Spoils of War Read Free

smiled in spite of herself as she reached into her bag for her make-up. ‘For the time being I think I’ll persevere with subtlety.’
    ‘You never know, given the amount of drink Dino’s stockpiled, tonight could be the night.’
    Alma pushed up a stick of lipstick that was barely a quarter of an inch high and applied it sparingly. ‘What worries me is that they could have done something to him in that camp. I’ve read about the medical experiments the Nazis carried out. Since Charlie’s come home, I haven’t even seen him naked. He used to walk round half the time with nothing on, now he even wears pyjamas in bed.’
    ‘Before the war he was a fit, healthy man and you didn’t have Theo or Mary living with you.’
    ‘I didn’t think of that.’
    ‘And Andrew has examined him, several times.’
    ‘He hasn’t said –’
    ‘He wouldn’t,’ Bethan interrupted. ‘Not to me,’ but he would to you if there was anything seriously wrong.’
    ‘So, I’m letting my imagination run away with me.’
    ‘On that point.’ Bethan automatically checked her reflection in the mirror. Her nose needed powdering and her lipstick was smudged but, preoccupied with Alma’s problems, she didn’t notice.
    ‘I’m sorry, I keep dumping all my troubles on you and it must be just as difficult for you and Andrew to adjust. I’m so wrapped up in Charlie I tend to forget that Andrew was away for even longer.’
    ‘Things could be better,’ Bethan conceded. ‘Like you, I feel as though I’m living with a stranger. The main problem is Andrew wants everything to be perfect, especially with the children. It’s worked reasonably well with the Clark girls. After being evacuated, orphaned and adopted by us in the space of two years they appreciate having a settled home and a father – even a new one – and they’re prepared to meet Andrew more than halfway. It’s Rachel and Eddie.’
    ‘They can’t get used to having a man around the house.’
    ‘You’ve seen it with Theo.’
    Alma nodded.
    ‘Andrew expects them to love him before they know him. It’s not easy for any of us after five years apart but it’s hardest of all on Eddie. Ever since he was born Rachel and I have been calling him the man of the house, now someone else has taken that role. And before Andrew came home Eddie had Rachel and me all to himself. Now Rachel hardly bothers with him. She’s become a real Daddy’s girl, shadowing Andrew whenever he’s around, and if the four of us are together Andrew always seems to want to talk to me when Eddie does. Oh, Eddie treats Andrew politely enough, but as a stranger not a father, and I can’t help feeling that he resents Andrew for coming back.’
    ‘I’m sorry.’
    ‘There, now I’ve poured it all out on you, but at the risk of repeating what you don’t want to hear, dare I say, neither of us has problems that time can’t cure.’
    ‘I hope you’re right. There’s just one more thing.’
    ‘The house? You’ve taken Charlie to see it?’
    ‘I dropped hints about how cramped the flat is for the four of us, and how Theo needs his own room. Charlie neither agreed nor disagreed with me, so I mentioned the house. I’ve made an appointment for both of us to view it tomorrow.’
    ‘Good for you. You must be making some headway with Charlie if –’
    ‘I only made the appointment because Mrs Harding won’t hold it any longer without putting it on the open market and I can’t blame her. It’s a beautiful house, Beth, big and light and airy. The garden’s not huge like yours, but it’ll be fine for Theo to run around in and best of all, Tyfica Road is less than five minutes’ walk from the shop.’
    ‘You still haven’t said what Charlie thinks of the idea of moving.’
    ‘That’s just it, he’s said nothing – absolutely nothing. He hasn’t even said he’ll view it with me, but mind you, he didn’t object either.’
    ‘Do you think he’ll go?’
    ‘Possibly, if he hasn’t shut himself