Chapter 13

It was Friday night and what felt like the first time in too long, Liz had made her way up to the Barracks.

Patsy too had got ready and gone up and the two of them found themselves in the officer's mess.

It seemed to her as if they were back in early summer – as if the boys had never been gone.

Speaking of which, the boys were handsome, the women were happy to get their men back and it was not long until the booze had begun to flow.

This, Liz had to say, was her ideal evening at the moment and she was going to pass it with the man and the friends she loved.

And a drink in her hands.

Once more, her old school acquittance Alice was behind the bar and at last her curiosity got of her. Not that the girl looked thrilled to be there. Alice looked as if she would far rather be on the other side of the bar.

"Hi ya Alice, how are you doing love?"

"I am well, how are you, what can I get you?" she said with a smile freshly painted on her face. It was not that she had any need to be fake with her, but Liz was a punter as well an old classmate. And the two of them she did not think had talked so much at school as they had done up here.

"I am good. Vodka coke," she said with a smile, but before she went off to get the drink Liz was talking again. "I just need to ask one thing - how you got this job?" she knew they might go drinking in a bar – but she had not known of one of them to get a job at one for the simple fact they should not yet. They were not yet of age.

"Well, my uncle has been part of the base for years – part of the furniture. They were short staff one night and called me in and said would I like a job. You know as well as I do that none of us are in a position to turn the money down, so I said yes and they have been giving me shifts here ever since," said Alice with a shrug as if it was as simple as that. She could not imagine anyone trying to contradict her uncle on the base. He was high up and he seemed like somewhat of a god to her. Besides, it was not as if they were open to the wider public. It could be an open secret and a blind eye was bound to be turned.

"I just did not think it was going to be your sort of scene if you do not mind me saying." It struck Liz she did not at the end of the day know the girl from Adam and so she did not know how she was going to know what she liked but it was out there now. She hoped she had not been rude at all.

Alice smiled. She did not think she minded at all and she was sure as did many people at their school, Liz thought she was bookish and quiet. But there was more to her than that. "Well, if I am honest, I did not think it was either – but it built my confidence. And I do enjoy it actually."

And then it was that Liz saw there was something in her eye. Alice knew she could see it.

"Besides anything else, it keeps my busy. It is not easy waiting for your solider to come home," sighed Alice and Liz raised her eyebrows. For some reason she did not think the two of them were living too dissimilar lives.

In fact, they were living rather similar ones, like two sides of the same coin. Liz knew in those moments it really was the quiets ones that you had to watch.

At that moment, a warm hand touched her back and she smiled. It was better that she could say that she had her hunk of a fella home. She turned to give a bright smile to Jim, and it was returned.

"Alright, my darling," he almost purred and she gave a nod. "Alice, I hope you're well!"

"Very well Jim," she said with a smile as the royal engineer turned to his girlfriend.

"Can I steal you for a minute Elizabeth? I need to talk to you," he said kissing her cheek and she did not think she had any trouble in letting him steal her away.

They found a nice comfortable corner of the room to sit together. There legs touched.

"So are you going to tell me what it is you have to talk to me about. Nothing bad I hope," she said as he put an arm about her.

Lord it felt god to have him home. She put a hand on his chest.

"Yes, I am," he said with a smile, thrilled she was so happy to have him back – at least that was how it felt.

In all honesty, he could not quite believe that she was with him. He was sure If she wanted to be with another man then she could be. But as it was, she was with him. Lord only knew why.

"I am glad to be back. But I want us to have some proper time together," he said to her and all she could do was nod. That was what she wanted as well. His hand curled protectively round the one on his chest.

"Well, I am going to go back to Belfast soon, to visit my family like and – and I want you to come back with me." He had not thought he was ever going to take an English girl home with him but then he did not think he had thought a lot until the two of them had met. They, being together and a couple, were changing him of that he was sure.

And changing him for the better as well.

"You want me to come back with you?" she said and the joy she felt at the chance of that illuminated her face.

It touched him.

"Of course, I do. I have met your family and now it is important you meet mine. As long as your ma and dad are ok with you coming with me."

Liz knew in that moment she did not care what her mum and dad thought. She was going to go with him come what may.

X x x

All too soon, it felt to Liz, she was being dropped off home. The evening had gone so quickly, and it had all been taken up with plans for what she hoped was going to be the first of many trips to Ireland.

"Do you want me to come in with you and talk to them about it?" asked Jim.

Liz shook her head. "I have got this I promise," she said as she leant in and kissed him. She had a feeling it would be easier if it were just the three of them.

She had never been on holiday with a lad before and she could not say how excited she was about it. Liz had never been away from her mum and dad on holiday so to do so first the first time with Jim would be amazing.

"They are going to be ok with it, I am going to make them ok with it," she said as she cupped his face and kissed him. He could only hope it were true.

"You know my ma and dad are going to love you and so is my wee sister." The thought of being accepted into his family filled her with warmth.

"So, shall I tell them your intentions with me are entirely honourable?"

"Entirely," he said and as she got out of the car, she knew there had been a tone in his voice which made her doubt that, which thrilled and excited her.

She was going to go to Ireland.

She bent down to look back in the car. "Goodnight, Private McDonald."

"Goodnight, Miss Greenwood."

Given all that had gone on that night, when Liz opened the front door, she felt as if she was on cloud nine.

She walked into the living room find her mother and father sitting together. Her mother was reading, and her father had the paper.

"Good night love?" her mother asked absentmindedly.

"Oh Mam, it was wonderful. Jim has asked me to go to Ireland with him whilst he is on leave."

Carole too thought she herself had been having a lovely evening until that point. She had put the fire on for the first time, as summer faded to autumn and she had had a favourite book and the knowledge that her daughter was happy.

And she was – she could see that when she was before her.

But she did not know if that – going to Ireland - was a good idea. It did not feel as if it was a good idea.

And she knew Elizabeth could see that reflected on her face.

"What do you think of that?" Lizzie asked, not quite wanting the answer.

If Carole had had time to prepare for what her daughter was going to say she would have had a better asked for her. But given her age, it was harder to parent her and she stumbled somewhat.

"Duckie – Lizzie, you are a young woman now and – and though you are our child, you have to make an adult decision about this trip. I do not think our opinion matters so much these days. I just hope you are going to make the right one." said Carole.

George Greenwood sighed. Even he would admit on a normal day he abdicated a lot of his parental responsibility to his wife. After all Carole had been a teenage girl after all, while he had not and while he loved his daughter, he did not know if he could claim to have any great understanding of her.

And less as she got older.

But that was not the answer he would have given if their daughter has asked him directly.

"I will," said Liz as her mother's rather non answer stirred the flame in her to go further. If her parents were not going to come down firmly on one side of the other, then she did not think they could claim to feel that strongly.

"Goodnight," she said as she gave them both a dutiful kiss in turn and then made her way up to the room.

"Do you think she is old enough to make that sort of choice?" he asked. She was no silly girl, but love did all sorts of things to you at that age.

"I trust her," Carole said proudly. It was not that her father did not but at her age it was their job to be sensible for her wasn't it?

Little did she know on the floor above her, her daughter was already packing to go.

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