THE WAR BRIDE CLUB by Soraya Lane Page A

cheeks flush, heat flooding them.  
          “You must miss your family terribly, June.”
          She looked up and met her mother-in-laws eyes. “Yes.”
          “Will they come and visit?”
          June gulped. Her family weren’t exactly poor, but coming all the way to America was too extravagant for them to ever consider.  
          “One day, maybe. But it wouldn’t be easy for them to, well, afford to do so.”
          He mother-in-law smiled and looked at Eddie. “Well, I’m sure we can help them make a visit one day, can’t we, Eddie?”
          He echoed his mother’s kind smile. It made June feel… content. She’d been so worried about meeting his family, tied in knots over the idea that they might not like her, and here they were doing their best to be kind. To welcome her.  
          Eddie pulled her tighter.  
          “Oh, and June?”  
          She looked from the window back to Eddie’s mother.  
          “You’re part of this family now. Call me Mother, or Irene. Whatever you feel most comfortable with.”
          June snuggled closer into Eddie. For the first time since she’d stepped foot on the ship to leave home, she felt truly happy. There was not a doubt in her mind that she’d done the right thing.  
          Eddie was her husband. She had a wonderful new family. And if Irene kept her word, one day her family would come to see her.  
          “Have a sleep, darling,” Eddie whispered into her ear, brushing her hair back with his thumb and index finger. “Just relax.”
          She was so tired that she didn’t argue. Instead she just lay her head against his shoulder and let her eyes flutter shut.  
          She’d spent all those days at sea worrying. Staying awake at night and torturing herself with visions of what might happen when she arrived. Some of the other girls had been full of dreams and fancy ideas, but she’d had none. No illusions. Had been terrified of what his family might be like.
           For once in her life it seemed her modesty had been rewarded.  
     
    June’s heart thudded with excitement. Patty and Irene were waving frantically to a man with a moustache, who was pulling to the side of the road in a car with no roof.  
          “Eddie. Eddie!” She called to him as he lugged her case over.
          He gave her one of his big grins. “Thought you’d like the car.”
          “It has no roof!”  
          June ran over to him and clung on to his forearm.
          “Don’t need a roof in New York. Not in summer.”
          She followed him to the car. The other two were already sitting in the back seat. June watched shyly as the man kissed his wife on the cheek, before walking around to greet her.  
          His stomach protruded over his trousers in a well-fed kind of way. Her mother would have said it was evidence that a woman loved him and labored in the kitchen for him. He ran one hand over his thick moustache as he neared her, before taking the hat off his head.  
          “Well, if it isn’t my new daughter-in-law, huh?”
          She crossed her ankles awkwardly on the spot, not sure what to do.  
          “We’ve heard a lot about you, my girl. Eddie’s talked of nothing else since he arrived home.”
          She nervously took a step forward, then wondered why she was being so silly. Eddie’s father pulled her in for a big bear hug, before planting a kiss on each of her cheeks.  
          “Welcome to the family, my love.”
          She knew her cheeks were flushing but she couldn’t help it.  
          “Thank you for having me.”
          He gave Eddie a slap on the back and took her case.  
          “You were right about her, eh? What a girl.”
          It made her heart sing. Made her skin alive with excitement.  
          “Wait ‘till