Patricia has a medical background having been a practice nurse for many years.

She is also a qualified registered healer. One of her main hobbies is photography and she has had many photographs published in several magazines. Her photographs have been exhibited, ith many interpreted and painted at a professional level. !he author as involved ith musical theatre for many years taking chorus, cameo and leading roles at the Pier Pavilion in Sussex. Patricia has on many classes of singing in music festivals.

Other books by Patricia "ose#

Double Love $%&'&($)*')(& Austin Macauley Publishers (2012) I want to SING without CRYING $%&'&($)**&+% Austin Macauley Publishers (2013)

,edication
-ith love to my daughters, .mma and /ictoria.

Patricia Rose

The GIRL on the STAIRS

0opyright 1 Patricia "ose !he right of Patricia "ose to be identified as author of this ork has been asserted by her in accordance ith section %% and %& of the 0opyright, ,esigns and Patents 2ct '$&&. 2ll rights reserved. 3o part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or other ise, ithout the prior permission of the publishers. 2ny person ho commits any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages. 2 04P catalogue record for this title is available from the 5ritish 6ibrary. 4S53 $%& '&($)* +77 ) .austinmacauley.com 8irst Published 97:'(; 2ustin <acauley Publishers 6td. 7+ 0anada Square 0anary -harf 6ondon .'( +65

Printed and bound in =reat 5ritain

2ckno ledgments
!o !revor for his sensitive sketch from my suggestion> 2 talented kind and onderful friend.

Chapter One
<abel found herself staring out of the indo , atching the droplets of rain run erratically do n the pane. 4t had been a et and indy beginning to <arch that year. !he ar as still raging all about her. Her husband, Harry, no. +')(++ in the "28, as still orking at the aerodrome nearby. She as grateful Harry as so close. 2 couple of years earlier, Harry had been due to sail to 0anada, ith his company. 5ut the ship had been sunk and the operation as cancelled. He as in signals in the night?flying school, and orked on the ground, and in the air> frequently flying at the rear of the aircraft. She as very lucky, as some of her friends@ husbands had been killed early in the ar. Her thoughts drifted to hat little she could remember of her mother, and felt sad as it as very little indeed. Slo ly, her face fell, as she struggled ith the ghost?like images in her mind@s eye. She could Aust remember herself as a very young child and recalled ho she used to try to creep in unnoticed and crouch under the large four?poster bed, ith its plain but beautiful golden drapes. She used to lie under the opposite side of the bed from the BgoosanderC and she tried to recall being told that her mother had once been a local beauty, attracting many a young man, ho ould ask to alk ith her. .ventually, she had chosen a good?looking young man named Dohn. He came from

Ba very good familyC and as a master builder, as they ere called in those days. He as ell liked and respected in his profession. 2lthough to those ho kne him ell, he as thought of as being rather deep and self?contained, and not really Bone of the boysC. !hey had a grand edding, and Priscilla 9her mother; bore him seven children. She had loved them all very much, and cared for them the best she could, but she became increasingly pale and delicate. 2t first the doctors put it do n to over ork, but eventually, the horrible truth became clear. Priscilla slo ly and painfully became an invalid, bedridden and hidden a ay from her children and everyone ho loved her. .ven her most loyal friends ere turned a ay, ith poor excuses that she as too busy to see them, but the stories ere not believed by those closest to her. .ventually her illness as too bad to disguise, as her once admired face as no distorted and disfigured, and sickeningly ugly# grossly izened by the illness that as slo ly but surely destroying her. She lay, almost helpless. She could barely see no . !here ere times before her medication as due hen she ould moan and thrash fitfully about. She spoke very little and hen she did it as in a hoarse hisper. <abel remembered tugging at the bedclothes, to try to attract her mother@s attention, but either the nurse or the house?keeper al ays sa her, and scolded her, as they dragged her, sobbing, out of the room as <abel as told that her mother should be left to rest. !hese ere the most vivid memories that <abel had of her mother> a small frail body, almost hidden

under hite sheets. 2 mother too ill to recognise her o n child, and too ill to care. <abel as only t o and a half years old hen her mother finally gave up the long, painful, agonising fight, and died of cancer of the brain. 4t had been a long hard struggle, and had left a scar on everyone, especially <abel@s father ho became very ithdra n and sho ed no affection to any one of his children. Part of him had died, and there as nothing he could do to help himself, or any of his children ho desperately needed him. 4nstead, he used to get cross. <abel remembered him hitting her on occasions, but she could never remember hy. She shuddered violently, as tears ran do n her face, and ith the back of her sleeve, she slo ly brushed them a ay. 5onzo put her pa up to <abel as she reached do n to stroke her. <abel as so grateful to have her beloved dog close to her no . 5onzo as a hite terrier, ith several bro n patches on her. She as only a year old, and very lively at times. She certainly as very intelligent. Harry had found her abandoned ith three other brothers and sisters in one of the aircraft hangars and taken pity on them, finding each one a loving home. He had chosen 5onzo and brought him home ith him one evening, as a surprise for <abel. !hey had a good time finding an old cardboard box, and some really old clothes, hich ere rags, and made a comfy bed for their little dog. 2t 7* years old, <abel as going to be a mother. 4t as to be her first and she really did not mind if it as a boy or a girl, Aust as long as it as healthy. !hat as really all she cared about. 5ut ith Harry it as a

completely different story. He had al ays said right from the beginning that he only anted a boy. He had repeatedly said that he ould not kno ho to bring up a girl and that he could really teach a boy interesting things and take him to see all the planes in the aerodrome and meet important people so that he had a good start in life. He had got his mind set, and hen they talked about the baby he al ays referred to it as BheC or BhimC. 2s there ere al ays more important matters to discuss, Harry did not talk about baby very much at all. <abel did not mind too much as she as sure that as soon as BitC arrived everything ould be Aust fine. !heir baby as due in a fe eeks, possibly around .aster time, that ould be nice, and the eather, hopefully, ould have cheered up quite a bit by then. She had been feeling very tired lately, but the night air?raids had been long and very noisy, and she had been lying a ake ondering if she should really be having a baby at all, hen everything around her seemed so uncertain. 2lthough it as still raining hard, she decided to pop next?door?but?one to her middle aged aunts, ho ere al ays very kind, gentle and good company, and they ere al ays pleased to see her. She put on her raincoat and let herself out of the door, ith faithful 5onzo at her heels. !he aunts, -innie and <ary, ere having an afternoon nap, but as <abel breezed in, they immediately made her elcome. 5onzo sat by her feet as soon as the greetings ere over. -innie put the kettle on and <abel started to chat to <ary. !he gorgeous 2frican parrot named ,inky

,oo, in the large cage by the dining room table, began to chatter. B0ome in, come in, sit do n, sit do n. Have a cup of tea,C hich as follo ed by a pouring?like noise as if ater as being poured out of a bottle. He as a funny bird, and <abel smiled and chatted back for a fe minutes. He most certainly as not a bird to be ignored. <ary asked <abel if she as all right, as she looked very tired, and <abel had to admit to having a backache, and as the baby as quite ell advanced and she had not been sleeping ell, because of the frequent air raids, <ary@s mind as put at rest. She as not usually very talkative as they sat and aited for -innie to bring tea. <abel passed a pleasant hour ith the t o omen before she and 5onzo left to return home. Shortly after she had taken off her raincoat, and changed her shoes, Harry came thundering in. He as not a quiet man at the best of times, but <abel looked up to him a lot. He al ays kne hat he anted, and as very good at getting it, most of the time. She greeted him cheerfully and kissed him on the cheek. Harry looked onderful. !he "28 uniform suited him so ell. -ith his slim figure and masses of avy dark bro n hair, he cut a dashing picture. Harry al ays anted his meal as soon as he got in, but today he as early, hich made <abel anxious to get the food on the table. She al ays anted to try as much as as possible to give him his favourites. 4t as often impossible. !he rationing sa to that. !oday he could only have one sausage. She felt mean, and hen the meal as ready, offered him her sausage. His eyes idened, but he slo ly declined. !he bread as good,

so he had a big slice of that. <abel hoped Harry as pleased. Soon, Harry as talking excitedly about the latest film that as on at the local ,affodil cinema. He said that one of his mates had seen it and had raved about it. !hey Aust had to go and see it, especially as it as a Saturday. Harry al ays anted to go out on Saturday nights if his shift allo ed it. <abel inced inside. 4t as still raining hard and she as feeling very tired by no and asked if she could stay at home, and could he find someone else to go ith him. 5ut before she had finished her plea, Harry Aumped up from the table, and bearing do n on her, he harshly insisted that she ent ith him. <abel@s heart sank as she smiled sheepishly and started to clear a ay the dishes. Harry started to shout at her. B6eave that, leave it @till later. Hurry up for heaven@s sake. Stop fussing> you@ll enAoy it hen you get there.C <abel kne the alk as at least fifteen minutes, and that as if they alked quickly. She felt sick. 0ould she really alk there, and sit for a couple of hours, pretending to enAoy the filmE 4t as the very last thing she anted to do. Suddenly Harry as shouting at her again. BHurry up can@t you, e don@t ant to miss the beginning.C He grabbed her coat and roughly put it on her, took her hand, and ith a fe comforting ords to 5onzo, she as hurled out of the door. 4t as a miserable night and she still felt sick. Harry as alking very quickly and she begged him to

slo do n. Her pregnant state as slo ing her do n. She did not ant to sit in the cinema ith et feet either, so she tried to avoid the puddles. 6uckily the rain had almost stopped no , but the ind as fierce. Suddenly she felt a bad pain in her back, hich made her catch her breath. BStop HarryF Dust for a moment, please.C Harry stopped, obviously annoyed. She could feel something arm, trickling do n her thighs, and then to her legs. BHarryF Something strange is happening.C Harry asn@t really listening, and after a moment grabbed her arm and tugged her along the road. !he trickling sensation seemed to ease a bit, so <abel did not say anymore. 8eeling very sick and very scared, they entered the Picture House. !here she sat for t o hole hours not daring to move. <abel couldn@t remember anything about the film at all. 2ll she kne as that she had to sit it out and hope she ouldn@t need to ask for Harry@s help again. He as very cheerful hen the film finished, and as repeating the interesting bits to her as they made their ay home. !hank goodness it as a slo er pace this time. She hoped that she as saying ByesC and BnoC in the right places, and as so relieved to see the front door of the house. She took off her coat and did her best to smile as she ent into the kitchen to make some cocoa as it as Harry@s favourite milky drink before he ent to bed. 4t seemed to take longer to make the nightcap than usual. She could hear from the loud sounds through the thin ceiling that Harry as already upstairs getting ready for bed. He called do n to her to bring his drink upstairs to him. Harry did not like her to spill things on

their hard?earned furniture. !here ere only thirteen steps, but they ere steep and narro , and she had to concentrate tonight more than ever. She put the cup do n by his side of the bed and ent out and slo ly ent do nstairs again. 5onzo anted to go out, so she opened the door for her and sat ith it slightly aAar, aiting for her to come back in. <abel sipped her cocoa, but it tasted a ful, so hen 5onzo returned, she poured it carefully in to her dish, and atched her lapping it up, very loudly, obviously pleased at the treat. 2s <abel started to climb the stairs again, she suddenly had that a ful pain in her back. She stopped half ay and rested. !here as no sound from upstairs. She as grateful for that. 2t least she could take her time. She really hoped that by no Harry as asleep. She tried again to mount the remaining stairs, but gave up. She slid do n to the floor and, almost bent double, crept on to the sofa. 5onzo atched her, looking puzzled, ith her head slightly on one side. She settled do n on the rug beside the sofa. !hey both slept all night. !he next day as Sunday and Harry as not going to ork. 4t as Aust getting light. !he sun as rising and it as the promise of a lovely day. -hat a relief the rain and ind had gone. 4t as very peaceful> at least for the minute. <abel lay still, she as amazed that she had slept. She actually felt a bit better as she stretched, and listened intently for any sound of movement from upstairs. Her heart pounded for a moment, but she felt all as ell as Harry must still be asleep. She ent into the kitchen to make a cup of tea

for them both. He had obviously been very tired too, as he could not have noticed that she as not in bed beside him. She ondered hat he ould say. She did not ant an inquisition, so made the tea as quickly as she could, crept upstairs, quietly took off her clothes, and slipped into her dressing go n. Perhaps he ouldn@t notice. She very gently dug her fingers into the pillo and ruffled the sheets a bit. !his disturbed Harry, ho sleepily said, B=ood <orning.C <abel got into bed, her pregnancy preventing her from being lithe. She pumped up the pillo s and sat upright, or almost, in bed, and sipped her tea. Harry took one gulp, but dozed on and off, so there as not much conversation. -hen she had finished her tea, she got into a arm bath as best she could. She got exasperated lately hen her tummy got in the ay of ordinary things. Her backache seemed to come on from time to time and the arm bath helped it a bit. 4t as no here near as bad as last night. She dressed and ent do nstairs. She opened the back door to let 5onzo out into the garden. She lolloped do n the concrete path, sniffing here and there as she ent. !he sun as shining no . 2 bit atery, but it as lovely to see. She heard a buzz, and atched a big bumble bee fly on to the centre of a flo er near the door ay. <abel ondered if the clear eather meant more air raids and aircraft overhead. 4t as on good days like this that the pilots could see ell. -ith dread, she thought it as a good dayF Harry had dressed casually and come do nstairs for breakfast. !hey put the radio on and listened to the music and interruptions for the code messages hich helped the ar efforts abroad. !hey had often made up

their o n ideas about hat each message could mean. Sometimes their ideas made each other laugh, although generally, it as a sombre occasion. !he announcer al ays had a very unemotional voice. <abel ondered if he kne some of the secrets he as reading out, but hen she thought about it seriously, she felt it as too dangerous for him to kno , and it ouldn@t be a secret and the hole plan could be exposed, and many 5ritish servicemen ould be killed. She hoped the people ho ere supposed to receive the coded messages ere able to receive them. !hey risked their lives by hiding a ay and using transmitters hich could be detected by the enemy. 4t as all so secretive. She felt she kne so little of hat as really going on. Harry didn@t kno much either, although he as orking ith some of the pilots. 2ny information he had, either official or hat he heard from his friends, he kne he had to keep to himself. <abel recognised this and never pushed him for any information. Pillo talk as taboo. 6ater hen the ashing?up had been done and the basic chores had been completed, Harry took 5onzo do n to the local pub to meet a fe friends as he al ays did henever he could. He al ays left <abel to do the cooking and prepare his favourite Sunday lunch. 4t as al ays a struggle for <abel to do anything really special ith the rationing in force. !he personal allo ance as extremely meagre. 8ood rationing had begun in Danuary '$(:, Aust over three years ago. 4t had been a very long three years for the house ife, trying to invent ne menus from the small amount allo ed. 5acon, ham, sugar and butter ere the first foods to be cut> soon follo ed by meat, tea,

margarine, treacle and syrup. .ggs ere in short supply too. <ilk and cheese ere only allo ed in small amounts. 6uckily, in some shops, they could find 2merican dried egg po der. S eets had been rationed for almost a year no . !he government had issued each person ith a G"ation 5ook@. -hen an item as bought, a little ticket as torn out of the page. 4f a family gathering, or celebration, such as a edding, as booked, it as possible to save up coupons and buy a larger amount all at once. S apping as quite common too and added to the friendships of the community. !he ay to get special foods as to build up points, such as salmon for t enty points. !his took a very long time, and most people did not bother ith such luxuries.

Only eight ounces of fat and sugar as permitted. 8our ounces of bacon and tea, t o pints of milk, and one egg a eek. <abel gre a fe vegetables and

fruits hich helped during the inter months. !hey had all gone no . <abel began to prepare the best meal she could, hen, suddenly, there as a violent pain hich made her catch her breath. 4t started in the centre of her back and then radiated round her stomach. She stopped, almost motionless, aiting for the pain to subside. 4t did after a minute or t o. She kne hat this meant no . Her baby as coming. 4t as early, but it as definitely coming. !he pain came again about ten minutes later, in the middle of trying to prepare the food for lunch. 2fter the pain had gone the second time, she ent upstairs as quickly as her condition allo ed. She pulled out a little bro n suitcase she had carefully prepared for this very occasion. She crammed in an extra nightie, added her toothbrush and some clean bed socks, and gently slid the case and herself do n the stairs. She anted Harry to be home no . She didn@t really kno hat to do. She thought she ould be prepared, but, hen the time came, she as lost. 2s <abel had orked for the telephone company, they ere one of the fe lucky people to have one. She hoped the 2ngel public house ould have one. She did not kno . She picked up the receiver, and aited for the operator to ans er. !hen another violent pain racked her hole abdomen and she nearly fell over trying to hang on to the telephone. !he operator enquired, B-hich number pleaseEC Dust managing a breathless hisper, <abel asked for the 2ngel pub, explaining that she did not kno the number, but it as very important to speak to them. !he short?tempered voice on the other end said she

ould have to be transferred to directory enquiries. <abel inced and hung on as the pain began to ease. !he voice at the other end as light, but harsh. She asked for the Pub@s number and having successfully been given it, rang off. She picked up the receiver again, and aited for the operator to ans er her. She gave the number and aited for the connection. Soon, the noise in the background as the man ans ered the phone to her, told her she must be through to the Pub. She asked to speak to Harry. She could hear his name being shouted out, and soon he as on the line, ondering hat on earth as going on. <abel explained quickly. Harry sounded rather put out by it all and reluctantly agreed to come home. 2fter hat seemed a very long time and a couple of bad pains, Harry appeared at the door, ith a bouncing 5onzo beside him. She explained hat had happened and said she as sure the baby as coming. Harry as not convinced. He had heard there as much more to it than this. Had the pains come more frequently and had her aters gone, he as almost interrogating her. <abel bit her lip as another pain struck her body. !hey seemed to be getting more often, but she really could not be sure. She had been so busy she had not thought to look at the clock. Harry comforted her hile she as in pain, telling her to sit do n. !his only made things orse, so she leaned over the back of the sofa, until most of the pain had gone. Harry suggested <abel get the lunch ready Aust in case she as taken to the nursing home later. <abel did the best she could, as Harry pretended to help, but she rather ished he as not around and felt very

upset that he had not been more understanding of her condition. She fought back the almost over helming desire to cry and shout at him as they managed to eat lunch> rather Harry did, cutting into his food ith gusto. <abel as not able to eat and Aust moved the food around her plate. Harry noticed she had not eaten her meagre portion and offered to eat it up. !he next pain as so bad that even Harry commented on <abel@s pale and pain?torn face. So finally he agreed to telephone the doctor, ho as to attend <abel at the nursing home. He as connected almost straight a ay, and after apologising for disturbing him on a Sunday, he explained the situation. !he doctor as kind but brief, and said to get an ambulance. 8ortunately there had not been an air raid recently so it as not difficult to get one to agree to come. 4t as too dangerous to take <abel by car. !hey ere to go straight to the nursing home and the doctor ould meet them there. Harry carried the small suitcase and helped <abel into the ambulance. 5onzo had been taken to -innie and <ary, ho ere anxiously standing aving goodbye. 2t the private nursing home, <abel as booked in and they ere sho n into the room here she as to be examined. !here ere t o other omen in the room, ho had visitors and had their babies next to them. Soon, to <abel@s relief, her doctor and nurse came to examine her. She as quite far on to their surprise but not quite ready yet. She as shaved and prepared and then told to lie on her bed and that she ould be checked from time to time. !hey gave her a tablet to ease the pain and suggested that Harry ent home and

ait by the telephone for ne s. !his, he eagerly agreed to, and giving her a peck on the cheek quickly disappeared. <abel felt very alone as she ondered across the small room to look out of the indo . !he la ns of the nursing home ere quite long and at the bottom she could Aust see, in the fading light, a large brick all and behind it she could make out a large barrel slightly moving. 4t as a gun. 4t as almost hidden behind the other side of the all. She felt her stomach churn. !here had been a fe aeroplanes overhead from time to time that day but not too many, thank goodness. !hen the next pain came and something else happened, a strange sort of tug and a very big arm hoosh. Her aters had broken and she as leaking all over the floor. 2 man visiting one of the other ladies must have been atching her, as she sensed him rushing to her side, calling for the nurses as he helped her. !he nurse came immediately and together they managed to get her to bed. !he flimsy curtains ere pulled round, and she lay, very frightened, on the bed. She had been looking for ard to all this preparation for her much anted baby, but it as far from hat she had expected it to be. She began to cry quietly, ith exhaustion and frustration. She as so scared. 3o one had told her it ould be like this. She had no mother to guide her, to give her moral support hen she most needed it. -innie and <ary ere not married, so there as no one to tell her hat it as really like. !o be sure, she as going to give birth, and as the pains began to increase, she Aust had to let some of it out. !he nurse stayed ith her, and <abel began to feel a little stronger again, ready for the battle ahead.

She as examined again and moved to another room, hich had a lot more equipment. She as looking around hen suddenly there as a resounding B5OO<C, quickly follo ed by another and another. 2 maAor air raid as beginning, of that there as no doubt. !he sunny day she had elcomed that morning as fast fading. ,arkness had fallen. !he 2ck?2ck guns ere raging outside. !hey sounded as though they ere Aust outside her door, hilst the spent shells sounded Aust like someone screaming. !he pains ere really bad no and almost did not stop at all. !he doctor and nurse ere ith her all the time no , encouraging her and giving her a hiff of gas to help ith the final excruciating pains. 4t did help slightly by making her a bit dro sy, and the air raid and the ar literally going on outside seemed for a short hile not as important as the Aob going on in that room that night. 8inally, at eleven forty?five p.m. on that loud ar? torn Sunday night, 2lexandra as born. 2 girl. She as a small six pounds but that did not matter. She as perfect and healthy, and that as all that interested <abel. !he nurse had telephoned Harry, ho eventually came to see them. 4t had taken much longer to get to the nursing home due to the prolonged air raid and blackout. He finally made it safely to see them both. He as thrilled ith hat he had produced and soon left, grinning, eager to tell -innie and <ary hat he had seen. 6uckily not too much ar damage had been done to the nursing home, so <abel stayed for a fortnight, learning ho to handle and feed 2lexandra. She as managing everything very ell and every day gained

confidence. 4t had been a lovely t o eeks, getting to kno her daughter, picking her up and dancing and singing at the top of her voice as she sped round the room. !he nurses laughed at her and Aoined in. !hey had all been very kind to <abel. She as going to miss them hen she left. Harry had visited hen he could. -innie and <ary had been in almost every day bringing ith them presents of little things they had knitted, or gifts from friends. !hey had been very lucky ith all the gifts they had been given for the baby. 4t as a good start as money as a bit tight, so hopefully this ould make things a little easier. !hey had a taxi home, a rare treat, and there, ready to elcome them all home ere -innie, <ary and beloved 5onzo. Ho <abel had missed her loving faithful dog. She did onder ho good 5onzo ould be ith 2lexandra, as she carefully introduced them at the first opportunity. 5onzo Aumped up enthusiastically, but as gently held back and allo ed to sniff and look. <ary and -innie stayed to get tea ready, hile Harry helped <abel unpack her suitcase and the bags of presents. !he little pram they had bought and put in the roof as no in the hall, and 2lexandra as carefully placed in the cotton sheets and covered ith a pretty pink and hite blanket that had been knitted for her baby. She kne that -innie and <ary ould keep a safe eye on the ne arrival, so <abel ent upstairs to help Harry unpack her suitcase. 2s soon as she entered the bedroom, she noticed in the corner a lovely polished dark? ooden cot. Harry explained that he had made it himself. He as as pleased as punch ith his orkmanship and aited for <abel@s reaction. He said he had been

making it for some time, do n in the garden shed, here he had forbidden <abel from going. She had obeyed him. !his as the first time she had seen it. 4t as beautiful, plain, but very ell made. She as thrilled and flung her arms around Harry@s neck. She had missed him so much. 3o they ere at home, they ere a family, all three of them, and 5onzo of course. 4f only the ar ould end, everything ould be perfect, she thought. She kissed him again, ith tears of Aoy in her eyes, she as so happy. "eluctantly, she ent do nstairs, to here -innie and <ary ere aiting for them both, proud of the delicious tea they had set out for them. !hey had butter and Aam and a lovely cake. Ho had they managed all thatE 5less them. !hey must have saved up their coupons for a long time. Ho kind and thoughtful they both ere, and <abel thanked her blessings for their love. !hey all sat do n to the artime feast and chatted excitedly about the ne baby and the high expectations for her life and for hope, good fortune and happiness al ays. !hey also talked about their fears for the ar. Dust ho much longer ould this nightmare go onE -ould they surviveE 2 sudden silence came over them all, as they tried to look cheerfully to the unkno n future, and kne they ere going blindly into the unkno n. Ho ever, 2lexandra had given everyone a ne lease of life, having a ne baby relying on them for everything. !hey ere all so keen to do their bit for her and for each other. 4t as a very happy time. 2 meal that <abel ould al ays remember. 3o she had something of her o n. Someone she had made and ould nurture. She looked

for ard to a happy future, hich she ould plan in every detail. !hat night, after having fed 2lexandra, she put her in her ne cot, made her safe and comfortable, and much to her delight, 5onzo insisted on lying at the side of the cot. She asn@t usually allo ed in the bedroom, but this time, <abel as so glad that her dog had taken to the baby, that she let her stay. 5onzo settled do n but kept one eye open as if expecting <abel to shoo her out of the room. Harry expressed concern over the dog@s presence but gave in hen he heard <abel@s thoughts on the matter. 4t had been an exciting and re arding day. Harry s itched off the light, put his arms tightly around his ife, and kissed her passionately for a moment, and Aust as she as expecting his manly desire to go much further, to her surprise, and some relief, he promptly fell asleep. She hoped it ould be at least four hours before 2lexandra oke again. !his routine continued ith slight variations into the summer. 2lexa, as she as no called, as 2lexandra had proved such a mouthful, thrived ell and seemed generally content. She spent the arm days in her pram in the garden, as she atched the tall trees as they s ayed in the breeze. 4t as a distraction and comfort to the child, ho sometimes seemed mesmerised by the movement. !he birds too ere flying in and out of the branches, singing as they perched precariously above her. !his activity orked onders. <abel had put her in the garden one day hen she had been crying a lot. 4t had orked. 4t relieved the tension she felt, as Harry had not been home for a hile.

!he longer days and the better eather had made the ar heat up and he@d been a ay for hat seemed like forever. <abel rote to those friends she still kept in touch ith, but letters in return ere fe and far bet een. She ondered if some had not arrived, but the ar took up most of people@s time, Aust trying to survive from day to day. 2 couple of her sisters had lived in 6ondon but had to evacuate to ,evon. She heard from them rarely. She spent quite a bit of her spare time listening to the radio. !he music as good and as still interspersed by updates on the allies@ achievements. 6ately, they had sounded more hopeful. She thought that everyone must be ar? eary by no . -ould it ever endE BOver in a fe monthsC as hat they had said in '$*$. 4f only that had been true, millions of lives ould have been saved, and mothers and ives ould not have been left grieving, and children ould have kno n their fathers. .arlier in the day had been a frightening time hen the ar almost came to <abel, the sirens had sounded out the eerie arning that an attack from the air as imminent. She had rushed upstairs to see if her baby as safe. 8rom the bedroom indo , she heard the loud sound of an aeroplane as it fle almost overhead, and suddenly an enemy aeroplane as in sight, nearly level ith her. She froze as she atched it fly over the tops of the houses opposite. She could see the puffs of smoke from the bullets that it fired on to the buildings. !he sight and sound as terrible as she covered her ears and atched the scene in front of her, unable to move, and aited. Perhaps it as coming back to try again.

She still aited, but the sound of the engine got fainter and then disappeared. !his time they had been spared. !hat night as busy again in the skies overhead. !he permanent drone had been going on for over three hours no . !he drone meant the bombers ere going over the big cities, probably 0oventry again tonight. 4t as a direct route to that ravaged city, going over the area here <abel lived. !he 2ck?2ck guns ere orking fast and furiously. <abel as so motionless that she almost stopped breathing for a moment. -hat as thatE !he engine of the aeroplane overhead as breaking up. She opened the front door, ent outside into the fading light, and looked up. 4t as still a little ay off. She shivered all over as she atched. !he sky as very bright in the distance. 4t looked as if an aeroplane had been hit. She met <ary coming out of her door and they both stared up to the sky together. -innie as frightened, so <ary told her to stay inside. !hen a very big B5angC sounded, follo ed very quickly by another and another. 4t sounded as if they ere getting very near. Helplessly, they both atched as they sa the aeroplane drop all its bombs in a desperate attempt to get out of trouble, to lighten its load, to be able to gain enough height to return home. !hey ere both riveted to the spot as another t o aeroplanes ere hit and engulfed in flames. !hey plummeted to earth, leaving a sickly black trail of smoke behind them. !he ar as coming closer and the bombs being dropped ere coming nearer.