eyes sparkling despite the disturbed night’s sleep. ‘This is a smashing Christmas, ain’t it Sal?’ he breathed, waving the gun and pretending to shoot Mrs Finch.
‘Yeah, luv, it’s the best,’ murmured Sally.
‘Can we stay ’ere for ever and ever?’
Sally ruffled his hair and forced a smile. ‘Maybe not for ever and ever,’ she said softly, ‘but for a while yet.’
Peggy must have noticed his little face crumple. ‘I know, Ernie,’ she said brightly. ‘Why don’t you and I find everyone’s present from under the tree? Then you can help me hand them out.’ She took his little hand and Ernie happily went with her.
These people are so good, thought Sally. They’ve taken us in and given us a real home – loved Ernie and me as if we were their own. I can’t bear the thought that one day we’ll have to go back to Bow.
‘Here we are,’ said Peggy, breaking into her thoughts. ‘I thought you’d like to open this one first.’
Sally blinked back her tears and carefully unwrapped the pretty paper from the square box John had given her the night before. She gasped with surprise and pleasure as she took out the neat, cream leather bag. It looked expensive and smelled wonderful, and tucked under her arm so neatly, it was as if it had been made for her. On closer inspection, she discovered it was lined with black rayon, and there was a zipped compartment which held a mirror set in a frame of the same leather. His card nestled at the bottom of the bag.
I hope you have a lovely Christmas. Try not to get any bullet-holes in this! Looking forward to seeing you again in the New Year,
John.
Sally rescued the handbag from Ernie’s sticky fingers and tucked it beside her in the chair – the feel of it against her hip was the next best thing to actually seeing him.
There were other presents to open and the dining-room floor was soon littered with paper, bits of string and ribbon as each one was admired and cooed over. John had given a bottle of lavender water to Mrs Finch, a powder compact to Cissy, and a pair of gloves to Anne. For Peggy there was a bottle of her favourite lily of the valley perfume. Each of the boys had at least a bob’s worth of sweets, which Peggy had to ration, afraid they wouldn’t eat the lunch which was already cooking in the kitchen and sending delicious smells all through the house.
Sally opened each gift, the tears blinding her. There was a beautiful pale lilac sweater from Peggy, woollen gloves from Anne, a deep red lipstick from Cissy, and a cosy dressing gown from Ron and Jim which matched the warm slippers from Mrs Finch. ‘I don’t know how to thank you all,’ she said in the lull after everything had been opened, ‘but this is the best Christmas I’ve ever ’ad, and I love you all for making it so special for me and Ernie.’
Peggy sat on the arm of the chair and gave her a hug. ‘It wouldn’t have been the same without you,’ she murmured.
They were interrupted by a furious banging on the front door, which was followed by a lengthy ring on the bell.
‘Who the hell’s that on Christmas morning?’ Jim said crossly. He stomped out of the room and everyone stilled, trying to make sense of the murmured conversation going on in the hall.
Sally dared to hope it might be John but, as Martin Black strode into the room, magnificently heroic in leather flying jacket and boots, she hardly felt any disappointment at all.
‘Anne, I had to come. I couldn’t leave things the way they were. I had to see you, talk to you, make you realise that I don’t care a damn for what my parents think. I want to marry you, and I won’t take no for an answer.’
Anne had gone quite pale, now the colour flooded into her face. ‘What are you doing here?’ she breathed. ‘You’re supposed to be on duty.’
‘The other chaps are covering for me,’ he replied impatiently. ‘I only have an hour, and we need to talk, Anne. Please?’
‘You’ll get into the most fearsome trouble,’ she said, the tears sparkling on her lashes. ‘Oh, Martin, what have you done?’
‘I’ve fallen in love,’ he said evenly. ‘And I don’t care about anything right this minute, but you.’ He fell to one knee, dug in the pocket of his flying jacket and held out