Chapter Thirty-Three

Peggy slunk into the kitchen late that afternoon with a guilty look on her face and as Edith, who was preparing some hot, buttered scones made with dried eggs and carrot, turned to her, the smile died on her face.

‘Where’s Bobby?’ She was staring over Peggy’s shoulder and for some reason her stomach had started to churn.

‘’E …’e’s gone to London to make sure our ma is all right,’ Peggy told her in a small voice with her eyes downcast.

‘He’s what!?’ Edith suddenly felt sick. Bobby was just a little boy. He had no money. How would he get there? Would he be safe? ‘When did he go?’ She was holding Peggy’s shoulders now and the little girl’s eyes filled with tears as she looked up.

‘’E went afore school this mornin’,’ she admitted as Edith sat down abruptly, her face bleached of colour.

That was hours ago, Edith thought despairingly. He could be anywhere by now. Then standing up abruptly she raced from the kitchen to inform John. He would know what to do.

‘I don’t really see that there is much we can do,’ John said worriedly when she had breathlessly informed him of what had happened. ‘I’m going to report him missing to the police and then I’m afraid all we can do is wait. It would be like looking for a needle in a haystack to try and find him in the city. I’ll go and ring them right now.’ He got up to go to the study, leaving Edith wringing her hands in distress.

‘Do you really have to go today?’ Kathy asked glumly the next morning as David helped her to wash up the breakfast pots.

After tucking the twins into bed, the evening before they had sat up until the early hours chatting in front of the fire and now suddenly she couldn’t bear the thought of him leaving again.

‘Well … my parents don’t know I’m coming so I suppose I could stay a little longer if you’re sure I wouldn’t be imposing,’ he answered uncertainly.

‘Imposing!’ Kathy laughed. ‘Why you’d be doing me a favour. The twins seem to behave so much better for you than they do for me and I know they’d love to have you for a little longer.’

‘In that case I’d love to … providing you clear it with your mother first,’ he hastened to add.

‘Clear what with me?’ Sunday had just come down and she smiled at him.

‘I was asking David if he couldn’t stay for a while longer, but he seems to be worried that it would be a problem for you,’ Kathy explained.

‘Not at all,’ Sunday responded. ‘We’d love to have you. Stay as long as you like.’