bear to leave him alone in his grief. At least they could share that and perhaps gather strength from each other. She also needed to get the phone numbers of Jonnie’s military commanders.
A soft knock sounded at her door. “Catherine?” her mother called, her voice barely above a whisper.
Poppy stirred, and Catherine released her hand in order to go to the door. Her mother was already dressed as though she were about to leave.
“How are you, dear? Can I get you anything?”
“No, Mummy. Where are you going?”
“Neither of us slept much, so we had time to plan,” her mother said. “We thought you’d want to go to the police this morning, so your father and I are off to Nigel’s. His neighbor stayed with him last night, but we shall take over, as he shouldn’t be left alone. We’ll take him some breakfast, and I’ve got more waiting for you in the oven. Aunt Vivi isn’t up yet, but she has agreed to bring something to Nigel’s for lunch.”
A lump of gratitude formed in Catherine’s throat, and she hugged her mother. “Thank you. I’m going to the pub, and then the police, but I’d planned on going to Nigel’s as well. I should be there by lunchtime.”
“Catherine, you can’t go to the pub. It’s not safe.”
“Jonnie and I have gotten to know Mr. Lloyd well over the last few weeks. He’s a solid fellow and would not lie. He’s certainly not a lunatic. I think he’ll talk with me about what he saw.”
Her mother looked at her with worry, but she nodded, regardless. “All right. But don’t stay long, please.”
They hugged each other again and then her mother left.
Weary and aching with worry, Catherine closed the door and turned to find Poppy standing close by.
“I’m coming with you.”
Catherine smiled weakly and swiped at a stray tear. “Thank you. I hoped you might.”
…
As though reading her mood, Duffy kept quiet and dutifully got down to business when she took him outside. She felt anxious and wanted to get going with her day, but wouldn’t think of giving this duty to her aunt. Duffy was her connection to Jonnie, and she would pour out her love on him until Jonnie came home.
Duffy bounded back up the steps to her front door and then turned to look down the street, tail wagging. Catherine caught movement out of the corner of her eye, and turned with a startled gasp. A man in uniform.
No, not Jonnie .
Her shoulders slumped. So, the military already knew about their situation. Of course they would. Scotland Yard would have contacted them straightaway. And they were bringing her either information or comfort. Didn’t they send someone out when…? Terrified of what he would say, Catherine picked up Duffy, clung to him, and shook her head, as if to ward off impending doom.
The short, barrel-chested fellow stopped at the sidewalk and took off his hat, to reveal a head of bristly red hair. His eyes looked as puffy as hers, she noted, his face haggard and lined with grief.
“Catherine Hastings?”
She made no acknowledgment other than to stare.
He took a single step forward, nervously working the brim of his hat between his hands. “I’m a close friend of Jonathan Brandon—Major Angus McDuff. I’ve heard the sorry news. I’d give anything t’ take his place, in order t’ return him t’ ye, but, since I canna do that, I’m here t’ offer assistance.”
Fresh tears welled in her eyes, and when she swayed, Major McDuff caught her elbow.
“He loved you dearly,” Catherine whispered.
“And I him, but neither so much as he loved, eh, loves ye, lass. May I come inside?”
“Of course,” she said, trying to pull herself together. “Yes, do come in, Major.”
“Call me Angus, please.”
When they entered the kitchen, Poppy was placing coffee mugs on the table. He smiled, and Catherine made introductions.
Duffy squirmed, and suddenly Catherine realized she didn’t want the dog’s name brought up. She wasn’t ready for humor. “I’ll just put the dog
A soft knock sounded at her door. “Catherine?” her mother called, her voice barely above a whisper.
Poppy stirred, and Catherine released her hand in order to go to the door. Her mother was already dressed as though she were about to leave.
“How are you, dear? Can I get you anything?”
“No, Mummy. Where are you going?”
“Neither of us slept much, so we had time to plan,” her mother said. “We thought you’d want to go to the police this morning, so your father and I are off to Nigel’s. His neighbor stayed with him last night, but we shall take over, as he shouldn’t be left alone. We’ll take him some breakfast, and I’ve got more waiting for you in the oven. Aunt Vivi isn’t up yet, but she has agreed to bring something to Nigel’s for lunch.”
A lump of gratitude formed in Catherine’s throat, and she hugged her mother. “Thank you. I’m going to the pub, and then the police, but I’d planned on going to Nigel’s as well. I should be there by lunchtime.”
“Catherine, you can’t go to the pub. It’s not safe.”
“Jonnie and I have gotten to know Mr. Lloyd well over the last few weeks. He’s a solid fellow and would not lie. He’s certainly not a lunatic. I think he’ll talk with me about what he saw.”
Her mother looked at her with worry, but she nodded, regardless. “All right. But don’t stay long, please.”
They hugged each other again and then her mother left.
Weary and aching with worry, Catherine closed the door and turned to find Poppy standing close by.
“I’m coming with you.”
Catherine smiled weakly and swiped at a stray tear. “Thank you. I hoped you might.”
…
As though reading her mood, Duffy kept quiet and dutifully got down to business when she took him outside. She felt anxious and wanted to get going with her day, but wouldn’t think of giving this duty to her aunt. Duffy was her connection to Jonnie, and she would pour out her love on him until Jonnie came home.
Duffy bounded back up the steps to her front door and then turned to look down the street, tail wagging. Catherine caught movement out of the corner of her eye, and turned with a startled gasp. A man in uniform.
No, not Jonnie .
Her shoulders slumped. So, the military already knew about their situation. Of course they would. Scotland Yard would have contacted them straightaway. And they were bringing her either information or comfort. Didn’t they send someone out when…? Terrified of what he would say, Catherine picked up Duffy, clung to him, and shook her head, as if to ward off impending doom.
The short, barrel-chested fellow stopped at the sidewalk and took off his hat, to reveal a head of bristly red hair. His eyes looked as puffy as hers, she noted, his face haggard and lined with grief.
“Catherine Hastings?”
She made no acknowledgment other than to stare.
He took a single step forward, nervously working the brim of his hat between his hands. “I’m a close friend of Jonathan Brandon—Major Angus McDuff. I’ve heard the sorry news. I’d give anything t’ take his place, in order t’ return him t’ ye, but, since I canna do that, I’m here t’ offer assistance.”
Fresh tears welled in her eyes, and when she swayed, Major McDuff caught her elbow.
“He loved you dearly,” Catherine whispered.
“And I him, but neither so much as he loved, eh, loves ye, lass. May I come inside?”
“Of course,” she said, trying to pull herself together. “Yes, do come in, Major.”
“Call me Angus, please.”
When they entered the kitchen, Poppy was placing coffee mugs on the table. He smiled, and Catherine made introductions.
Duffy squirmed, and suddenly Catherine realized she didn’t want the dog’s name brought up. She wasn’t ready for humor. “I’ll just put the dog