T.S.

Diana aged 17: one week later

Mine and Tom's week was spent sneaking in secret outings and small kisses. Of course, everyone knew but the way they saw it, it was better to let us have the quiet fleeting moments. The last time we had sneaked off was by horse to a random field. We sat there the whole day just talking. Another time, We had gone up to Weston and paddled even taking a photo. We had our small escapes. I rose out of bed. My slip dress is silky against my skin and thighs. I opened the curtains and saw family's waving goodbye to their boys and immediately got dressed. I shake Jayden awake and her eyes flutter open sleepily. Our boys only had to leave at about noon. The picture I and Tom had taken glared at me from it's place on my dresser and I pocketed it. I dashed downstairs and into Pol's house. Jayden followed hot on my heels. I start to make the 4 boys lunch for the way there. Just sandwiches and an apple. Nothing fancy. Polly came downstairs and yawned. When they had first told her that they're off to war she locked herself in her room for days and wouldn't come out.

"What are you doing girls?"

"Lunch for the way."

"Hide it before Arthur sees. He'll never want to leave with your cooking."

We giggle but do as she says. We step towards the stairs and look at her longingly.

"Go on then. Off you pop." she sipped quietly from her brandy glass and smiled. Tight lipped. Today was going to be hard for her. We run up the stairs and little Finn bumps into us. He keeps on running, determined to ask Polly something. I stop Jayden, "hoje, vou dar o anel da minha mãe ao Tom."

She stares a little confused, "Okay?"

"Vou-lhe dar o meu anel e ele vai me dar o dele. Achas bem?"

Neither hostile nor calm, she responds, "Se achas que ele voltará." and swishes into Ada's room. My face drops but I was determined to give him my ring. I slipped into John's room first of all. His hands are on his head and his eyes are bloodshot like he didn't sleep. A bottle of brandy lays empty on his bedside. "God, John. You look like you haven't slept."

"I haven't." he says looking up. Red rimmed and raw, his eyes were irritated from rubbing and crying.

"What's wrong?"

"Well, I'm going to war Diana and my wife-"

"Your wife?"

"My wife is pregnant." he affirms.

"Your wife?"

"That day you and Tom went up to Weston 'on business' Martha and I eloped." he explains

"YOU ELOPED?" I scream. He clamps his hand over my mouth. "Pol can't know." obviously, I thought.

"Right and how are you going to explain to Pol that you've got Martha pregnant and haven't married her."

"Martha was the one that said. You know, she's not as good as you might think."

"John spare me the details of your sex life." I shudder.

"There's talk of the communists pushing for soldiers having a 'home on leave' scheme. I'll come back and marry her then and have a big old party." John laces up his boots and stands up.I salute him and stand to attention.

He does the same, "At ease soldier." I say laughing before hugging him tight. "You come home you prat or I'll drag you back myself."

He laughs and puts on his, for now, weightless pack. He goes downstairs to sit with Pol. I pop into Arthur's room. He's lying back on his bed bottle of whiskey in hand, "Ohhh fuck. Liquid courage. You cunt. I bet you drank some of that when you signed up." I tease.