The Uncertain Years (26 page)

‘He’ll be your uncle.’

Her face lit up with a smile and she turned to her grandmother. ‘I haven’t got one of those, have I?’

‘No, darling,’ Mrs Hammond told her. ‘And Rebecca’s
mother and father will be more grandparents for you. We’re going to have a lovely big family.’

‘Oh, isn’t this exciting! Have you told them, Daddy?’

‘Not yet, but we’re going there right now, and we think you should all come with us.’

Mr Hammond went back to the sideboard. ‘I’ve got another bottle of champagne here.’

‘Good, I need all the support I can get. I’m not sure if your father approves of me, darling. Though I did tell him I intended to marry you. He said he trusted your judgement, but I got the feeling he was sure you would keep on refusing me.’

‘Well, he was wrong about that.’

David nodded. ‘Thank goodness he was. Now, Dad, we’re going to need the Rolls, so how’s the petrol situation?’

‘I haven’t got much, but there’s some in your MG. Can I siphon it out?’

‘Go ahead.’

‘I’ll do it.’ Becky had already turned towards the door when David caught her arm.

‘We can manage that little job while you discuss wedding plans with Mother. October at the latest,’ he said as he left the room with his father.

Mrs Hammond gasped. ‘That doesn’t give us enough time!’

Now Becky was worried. ‘We can’t have a huge wedding, Mrs Hammond. Mum and Dad haven’t got much money, and there will be my brother’s engagement and wedding to think of as well.’

‘We know your family lost everything in the bombing, my dear, so don’t you worry, we’ll work it out with them.
You and David discuss it when you have a chance, but it would be lovely if you had a military wedding. And the guest list would, of necessity, be rather long.’ She gave Becky an understanding smile. ‘And talking of engagements …’

When the men returned, Mrs Hammond said to her son, ‘David, haven’t you forgotten something?’

‘No, I wanted to do this when you were all here.’ Pulling a small box out of his pocket he stood in front of Becky, and took hold of her left hand. ‘I hope you like this. It was my grandmother’s.’ He slipped a beautiful solitaire diamond ring on her finger. It fitted perfectly.

Becky gazed at it in wonder, speechless.

‘We can get something else if you don’t like it.’

‘It’s stunning, and I love it. I’ll be honoured to wear your grandmother’s ring.’

‘It looks lovely on you. Now let’s go and break the news to your family.’

They had chosen the right time to call on Becky’s parents because everyone was there except Bob. Alice immediately noticed the ring on Becky’s finger and smiled her approval. With so many of them there the front room was crowded.

David was ready to tell them about the engagement but stopped when it was obvious his daughter could no longer contain her excitement, and was about to blurt it out. He bent down and whispered in her ear, and she grinned, nodding vigorously.

He stood up again. ‘I’d better do this quickly, as our daughter is bursting to tell you herself. I am proud to tell you that Rebecca has today agreed to be my wife.’

Becky’s parents hugged her and shook David’s hand, obviously delighted with the news. But something David had said was ringing in her ears and nearly brought tears of joy to her eyes. He’d said ‘our daughter’.

‘I’ll take good care of her,’ David assured them.

Bill nodded. ‘The most important thing is that you love her, son. You make sure you do.’

‘You can have no fears on that score, Mr Adams.’

Mr Hammond was already pouring out a small amount of champagne for everyone to have a little for a toast when Sara launched herself at Becky’s parents. ‘Can I call you Grandpa and Grandma number two now?’

Everyone laughed at that and Becky’s parents readily gave their permission.

‘And I’ll be your uncle and Alice will be your aunt,’ Will told her.

‘Ooh, will you come and visit me?’

‘Of course,’ Alice told her. ‘We’ll all be family soon.’

Sara spun round to face Mrs Hammond. ‘I’m going to have an auntie as well, Grandma.’

Bill tapped the table for silence. ‘Let us raise our glasses and wish both couples a happy and long life together.’

When the glasses were drained, Bill turned to his wife. ‘Mavis, put the kettle on and let’s all have a nice cup of tea.’

Mrs Hammond walked out to the kitchen with her mother, and Becky guessed they would be talking about the wedding. She was quite happy to leave this with them for the moment. They could discuss the details later.

‘I wish Bob could have been here,’ Becky said to his mother. ‘Have you heard from him?’

‘Yes, he’s staying in the navy, and seems quite settled with Helen. He said they will marry one day, but are in no hurry.’

‘I’m not surprised. He loves the sea, and I’m very happy for him.’

Everyone was moving around the room talking to each other, and finally Alice was able to catch up with her friend.

‘After all the ups and downs of the war years, it’s good to be able to look to the future, isn’t it?’

Becky nodded. ‘We can never know exactly what the future has in store for us, but the uncertain years are behind us and we can move on with our lives at last.’

A week later, when Bob and his girl, Helen, had also arrived home, they held a proper party to celebrate the engagements. Greg and Hal were still in the country waiting to be shipped home, and they were also able to join them.

Bill Adams once again took on the role of toastmaster. ‘We have already wished the happy couples the best for the future, but today I would like to propose another toast. Please raise your glasses to everyone here, and those sadly no longer with us. Friends and heroes, every one.’

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B
ERYL
M
ATTHEWS
was born in London but now lives in a small village in Hampshire. As a young girl her ambition was to become a professional singer, but the need to earn a wage drove her into an office, where she worked her way up from tea girl to credit controller. She grew up in a family who all loved to read, and books have always been an important part of her life. She had always weaved stories in her head, but never written them down. After retiring she joined a Writers’ Circle in hopes of fulfilling her dream of becoming a published author. With her first book published at the age of seventy-one, she has since written eighteen novels.

Hold on to Your Dreams

The Forgotten Family

Battles Lost and Won

Diamonds in the Dust

A Flight of Golden Wings

The Uncertain Years

The Day Will Come