Summer Loving by Rachel Ennis Read Free Book Online

convoy of landing craft packed with men, tanks, lorries, and equipment were heading for the beach when they were hit by torpedoes from German E-boats. One caught fire and the vehicles on board exploded, spraying the men with blazing fuel. Another sank almost at once and a third had its stern blown off. The convoy was ordered to scatter. But that left hundreds of men in the sea. Weighed down by waterlogged clothes and kit most of them drowned. Others were killed by their lifejackets.’
    ‘What? How?’
    ‘They were supposed to be worn under the armpits. But the men hadn’t been told and it wasn’t clear from the design. So most had tied them round their waists. Only this turned them face down and pushed their heads underwater.’
    Jess heard Tom’s breath hiss between his teeth. Swallowing the painful lump in her throat she went to the kitchen and reached for the kettle.
    He followed, putting his arm around her shoulders. ‘All right, my lover?’
    She nodded. ‘I know these things happen in wartime and it was a long time ago. But it’s such a terrible waste of life.’
    ‘They was all someone’s son, maybe a husband or father. Was Billy-Joe –?’
    ‘No. His unit had been there a month earlier.’ She wiped her nose and took a steadying breath.
    As the kettle boiled, Tom picked up the mugs from the coffee table, rinsed them under the hot tap. He grinned at her as he wiped them dry. ‘I wonder what the Americans thought of our bathrooms.’
    Appreciating his attempt to lighten the mood, Jess smiled. ‘What bathrooms? Back home they had hot running water and flushing toilets. Some of the big houses taken over as command posts for the officers had proper bathrooms. But the electricity supply was erratic so hot water was a luxury unless it was carried up from the kitchen in ewers.’
    Jess made fresh coffee then returned the milk to the fridge. ‘Nan used to tell me stories of what life was like in the village during wartime. None of the cottages along Back Row had electricity. Everyone cooked on a coal or wood-fired range, used oil lamps for light, and collected drinking water from the village pump in brown stoneware pitchers. Nan had a tin bath on a nail in the back yard. Grampy brought it in on Friday evenings and Nan filled it with hot water from the copper in the scullery.’
    Tom nodded. ‘Remember what my granfer used to call the back house?’
    ‘I do. Ours was at the top of the garden. Most of them were. Grampy had planted honeysuckle to climb all over it. In summer it was a scent battle between the honeysuckle and Jeyes Fluid.’
    ‘That brings back memories.’
    ‘Nan’s had a wide plank with a hole cut in it for a seat. Grampy had planed it smooth then put a coat of varnish on so we wouldn’t get splinters. There was a bucket of ashes from the fire to be tipped into the pit after use, and squares of newspaper on a loop of string hung on a nail.’ She sighed. ‘Blow the good old days. I like my bath and loo indoors.’
    Tom kissed her. ‘You OK now? Only I’d better get back. Chris’ll be home soon. I don’t want ’n coming in to an empty house.’ He pulled her close and kissed her again. ‘I won’t forget about Jimmy. I’ll see ’n soon as I can.’
    She hugged him then let him go. ‘You’re a dear.’
    ‘’Night, my lover.’

Chapter Six
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    ‘T he insurance company sent an assessor to look at the chapel,’ Gill told Jess when she went into the shop the following morning. ‘Now the Trustees have to get a price for the work from three different companies.’
    Jess made a face. ‘That will take at least a fortnight, maybe longer.’
    Gill nodded. ‘Whichever company gets the job will have to finish the work they’re doing before they can start. I hate to say it, Jess, but I can’t see the repairs and all being finished in time. It’s end of July now and the wedding is on 3 rd September.’ She clicked her tongue. ‘Nothing’s easy for Mor, is