violinist from the orchestra started playing a heartfelt version of ‘Love is the Sweetest Thing’, another popular song by Al Bowlly, and all around her, people started to sing, and to wish the bride good luck. It made Lizzie miss Jack more than ever, as she remembered dancing with him and she couldn’t wait to see him again. A couple of people even came over and pressed money into the bride’s hands or little gifts they had been given already for Christmas. Somebody even gave her an orange. ‘Not much of a wedding breakfast,’ said the well-wisher, ‘but at least it’ll be something.’
Diana turned to her friends. ‘I’ve been thinking since you got engaged, Lizzie, and I can’t see it ever being possible for me to marry at the moment. Dad would be heartbroken if I got married down here in a register office without a church or all the family around, not that I have the opportunity. Dad would want me to get married in Birmingham, but how would that be possible when we are in the midst of all this? The war has changed me,’ she said wistfully. ‘It makes me think differently about life and just how fragile it is.’
Both the other girls nodded their agreement and sat back down, huddled together with the usual hum of bombs banging and crashing above their heads. The violinist started to play a lovely rendition of ‘Silent Night’, and Lizzie smiled at the irony. But it wasn’t long before they all began to join in and sing, and the echo of hundreds of voices up and down the platform while the whole of the world was being destroyed above their heads felt spiritual, somehow, like all being together in a cathedral. There was a connection with one another, a real sense of camaraderie. Lizzie noted Julia crying; she’d been putting on a brave face while she was busy, but now her guard seemed to be down and Lizzie knew she was really missing her husband and children. She slipped her arm around her friend’s shoulders and pulling her close, offered her a handkerchief as they sat huddled together. She was sad as well, picturing her uncle and aunt and cousins gathering to exchange presents without her, but she was also heartened. They were a city that was battle-worn, but not divided. They were exhausted from night after night of disturbed sleep, but awake and invigorated by a sense of resilience and sheer determination, a determination that would keep them going for as long as it took. They were continually fighting to keep their spirits up, even as a cruel enemy attempted to chip away at that day after day. A whole country was fighting to preserve the very elements that made them British. And even though so many of the buildings in the city had been destroyed, they all carried a vision of its former glory in their hearts, and would do so until they could rebuild again. In the meantime, they never ever forgot who they were.
They sat there till two in the morning, and though it was a strange way to spend Christmas, there was also a sense of community.
‘If I were at home,’ said Lizzie, ‘my aunt would have made a big feast of food. I’d have been doing the plum pudding tonight and hiding coins, wrapping gifts for the girls. Of course, Hogmanay is much more celebrated in Scotland than down here, but Christmas is a special time. I miss them.’
Julia held her hand. ‘I was thinking about Tom and Maggie as well, spending Christmas in a strange place. As soon as I get some time off, I think I’m going to go to the Cotswolds and see them just for a few days. I can’t imagine not being with them tomorrow for Christmas morning. I thought about bringing them back for a couple of days, but it looked like it would prove impossible with work, and I didn’t want to make them a promise only to have to break it.’
Diana nodded. ‘I hope my mum and dad are doing okay on their own, I do miss my family as well.’
‘We’re family for each other now,’ said Julia, taking hold of her friends’ hands and squeezing them. ‘And I, for one, am grateful for both of you.’
They put their arms around each other as the carollers started to sing ‘O Come, All Ye Faithful’, and the girls joined in until the all-clear sounded. They made their