Chapter 41
The strange scene with Ernie was still playing in Bobby’s head two days later, as she boarded the bus to Silverdale.
She was starting to wonder if she had some sort of man-curse on her.
It seemed she had no trouble getting men to fall in love with her, but they had a frustrating habit of running away in horror shortly after.
Ernie had seemed so fervent in his declaration of love.
How could that have changed just three short days later?
In the pocket of her uniform was the engagement ring Charlie had given her.
It had belonged to his grandmother, and Bobby felt that by rights it ought to be returned to his family.
She wasn’t looking forward to the conversation with Reg and Mary explaining how things currently stood, but they needed to know.
It was with depressed spirits that she travelled the old familiar route towards Silverdale.
She knew she ought to be excited to see her family after what felt like years away.
She had a lot to tell them, and no doubt Lilian had plenty to share too.
Her father would be pleased to see her, Mary would hug her in her motherly way, and the Parry girls would knock her off her feet as soon as they saw her.
But everything was coloured by the knowledge that she had the news of her broken engagement to share.
She hated to go home only to shed tears, but it couldn’t be avoided.
Her spirits did rise a little, however, as the familiar fields of home drifted past. Nothing could be more beautiful than the Dales in spring, she was sure – not even the Canadian Rockies.
Dazzling carpets of wild flowers in every conceivable colour were spread across each field not occupied by livestock.
It took her back to the previous year – the cuckoo time, before Charlie had gone to war when they’d been newly courting.
Nights in the dance hall in Settle, holding each other with hardly an ear for the music, they were so caught up in one another.
Fish and chips under the arches, and passionate embraces under cover of the blackout…
Bobby felt tears start to rise, and had a stern word with herself.
It was on this bus, too, that she had last seen Ernie King before her call-up. She remembered how relieved she had been to find out he had survived his crash; how she had thrown herself at him for a hug, never suspecting… oh, what a mess it all was! She let out a deep sigh.
Thinking of Ernie reminded her of his final words. He had been very keen for her to visit Topsy. What mystery was awaiting her at Sumner House? It was all rather strange.
It was soon time to get off at the stop opposite the Black Bull. Bobby stood for a moment to breathe in the air of her home. Strange how it seemed to smell differently to the camp at Ryland Moor, although there were so few miles between them.
She set off walking towards Silverdale, admiring the bluebells, buttercups and daffodils that lined the road and breathing in lungfuls of fresh, heady Dales springtime. She stopped, however, when she reached a crossroads.
One road would take her to Silverdale, and home to the folk at Moorside. The other led to Sumner House, where she would find Topsy, Teddy and Mrs Hobbes.
She had to return to camp by seven. There wasn’t long, and she had come especially to see her family. Without her bike, the walk to Sumner House was time she could ill afford to spare. But Ernie had been so adamant about a visit to Topsy…
After hesitating a moment, she set off down the track to the stately home. There would still be time to have a decent visit with her family if she didn’t stay too long, and she had to admit she was keen to find out what the mystery was.
Topsy answered the cottage door in her nurse’s uniform. Bobby was greeted effusively as ever by her friend.
‘Oh, Birdy, we’ve missed you to pieces,’ Topsy said, embracing her tightly. ‘Come inside and tell us all the news. You do look smart in your uniform.’
‘I can’t stay long,’ Bobby said as she followed her in. ‘I haven’t been home yet.’
‘That’s all right, I have to go back to the hospital soon. I just came home to serve Teddy a late lunch. Oh, but you must see the babies before you go. They’re in here by the fire.’
Bobby smiled as she was shown into the parlour, where Jemima sat with a gaggle of fluffy grey goslings.
She welcomed Bobby with a hiss, as if to remind her that these precious ones were not to be touched.
Norman, on the other hand, sat aloof in his basket, supremely uninterested in his little family.
Mrs Hobbes was knitting in her rocking chair and Teddy was sipping a bowl of soup from a tray.
The feeling of having been gone for at least a century started to subside, seeing her friends just as they had been when Bobby had left.
‘Bobby,’ Teddy said with a smile. ‘So you have come home to us.’
‘Only for a few hours, I’m afraid. I couldn’t resist calling in to meet the new arrivals.’
Topsy had fallen on her knees by the goslings, and started introducing them to her one by one.
‘This is Lana, and here’s Clark,’ she said. ‘Oh, and Errol – but don’t speak to him. He’s very much his father’s son, the grumpy little fowl. And Ingrid and Humphrey and Bob and Bing—’
Mrs Hobbes laughed. ‘Well, Bobby, you can see nothing much has changed. Becoming a married woman hasn’t taught our Topsy better manners. Luckily she still has this old lady around to offer guests a cup of tea.’
‘Thank you, but I really don’t have time,’ Bobby said. ‘It’s a flying visit, that’s all. I don’t have long to see everyone.’
Topsy looked up. ‘How is Charlie? Have you heard from him lately?’
Bobby flushed, glad she was wearing gloves so the absence of her engagement ring wouldn’t be noticed. She really didn’t want to have this conversation – not now.
‘I don’t have any news to share, I’m afraid,’ she answered truthfully.
‘Well, did you see Ernie? I’m so glad the two of you are on the same base. It must be a comfort to have a friend there.’
‘I did,’ Bobby said, trying to keep her voice even. ‘That’s really why I came here first. He was very keen for me to pay you a visit. Something about the hospital.’
‘Oh yes, you must come up and see!’ Topsy said gleefully. ‘I can’t help being proud about it. I’m so glad you’re in uniform, so the matron won’t be cross about me bringing in civilians.’
‘But what is it I’m to see?’
‘The new ward. Teddy and I donated the money for all the beds and equipment – to mark our wedding, you know, after the staff there took such good care of him. It’s to be for those rehabilitating after amputations. There’s a little plaque with our name on and everything.’
‘That’s wonderful, Topsy, but I honestly don’t have time. Can it wait for another day?’
‘Please, it won’t take any time at all. I’ve been so excited to show you.’
Bobby couldn’t help relenting when she saw the eagerness in her friend’s eyes.
‘Well, all right,’ she said. ‘But I can’t stay long.’
‘Hurrah!’ Topsy jumped up and grabbed her hand. ‘We’ll go now. The men who are mobile will be taking their exercise hour, so it will be quiet.’
‘Um, goodbye, everyone,’ Bobby said as Topsy dragged her from the room. ‘Teddy. Mrs Hobbes. Geese.’
‘Never mind them,’ Topsy said impatiently. ‘There’s no time to lose.’
Bobby felt rather dazed as Topsy led her with great haste up the path to the stately home. She couldn’t understand why her friend – or Ernie King, for that matter – would be so keen for her to see this new ward.
As Topsy had predicted, the matron didn’t resist when she saw Bobby’s WAAF uniform. Topsy dragged her to the new ward and pointed proudly to the door, which bore a brass plaque with the inscription The Nowak Ward.
‘It’s marvellous, isn’t it?’ she said. ‘Of course I know it’s only for the war and then it will go back to being the plain old drawing room, but it was ripping of them to do it. I said we didn’t expect any recognition.’
‘Um, yes,’ Bobby said, trying to summon a little enthusiasm for her friend’s sake. ‘I can see why you’re proud, Topsy.’
‘It’s really for Teddy’s sake. He was very keen to help other wounded airmen. Now he’s married to me, we can do ever so much good between us.’ Topsy turned to her. ‘But you want to see your family, and here I am rabbiting on.’
‘No, I’m glad you brought me,’ Bobby said. ‘It was a lovely, kind thing for the two of you to do. But I do need to go home now. Sorry.’
‘I’ll show you out. I just want to pop my head into the common room and make sure the men have gone out for their exercise hour. Those with leg injuries need exercise to help them heal, but they can be lazy so-and-sos. Without we nurses to bully them, I’m sure they’d do nothing but sit and smoke.’
Bobby followed Topsy to the old library that now served as a common room for the convalescent airmen.
‘And this one is the worst of them all,’ Topsy said, nodding to a man staring gloomily into the fire while he smoked a cigarette. ‘I can’t do a thing with him. Perhaps you might have better luck, Birdy.’
Bobby stared. She grabbed at her friend’s arm for support.
It was Charlie.