Home Front Girls

memories there to haunt her, but Miranda hoped that in Cornwall she had been able to put the past behind her, to heal old hurts and get on with her life.
    She was pulled sharply back to the present when Mrs P dug her in the ribs. ‘Well, come on then, gel,’ she scolded. ‘The sooner all the snap’s on the table, the sooner we can get this party started. An’ I don’t know about you, but I’m ready fer a drop o’ that home-made wine meself. Let’s get the rest o’ them sandwiches out, eh?’
    Miranda followed her back into the little terraced house, thinking just how much her own life had changed since before the war. Back then she had had a charlady and someone else to do her washing and ironing for her, but those days were long gone and strangely she found that she didn’t miss them. The war seemed to have wiped out class distinction and Miranda thought it was no bad thing. Everyone was on a level footing now, be they a beggar or a queen, and she doubted it would ever go back to the way it had been. During the war, women had had to take on men’s roles – and a very good job they had done of it too – so would they ever go back to being chained to the kitchen sink? As Mrs P would say, ‘Not on your nelly!’
     
    Further up the road, Joel met Annabelle and she placed her arms about him even though they were in full view of everyone.
    ‘I was worried you wouldn’t make it,’ he told her as he returned her embrace.
    ‘Well, I only got a temporary reprieve,’ she admitted. ‘I have to be back at Haslar by lunchtime tomorrow. Even though the war is over there are still an awful lot of sick men to care for on the wards, and my job won’t be ended until they’re all healed. And of course we have to remember that the war is still going on in Japan, and I’ve no doubt there’ll be more casualties coming from there.’
    ‘So how long do you think that might be?’
    She shrugged. ‘A few more months at least,’ she told him truthfully. ‘And then when my VAD time is over and I get demobbed, I thought I might train to become a State Registered Nurse.’ She watched him closely for his response and when he looked approving, she sighed with relief.
    ‘I know that’s what you want to do, an’ I reckon you should go all out for it,’ he told her, and once again she thought what a remarkable man he was. He seemed to understand that after the war, women would never be as dependent on men as they had been before. ‘Just so long as it doesn’t stop you from being my wife as well, of course,’ he added.
    When her eyes opened wide in shock, he held her to him whilst fumbling in his jacket pocket with his free hand. And then she found herself staring down at a tiny velvet box and he rushed on, ‘I did tell you that I wouldn’t hold you to anything until the war was over. But it is over now, so Annabelle Smythe, I am asking you if you would do me the very great honour of becoming my wife?’
    Before she could even answer, he went on, ‘I’m afraid this damn leg won’t allow me to drop down on one knee and do it properly. But will you at least look at the ring and consider it?’ He then flicked the box open and as Annabelle stared down at the small chip of diamond solitaire he told her hastily, ‘I know it probably isn’t exactly the rock you always dreamed of, but—’
    ‘Stop right there,’ she told him. ‘It’s absolutely perfect and I would be honoured to be your wife, Joel Ford. In fact, I can hardly wait. Now can I please have my ring?’
    He slid it onto her finger as a great cheer went up from the people around them and then he was kissing her and suddenly Annabelle’s life was perfect and she couldn’t remember ever feeling so happy in her whole life.
    ‘So let’s have a look at this sparkler then,’ someone said behind her, and as Annabelle tore herself away from Joel to glance around she found Dotty standing there with a cheeky smile on her face. But this was not the shy girl from the orphanage Annabelle remembered from their days at Owen Owen; instead, she was a smart, sophisticated woman. Dotty was holding her new baby girl in her arms, and a little boy in a sailor suit who was the absolute double of his father was clutching at Robert’s hand.
    ‘I wondered when you two would see sense,’ Dotty chuckled as she admired Annabelle’s ring. ‘So when is the happy day to be?’
    ‘Well, we haven’t had time to think about it yet, but it can’t be soon enough for me,’