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Back After the War Save as PDF
Chapters (74)
  1. Cover
  2. Praise
  3. About the Author
  4. Also by Anita Frank
  5. Note to Readers
  6. Dedication
  7. Part One
  8. Chapter One
  9. Chapter Two
  10. Chapter Three
  11. Chapter Four
  12. Chapter Five
  13. Chapter Six
  14. Chapter Seven
  15. Chapter Eight
  16. Chapter Nine
  17. Chapter Ten
  18. Chapter Eleven
  19. Chapter Twelve
  20. Chapter Thirteen
  21. Chapter Fourteen
  22. Chapter Fifteen
  23. Chapter Sixteen
  24. Chapter Seventeen
  25. Chapter Eighteen
  26. Chapter Nineteen
  27. Chapter Twenty
  28. Chapter Twenty-One
  29. Chapter Twenty-Two
  30. Chapter Twenty-Three
  31. Chapter Twenty-Four
  32. Chapter Twenty-Five
  33. Chapter Twenty-Six
  34. Chapter Twenty-Seven
  35. Chapter Twenty-Eight
  36. Chapter Twenty-Nine
  37. Chapter Thirty
  38. Chapter Thirty-One
  39. Chapter Thirty-Two
  40. Chapter Thirty-Three
  41. Chapter Thirty-Four
  42. Chapter Thirty-Five
  43. Chapter Thirty-Six
  44. Chapter Thirty-Seven
  45. Chapter Thirty-Eight
  46. Chapter Thirty-Nine
  47. Chapter Forty
  48. Part Two
  49. Chapter Forty-One
  50. Chapter Forty-Two
  51. Chapter Forty-Three
  52. Chapter Forty-Four
  53. Chapter Forty-Five
  54. Chapter Forty-Six
  55. Chapter Forty-Seven
  56. Chapter Forty-Eight
  57. Chapter Forty-Nine
  58. Chapter Fifty
  59. Chapter Fifty-One
  60. Chapter Fifty-Two
  61. Chapter Fifty-Three
  62. Chapter Fifty-Four
  63. Chapter Fifty-Five
  64. Chapter Fifty-Six
  65. Chapter Fifty-Seven
  66. Chapter Fifty-Eight
  67. Chapter Fifty-Nine
  68. Chapter Sixty
  69. Acknowledgements
  70. Extract
  71. Chapter One
  72. Chapter Two
  73. Chapter Three
  74. About the Publisher

He leads the way, as comfortable in her home as he is in his own, perhaps more so, she thinks suddenly. The kitchen’s darkness is alleviated only by the light that spills in from the hall, but it is enough for Ted to make out his jacket, hanging on the hooks by the back door. He shrugs it on. Gwen crosses her arms, shielding herself as she wills him to be gone.

He bids her goodnight but makes no attempt to leave and for an awful moment she thinks he is going to kiss her, but instead he reaches past her to collect his tweed cap from the sideboard.

‘Gwen … I just wanted to say …’ But his words seem to elude him like leaves snatched up by the wind. He scrabbles to collect them and she can barely breathe, trapped as she is, unable to escape. ‘I know you haven’t heard from Jack for some time … you must be wondering about him, now it’s all over …’ He looks down at the cap he is running through his hands. ‘I meant what I said the other night. I’ve been glad to help you out, you and little Tom, I’ve enjoyed doing so …’ He lifts his eyes to hers and she wants to weep at the intensity of feeling they contain. ‘You need never be alone, Gwen. Whatever happens. I just wanted you to know that … and if, for whatever reason, Jack doesn’t come home … I will always be here for you, Gwen, for you and Tom. Always.’

He does not wait for her reply and for that she is pathetically grateful. He turns away, pulling his cap low over his brow before tackling the door. She thinks he mutters a final farewell as he steps out into the gloaming but she is unsure – he may have just issued a weary sigh. The dog is lying on the path and lifts its head the moment the door opens but, as if attuned to the unusual tension, it makes no attempt to rise and fuss as it usually would. Instead it hunkers back down, its dark eyes regarding them with uncertainty.

Gwen drifts to the doorway, the blood sluggish in her veins. She watches him descend the steps to the yard and hears him stifle a cough.

He does not once look back.

Chapter Nineteen

Jack

June 1939