As Time Goes By
Chapter 11
No more snow had fallen on Christmas night and the household awoke to a bright and sunny Boxing Day morning.
After washing and breakfasting, Charlie and Joey decided to take a walk together. Both acutely aware their time together was growing short. Joey would be leaving for her week long course in Brighton the following morning, and ready to take up her new position in Dover on first of January, 1945.
Charlie slipped her arm through Joey's as they walked together.
"Doesn't time go quickly?"
Joey smiled.
"Not so, when we're apart!"
"No, you're right there!" Charlie admitted.
She sighed dramatically and glanced at her lover.
"It'll be nineteen forty five in a few days time. A new year and please God, an end to this bloody war! Joey, I want to start putting down roots with you. I'm tired of you being given to me for a few hours and then taken away again!"
Joey placed her hand in Charlie's and squeezed it reassuringly.
"I know its hard sweetheart, but one day it will end. At least we have each other and a good chance of being together once a week. There are many who can't boast that!"
"I know, I'm just being selfish and want you to myself all the time. I don't want anyone else to share your time, 'cept me!"
Joey laughed.
"Oh God!" Charlie breathed.
"What is it?" Joey whispered.
"Colleen Smart! Coming towards us!"
Joey followed Charlie's eyes and saw Mrs. Smart bustling in their direction.
"Good morning, Constable Buckton! And good morning to you, Miss. Collins. Season's greetings to you both!"
"And the same to you, Mrs. Smart!" Joey said brightly. "And how was your Christmas?"
"Oh, well, you know! Very quiet."
"Were you not with Mr. Stewart yesterday?" Charlie asked, incredulously.
"No, dear. My niece, Martha was with him and I know I irritate her."
"Oh! I'm sure you don't Mrs. Smart!" Charlie said, pleased that somebody else, apart from herself irritated Martha.
"Well, she never says anything dear, but I can tell. So, I just spent the day alone with my budgie, Bertie! Named after our dear King George the sixth." Colleen said, proudly.
Joey looked down and Charlie's lips twitched at the corners.
"So you didn't see anyone at all?" Joey asked, feeling a little guilty.
"No dear. I listened to the King's broadcast on the wireless set and had a nice pork chop for my lunch. I'm not a great one for crowds, as you know."
Charlie looked from Colleen to Joey, feeling sad for the elderly lady. She was an old gossip and scare monger, but there was no real harm in her and being alone on Christmas day didn't bear thinking of.
"Won't you walk back with us, Mrs. Smart and have a glass of sherry and a mince pie or slice of Christmas cake?" Charlie asked, warmly.
Joey looked at Charlie with a smile.
"Oh! That's ever so generous of you dear, but I don't like to intrude!" Colleen said, coyly.
"You won't intrude at all. I hope that Dad and Morag will pop by later, so you'll be able to see them too!" Charlie pointed out.
"I was going to pop by to see my sister, Morag, but I wasn't sure if she'd have time. She's a great lady and always busy. And I'd hate to... "
"If you use the word 'intrude' again," Joey said, threading her arm through Colleen's. "I'll brain you!"
Colleen smiled and looked down at the younger woman's arm warmly holding her own.
"That will be lovely. Thank you for inviting me."
The three ladies of Whitstable walked arm in arm back towards home.
***
Charlie poured boiling water into the tea pot and popped the lid back on. Joey cut a slice of Janet's tasty Christmas cake for Colleen and placed it before the old lady.
"Oh! What a treat! I haven't bothered to make a Christmas cake since my son was called up. No point if he's not there to eat it!"
"Have you heard from him recently?"
"No dear." The old lady said quietly. "I've heard nothing since September."
Colleen's son was fighting under the command of Field Marshal Montgomery guarding the Meuse crossing, a river rising in France and flowing through Belgium and the Netherlands.
"Well, if you've heard nothing, he must be fine!" Joey said, brightly. "No news is good news! And just look at Andrew Aden!"
"I'm a firm believer in that!" Colleen said, and then took a bite of Christmas cake. "The Lord moves in mysterious ways, his wonders to perform."
Charlie set down a cup of tea before Colleen and the elderly lady enthused over her kindness.
"My late husband, Ronnie, used to love a bit of Christmas cake."
"Where did you meet him?" Joey asked, by way of making conversation.
"We met during the last war in Ypres in Belgium."
"What were you doing out there?" Charlie asked, her mouth dropping open.
"I drove ambulances for The St. John's Ambulance Association. Ronnie was one of the casualties and I was the lucky driver who stretchered him into the ambulance. We fell in love almost immediately. In fact, he brought flowers into my ward in hospital, when I was injured!"
"Injured?" Joey asked, glancing at Charlie.
"Oh yes, well, it was after Ronnie was admitted. My friend Mattie and I drove back to pick up other casualties and I took a piece of shrapnel to my shoulder. There's still a bit in there now!" Colleen said, patting her right shoulder. "Unfortunately, the brave soldier whom I was helping back took most of the impact of the shell. He died where he fell." She said, sadly.
Charlie and Joey were quiet for a few moments, digesting Colleen's words.
"You've never talked about this before, Mrs. Smart." Charlie said, at last.
"Well, people aren't interested, dear. Apart from that, there's a lot I prefer to forget. A battlefield isn't a pretty sight."
Colleen smiled at the two young women as they gazed back at her.
"Ronnie and I married after the war and were blissfully happy until he was taken from me in nineteen thirty three. I suppose you might say he died of his injuries. Shrapnel to the lung.
Charlie laid a comforting hand on Colleen's shoulder.
"Well, girls. I've taken up enough of your time. I think I'd better be off. Tell my sister, if you see her, that I'll pop by and see her later."
"Are you sure you won't wait and have lunch with us?" Charlie asked, sincerely.
"No dear, but thank you."
Colleen rose from her seat and reached for her hat and coat.
"I'll walk you home." Joey said jumping up to assist the old lady.
"I'll come too." Charlie said, placing the Christmas cake back in the cake tin.
They each put on their hats and coats and Joey held the door open for Colleen and Charlie to exit; affectionately winking at Charlie as she passed by.
***
When they arrived at Colleen's little cottage, they were greeting by a happy 'Cheep! Cheep!' from Bertie the Budgerigar. The cottage was small, but immaculately kept.
"This is my Ronnie!" Colleen said, gesturing towards a large framed photograph of her husband as a young man in a First World War uniform. "Wasn't he handsome?" She cooed. "And this one is... "
"Shhhr. What's that?" Joey said, inclining her head towards the door.
The ever familiar sound of a Doodlebug droned and spluttering over head. Suddenly, the rocket's power ceased and the birds stopped singing.
Silence.
Joey's eyes flashed towards Charlie's and Charlie mouthed 'Joey' just as everything went black.