The Serial: The Pepper Girls At War Day 3

After Alex’s death, Annie married Euan MacPherson but still it rankled with Josie and Billy knew it. He was powerless to reassure his wife he felt nothing for Annie; for what Josie feared in her heart, deep down Billy knew was true. “So?” he said, inhaling the tobacco deeply and knowing that the evening would now have to be endured in silence. “So,” Josie repeated, “what do you think she wants?”

Billy raised his eyebrows. “How should I know what she wants,” he responded, quietly, “she’s a grown woman, so maybe you should ask her, if you’re that interested.”

Josie tightened her lips into a narrow line. “She works in Baxter’s office, thanks to you, so you must know what’s going on with her.”

Billy crushed out the cigarette in the ashtray. Here it was again, Josie working herself up into a fit of jealousy about Lexie, or rather, about Annie. Would his wife never let go of this fixation, instead of continually inflaming it and reminding him that perhaps he should have married Annie and not her.

Escape

“I need some fresh air,” he said, quickly planning his escape “and I’ve a meeting at the Lodge to arrange, so don’t wait up.” With that, Billy left the room and Josie, sitting silently in it.

There was a war on he fumed inwardly, didn’t she understand that. Men were dying and all she could think of was her bitterness towards Annie Pepper.

He took a deep breath as he turned into the darkness of the blackout and without even wanting to, his head filled with thoughts of Annie, all those years ago in Ireland, when he’d made love to her by the river.

Unknown to him, Annie bore him a son, John, who he’d only found out about when John came to Dundee on an exchange visit during his training to be a doctor, 18 years later.

He turned down Albert Street, heading towards the Masonic Lodge in Princes Street, his torch pointing downwards to guide his steps.

Annie had chosen Euan then and not him but she had finally given him John’s address in Belfast and letters had been exchanged. Josie had never found out about John’s existence and never would but one day, Billy was determined to meet his son, face to face and tell him how much he loved him and his mother.

Pleased

“You looked pleased with yourself,” Sarah smiled, “found ‘the one’ at last?”

Both she and Lexie had decided long ago that the man who would love them madly and change their lives forever would one day ride by on his white horse and claim them for his own. This hadn’t happened for either of them and now, with the war on, the only men available were either too old or too young.

Not that either woman was looking any more. Sarah had her job as an English teacher which she loved and Lexie had all but given up on men since Robbie Robertson had rejected her so cruelly and disappeared into the arms of the Merchant Navy and a life of travel and adventure.

Or so Lexie had believed but the reality was that in war time, Robbie Robertson was captain of a supply vessel that was running the gauntlet of German submarines in the Atlantic, as it brought muchneeded supplies from the United States of America.

“Have a look at this,” Lexie said, excitedly, unfolding the advert and handing it to Sarah.” Sarah pursed her lips in disinterest. “Women’s Auxiliary Air Force” she said aloud, handing the advert back to Lexie with a shrug.

“Do you know someone who’s going to be daft enough to volunteer to go to war then?” she asked. Lexie folded the piece of paper again and returned it to her pocket. Daft, she thought, wondering now whether to tell Sarah that the daft person who was going to volunteer was, in fact, her.

“I don’t think it’s daft, as you put it,” Lexie said defensively, “I think it’s brave really...” her voice trailing off as she tried to justify her decision to her friend.

Lexie now had Sarah’s full attention as she realised where the conversation was going. “Tell me you don’t mean

Lexie pulled back her shoulders and raised her eyes to meet Sarah’s. “That’s exactly who I do mean,” Lexie countered, stoutly, “and I thought you’d be pleased for me, doing something with my life instead of wasting it on filing invoices and typing letters.”

Sarah was getting worried. “But Lexie,” she began, “you’re the office manageress at Baxter’s, not a filing clerk or a typist. Everyone thinks you’re doing a wonderful job there. Only yesterday Dad said how well you ran the office and kept everything in order.”

Lexie clenched her fists in her lap. “I’ll soon be 30 years old,” she said quietly “and if I don’t do something to change my life now, I’m going to end up like...”

She almost said, “like you, an old maid”, as that was the fate of women like Sarah who went into teaching. They weren’t allowed to marry but instead she added, “everyone else.”

Sarah sat back in the basket chair in her bedroom. She knew what Lexie had been going to say. But going into teaching hadn’t meant never marrying, she reminded herself, it was just that if she did meet “the one” she’d have to stop working at the academy and become a wife instead and right now, with the war on, this was becoming increasingly unlikely. Unhappy “Do your mum and Euan know?” Sarah asked. Lexie shook her head. “Not yet.” “Isn’t your brother a corporal in the army already?”

Lexie sighed. Ian had enlisted almost immediately the war had started and over the two years since, he’d been promoted to corporal and was based at an army training camp in the South-East of England.

She knew what Sarah was getting at. Her mum and Euan had their only son risking his life for king and country and they wouldn’t take kindly to Lexie also putting her life at risk.

“I don’t need reminding of Ian’s life,” Lexie huffed, unhappy at Sarah’s response and realising that leaving home and joining the WAAF was going to require all her powers of persuasion to get her parents’ blessing.

“I’m sorry, Lexie,” Sarah said, softening and realising the enormity of what her friend was contemplating.

“It’s just such a dangerous thing to do but if it’s what you really want then... come here.” (More tomorrow.)

Lexie had Sarah’s full attention as she realised where the conversation was going. ‘Tell me you don’t mean you?’