CHAPTER IX
MORE REVEALATIONS
Once in the Land Rover, Dick and Daisy were heading back along the lane to the road in to the Town and as she drove she started to talk.
"Nancy has told me a lot about of you over the years, I really meant what I said earlier, you're special to her." Dick was not quite sure what to say in return, but he did know that this was not mere flattery.
"We've always got on well, she never seems to let things beat her or hold her back, I'm cautious I suppose, I always need someone like her to egg me on and she did, but always in a considerate way."
"True, I can be like that too sometimes, I think that's was one of the reasons we got on so well back then. John and the others were always worrying about what to do and what their parents would expect of them." Dick agreed.
"Dot and I were lucky, ours left us alone in lots of ways, as long as they knew we were safe and there was an adult around somewhere to help that was it. Father was always off on digs somewhere and mother followed him around to handle the domestic matters."
"Sounds like me and Nancy! Practical she may be, but not for housework and cooking!"
On reaching the Town Daisy parked the Land Rover in the car park near by the church, and they made their way to the grocers and the butchers in the high street. The actual shopping didn't take long and they were soon walking back to the Land Rover. Once both inside and before Daisy drove off Dick spoke.
"Have you and Nancy had any trouble here? Like the kind you had in Scotland?"
"No, but then we have kept it very quiet." Again she changed the subject. "Anyway, what of you, anyone special in your life?" Dick was surprised she wanted to talk of other things, and he was taken aback at her forwardness towards someone she had only just met.
"Nobody, well…" He paused, he was very tempted being given the chance to say something about himself and Titty, but Daisy was unlike the others, he knew them all too well.
"Yes?" Daisy wanted to encourage him without seeming too nosey.
"I've known Titty since childhood, but yesterday was the first time as adults we have spent time together, and it was like meeting for the first time but knowing all about each other. Do you know what I mean?"
"In a way, when I met Nancy all those years ago we both knew at once, but then though we both knew what we were we had never told anyone or expressed our feelings. You just didn't back then. Didn't you meet anyone in America?"
"Oh, one or two women I worked with, but nothing ever serious, we'd go out to dinner a few times and that would be it. Most of the time I couldn't be bothered. I found them boring, we had nothing in common other than work, my stories of sailing, copper mining, catching vandals and so forth meant nothing to them."
"It was like that for me even at school, only Don and the Swallows and Amazons had the same interests. During the war was difficult too, how did you get on?" Dick was not surprised at this question, he was getting used to this inquisitiveness about what he did during the war.
"Not you as well! It's simple, I can't say, I wish I could. I just want everyone to know I did 'do my bit'!"
"I'm sure you did, it's just you have all kept in touch and exchange news with each other ever since childhood."
"I know, but some of us have to kept some things to ourselves, John and Susan do too but because they were in uniform you all don't keep questioning them!"
"I'm sorry Dick, trouble for me is whenever any of us get together all the others talk about it."
"I can imagine, in some ways it was good that you and Nancy had to keep things secret, but it must have made it difficult for you both, particularly Nancy?"
"It did, I was never used to that kind of talk even in my family, but Nancy did find it difficult sometimes. You know I had to confront her about it in the end?"
"Oh yes, the week end in Wales, we all heard about that."
Daisy glanced at her watch.
"We should get back, I've got dinner to cook!" With this she started the Land Rover and began the drive back to the cottage.