The Docklands Girls by June Tate Read Free Book Online Page B

kissed her gently.
    ‘I understand so much more now,’ he told her. ‘You have so much courage for someone so young; I only wish I could take the hurt away from you. I feel so useless.’
    She looked up at him. ‘Hank, will you make love to me?’
    And he did, gently, with great tenderness and as he felt her relax, he hoped he went some way to help the mental anguish she’d been through that night. He prayed that being able to talk about it would be therapeutic for this lovely young woman who’d come to mean so much to him.
     
    Olive couldn’t wait for the invasion to begin. The event would bring an end to her worries. All those damned Yanks would be gone and her life would be back to normal. What she really meant was that she would once again have control over her daughter.
    Ever since Hildy had taken up with ‘that GI’, as she thought of him, things had changed considerably. Hildy was out of the house more often and sometimes all night. When she’d accused her daughter of being a loose woman, no better than those on the streets, Hildy had not battered an eyelid, but had just looked at her mother.
    ‘What I do is not any of your business, Mother. I’m a grown woman, not a child and you don’t run my life for me.’ Then she’d walked out of the room leaving Olive speechless.
    Whenever Milt Miller came to the house, Olive was on edge. The young man was polite to her, but she knew that he could see through her duplicities and was aware of the emotional games she played, so she was very careful about what she said. Once when she’d questioned Hildy about an opinion she’d voiced which didn’t agree with hers and had said as much, Milt had intervened.
    ‘You forget, Mrs Dickson, that Hildy has a mind of her own.’
    After that, she said little in front of him, keeping her spiteful and negative remarks for when she was alone with her daughter.
     
    That evening, Milt and Hildy were taking a walk through the park together. The evening was pleasantly warm. They strolled slowly, holding hands and chatting about inconsequential things to keep both of them from thinking that soon they would have to part, knowing the future would be uncertain.
    They sat on a bench and lit cigarettes. Milt placed his arm about her shoulders.
    ‘Gee, Hildy, I can’t tell you how happy I am that we got together. These past few weeks have been some of the happiest in my life, I want you to know that.’
    There was an underlying sound of finality about his words that made her look at him.
    ‘Have you heard something about the invasion?’ she asked, tensing within his hold.
    Feeling her stiffen, he kissed her cheek. ‘No, honey, nothing definite but things are moving. More troops are being brought into the port daily. Something is going on, that’s for sure and I’ve a feeling we’ll be off before very long, so every moment we spend together is precious.’
    ‘Oh, Milt. I’ll miss you so much,’ she said, her voice choking in her throat.
    He cupped her face in his hand and looked at her. ‘I know in the beginning we said we’d get together with no strings, but I don’t want it to end when I leave.’
    She was puzzled. ‘What do you mean?’
    ‘You know there isn’t anyone in my life and, until now that’s been just fine, but Hildy … will you write to me while I’m away and wait for me to come home? I want us to have a future together. How do you feel about that?’
    ‘What do you mean?’
    ‘I want you in my life after the war too, not just for now.’
    She looked puzzled. ‘How can that be?’
    He burst out laughing. ‘I thought that was fairly obvious. Will you marry me, Hildy?’
    Her eyes shone as she held his gaze. ‘There’s nothing I’d like more, Sergeant. Of course I will!’
    He smothered her with kisses. ‘You’ve made me the happiest man alive. We’ll have a good life together, I promise. I have the afternoon off tomorrow; we’ll go and buy an engagement ring so, at least when I do ship out,