Sequel to Season of Hope
In late spring of 1944, Jack Harris returns from the Battle for Rome and is back in Cheltenham, struggling with coming to terms with his wartime injury and the pangs of first love for fellow soldier, Tim.
Staying with his devoted uncles, Stanley and Walter, above the grocer’s shop on Cheltenham High Street gives Jack some thinking time. He slowly realises that change isn’t necessarily bad and that hope might be on the horizon. But there are still many challenges to cope with.
Will his reservations and worries about his burgeoning relationship with Tim be proven correct? Or will these two young men overcome their own doubts and family pressure to be together?
“Are you coming to Mum and Dad’s for lunch today?”
Jack paused at his sister’s question. He was in the act of opening the front door, ready to leave for the morning shift at the aircraft works.
Ginny was buttoning the overall she wore when she served in the shop. She was neatly built and dark-haired, a female version of Jack.
Uncle Walter stood beside her, his back to the twins as he replenished a few empty spaces on the shelves behind the counter.
“If Mum can spare the grub? You never know if Jean’s nippers will be around, eating Mum and Dad out of house, home and ration coupons.”
“Mum would be glad to see you.”
Jack felt the familiar pull of obligation where his mother was concerned.
“I’ll be there, then.”
“Good.” Ginny smiled and looked up. “That means I get to see you beyond a quick hello and goodbye as you come in and out of the shop.”
Jack’s conscience bothered him.
He’d never kept secrets from Ginny before. He’d never had to. And in order to hide confessing his partiality for Tim, Jack had avoided being alone with her. Since he was usually at the factory when she was at the shop, he’d hoped Ginny hadn’t noticed.
Since they had learned to talk, they’d always answered for each other, seemingly sharing their thoughts as they embarked on trouble-making, which had caused their mum to complain about the sixth sense between twins.
Jack had no truck with such old wives’ tales.
On the surface, Jack and Ginny rubbed along as always, exchanging jibes with a grin. But Jack was aware of a gulf between them that he didn’t know how to cross. In some ways, even without the thorny topic of Tim, Jack reasoned that a certain amount of distance was natural enough, what with him going off to do his duty, while Ginny stayed at home, helping to run the shop with Uncle Walter.
Mind you, Cheltenham hasn’t remained untouched by the war.
Dotted around the High Street there were craters where houses used to be, and empty places around the dinner table in many remaining homes.
And it’s hardly over yet.
On his way up and down the road, when Jack looked up at the skies, he saw the evidence of the ongoing conflict. Strings of gliders being tugged to their destination in preparation for the next phase of operations.
The Allies’ big push into Europe. That’s if we ever manage to win the Battle for Rome.
Jack felt helpless under Ginny’s dark gaze, her eyes exactly the same shape and shade of brown as his.
The impasse was Jack’s fault.
Because he had changed. He was scared to admit his new and fragile affection for Tim. Jack couldn’t bear shock and disgust replacing his sister’s warm and ready smile. He couldn’t face choosing between the man he loved and his twin.
Ginny’s rejection would be like losing part of himself.
“Could you fetch the inventory from the office, Ginny?” Walter intervened. “I’m sure we were due another consignment of powdered eggs.”
“Right you are, Uncle Walter. See you later, Jack.”
Walter smiled at Jack as Ginny disappeared into the back room, his face full of understanding. His hair might be greyer and increasingly scanty, and his sturdy build was trimmer than before the war, but his blue eyes were as kind and astute as ever.
“I don’t blame you, lad,” he said softly. “I know your mum means well, but you have to tread your own path. I was very fond of my mother, but when I got back from the trenches, her fussing drove me around the bend. Let alone trying to foist me onto unsuspecting girls in the hope of marriage and grandchildren. I’m fortunate that after she passed, Dad was happy to let things lie. And then he remarried and went to live with Myrtle, paving the way for Stanley to move in here. From my experience, you’re better off keeping out of your mum’s way, for the main part.”
“I don’t want to cause an upset.”
