Darkest Before Dawn Episode 11
Rose whipped the paper out of Maud’s hands.
“We’d have heard by now if there was anything to worry about,” she said firmly. “There’s no point poring over the newspapers.
“What happened at Dunkirk was wonderful.”
“It’s all very well for you,” Maud replied tartly. “But my husband and my son could have been involved and a lot didn’t make it.”
Rose sat down opposite her and grasped her hand.
“And my brother and nephew,” she said. “I love them, too, Maud. I want them to be safe.”
Maud’s eyes widened and filled with tears.
“I’m sorry, Rose,” she said. “I shouldn’t have said that.”
“All we can do is keep things going at home and wait for them to come back,” Rose told her.
“Reading the newspaper isn’t going to help.”
“You’re right. I’ll make tea for Tilly and take it to her, then I’ll get started on ours. Hopefully I can tempt her to eat something.”
Tilly was sitting up in bed when Maud took the tray in.
She looked paler than ever, with dark rings under her eyes.
“Oh, Mum. I can come down for my meals. I feel such a nuisance.”
“You’ll stay where you are,” Maud said as she balanced the tray on Tilly’s bump. “And you’re not a nuisance.”
“How long do you think before I can go back to work?” Tilly asked.
“You’re not going back,” Maud said firmly.
“If we’d known about the baby sooner, we could have made sure you were looked after and you wouldn’t have been on your feet all day.
“If you want anything else, bang on the floor,” Maud ordered her.
The gratitude on her face made Maud want to cry.
Just after she got downstairs, Sidney breezed in and went straight to the larder, opening the door.
“Is there anything to eat?” he asked.
“Wait till teatime,” Maud returned. “It’s not long.”
“But I’m hungry now,” he said.
“There’s cake in the tin,” Rose piped up. “You can finish that.”
“Thanks, Auntie,” he replied, licking his lips as he prised the lid off the tin and fished out the last slice with a grimy hand.
“Sidney!” Maud cried and he almost dropped the cake. “Wash your hands!”
“I’ve touched it now,” he reasoned.
“Wash your hands, Sidney Pollard.” Maud’s voice deepened and he dropped the cake into the tin and went to the sink.
“When you’ve finished, wash the tin up,” she added, smiling when she saw the back of his neck redden.
It wasn’t long before they heard Isobel arrive home.
“Only me,” she called. “I’ve brought someone for tea. I hope that’s all right.”
Maud shot Rose an apologetic look. What on earth had got into her daughter?
“That’s fine,” Rose called back. “We’ve plenty.”
She lowered her voice.
“Good job bread isn’t rationed!” She began to cut extra slices while Maud spread some of Rose’s homemade jam on it.
“Do you think it’s a young man?” Rose whispered.
“Isobel has promised to wait for John,” Maud reminded her sister-in-law.
They heard a man’s voice speaking softly, and the next moment Alf walked in.
Maud let out a cry and ran into his arms.
He held her tight and relief washed over her.
“Dad!” Sidney shouted, and Maud stepped aside as he threw himself into his father’s arms.
When Sidney pulled away, she saw tears making clean tracks in the dirt on his face.
For once she wasn’t cross that the boy never seemed to be clean.
She was more annoyed with herself for not talking to him.
He must have been so worried about Alf and it had been a mistake to keep him in the dark.
“Was you at Dunkirk, Dad?” he asked, wiping his nose with his sleeve.
“I was,” Alf replied. “Once we’ve had tea I’ll tell you all about it. Is there a cup in the pot for me?”
“Always.” Rose smiled.
“Dad met me from work,” Isobel said as they sat down to eat. “I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw him.”
Maud couldn’t take her eyes off Alf. If nothing else, this war had reminded her of how much she loved him.