Chapter Ten
James put down the newspaper he had been attempting to read for the last twenty minutes and sighed. Glancing around him in the Officer's Mess he could see two other occupants, both middle aged squadron leaders from Admin who only flew a desk these days. It was his own fault he was bored and at a loose end. He knew he could have taken a pass like most of his crew and gone away somewhere for a couple of days, but he couldn't think of anywhere to go that held enough attraction for him. He could have gone to visit his parents although they had moved out of their town house in Bath after it was damaged by the Baedeker raids in April last year. They were now living in a cottage his mother's cousin had lent them, in the Somerset countryside, south of Bath. Making a return journey to the back of beyond with only a short leave was a challenge. He only had limited petrol supplies for his car, so public transport was his only option and he didn't rate his chances of getting there and back in forty eight hours.
James knew that the real reason he was reluctant to go anywhere was because there was only one person he was interested in spending time with and he couldn't be with her. He glanced at the clock and smiled to himself, at least she would be back today within the next few hours. After Molly had left him at the railway station he had felt empty and heavy-hearted. He had wanted to say so much more to her but he couldn't find the right words to express how he felt. It had just seemed so important to speak to her before she left and he had been in such a hurry to catch up with her that he hadn't thought about what he would actually say.
The request for 'special blend' had been dreamed up on the spur of the moment. He just hadn't wanted her to forget about him. It was all he could think of and goodness knows what Molly must have thought. He had berated himself later. What kind of idiot would ask a girl he liked, more than liked, to fetch him a can of oil? She seemed to have taken the request in good part but more than that he was sure from the way she had looked at him and the tone of her voice when she hadn't wanted to leave that she liked him too.
He had recalled many times during the last few days how it had felt to hold her hand and be so close to her. He had wanted to say so much and yet still something was holding him back. How did you tell someone that they had become important in your life but that you couldn't promise them anything? What right did he have to say that to her? What right did he have to ask anything from her when he couldn't promise that he would even be here tomorrow? Other thoughts had crossed his mind. The disparity in their lives beyond RAF Milton did not escape him. He was not a snob. He'd met far too many good men from humble backgrounds to whom he would entrust his life, to ever think disparagingly of anyone who'd had a less advantageous upbringing than himself. However, he recognised that being from different backgrounds presented challenges beyond life in the services.
When Molly had asked James if he would stay in the RAF after the war he had answered truthfully that he couldn't think beyond the end of this tour. However, for the first time since returning for his third tour of operations he began to wish that he had something he could offer Molly in terms of a promise of his safety and yet he knew that without volunteering for this third tour it was unlikely they would ever have met. He had started the tour with nothing more in mind then doing the job he was good at and doing the best for his crew. He had not had any particular thoughts about his own future or safety. He accepted the risks and intended to do everything he could to safeguard his crew but he knew that you couldn't fly at your best with fear uppermost in your mind.
Leaving the Mess to return to his quarters, James ran into Kinders who had also declined the offer of a forty eight hour pass. He at least had a smile on his face and James suspected it was due to a certain WAAF Corporal in Ops by the name of Eileen.
Kinders saluted James as was their normal habit on first meeting each day.
"Did you have a good evening, Archie?"
"Very nice indeed, thanks, Skip!"
"No regrets about passing up on the leave, then?"
Kinders shook his head, "None at all. The only person I wanted to see was here."
"Well, everyone will be back later this morning and I've arranged a training flight for this afternoon."
"Righto, Skip!" Kinders nodded and then carried on his way and James watched him feeling envious and wishing Molly could have been here for him.
ooOoo
Molly looked out of the train window watching the countryside rushing by and felt glad to be returning to RAF Milton. Sitting opposite her in the carriage, Smithy had nodded off much to Molly's relief as he had been chattering on for the past hour and a half and she had wanted some time to gather her own thoughts. After the eventful night out, the following day had passed more quietly. Smithy had accompanied Dave to the Earl of Wakefield at lunchtime and Molly had been glad of some time with her mum although the conversation had soon turned to Smithy. Her mum was still singing his praises.
"You've got a good 'un there."
Molly really wanted to stop her mother making comments like these.
"Mum, he's just a friend, that's all. There aren't going to be any wedding bells."
Her mum looked disappointed.
"Plenty of people are getting hitched, these days."
Molly knew this was true. No one wanted to wait any more. Time was precious and young people were determined to grasp every moment of happiness with both hands. She tried another tack.
"The other day you were telling me how you thought you could have done more in your life. Well, right now I am doing more than I ever thought I would. I've found something I love doing and I'm good at it. Do you think I'd want to give all that up just to be married to someone so that I can cook his dinners and wash his socks?"
Her mum was silent. There was a wistful look on her face as if she was remembering some other time when things had been different.
"It weren't always like that with your Dad, Molly. He wasn't always the way he is now. When we first got married he had plans. He was going to be someone and make a success of himself."
Remembering the past had made her feel sad. Molly could see it written in her face and wanted to encourage her somehow.
"But you could still make some changes, Mum. What about your friend, Cynthia, she's got lots of ideas. Why don't you try to get Dad involved as well? Perhaps if you got him to grow the vegetables he'd be able to see himself making a success of something for once," she suggested.
Her mum laughed softly, "He claimed he had green fingers when we first met. He told me he helped his Grandad grow some prize winning roses."
"Well there you are then," Molly exclaimed seizing on this idea. "Get Dad involved. Ask him for his opinion or advice."
Her mum smiled, "Don't know about him and Cynthia, though."
They looked at each other and laughed.
"But you like Cynthia, don't you Mum?" Molly said.
"She's a good sort. I never would have thought I'd be friends with someone like her but she rolls up her sleeves and gets on with things, in spite of her posh ways," her mum replied.
"It's the war," Molly reflected. "Its' brought lots of people together who would never normally have met."
In the evening she and Smithy had gone to the Gaumont cinema in the High Street to see the latest Gainsborough Picture 'The Man in Grey'. Although it was a romantic period drama which neither would normally have made their first choice, Smithy admitted to a partiality for Margaret Lockwood and Molly found Stewart Granger's roguish adventurer appealing and the film provided sufficient entertainment for a couple of hours. They enjoyed listening to the organist in the interval and joined in enthusiastically with singing 'Roll out the Barrel'. Thankfully there was no repeat of last night's air raid, so the evening passed uneventfully apart from the moment Molly suspected that Smithy was about to put his arm around the back of her chair and try to casually drop it down onto her shoulder. She gave him a sharp glance and said, "Hands off, Smithy!"
He sheepishly returned his arm to its normal position and behaved himself for the rest of the film.
Now returning on the train her thoughts naturally moved to Flight Lieutenant James. In her kitbag, well wrapped in an old cloth, she had the small can of oil for Rosa. The thought of it made her smile. It was a strange thing to ask her to do but she had been glad that it had given her the chance to meet Ted Foxton and she realised now even more than she had before, just how many people held Flight Lieutenant James in high esteem. It made his regard for her seem even more precious.
The train was approaching Grantley station and Molly leaned forward and tapped Smithy on the shoulder.
"Wake up, Sleeping Beauty!"
Smithy opened his eyes and blinked trying to focus on her, "Are we here already?" He pulled a face and sat up straight, "I wish we'd had longer."
Molly didn't.
ooOoo
The bus from Grantley dropped Molly and Smithy a hundred yards from the main gate at RAF Milton and they made their way up the road carrying their kit bags over their shoulders. The sergeant at the main gate checked their passes and let them through.
James, knowing that Molly was due back from leave by noon had deliberately found a reason to hang around outside the Admin block, knowing that she would have to pass through this way on her way back to her quarters. As he saw her round the corner of the building his spirits soared and he felt his heart beat faster. A broad smile overspread his face but he was equally surprised when a second later Smithy appeared behind her and catching James eye before Molly had, he called out, "Morning, Skip," and saluted him.
Molly looked up sharply and being slightly confused also saluted him. He returned their salutes and stopped to speak to them both.
"Good leave, Smithy?"
"The bees knees, thank you, Sir."
James hadn't realised that Newport had so much to offer but didn't enquire further and Smithy catching sight of Kinders coming towards them wandered over to him.
"How about you, Dawes?" James turned his gaze upon her, a smile hovering on his lips and looking at him she felt that she might blush.
"It was alright, Sir. I could have done without the air raid. Hitler must have known I'd gone home. But I'm glad to be back."
James laughed softly, "Really?"
They looked directly into one another's eyes. "Yes, I wanted to come back."
At that moment they both heard Kinders exclaim, "You didn't go to Newport?"
Smithy looked over to where Molly and James were standing and said, "No never got there. The lure of the 'Big Smoke' was too much. You had to put up with me, didn't you, Molly?"
James was confused. It was written all over his face. What did Smithy mean? He looked at Molly for clarification but before she could speak, Kinders had already piped up,"You two have been out on the town then?"
The news hit him like a hammer blow. The expression on his face changed and, as he looked at Molly, she saw it had become cold and closed. He shook his head in disbelief. How could he have been so mistaken in her? He turned towards Smithy and Kinders.
"Be ready for a training flight at fourteen thirty hours, I've already made arrangements at dispersal."
Without looking at Molly again he turned on his heel and strode off.
Molly watched him walk away and was overcome with shock and anguish. The look on his face had driven a knife through her. She looked at Smithy and felt anger rise up in her. It was only the presence of Kinders and the realisation that she couldn't let anyone else know what she was feeling that stopped her from shouting at him right there and then. She picked up her kitbag and without another word made her way to her quarters to get changed.
ooOoo
By the time James had reached dispersal he had heard the outline details of Smithy's leave. It sounded as if he and Molly had had a good time seeing the sights, dancing at the Royal Opera House, going to the pictures, even the air raid sounded as if it had offered some cosy moments for the pair of them. Smithy seemed to have made himself at home and Molly had enjoyed herself as well. James tried to be fair to her. He knew from Smithy's own admission that he had turned up uninvited but it was the fact that he had been made so welcome at her house and Molly seemed to have no compunction about spending time in his company that rankled with him. He began to be irritated by Smithy's conversation and wanted to be anywhere else other than sitting next to him for a couple of hours in the Lancaster. When the truck arrived at dispersal almost the first person James saw was Molly. She was waiting with the ground crew. He studiously avoided her gaze and busied himself preparing for the flight.
Molly desperately wanted to say something. She knew that James had misunderstood what had happened. She could see that he was angry with her and it hurt her so much to think this was all because of Smithy's thoughtlessness. A small part of her began to wonder if she was to blame for this situation and that perhaps she should have sent Smithy packing when he had arrived at her home but she knew that this course of action would never been a realistic option. It would have been incredibly rude and her parents wouldn't have understood.
Needing to carry out a pre-flight check Molly saw an opportunity to wander over to James. He saw her out of the corner of his eye but tried not to look. Her heart was thumping painfully in her chest but she said tentatively, "Are you alright, Sir?"
He couldn't avoid answering as much, as he wanted to, and turning towards her, his face cold and set he said harshly, "Why wouldn't I be?"
His words cut her to the quick and he saw it. She couldn't reply. She turned away from him and walked back into the hangar. In spite of the hurt he felt at this moment, he was immediately sorry.
ooOoo
The training flight had been uneventful. Fingerson had carried out some wireless checks. They had practised some manoeuvres for use over the target that they had discussed and agreed on as a crew and Berry who had had a modification to his bomb sight made, tested it with some practice runs. After ninety minutes James asked Kinders to plot a course for Milton. He gave him the heading and James set it on the compass.
James had found Smithy's presence next to him an annoyance. He maintained the civility that was necessary but was unwilling to get involved with any chit-chat as he sometimes did. They all knew that they weren't supposed to use the intercom for idle chat but on a training flight when everyone was more relaxed James usually allowed them to talk amongst themselves as long it wasn't excessive. Today he became irritated every time Smithy passed a comment to Mansfield or asked Kinders how his evening out in Grantley with WAAF Corporal Johnson had gone, to the point that he snapped over the intercom.
"If you chaps don't pipe down I'll put you on a charge!"
It was uncharacteristic of the Skipper and Smithy raised his eyebrows in surprise but had the good sense not to remark upon it.
After twenty minutes of silence, James started looking around him expecting to see the familiar landscape surrounding RAF Milton which would guide his descent and approach to the station. Nothing seemed familiar. He spoke over the intercom, "Pilot to Navigator. Any sign of the approach to Milton, Archie?"
There was a short pause before the reply came back, "Negative, Skip."
James sighed, this was unusual. Looking around him he thought the landscape reminded him of the country further south of Milton. They had once flown an extended training mission over this part of the country. He called over the intercom, "Pilot to Navigator. What was the last heading you gave me because we're nowhere bloody near Milton."
Kinders went back to his log and checked the bearing he had calculated and given to his Skipper.
"Navigator to Pilot. The last heading was two four one, Skip."
James glanced down at the compass and his heart sank. He had set the compass on the bearing two one four. They were heading in the wrong direction and they were carrying a lot less fuel than normal. He had made a mistake.
"Pilot to crew. Sorry chaps, I've set the wrong heading on the compass. Ray, can you get on to Milton and get a fix for our current position. Archie, when we've got the fix can you calculate the shortest return route. In the meantime I will fly on a temporary heading of three one five."
He could kick himself. It was an elementary mistake not to double check the compass when setting a new course. He would usually have asked Smithy to check the setting with him but he had allowed his personal annoyance with him to overrule his sense. He knew that he hadn't been focussing on what he needed to do and he was very fortunate that it had happened now and not on an operation.
He concentrated all his efforts on turning the aeroplane around whilst waiting for information to come through from Fingerson and Kinders. In the meantime he asked Smithy to calculate the amount of fuel still on board and their maximum range. Milton came through with a position fix and then Kinders plotted the course correction. They were fortunate that they had sufficient fuel on board as allowance had been made for a longer flight than was normally the case with a test flight. Within half an hour RAF Milton was within sight. They landed safely and taxied to the dispersal point.
ooOoo
By the time 'Charlie' had returned, Molly had resolved upon finding out what Smithy had said about their time in London. She felt sure that Flight Lieutenant James had been told something. His response to her question had hurt her so much and it all felt so unjust. She had gone on leave full of wonder and flattered that he appeared to be telling her that he liked her and now she felt as small as she had that first day when he had treated her with such arrogance and disdain. They were late back from their training flight and as soon as the crew disembarked she heard Nuttall mentioning that the Skipper had set the wrong course on the compass. James had climbed down from 'Charlie' and walked off purposefully into the hangar with Corporal Barker. Smithy wandered in her direction smiling at her. No one else was around and no sooner had he reached her then she said without any preamble, "What did you say to the crew about your leave in London?"
Smithy was taken aback by the accusatory tone of her voice.
"Nothing! Just that you and I had a look at the sights together, went dancing and your mam and dad were good enough to put me up. It wasn't a secret was it?"
She realised that she hadn't asked Smithy to keep the details to himself so she couldn't really blame him for telling the others but she was still dismayed at the way it must have sounded to Flight Lieutenant James.
Smithy smiled at her as if a penny had finally dropped, "Look Molly, I understand you don't want people talking about us. I didn't go into details."
This was exactly what she had feared. She was trying to keep her voice down and consequently her whispered response sounded more like an angry hiss.
"There is no 'us', Smithy. We're friends. That's all!" She stared at him, "Can't you just be my friend?"
He looked at her with an intensity she hadn't seen since they'd argued on the day of the aeroplane crash. When he spoke he sounded very serious, "No, Molly. I can't be your friend because I love you."
The situation she had feared and had tried so hard to avoid was now staring her in the face. Feeling distraught but unable to say or do anything in the presence of so many other people she took the only course possible and turning her back on Smithy walked away. She kept walking until she was as far away as she could reasonably go and out of sight of everyone and finally gave way to her emotions, weeping bitterly for everything that had been ruined and lost in the space of a few hours.
ooOoo
Molly returned to her quarters later that evening in low spirits, after a miserable afternoon in the workshop, to find Jackie getting ready for an evening out at The White Horse.
"Are you coming down?" she asked.
When Molly silently shook her head she continued, "I suppose you had a much better time in London."
Molly sat down heavily on her bed.
"If you only knew how much I wish I'd stayed here."
Jackie looked surprised. "Didn't you enjoy your leave?"
Molly exhaled deeply, "Let's just say it's caused me no end of troubles."
"Well," Jackie said looking directly at Molly. "My Dad always says there's only one way to face your troubles and that is head-on."
She turned away from Molly and carried on getting ready, pinning up her hair, applying face powder and a touch of lipstick. Molly watched her thinking about what she had said and slowly a plan formed in her mind. By the time Jackie had left she was resolved on tackling the source of her unhappiness head on.
Reaching into her kitbag she located the oil can containing Rosa's 'Special Blend' and took it out. She left her quarters and made her way across the station towards the Officer's Mess. She could see that Rosa was parked on the far side of the parade ground but it was no guarantee that James was inside. Making her way around to the back of the building she located the kitchen door and opening it asked one of the cooks to find her friend, Frances. Frances came to the door wiping her hands on her overalls and was surprised to see Molly.
"What is it, Molly?"
"I've got something I need to give Flight Lieutenant James. Do you know if he's in the Mess?"
Frances nodded, "Yes, I saw him having his dinner half an hour ago. I was clearing up and I thought I saw him in there having a drink and chatting with some other officers. Do you want me to find an orderly?"
"No," Molly said hastily, "It's alright. I'll go round to the main entrance myself. I just thought I'd save time asking you first."
She knew it was a very lame excuse but Frances didn't appear suspicious. Molly had no intention of going into the Officers Mess and drawing attention to herself. Instead she decided she would wait around the corner, out of sight of the entrance but where she was able to see all the comings and goings. She couldn't bear the thought that Flight Lieutenant James believed she had been deceitful in some way and she resolved to wait, for however long it took, until he appeared.
She had been waiting for about twenty minutes when she suddenly caught sight of him strolling out of the building and crossing the parade ground in the direction of his car. He was alone and walking slowly. He looked downhearted and Molly wanted more than anything to see him smile at her again the way he had this morning with genuine pleasure at the sight of her.
Molly took a deep breath and set out at a brisk pace across the parade ground towards James. She was just about to draw level with him and he had turned his head at the sound of her approach, obviously surprised at the sight of her, when another officer came out of the Mess and called to him. He looked around to see a Pilot Officer called Mortimer heading in his direction. Molly knew that she could either pass both of them by and pretend that she had not wanted to speak to James or brazen it out by stopping and making an excuse. She had set out this evening with a purpose and, despite this complication, she was determined to see it through. She reached James at almost the same moment as Mortimer and decided to stand her ground. She stopped and allowed James to speak first.
"What is it, Dawes?"
"Your car, Sir. I've brought the oil you needed."
She lifted the oil can containing the special blend. "You said you wanted to do a test drive and check out that everything was running alright, now."
James looked at her, trying to fathom why she was doing this. She was looking at him with a suitably neutral expression on her face and he knew that it was his choice whether to play along or expose her ploy to get his attention. Glancing at Mortimer and knowing what a gossip he could be in the Mess, against his better judgment, he decided to play along.
"Sorry, Mortimer. I'd forgotten about this. Can we catch up tomorrow?"
Mortimer took in the sight of the WAAF Flight Mechanic dressed in overalls and carrying an oil can and nodded his agreement at James. He took a few steps away from them both but didn't leave entirely. James, conscious of him within earshot, felt compelled to continue the charade.
"Well, hop in Dawes, and let me know how you think she sounds."
They both got into his car and he started the engine. He drove away from the Officer's Mess but looking in the mirror he could still see Mortimer watching them. He reached the main gate and the Sergeant waved them through. They turned right and sped away from the station.
They had travelled a few hundred yards before James spoke, "What are you doing, Dawes?"
He sounded terse but Molly thought he was more confused than angry with her.
"I'm sorry, Sir, I just needed an opportunity to talk to you alone. You wouldn't let me explain before." She had to raise her voice above the noise of the engine to be heard.
He said nothing but he relaxed his pressure on the accelerator and the car slowed down considerably making it much easier to talk.
"Nothing happened with Smithy," Molly said, praying he would believe her. "He just turned up. I didn't invite him." She paused before adding, "But at least now I know."
"What are you talking about? What do you know?" James said without looking away from the road. Molly's courage almost failed her but she resolved that she had come this far and she couldn't stop now. She took a deep breath and spoke from the heart.
"I couldn't believe that someone like you would be interested in me. I just didn't want you to go off on another operation thinking that I don't care because I do. I'm… fond of you."
She had turned to look at him and he was conscious of her watching him. She saw the muscles in his jaw twitching as if he was struggling to think of a response. In this moment she took the final ounce of the courage she possessed and said simply, "Do you love me?"
She had definitely caught him by surprise. Taking his eyes from the road he turned his head to look at her, startled by her words but she could see that all the coldness was gone. He looked as though he was about to answer until Molly, suddenly catching sight of something in the road ahead, shouted, "Watch out!"
He turned his head back to the road just in time to see a heap lying on the left hand side of the road. He swerved to avoid it but as they passed Molly, cried in astonishment, "It's a person, Stop!"
James hit the brakes and the car came to a screeching halt thirty yards away. In an instant Molly had opened the passenger door and was running back with James following closely behind her. As she reached the person lying close to the edge of the road she could see that it was a man. He was dressed in a brown suit and bent double, lying on his side. Kneeling down in the road she leaned over him calling, "Are you alright?"
She heard a groaning sound and he moved and rolled towards her slightly. She saw his face for the first time and gasped. He had clearly been beaten black and blue, his face was a mass of cuts and bruises, his lips swollen, one eye almost closed up but she recognised Bill Tyler. He was semi-conscious and clearly quite badly hurt.
James took charge, "He needs to go to a hospital. I'll go and get help. Can you stay here with him? I'll try to get back as soon as I can."
There was no other option. James got back into his car and headed back towards the station. In the fading evening light Molly found herself kneeling in the roadside with Hattie's father knowing that he was in a very bad way. After five minutes he opened his eyes and she heard him trying to speak. His voice was weak, little more than a whisper. She had to bend very close to him to hear his words.
"It's your fault!"
She was taken aback, "What do you mean?"
"All this. It's cos of you." His eyes flew open and he was looking at her wildly, "You put the coppers onto me and put me out of business."
He was struggling to breathe and she loosened his tie. "Don't speak. Save your strength," she told him but he reached out and grabbed her overalls with a surprising amount of strength, pulling her down towards him.
"Owed them money and couldn't pay. Beat me up, cos of you, you interfering bitch!"
He almost spat the final words at her. She could see the hatred in his eyes as he spoke and was horror struck at his words and the thought that she might be the cause of this. He started to cough and groan in pain and Molly saw a trickle of blood running from the corner of his mouth. She fought the panic that was threatening to rise in her.
"Lie still. Help's coming."
She prayed that it would arrive soon. He became quieter and stopped talking and she sat in silence with him, hearing nothing but his uneven breathing as it became more and more shallow.
Ten minutes later she heard the ringing bell of an ambulance growing louder by the second as it raced towards her. She stood up in the road and waved at it to stop. It came to a halt nearby and two uniformed ambulance men got out carrying a stretcher. They placed Bill Tyler on the stretcher with a blanket over him. As they did so she caught an exchange of looks between the two men. One of them silently shook his head and she realised they doubted he would survive. They loaded him into the back of the ambulance and one of the men asked if Molly wanted to go with them to the hospital but she declined. It drove off in the direction of Grantley, the sound of its ringing bell slowly receding and she watched it until it had disappeared from sight.
She felt numb. At this moment it felt as if everything had spiralled out of her control. At the beginning of the day, coming back from leave she had been filled with hope and enjoying the first wonderful fluttering sensations of being attracted to someone who liked her too. In the space of one day she felt as if everything had gone wrong and now the possible death of Hattie's father seemed to be laid at her door as well. Her legs felt suddenly weak and unable to support herself she sank down onto the grass verge at the roadside and placed her head in her hands.
ooOoo
After returning to the station to call an ambulance and being delayed again by Mortimer, James had driven directly to the hospital in Grantley expecting to find Molly there but he was informed on arrival that she had declined to accompany the patient in the ambulance. He did, however, discover that Bill Tyler had died before reaching the hospital and reasoned that Molly must have known he was dying.
He was worried. He drove swiftly back along the road thinking that he might find Molly walking back to the station or even returned already. It was almost dark and he had turned on the headlamps of the car even though the small amount of light emitted by the blackout covers only provided a very small beam. It was however, just enough to make out the figure of a person sitting all alone on a grass verge by the side of the road close to where they had found Tyler, hunched up and clasping her knees tightly to her. He stopped the car, got out and walked over to her. She didn't get to her feet or look up as he drew near so he bent down to her level.
"Molly?"
She raised her head and their eyes met.
"You called me Molly."
He smiled at her, "It's your name isn't it?"
She nodded. After a short while she said, "It was my fault."
"What?" he asked.
"Bill Tyler's probably dead by now and it's because I interfered. He was beaten up because he owed money. He said it was my fault he couldn't pay it and he's right."
James reached out to her and physically drew her upwards and towards him enfolding her in his arms.
"You are not to blame," he said hugging her fiercely. "He's to blame for anything that has happened to him."
At this moment he couldn't bring himself to tell her Tyler was dead. He also knew that the Police would want to speak to her but at this moment he felt that everything else could wait.
Her face was buried in his chest and he could feel tension and shuddering in her body each time she breathed in and out. They stood in silence like this for several minutes until he felt her relax slightly and he released his hold on her a little allowing her to move her head away from him a fraction. She looked up at him and in the dim light of the car headlamps he could see the reflection of tears on her face and knew that she had been crying silently. He gazed down at her and said softly, "The only thing you are to blame for is making me fall in love with you."
He leaned towards her and she instinctively tilted her face towards him as he kissed her tenderly.