The Nightingale Girls - By Donna Douglas Page 0,138
hand closed on her arm, pulling her back. ‘What are you on about? Who says I want Sally back?’
‘Don’t you?’
‘Not a chance.’ He frowned at her. ‘Why would I want her back when I’ve got you?’
It took a moment for his words to sink in. And even then Helen wasn’t sure she’d understood them. ‘I don’t understand. You just said . . .’
‘I’ll admit, I was dreading seeing her again. I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about seeing her on the arm of another man. But when I saw her . . .’ He shook his head. ‘I felt nothing. Nothing at all. Except glad that I was with you and not her.’
Helen sank back down on to the bench beside him. She wasn’t sure her legs would hold her up. ‘But you said real love doesn’t just disappear.’
‘No, it doesn’t. That’s what made me realise, what I felt for her was never real love. I was infatuated with her, I suppose. She was the prettiest girl in our street, and I was proud to be seen with her. I was even prouder when she said she’d marry me. But it didn’t seem real somehow. We always wanted different things. She was one for going out, living the high life, having a good time. She was always pushing me to get on, make something of myself, bring in more money. It used to drive her mad that I was happy to stay working with the lads at that factory.’ His mouth twisted. ‘Funny thing is, now I’m working with my uncle, learning a trade, which was what she always wanted me to do. But I’m not doing it for her any more. I want to do it to make you proud.’
His hand closed over Helen’s. ‘I’m not one for making speeches,’ he said wryly. ‘I’ve been chewing myself up with nerves all the way here, to be honest. But I knew I couldn’t let you go without telling you how I feel about you.’ He looked up at her, his eyes gleaming in the lamplight. ‘I love you, Helen. I know I’m not much of a bargain, and I can’t think why you’d be interested in someone like me when you’re so clever and beautiful and could have anyone you wanted. But I just wanted you to know . . .’
He never finished the sentence. Helen knew it was all wrong, and that a young lady was supposed to wait for a man to make the first move, but she couldn’t stop herself from kissing him. And, after a second of surprise, he kissed her back.
It was as terrifyingly wonderful as she had always thought it might be. As his lips moved against hers and she felt the warmth of his hands cupping her face, Helen at last realised what all the other girls giggled and gossiped about. Although she also knew she would never ever tell anyone about this moment, not even Millie and Dora. It was just too special. She wanted it to go on for ever.
It almost did. It was only when they were disturbed by a group of jeering drunks that they reluctantly extricated themselves from each other’s arms.
‘Look at that! Ain’t love grand?’ one of the men laughed.
Charlie put his arm around Helen, pulling her closer. ‘It is, mate,’ he agreed good-naturedly.
‘I wouldn’t know,’ another man said mournfully. ‘All I’m going to get from my missus is a battering. She told me next time I was in after closing time she was gonna lock the door on me!’
‘Closing time!’ Helen whipped round to look at Charlie. ‘Oh, no, I’m so late!’
By the time they got back to the nurses’ home the black front door was firmly closed.
‘How are you going to get in?’ Charlie asked.
‘I don’t know.’ Helen looked up at the windows in despair. She knew Millie often shinned up the drainpipe to slip through their attic window, but that was only when Helen was there to leave it open for her. Tonight it would be firmly locked.
She suddenly thought about the time Millie had climbed in through the open window on to Hyde Ward. She knew she would never have the nerve to try anything so daring or dangerous.
‘We’ll think of something.’ Charlie took her hand in the darkness. ‘Let’s look around the back.’
They picked their way carefully over the uneven patch of ground until they found a tiny window left ajar.