Chapters (52)
- Cover
- Margaret Dickinson
- Dedication page
- Contents
- Part One
- One
- Two
- Three
- Four
- Five
- Six
- Seven
- Eight
- Nine
- Ten
- Eleven
- Twelve
- Thirteen
- Fourteen
- Fifteen
- Sixteen
- Part Two
- Seventeen
- Eighteen
- Nineteen
- Twenty
- Twenty-One
- Twenty-Two
- Twenty-Three
- Twenty-Four
- Twenty-Five
- Twenty-Six
- Twenty-Seven
- Twenty-Eight
- Twenty-Nine
- Thirty
- Thirty-One
- Thirty-Two
- Thirty-Three
- Thirty-Four
- Thirty-Five
- Thirty-Six
- Thirty-Seven
- Thirty-Eight
- Thirty-Nine
- Forty
- Forty-One
- Forty-Two
- Sow the Seed
- Note
- ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
- Copyright page
‘So, ya’ve to bear it on ya own then?’ He looked back down at the gravestone and his whispered words were more of an apology to the love of his youth than sympathy with Kate in her present similar, predicament. ‘Aw, lass, I’m sorry, so sorry.’
Thirty-Eight
Kate missed Philip more than she would have believed possible. She longed to have his arms about her, to rest her head against his shoulder and to be able to tell him about the child. She needed his reassuring strength, too, to cope with her fears for Danny. But Philip had burdens enough of his own.
It seemed particularly cruel that she should lose both the men in her life so suddenly – and when she needed them most. She felt a young girl again; alone and lost, with no one to turn to for help.
The man who took his place as Station Commander was older than Philip. Thin, with a balding head and wearing steel-rimmed spectacles, he was tall, but stooped slightly and was very round-shouldered. He was also thin-lipped and humourless, so that the pleasure Kate had enjoyed as Philip’s driver – quite apart from her more personal relationship with him – was gone. This man showed no concern for her as a human being and he extended that lack of concern to all the personnel on the station.
If he had shown a caring attitude towards his aircrews then Kate could have forgiven his brusque treatment of her. As it was, his indifference was universal.
‘He’ll not last,’ Mavis said. ‘You can’t have the man at the top as cold as ice. He’s not human.’
‘Well, for the first time, I’m quite pleased I’ll be leaving before long,’ Kate said feelingly. ‘I hate the job now.’
‘You wouldn’t have liked whoever came in his place, now would you?’ Isobel said reasonably. ‘Mind you, I have to agree – this one’s a bastard.’
Hearing her friend use the word as an insult made Kate shudder inwardly. Instinctively she put her hands protectively over her stomach, feeling the growing roundness. It was what her mother was and it was what her mother called the child she was carrying.
‘When are you planning to leave?’ Mavis asked.
Kate’s two friends had been as good as their promise; even Isobel had relented and they helped her whenever they could. Although her driving work was not heavy, if she was suddenly asked to do something that might be harmful for her or the child, one of them would step in immediately and cover for her.
Kate smiled thinly. ‘I’ll have to see Ma’am soon. My skirt’s getting too tight for me now. I’ll be showing before long.’
‘Are you going home?’ Isobel asked.