platform she was conscious of him walking up and down with a measured tread, tapping his stick rhythmically against his trouser leg.
He occupied a different carriage to her, but when she alighted at the Exchange he was right there at her side as she made her way out into Tithebarn Street.
Christabel tried desperately to think of what to say to stop him from following her, but then, when she turned to speak to him, she discovered he was no longer there. She looked aroundbut he seemed to have completely vanished. Puzzled, but nevertheless relieved, she wondered if she ought to report him when she returned to Hilbury or whether it was best to say nothing about it.
Determined not to let it spoil her weekend, she put it out of her mind.
Her parents seemed pleased to see her; her mother thought she looked thinner than when sheâd last been home, and worried whether this was because she wasnât getting enough to eat or whether she was working too hard.
Lilian wanted to know all about the patients and said she wished she could become a nurse because she was fed up with having to stay at home and help her mother.
âYou are too young at the moment,â Christabel told her. âAnyway, think yourself lucky that you have such a comfortable home and time to go out with your friends.â
At dinner, her parents dominated the conversation. Her father talked endlessly about the war and how he would deal with the situation were he in charge. Whenever her mother managed to speak, she bemoaned all the shortages of food and everything else. Lilian said nothing and although Christabel found their conversation tedious she tried hard not to show it.
Neither her parents nor Lilian had any idea about what it was like to go short of anything, she realised. They lived in the lap of luxury,she thought, as they enjoyed an excellent meal and generous helpings on all their plates. Her mother complaining so bitterly about shortages made her want to tell her about the squalid poverty sheâd witnessed in Wilcock Court, but she knew that she couldnât do that without revealing why she had been living there.
As her father settled down to read the
Liverpool Evening Echo
, she could almost hear Maggie Nelson saying, âI never buy a paper because theyâre a waste of money. You can read all the latest news from the lurid headlines on the placards for free.â
She remembered how Maggie had shopped, buying a joint of lamb for Sunday roast, having it cold on Monday, minced on Tuesday, in a pie on Wednesday, and with an assortment of vegetables as scouse on Thursday. Then it had been fish and chips on Friday and bread and scrape on Saturdays â or sausages and mashed potatoes, if she had enough money before it started all over again.
Maggie had been forced to be frugal yet she rarely grumbled, Christabel recalled, even though she had no luxuries at all in her life and had to make every penny do the work of two.
She was so kind, and looked after me so well, yet I never even thanked her, she thought guiltily. I left Lewis to tell her that I no longer wanted the room.
When Lilian began talking about the new baby it made her feel uncomfortable. She hadnot intended to visit Lewis and Violet this time but Lilian was insistent.
âItâs months since you last saw her and youâll be amazed by how different she looks,â Lilian enthused. âI had no idea that babies grew so quickly.â
The next afternoon Christabel agreed to go and visit Violet with her mother and Lilian. As her sister had foretold, she was amazed. Little Kay was now almost four months old and no longer a tiny little thing who spent most of her time asleep but plump and lively and taking notice of what was going on.
Her gummy smile and occasional gurgling laugh brought smiles to all their faces. Lilian sat cradling her until Violet suggested that Christabel might like to hold her.
For a moment, the thought of holding the plump little
He occupied a different carriage to her, but when she alighted at the Exchange he was right there at her side as she made her way out into Tithebarn Street.
Christabel tried desperately to think of what to say to stop him from following her, but then, when she turned to speak to him, she discovered he was no longer there. She looked aroundbut he seemed to have completely vanished. Puzzled, but nevertheless relieved, she wondered if she ought to report him when she returned to Hilbury or whether it was best to say nothing about it.
Determined not to let it spoil her weekend, she put it out of her mind.
Her parents seemed pleased to see her; her mother thought she looked thinner than when sheâd last been home, and worried whether this was because she wasnât getting enough to eat or whether she was working too hard.
Lilian wanted to know all about the patients and said she wished she could become a nurse because she was fed up with having to stay at home and help her mother.
âYou are too young at the moment,â Christabel told her. âAnyway, think yourself lucky that you have such a comfortable home and time to go out with your friends.â
At dinner, her parents dominated the conversation. Her father talked endlessly about the war and how he would deal with the situation were he in charge. Whenever her mother managed to speak, she bemoaned all the shortages of food and everything else. Lilian said nothing and although Christabel found their conversation tedious she tried hard not to show it.
Neither her parents nor Lilian had any idea about what it was like to go short of anything, she realised. They lived in the lap of luxury,she thought, as they enjoyed an excellent meal and generous helpings on all their plates. Her mother complaining so bitterly about shortages made her want to tell her about the squalid poverty sheâd witnessed in Wilcock Court, but she knew that she couldnât do that without revealing why she had been living there.
As her father settled down to read the
Liverpool Evening Echo
, she could almost hear Maggie Nelson saying, âI never buy a paper because theyâre a waste of money. You can read all the latest news from the lurid headlines on the placards for free.â
She remembered how Maggie had shopped, buying a joint of lamb for Sunday roast, having it cold on Monday, minced on Tuesday, in a pie on Wednesday, and with an assortment of vegetables as scouse on Thursday. Then it had been fish and chips on Friday and bread and scrape on Saturdays â or sausages and mashed potatoes, if she had enough money before it started all over again.
Maggie had been forced to be frugal yet she rarely grumbled, Christabel recalled, even though she had no luxuries at all in her life and had to make every penny do the work of two.
She was so kind, and looked after me so well, yet I never even thanked her, she thought guiltily. I left Lewis to tell her that I no longer wanted the room.
When Lilian began talking about the new baby it made her feel uncomfortable. She hadnot intended to visit Lewis and Violet this time but Lilian was insistent.
âItâs months since you last saw her and youâll be amazed by how different she looks,â Lilian enthused. âI had no idea that babies grew so quickly.â
The next afternoon Christabel agreed to go and visit Violet with her mother and Lilian. As her sister had foretold, she was amazed. Little Kay was now almost four months old and no longer a tiny little thing who spent most of her time asleep but plump and lively and taking notice of what was going on.
Her gummy smile and occasional gurgling laugh brought smiles to all their faces. Lilian sat cradling her until Violet suggested that Christabel might like to hold her.
For a moment, the thought of holding the plump little
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