She’s coming home this Friday and she’s bringing a friend with her. Isn’t that wonderful?”

The Serial: The Pepper Girls At War Day 18

Lexie smiled at Winnie. “Of course, you can come and stay,” she said, “I’ll let mum know there’ll be two of us to feed, she’ll love to meet you.”

She put a protective arm around Winnie’s shoulders. “It’ll be alright,” she told her, “my mum will know what to do.” But Annie was already worried about Nancy. Both Euan and herself had felt something was far wrong between the couple and Annie decided she would visit her niece more often in future.

“I’m sure she’d like that,” Euan had said, trying to sound reassuring, but silently he knew that a telephone call to Billy Dawson needed to be made.

Billy had already hinted to Euan that there was talk about Nancy frequenting the local dancehalls and with his suspicions aroused about Billy and Gladys Kelly, he feared the worst.

“Are you certain about this?” Billy asked when Euan telephoned about his concerns that Gladys Kelly was ‘still around’.

Unhappy

“I can’t be certain,” Euan replied, “but Nancy seemed very unhappy when she came home alone on Saturday from the Palais.

“She said that Billy had gone to say goodbye to someone – and I think that someone was Gladys.”

“I’ll keep an eye on Nancy at the mill,” Billy said, decisively, his temper rising at his son-in-law’s inability to control his urges “and maybe you can let me know if you hear anything being said about her around the bars. You know the way men talk, Euan, especially when they think there’s a woman on the loose, they’re like alley cats on the prowl.”

“I’ll do that Billy and Annie’s going to look in on Nancy more often too, make sure the bairns are alright ‘kind of thing’.”

At the mention of Annie’s name, Billy tensed. Try as he might, his response was always the same and it had become stronger since she had told him he was the father of her son, John Adams.

“Keep me posted, Euan,” he said, ending the conversation and replacing the receiver back on the office telephone.

He’d go and see Nancy the following Saturday, find out for himself if she was unhappy.

Gladys hadn’t expected to see Billy Donnelly again, not after he’d stormed out in a jealous rage, so when she opened her door to loud knocking, her heart filled with fear that Billy had done something murderous.

Without any preamble, Billy pulled her through to the back room. “I go back to the fight tomorrow,” he said, his eyes black as coal.

He handed Gladys a piece of notepaper with his name, rank and number on it along with the name and box number for his regiment.

“If you care anything for me,” he said, “you’ll let me know when Jim Murphy makes his move.”

Gladys knew what he meant and slipped the notepaper down the front of her dress.

“If that’s what you want,” she said, resignation softening her voice, “you can rely on me.”

Billy relaxed, Gladys Kelly may have somewhat loose morals, but he knew he could trust her and even wished at times he could love her.

But no matter what Nancy felt about him, he couldn’t stop loving her.

“Can I stay the night?” he asked, pointing to the double bed. “Just to sleep,” he added quickly, “before I head off tomorrow.”

“Whatever you want Billy,” Gladys said, sadly, “I’ll sleep in the kitchen.”

She closed the door quietly behind her. She had made the mistake of falling for a paying gent and now she must suffer the consequences.

Wonderful

“It’s a letter from Lexie,” Annie called out excitedly, waving the envelope over Euan’s sleeping head. “Wake up, quick,” she said, already tearing open the envelope and unfolding the single page.

Euan struggled to open his eyes, rubbing his face and head to bring himself to wakefulness.

Annie read the words. “She’s coming home this Friday and she’s bringing a friend with her. Isn’t that wonderful?”

Euan was awake now. “Wonderful,” he agreed, glad to see Annie coming to life again. Her daughter was coming home and she couldn’t wait to see her.

“I’ll need to make up the bed in Ian’s room for Lexie’s friend and find a way to make the rations stretch to another mouth and...”

“Slow down,” Euan said, smiling, “It’s only Tuesday. You’ve got plenty of time to get ready for Friday, so how about we have our breakfast before you do anything else.”

Annie clasped the letter to her chest.

“She’s coming home, Euan,” she said, “and that’s all that matters.”

Euan thought to remind her that they had two children and that their son Ian was in the forces too, but he knew in his heart that she loved both of their children equally. It was just that Lexie had been so hurt by Robbie Robertson’s rejection and he just prayed that her decision to join the WAAF had been the right one.

“There she is,” whispered Annie, waving her hand to attract Lexie’s attention, as the train disgorged its passengers. She’d promised she wouldn’t cry, but the sight of Lexie in her uniform brought a lump to her throat and her grip on Euan’s arm tightened.

Lexie rushed to her mother’s arms with Winnie following on in the background and she was hugging Euan when she remembered Winnie.

She ushered her forward. “This is Winnie,” Lexie announced, excitedly, “the one I wrote to you about.”

Winnie extended her hand. “Pleased to meet you Mrs MacPherson and thanks for letting me stay with you.”

Courage

Annie barely shook her hand, before linking her arm into Lexie’s and heading towards the station exit, leaving Euan and Winnie to follow on.

Euan smiled at Winnie. “She’s not usually this distracted,” he said, “but she’s missed Lexie more than she cares to admit.”

Winnie nodded. “I understand,” she said wistfully, wishing she had had the courage to go home to Montrose and her own family, but her shame was too great.

Euan picked up her suitcase. “C’mon,” he said, his fatherly voice giving Winnie a feeling of safety, “there’s a motor waiting to take us all home.”

Annie had been cooking all morning and the smells of minced beef and apple tarts wafted through the whole house.

“Something smells good,” Lexie said, glancing at Winnie, “the food at the Mess is pretty tasteless, so we have to fill up at the NAAFI.”

Annie took a good look at her daughter. “You’ve lost weight,” she said, a note of concern in her voice, before bustling about the kitchen making tea and lifting half a dozen scones from the cake tin. (More on Monday.)