Had Peggy told them about her humiliating rejection and the lowly laundry post she’d been forced to take? She hoped not, but realised it wouldn’t remain a secret once she started her shift in the morning.
She took a deep breath and forced herself to concentrate on a more pressing matter. She felt surprisingly well considering what she’d been through, but she knew she must find a doctor and have a proper prenatal check-up. And that could pose another serious problem, for he would have to have no connection with the hospital if she was to keep her pregnancy secret and not incur the wrath of Matron, and the very real possibility of getting sacked.
The all-clear startled Polly awake, and she peered at her watch to discover it was seven in the morning. She’d fallen asleep perched on her case, and now she had a stiff neck, a crick in her back and didn’t feel at all refreshed. The thought of yet another long day of travelling made her wearier still.
She became aware of the activity surrounding her, and scrubbed her face with her hands, trying to bring some life to her cold flesh. Everyone was bustling to collect their belongings, and already there was a crush as people began to climb the long flight of stairs that would take them above ground. Polly slowly gathered her things together and, with a renewed determination to get this endless journey over with as soon as possible, struggled after them.
She emerged into a smoky dawn which stank of burning wood and hot metal, and was heavily laden with thick black dust and flying ash. Horrified by the sight that met her and incapable of moving, she let the others swirl round her as she looked at the smouldering skeletons of once-graceful buildings, the high jets of water spewing from a
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