Lily’s War by June Francis

said Ben. ‘He does have his thoughtful side.’
    She nodded, feeling terrible about leaving them all, but she had to put on a happy face. ‘And there was me believing I was going in Uncle William’s posh car,’ she said with a smile. ‘So you think he’s at the farm?’
    ‘It’s a strong possibility. What are you going to do?’
    ‘I haven’t got time to do anything. I can only hope if he is there, he and Uncle William haven’t shared too many drams, otherwise he’ll be late.’ She brushed away the sudden tears with the back of a hand and took a deep breath. ‘Anyway, it’s no use me standing here. I’ll never get anything done and I’m expecting Mrs Jacobs and her sister soon. She said she would take care of everything while I’m in church.’
    ‘Get going then,’ urged Ben. ‘You don’t want our Ronnie messing up the place after you’ve tidied up.’
    Lily nodded and ran up the yard.
    Albert turned up a few hours later. His clothes were rumpled, his hair was unruly and there was stubble on his chin but he seemed sober enough as he pulled on the reins outside the dairy, watched by a group of admiring children. A couple shouted, ‘Give us a ride, mister!’
    ‘Where the heck did you spend the night, Dad?’ said Ben, coming out of the dairy where he had been serving a customer.
    ‘I slept in the stables. I missed the tram and our Dora got all toffee-nosed and wouldn’t let me into the house because I’d had a couple of drinks.’
    ‘She’ll come round.’ Ben’s eyes narrowed as they ran over the black horse between the shafts. ‘Isn’t that Uncle William’s pride and joy?’
    ‘He’s a beauty, isn’t he?’ said Albert, beaming as he eased himself down on to the pavement. ‘I asked William if I could borrow him to pull our Lily’s carriage.’
    ‘And he said yes?’ Ben was incredulous. Such horseflesh didn’t come cheap.
    ‘Don’t sound so surprised,’ said his father huffily. ‘I was used to dealing with horses like this in my day. Now get him some oats and give him a drink. I’ll wait till yer come back, then I’ll get meself ready.’
    ‘OK.’ Ben went and did as he was told.
    ‘Thank God, you’re here, Dad,’ said Lily, placing the jar of Pond’s Vanishing Cream on the dressing table as Albert entered the bedroom. She had seen his arrival from the window and was thrilled by the thought of travelling to her wedding in such style, but guilt over the secret she was carrying almost suffocated her. ‘Why didn’t you let me know where you were?’
    ‘I wanted it to be a surprise. Our William and Dora are going straight to church like everybody else to save you work.’ He grinned. ‘He’s a beauty, isn’t he?’
    ‘A real highstepper,’ said Lily, peeping out of the window, not wanting him to know how moved she was. ‘You can control him?’
    ‘Give me some credit, girl.’
    ‘Sorry. It’s just so unexpected.’ She leaned forward and kissed him. ‘I thought you’d been and got drunk because of the wedding.’
    ‘Only a couple.’ There was a flush on his face. ‘I’ll save me real drinking till later.’ He sighed heavily. ‘I never thought I’d be losing me little girl.’
    Lily smiled. ‘Don’t get maudlin, Dad. It’s a long time since I was a little girl.’
    ‘Aye! Your mam was alive then. If only she were here now.’ He paused and toyed with a ribbon dangling from the bouquet of roses, carnations and gypsy grass on the dressing table. ‘She was religious, you know? Believed in a heaven and all that – then to go the way she did. Didn’t make sense to me.’
    ‘I know, Dad,’ she said, thinking, this is terrible! He’ll have me in tears again if he goes on. ‘I miss her, too.’
    ‘Aye.’ He sniffed and wiped his sleeve across his eyes. There was silence and Lily felt she was going to burst and almost told him about Australia but was too cowardly.
    ‘I’d best get ready,’ said Albert, rousing himself at last from whatever thoughts