Angel had settled in with Mary , and not being to far away meant that Craig and the guys were constant visitors.
Casino had decided that it was as good a time as any to teach her to play cards, and she found she rather enjoyed it, even if she wasn't very good.
Goniff arrived first every day, still doing the job that the Warden had given him, and tasking care of her before the others arrived.
She was his first priority, and even Mary had given in to him and let him help around the house.
However once the others had arrived he turned his attention to Mary.
Angel smiled as she watched him follow her around the house , eager to learn everything she could be persuaded to teach him about the soldiers that were staying with her.
Helping with all the chores to the extent that Bill said he felt redundant.
It was eleven o'clock and she waited for the knock on the door.
He was very rarely late.
`Come in Goniff`, she called.
`Tea up`. He said beaming at her.
This was their special time. He would pour the tea and sit with her, always eating the biscuits he had supposedly brought for her, it was half an hour each day that belonged to just the two of them.
`So what's new? She asked .
`Not much. No missions thank goodness,
What's cooking ? She asked him.
`Well me and Mary decided on sausage and mash today, got to go and peel spuds for 'er later on`.
Angel smiled.
`Why could I never get you to do that? She asked.
Didn't want the others to think I was sucking up`. He said. `It's different with Mary, she reminds me of me mum, I like helping 'er`.
`Well when I get back to the mansion I'll expect help too , and if the others say anything they'll find themselves on bread and water for a week`, she said laughing.
Goniff's laughter joined hers.
`Don't think that 'd sit too well with his highness `, he said.
Mary's voice filtered through their laughter.
`Goniff luv, have you got a minute, I could use a hand?
`You'd better go,` said Angel, `you can take the tea things if you want, I'm all finished`.
Goniff grabbed the tray and headed out of the door without looking back.
Angel sat back in the chair and closed her eyes, and thanked heaven for a few minutes peace.
….
The peace didn't last long .
Just a few minutes later there was another knock on the door and Craig's head appeared.
`You up for visitors? He asked
`Anyone special? she asked , smiling at him.
`Just me`, he stated.
`That's good , you I can cope with`,
`Having trouble with the rest of them? He asked her.
`Not so much trouble, as not a lot of peace and quiet in between visits, they seem to think I need entertaining all the time, but they all mean well`, she said.
`You want me to ask them to give you a little space?
`Wouldn't want to hurt their feelings, I know how sensitive they all are,` she teased.
He laughed at her.
`Now you know as well as I do that you'd miss them if they stopped coming round, could ask them to keep it to the afternoons though if you want?
`Naw, I'll struggle through, anyway I'm hoping that Peter will let me go home soon, my visions getting better every day, hey maybe you could get him to let me visit you ,
at least that would get me out of here for a while`, she said hopefully.
`How about I just get the chair and we sneak out now? He asked her .
She giggled.
Could we take a walk down to the park? She asked.
`If that's what you'd like`, he said.
`Then don't just stand there man go , get the transport, unless you've gotten so used to Chief doing it you've forgotten how? She teased.
He stood up and crossed his arms.
`You do want rescuing don't you? He asked.
Angel giggled again.
`Oh yes please Lt. dear.` she said.
Craig burst out laughing.
`You , sister dear , are impossible`, he said
`Why thank you, brother dearest, you say the sweetest things`,
`Two minutes, be ready`, he said and disappeared leaving the door open behind him.
`I will be `, she called after him `Don't you worry about that.`
….
As they sat in the park an hour later , she closed her eyes and sighed.
`You all right Honey? He asked.
`Perfectly`, she said without opening her eyes.
`You want to go and get some lunch? He asked.
She opened her eyes and looked at him.
`Would like that a lot, you think we could go to the cottage? She asked
`Missing being home eh? He asked
`Just a little, seems like forever since I was there. `
`Well I'll tell you what, we'll walk through the village, pick up a few things , and then I'll make you lunch, how would that be? He asked her
`Just wonderful`, she said smiling at him.
`Right then , let's get you back in that chair`. He said.
`He bent down and before she could argue had picked her up in his arms and placed her gently in the wheelchair.`
`I can walk you know`, she said.
`Know that `, he said turning the chair towards the village.
They walked in silence and she opted to stay outside the shop while Craig went inside and bought what they needed. It took him only a few minutes and then they headed to the cottage.
He opened the gate and let her just sit and look at her home for a moment.
`For a while there I didn't think I would ever bring you back here`, he said quietly.
`Sorry if I scared you too much`, she said
They headed inside and then she sat and watched him make sandwiches for the two of them.
`You want to take these outside? He asked.
She nodded.
He sat on the grass , leaning against the apple tree, while she sat in the chair next to him. And for a while the war seemed a million miles away.
`You feeling better ? He asked .
`Yeah, much better, thanks for the rescue little brother, needed this`, she said smiling at him.
`Figured as much, he said.
He reached inside his jacket and brought out some letters.
`Picked these up while I was shopping `, he said as he handed them to her.
Angel looked through them.
`Hey this one's from Sylvie,` she said tearing it open, `Haven't heard from her for , oh must be nearly three months`.
`She still keeps in contact then? He asked.
`Yeah, she's helping her mum out in her store, keeping busy, says it helps a lot`.
`I take it the thing with Casino was a little more serious than he made out ? He asked.
`Didn't talk about it much , did he? She asked.
`Never said a word to me, managed to get some of it out of Goniff though`, he said.
`I think Casino loved her, I mean really loved her, you know`, she said.
`Sylvie didn't feel the same way , I take it? He asked.
Angel looked at him feeling for an instant as if she was betraying a trust.
As if understanding her dilemma he said.
`None of my business , forget I asked.`
This stays between the two of us , okay? She said seriously.
Craig nodded.
`I don't know what he told anyone else, but l know that she loved him, more than she ever loved anyone. But when you left on the mission, she almost fell apart worrying about him.
Then when you were almost a week late getting home , and the call came to say one of you had been hurt, she lost control completely, said she couldn't do this, couldn't deal with all the worry and the
waiting, wondering all the time if he was lying in a ditch somewhere, so she packed her bags and left. It hit him hard for a while, but he got over it, He's good at hiding what he's feeling behind that
tough guy image of his`, she said.
`Didn't realise things had been that intense`, he said
`Don't really expect it from him , do we? She asked smiling
Angel opened the letter and as she read it he watched the colour drain from face.
`Honey , you alright? Something wrong? He asked with concern.
`She's married,` she said.
`You didn't know before now? He asked.
Angel shook her head.
`Well I suppose it was bound to happen, that she would meet someone else I mean.` he said. `Maybe Casino didn't mean as much to her as you thought he did`.
Angel looked at him
`She's five months pregnant Craig.` she said quietly.
` I don't get the problem Honey , She's getting on with her life, that's a good thing isn't it,? New husband, new baby, Casino will understand, might hit him a little hard for a while but you know
him ,he'll bounce back like he always does,` he said.
Angel looked at him.
`Craig `, she said quietly, `She's only been married two months .`
`I get the feeling I'm missing something`, he said
`Five months ago Sylvia was here , with me`, she said.
`Craig looked at her and all at once the penny dropped.
`You think this baby might be Casino's? he asked incredulously .
`I think there is more than a fair chance it is`, she said.
He looked at her.
`Good God, that's all we need`, he said.
`I need to find out for sure`, she said, `I need to go and see her.`
`No way Angel, you're not well enough and you know it`, he said.
`Look I'll talk to Peter , and I promise I won't do anything unless he gives me the okay`,
`Angel, this is not your problem, just leave it.` he said angrily
`She's my friend Craig, I need to know that she's all right, and hasn't just married the first man she's found just because she's got herself into trouble, I need to know she's alright, she helped me a lot
after what happened with Williams, she was a friend when I needed one, I can't just ignore her now, please try and understand`, she begged.
Craig looked at her knowing that nothing he could say would change her mind.
`We will talk to Peter, and then we will decide what you can and cannot do, deal? He said putting the accent on the we .
She leant over and kissed his cheek.
`Deal`, she said.
He helped her back into the chair and pushed he back into the house.
`I'll just go and get the rest of the things from the garden`, he said
She nodded.
When he returned it was no surprise to find that she was already on the phone to Peter Roberts.