Darkest Before Dawn Episode 21
“Home sweet home!” Maud exclaimed with a heartfelt sigh as she opened their front door.
She sounded more relieved than triumphant.
As they’d walked home from the railway station, Isobel had seen some damage, but the church spire still stood defiantly.
It was a far cry from the devastation they’d left behind in London.
There were soldiers and sailors everywhere, which Sidney found exciting.
“Welcome home, Peter,” Tilly said as she carried the baby over the threshold.
“Sit yourself down, Mum,” Isobel said. “I’ll put the kettle on while Sidney runs out for some milk.”
“There’s no time for sitting down,” Maud stated.
“We’ll open the windows and get some fresh air in, and then we’ll give the place a good going over.”
She clapped her hands.
“What are you waiting for? There’s work to do.”
Isobel thought of Aunt Rose’s house, all spick and span yesterday and now reduced to rubble.
There was a knock on the door.
Isobel’s heart lurched when she saw John’s mother on the doorstep.
“Mrs Fisher,” she said. “Is everything all right?”
“That’s what I’m here to find out,” she replied. “I’m relieved to see you.
“There was a rumour going round that you’d all been killed.”
“We nearly was!” Sidney cried. “Auntie Rose’s house got bombed.”
“We nearly were, Sidney,” Maud corrected him again.
“I just said that.”
“He doesn’t change, does he?” Hilda Fisher ruffled Sidney’s hair. “It’s good to see you. And who’s this?”
Tilly had come into the hall with Peter in her arms.
“My new grandson, Peter.” Maud’s face softened. “Edward’s boy. He was born in July.”
“Alf said,” Hilda replied. “He has Edward’s smile.”
“Come in, Hilda,” Maud invited her. “I’m about to send Sidney out for some milk for a cup of tea.”
“No need,” Hilda said. “I brought you a bit round and enough tea for a pot. I thought you might need some supplies.”
Isobel took the milk and tea to the kitchen.
The thought struck her that Mrs Fisher could be her mother-in-law one day. If she married John.
She shivered, remembering Bob, the young soldier.
They hadn’t had time to get to know each other well, but she felt she knew him better through his letters than she’d ever known John.
Her heart ached when she thought of his death.
She could hear happy chatter from the other room, and when she took the tea through on a tray Hilda was holding Peter.
“He’s so sweet,” she said. “You are so lucky to be a grandmother, Maud.”
“It’ll be your turn one day,” Maud reminded her.
“I hope so,” Hilda said with a look at Isobel. “John’s been worried about you, Isobel.
“He said in his last couple of letters that he hadn’t heard from you.”
Isobel felt awful that it had been so long since she last wrote to John, but whenever she put pen to paper she started to think about Bob and how much she missed his letters.
“I’ll let him know you’re home safe and that you’ll write to him soon,” Hilda said when Isobel offered no excuse.
“Pass my bag, would you, Sidney?”
She looked through her bag and took out her purse, poking round until she found a silver coin.
“Oh, it’s just a thruppenny bit,” she said. “We can do better than that, can’t we, Peter?”
She delved back in and this time brought out a shilling, which she pressed into Peter’s tiny palm.
“Thank you,” Tilly said.
“I’ll make something for him, too,” Hilda said. “After all, we’re practically family.
“Did you notice all the soldiers and sailors in town?” she added. “They’re billeted all over the place.”
Mrs Fisher was determined to update them on all the local happenings.