The Letter (9 page)

‘Your father did this to you?’

‘It’s nothing, really. It was my fault. I shouldn’t have sneaked out like that. My parents are very strict, you see. They worry about me.’

Billy was silently fuming at the thought of Dr Skinner raising his hand to Chrissie and then keeping her locked up all weekend. He turned to face her and gently cupped her face in his hands, letting his thumb graze over her split lip. It was a bold move for a near–stranger, and one that Billy had not planned. Chrissie was stunned too, but was more than content to let Billy gaze into her face, no matter how terrible she looked. His touch was gentle, comforting and welcome. Chrissie could have happily stayed like that all day but felt she had to say something.

‘How’s Clark?’

This question completely broke the bond between them and Billy dropped his hands and looked away.

‘I’m sorry,’ Chrissie continued. ‘But I feel terrible about letting him down yesterday.’

‘You had good reason,’ said Billy. ‘A prisoner in your own home…’

‘Have you seen him? I feel like I ought to explain, but have no idea how to contact him.’

‘I’ve seen him, yeah,’ admitted Billy. ‘He was pretty fed up to be honest, but he’ll get over it I expect.’

‘Especially when I tell him the reason,’ said Chrissie.

‘Do you have to tell him?’ implored Billy.

‘Why ever not?’

Billy knew he was being unreasonable, spiteful even, but he couldn’t help himself. He was ashamed to admit it, even to himself, but he wanted this girl even at the cost of his friend’s happiness.

‘Chrissie, look,’ said Billy. ‘When I met you on Friday night I couldn’t take my eyes off you. It was you I wanted to talk to, dance with, but that bloody Sylvia practically kidnapped me, and then you and Clark seemed to be getting along so well. I was devastated when he said he was walking you home.’

Chrissie looked pained. ‘I felt the same way too, but never dreamed anyone so…so… well you know… so
handsome
as you would even look once, let alone twice at me.’

Billy took hold of Chrissie’s hand and squeezed it gently. ‘You are beautiful, Chrissie. You have poise, grace and elegance. Sylvia cannot hold a candle to you.’

Chrissie blushed and gave him a coy smile.

‘What happened with you and Sylvia?’

‘Nothing.’ Billy shrugged. ‘I walked her home out of politeness, but said I couldn’t see her again because there was someone else in my life.’

‘Is there?’ asked Chrissie nervously.

He winked. ‘Not yet.’

Chrissie suddenly remembered her deliveries.

‘I really need to get on.’

‘Can I see you again?’ asked Billy.

‘I’d like that, but what about Clark?’

Billy was ashamed to admit he had forgotten all about his friend.

‘I’ll talk to Clark,’ he assured her.

Billy had considered keeping his fledgling romance with Chrissie a secret from Clark, but realised that wouldn’t be possible, and in any event was the coward’s way out. A filthy, duplicitous little scumbag he may be, but a coward he was not. The conversation could have gone better.

‘What do you mean you’re taking Chrissie out?’ Clark asked incredulously.

‘I’m sorry, Clark, really I am, but Chrissie and I just clicked. We both feel the same way and…’

Billy was unable to finish his sentence as Clark grabbed him by the throat.

‘You just can’t bear to see me happy, can you? What is it with you? You know I was so excited about seeing her, you know how long I’ve waited for a girl like Chrissie, or any girl for that matter, but you have to spoil everything. You are fucking unbelievable, Billy!’

Clark’s eyes blazed with fury and spit gathered at the corners of his mouth as he shoved Billy hard against the wall.

‘Calm down, mate…’ Billy was completely taken aback by his friend’s uncharacteristic outburst.

‘I am not your mate. I never want to set eyes on you again. Ever.’

Clark stormed off, leaving Billy gaping after him. So that was it. A boyhood friendship severed for the sake of a girl. It must have happened countless times, in places all around the globe, but the thought did nothing to console Billy. Now he was determined to make Chrissie happy at whatever cost. Unfortunately, two men, neither of whom Billy had met, would conspire against him. One was Chrissie’s father, Dr Skinner, and the other was busy marauding his way through Europe, hell–bent on expanding his empire.

Chapter 7

The Summer of 1939 was the happiest of Billy’s life. Even with the constant threat of war hanging over the nation, he was in a permanent state of euphoria. His relationship with Chrissie had matured into something real and tangible despite the disapproval of her father. As could have been predicted by anybody, Samuel Skinner had a profound dislike of Billy and only barely tolerated him. In his eyes, Billy was nowhere near a match for his daughter. He was an orphaned nuisance in a dead-end job, idolised by his deluded mother and practically ignored by his alcoholic father. Dr Skinner remembered the family well. Alice Stirling was a worrier and after the death of her first-born son in 1918, she had brought the adopted Billy to his surgery with tedious regularity. Dr Skinner was a newly-qualified doctor at that time and was enthusiastic with his patients, but this woman had sorely tested his patience. Now his daughter was smitten with Billy Stirling and that riled the good doctor no end.

At least Chrissie had had the good sense to approach her father about Billy and not go behind his back. Dr Skinner in turn had assumed the relationship would be shallow and short-lived, but his judgement had turned out to be wrong. His only hope was that Billy would be called up to serve his National Service in the not too distant future and that would herald the end of the relationship. The first meeting between the two of them had not gone well. It was shortly after the night of the dance when Chrissie had sneaked out of the house. Although he was fairly sure the boy she had brought home that night went by the name of Clark, he was now being introduced to Billy Stirling. Dr Skinner had not seen Billy since he was a boy, but he recognised the name and knew him instantly. The scar over his left eyebrow was still as visible as ever.

‘Good evening, Dr Skinner,’ said Billy, holding out his hand.

Dr Skinner ignored it and turned to Chrissie.

‘I want you home by ten o’clock.’

Mabel Skinner appeared from the kitchen, still in her midwife’s uniform.

‘You must be Billy,’ she said. ‘I’m very pleased to meet you.’

Samuel glared at his wife as she and Billy shook hands. It had taken Mabel all her persuasive powers to convince her husband that they should allow Chrissie a little more freedom.

‘Thank you, Mrs Skinner. I’ll take good care of your daughter.’

‘Come on, Billy, let’s go,’ urged Chrissie.

Mabel disappeared back into the kitchen and Chrissie and Billy started down the front path as Samuel Skinner watched from the door.

Billy suddenly caught Chrissie’s arm. ‘Wait here for a second, will you?’

Chrissie frowned as Billy retreated up the path and arrived at the front door just as Samuel Skinner was closing it.

Billy slipped his foot inside and raised his pointed finger just an inch from the doctor’s face.

‘If you ever lay one more finger on your daughter, I swear to you I will kill you with my bare hands.’

Dr Skinner was not usually lost for words but he watched in stunned disbelief as Billy strode off, placing his arm protectively around his daughter’s waist.

Billy had never had a significant romantic relationship before and he cherished the feelings it aroused in him. He knew he was falling in love, and not even the vile Dr Skinner could dampen his ardour. However, Billy was terrified that war would soon be declared and he would be sent off to some far-flung battlefield to take part in a conflict he barely understood. The Treaty of Munich signed by Adolf Hitler was supposed to have brought ‘peace in our time,’ but then the Fuehrer had marched his armies into Czechoslovakia and occupied that country, bringing the world to the brink of war again. Billy was only a baby at the end of the Great War, but he knew it had directly taken the life of his father and indirectly that of his mother. It all seemed so senseless and now it threatened to scupper his burgeoning relationship with Chrissie.

Billy and Chrissie were strolling hand in hand along a quiet stream. The weather was bright and sunny, the sky a deep azure and the birds - yellowhammers, skylarks and song thrushes - seemed to compete for who could sing the loudest and sweetest. The scent of wild garlic hung in the air and watercress grew in abundance in the water. Chrissie was wearing her favourite summer dress, pale blue with little yellow polka dots and a white belt which nipped in her narrow waist. Billy had taken his jacket off and carried it over his shoulder with one hand, a bulging picnic basket in the other. Leo bounded ahead of them, chasing every rabbit in sight, but catching none.

‘Where would you like to stop?’ Billy asked.

Chrissie surveyed the river bank. ‘Over there under that oak tree. It will be nice and cool.’

Together they spread the picnic rug over the long grass and sat down. Chrissie opened the basket and took out the things she had prepared. There were hard-boiled eggs, potted meat sandwiches, ripe tomatoes and home-made fruit cake. She rummaged down to the bottom and pulled out two packets of crisps.

‘They seem a little crushed, I’m afraid.’

‘It doesn’t matter, here, pass them to me,’ said Billy.

He opened them and pulled out the little packets of damp salt. He sprinkled them into the bags and shook them vigorously. He passed one over to Chrissie and they munched side by side in contentment. Leo sat between them and put his cute face on. He never took his eyes off the crisps and eventually a long sliver of drool escaped his mouth and landed on the rug.

‘For goodness sake, Leo,’ cried Chrissie. ‘Shoo.’

Leo tucked his tail between his legs and shuffled away.

‘It’s so peaceful here isn’t it?’ said Chrissie. ‘Surely there can’t be another war can there?’

Billy looked at the gas masks they were all now required to carry. The thought horrified him too.

‘I don’t know, Chrissie,’ he replied solemnly. ‘But fretting about it won’t make any difference. We might as well enjoy the time we have left together.’

Chrissie was alarmed. ‘You sound as if war has already been declared!’

Billy took Chrissie’s hands in his and gazed into her pale eyes.

‘I hope it won’t come to that, but we need to be realistic. At the very least I will have to serve my military training.’

He took a stray curl and tucked it behind Chrissie’s ear. Her eyes filled with tears and she bowed her head. Billy jumped up. ‘Come on, let’s go for a paddle.’

‘What? That water’s freezing.’ She laughed.

Billy was already removing his shoes and socks and rolling up his trouser legs. Leo perked up and bounded into the water.

Chrissie took off her shoes and ankle socks and hand in hand, they skipped down to the water’s edge.

Billy was the first to dip his toe in.

‘Christ, this water’s freezing!’

Chrissie laughed. ‘I told you.’

‘I’m sure it never used to be this cold when we were kids.’

Chrissie sat down at the edge of the water. ‘You’ve been here before?’

Billy was immersed in the stream up to his ankles, and his feet ached with the cold.

He stared into the distance. ‘Yeah, me and Clark,’

Chrissie flinched at the mention of the name. She knew that Billy no longer saw Clark and that the loss of that friendship had hit him harder than he cared to admit.

‘We used to come here after school. Sometimes instead of school,’ he admitted. ‘Stoney Brook we called it. Not sure if that’s its real name or whether we just made it up. We used to fish for minnows with pieces of cotton tied to a cork float. The little blighters swallowed the cotton and we would fish them out.’ Billy smiled at the memory. ‘Squirrels too,’ he continued. ‘Forestry Commission used to pay tuppence ha’penny for every squirrel tail brought in. Considered a pest, see; grey ones only mind, not the red ones. Tree rats, we called them. We spent hours with our home made catapults trying to bag one, but we never did.’ Billy turned to look at Chrissie, a look of sadness on his face.

‘You miss him, don’t you?’ asked Chrissie.

Billy waded through the water and joined her on the bank. ‘More than you’ll ever know. I called round there again last week but his mum said he was out. I know he wasn’t though, I’d just seen him go inside.’

It saddened Chrissie to think that she was the cause of this lost boyhood friendship. Clark had been deeply wounded by what he saw as Billy’s betrayal.

‘Come on,’ said Billy, pulling Chrissie to her feet. ‘Let’s go and eat lunch.’

Chrissie grabbed a bunch of watercress from the stream and shook off the excess water. Billy frowned.

‘To liven up the potted meat,’ explained Chrissie.

As they lay side by side in the shade of the oak, the sandwiches and fruit cake lying heavily in their stomachs, Billy closed his eyes. He was truly happy with Chrissie, in spite of her father. She was a dear sweet girl who would make the perfect wife. She was pretty, intelligent and such a kind soul, she found it difficult to say a bad word against anyone. It was no wonder Clark had been so smitten with her, and then so crushed by their duplicity. Billy propped himself up and gazed at Chrissie’s face. She seemed to be dozing and he marvelled at her sweeping long eyelashes, her full rosy lips and her cheeks now tinged pink by the sun and with a smattering of freckles. He picked a long blade of grass and traced it gently round her face. She stirred and flapped her hands about.

‘Oooh, what was that? Something was on me.’ She sat up and took in Billy’s impish grin.

‘You!’ She laughed and lay back on the rug with her hand behind her head.

Billy leant over and kissed her gently on the lips. She opened her eyes and cupped his face in her hands, pulling him closer. He kissed her again, deeper this time and more urgently. Chrissie responded, and Billy rolled himself on top of her. He tried to part her legs with his own but was stopped in his tracks by a low rumbling sound close to his ear. He looked up to see Leo growling softly, not quite baring his teeth. Chrissie giggled as Billy rolled onto his back.