haphazard way and Connie was relieved to discover that Lucky was none
the worse for his nocturnal trials.
Nan’s joy was the pram in which she wheeled Lucky out, either to the shops or the park. Connie couldn’t wait for the weekends, when it was her turn. Vic had taken to meeting her
after work on Saturdays. They would dare to stroll out, rarely using the car. Petrol was scarce. Few private vehicles used the roads.
‘I’ve been thinking,’ Vic mused one late September Saturday as they pushed the pram to Island Gardens and sat down on the bench by the big domed entrance to the foot tunnel.
‘It’s odd that no one has claimed him. Do you think his mother took lodgings in Haverick Street quite recently?’
‘It would explain why the neighbours didn’t know her.’
They were silent for a moment as they gazed out across the Thames. They could see Greenwich clearly, the shape of the Wren buildings and, on top of the hill, the Royal Observatory. The scene was
majestic and peaceful.
‘Have you given any more thought as to what you’re going to do if no one comes forward?’ Vic asked after a while.
Connie felt a flutter of fear. Was he hinting, like Mum, that Lucky was too much for her? ‘I don’t like the thought of him being sent to an orphanage.’
‘A baby is a big tie for a young girl.’
‘I know.’
‘You’re very fond of him, aren’t you?’
‘Yes, I am.’ Panic filled her. Was he going to make her choose between them, she wondered? She looked into his eyes. ‘But I can’t expect you to feel the same.’
Her heart stood still. She knew if she lost Vic, she would be devastated. Could she give up Lucky if he asked her to?
He took her hands and held them, a small frown pleating the inch between his eyebrows. ‘At school, Connie, I was always bashing a ball around, showing off, trying to make you notice me.
Looking back I cringe to think of how I behaved. Well, now I’ve got a second chance and, believe me, I’m not going to throw it away. The way you’ve taken Lucky under your wing
only makes me respect you more. You’re a beautiful girl and I haven’t a clue what you see in me, but I hope to God you go on seeing it.’
Connie felt as if a bright, warm light had filled her. So this was what it was like to feel as though you were the luckiest, happiest person to walk the planet!
‘Oh, Vic, you’ve said some lovely things.’
‘I mean them.’
‘Do you think the authorities would make me give him up?’
He paused for a moment before he spoke. ‘Why should they? You’re providing him with a good home, something a lot of kids haven’t got in wartime.’
‘I’d like to register him properly, you see. There’s lots of things he’ll need, such as orange juice and cod liver oil, and something will have to be done about getting
an identity.’
‘Sounds like a visit to Poplar and the town hall. I’ll drive you up, if you like. And whilst we’re on the subject of kids, Pat has been on at me to ask you over. You can meet
Doris again and Laurie, Pat’s husband.’
Connie felt very flattered. ‘I’d like that.’
‘Good. Well now, it’s almost teatime.’
‘Are you on duty tonight?’
‘Yes and I’ll try to call by. Make sure Billy’s put in an appearance.’
Connie wasn’t certain if he used Billy as an excuse or if he took the opportunity whenever he could to see her. But she didn’t care why he called, only that he did.
‘Mum told me to ask you if you’d like some tea. She queued for some nice sausages yesterday.’
‘I don’t need asking twice.’ Vic grinned.
It was heaven just being by his side, with his arm around her, Connie thought as they strolled home. And now Lucky was sitting up in the pram he looked a real little boy. Under his bonnet there
was a soft and downy patch of fair hair poking through. She thought with pride how this ugly little duckling was turning into a beautiful swan. She felt so proud of him.
How lucky could a girl
the worse for his nocturnal trials.
Nan’s joy was the pram in which she wheeled Lucky out, either to the shops or the park. Connie couldn’t wait for the weekends, when it was her turn. Vic had taken to meeting her
after work on Saturdays. They would dare to stroll out, rarely using the car. Petrol was scarce. Few private vehicles used the roads.
‘I’ve been thinking,’ Vic mused one late September Saturday as they pushed the pram to Island Gardens and sat down on the bench by the big domed entrance to the foot tunnel.
‘It’s odd that no one has claimed him. Do you think his mother took lodgings in Haverick Street quite recently?’
‘It would explain why the neighbours didn’t know her.’
They were silent for a moment as they gazed out across the Thames. They could see Greenwich clearly, the shape of the Wren buildings and, on top of the hill, the Royal Observatory. The scene was
majestic and peaceful.
‘Have you given any more thought as to what you’re going to do if no one comes forward?’ Vic asked after a while.
Connie felt a flutter of fear. Was he hinting, like Mum, that Lucky was too much for her? ‘I don’t like the thought of him being sent to an orphanage.’
‘A baby is a big tie for a young girl.’
‘I know.’
‘You’re very fond of him, aren’t you?’
‘Yes, I am.’ Panic filled her. Was he going to make her choose between them, she wondered? She looked into his eyes. ‘But I can’t expect you to feel the same.’
Her heart stood still. She knew if she lost Vic, she would be devastated. Could she give up Lucky if he asked her to?
He took her hands and held them, a small frown pleating the inch between his eyebrows. ‘At school, Connie, I was always bashing a ball around, showing off, trying to make you notice me.
Looking back I cringe to think of how I behaved. Well, now I’ve got a second chance and, believe me, I’m not going to throw it away. The way you’ve taken Lucky under your wing
only makes me respect you more. You’re a beautiful girl and I haven’t a clue what you see in me, but I hope to God you go on seeing it.’
Connie felt as if a bright, warm light had filled her. So this was what it was like to feel as though you were the luckiest, happiest person to walk the planet!
‘Oh, Vic, you’ve said some lovely things.’
‘I mean them.’
‘Do you think the authorities would make me give him up?’
He paused for a moment before he spoke. ‘Why should they? You’re providing him with a good home, something a lot of kids haven’t got in wartime.’
‘I’d like to register him properly, you see. There’s lots of things he’ll need, such as orange juice and cod liver oil, and something will have to be done about getting
an identity.’
‘Sounds like a visit to Poplar and the town hall. I’ll drive you up, if you like. And whilst we’re on the subject of kids, Pat has been on at me to ask you over. You can meet
Doris again and Laurie, Pat’s husband.’
Connie felt very flattered. ‘I’d like that.’
‘Good. Well now, it’s almost teatime.’
‘Are you on duty tonight?’
‘Yes and I’ll try to call by. Make sure Billy’s put in an appearance.’
Connie wasn’t certain if he used Billy as an excuse or if he took the opportunity whenever he could to see her. But she didn’t care why he called, only that he did.
‘Mum told me to ask you if you’d like some tea. She queued for some nice sausages yesterday.’
‘I don’t need asking twice.’ Vic grinned.
It was heaven just being by his side, with his arm around her, Connie thought as they strolled home. And now Lucky was sitting up in the pram he looked a real little boy. Under his bonnet there
was a soft and downy patch of fair hair poking through. She thought with pride how this ugly little duckling was turning into a beautiful swan. She felt so proud of him.
How lucky could a girl
Similar Books
