Read Online Through the Storm by Maureen Lee - Free Book Online Page B

beside her husband,’ Jack growled. ‘Y’should have stayed whether you liked it or not.’
    Jessica stared at him angrily, and at the same time tried to discern from his expression if he was pleased she was back within his reach, but he looked sternly censorious.
    ‘You could say a man’s place is beside his wife,’ she said. She wasn’t going to take lectures on where her place should be from anyone. ‘I asked Arthur to come with me, but he preferred to stay.’ She tossed her head. ‘Anyway, it’s none of your business.’
    ‘You’re right, it’s not.’ He came towards the door where she was standing. ‘I’d better be going. I’m on firewatching duty at midnight.’
    He touched Penny’s cheek briefly as he pushed past. ‘She’s a bonny little girl,’ he said, smiling briefly.
    Jessica was conscious of his muscular arm brushing against hers. She almost wished Penny wasn’t there so she could grab Jack and pull him back towards the bed. But Penny
was
there, waving bye-byes as Jack made his departure.
    There was no moon and it was pitch dark, blacker than she’d ever known it.
    Kitty Quigley felt her way along the walls of the houses in Opal Street and nearly fell over when the wall ended and she realised she’d reached Garnet Street. She began to panic. It was like walking through thick black soup. She’d never get to and from the newsagent’s in time to catch the twenty to six bus at this rate, and if she was late on her first day, she’d die. She imagined the hospital telephoning Miss Ellis to complain.
    ‘Oh, God!’ she moaned as she kicked over a milk bottle and spent several precious minutes searching for it, without success.
    Brisk footsteps sounded in the otherwise totally silent world, but Kitty had no way of knowing whether the steps were coming or going or which side of the street they were on. She screamed when she bumped into a figure so solidly built that she almost bounced off.
    ‘Who’s that?’ the figure demanded.
    ‘It’s Kitty Quigley from Pearl Street. Who’s that?’
    ‘Vera Dodds, the postwoman. I’m just on me way to the sorting office. What on earth are you doing, Kitty, wandering round at this time of the morning?’
    ‘I’m going to Ernie Robinson’s for the
Daily Herald
for me dad. He wants to read it while I’m at work,’ Kitty explained to the dark, as Vera was invisible, adding proudly, ‘I’m starting at the Royal Navy Hospital, Seaforth, this morning as an auxiliary nurse.’
    ‘Aye, so I heard. Well, you’re on a fruitless journey at the moment, girl. Ernie doesn’t open till six o’clock.’
    ‘Damn!’ muttered Kitty, cursing her stupidity for not finding out before, though she felt slightly relieved. It meant she could return home and have a bite of breakfast. ‘Me dad’ll be dead disappointed when he finds he hasn’t got a paper.’
    ‘I’ll get your dad his
Daily Herald
if you like,’ Vera offered. ‘I’ll pop it through the letterbox when I’m doing me round.’
    ‘Thanks all the same, Vera, but he’ll be in bed and he can’t manage the stairs on his own.’
    ‘In that case, I’ll take it up. Don’t worry about your dad, luv. I’ll see to him.’
    Kitty had a feeling her dad mightn’t be too pleased if Vera Dodds suddenly appeared in the bedroom, but she found it awfully hard to turn down people’s kind offers of help and risk hurting their feelings.
    She didn’t mention Vera when she got home, just as she hadn’t mentioned all the other people who had promised to see to him whilst she was at work. She merely apologised for the lack of a paper, made herself a piece of toast and left him propped up against the pillow looking hard done by.
    ‘I hope I don’t get one of me dizzy spells while you’re gone.’ The dizzy spells had returned in full force over the last few days.
    ‘Well, at least you’re safe lying down, Dad,’ Kitty said comfortably.
    It was slightly lighter by the time she left for the bus; not much,