Across the Mersey - Annie Groves [157]
Grace paused for a minute before continuing sadly, ‘They’re going to mention Jack in the service as well, even though he was killed in Wales. I still can’t believe that he’s gone, poor little boy.’
Seb squeezed Grace’s hand comfortingly.
Grace knew that her mother had been a bit hesitant about the fact that Seb was going to accompany them to the service, but Grace had stuck to her guns, reminding her mother that Seb was technically at least connected to the Parkers, and that therefore in one sense it was only right that he should be there for formality’s sake, if nothing else.
‘That’s all very well,’ Jean had told her, ‘but I’m not sure about him coming along with us, Grace, especially in view of what’s come out about Alan and his parents. Vi’s in a bad enough state as it is.’
Grace had understood what her mother was saying but she had grown up a lot in the year and a bit since war had first been declared.
‘Me and Seb aren’t going to rush into anything, but that doesn’t mean that we don’t know how we feel about one another, and so it’s plain daft for us not to go together, especially with him living on this side of the water and everything. I don’t want to cause any upset to Auntie Vi, but I’m not having Seb being upset either and made to feel that he isn’t wanted, just because of the Parkers. After all, one day when this war’s over he’s going to be a part of this family, and I’m not having him hidden away like him and me don’t exist because of Auntie Vi.’
Grace remembered that conversation now, and the way her father, who had been listening to it, had given a brief nod of his head and said, ‘The lass is right, Jean, and besides, I think it’s time we had a look at this lad for ourselves, seeing as our Grace seems to have made up her mind he’s the one for her.’ Grace smiled to herself. She knew that her dad and Seb would get on.
Now, as they watched the bus trundling towards them, Grace asked Seb lovingly, ‘How’s your shoulder?’
‘A bit stiff still but apart from that it’s fine, even though I’ve had to work a couple of double shifts on account of the number of messages that are coming through.’
The bus had arrived but before they got on Grace noticed that Seb’s tie wasn’t quite straight and needed her attention.
‘Stop looking at me like that,’ Seb warned her, ‘otherwise I’m going to have to kiss you right here in front of everyone.’
They were both flirting with danger as well as with one another Grace knew, but the feeling was so deliciously heady and exciting that it was too wonderful to resist. Now she knew why Teddy had wanted her to wait, and every night when she said her prayers, she said a special one just for him, thanking him for the strength of his love for her and the protection it had given her.
* * *
The church was packed, not just with those who had come to mourn but also with those who had come to pay their respects to those mourning.
Today there were no white flowers decorating the inside of the church as there had been on the day of Bella’s marriage to Alan. Instead there were wreaths. Where there had been bunches of flowers and white ribbons to decorate the ends of the pews, today the pews of the mourners and their families were marked by black ribbons.
Hushed voices and sombre music were the order of the day, the hush broken now and again by the sound of grief-stricken sobs, bearing witness to emotions that could not be denied.
But along with those who had come to mourn, there were also those who had come to give thanks for the miracle that was the RAF’s victory over the Luftwaffe in what was being termed the Battle of Britain, so whilst the mood was one of grief and loss, for many there was also a sense of reaching out for the hope that ultimately there would be victory, and that mood spread gently amongst the congregation