The Light Over London(61)

“And here are Steve’s letters to me. Do you remember much of Granddad, Cara?”

She shook her head. “Only a little.”

Gran nodded. “You were so young when he died. He was a good man.” Gran lifted a bundle tied up with pale pink ribbon. “These are why I asked your father to keep the box in his safe. These are more precious to me than the world.”

“Can I read them?” Cara asked.

“You’d better let me have a look first. Ours was a whirlwind romance. We met and four months later we were married, although we hardly had any time together. Peace had been declared in Europe, and your granddad was sent to Germany to help with the stand-down. He wrote me love letters that would’ve made the censors blush.”

Liam barked a laugh, and Cara flushed. “Gran.”

Gran arched a brow. “I’ll have you know, I was young once.”

“I don’t doubt it,” muttered Cara.

Gran slid her glasses on and scanned the first letter in the bundle. “Here, this one is fine for your young eyes.”

Cara took it gingerly and read out loud, “?‘Dearest Boudicca—’ Why did he call you Boudicca?”

“Because he used to say I was queen of the Britons, and when we fought, I would never surrender.”

“?‘Dearest Boudicca,’?” Cara started again. “?‘The nights are colder now and they say we may see snow tonight. I know I say this in all of my letters, but I wish I was dancing with you again.’?”

“We met at a dance in London,” Gran interrupted.

Cara resumed reading. “?‘Instead I’m in a sorry excuse for a tent with Miller and Harrison to keep me company. I’d rather be back outside your billet in Fenny Stratford. I miss you more—’?”

“Did you say Fenny Stratford?” Liam asked.

“Yes. It was perhaps the most boring place in all of England during the war, but at least we were safe,” said Gran.

“Where is that?” Cara asked.

“I told you. Buckinghamshire,” said Gran.

“Who did you clerk for?” Cara asked.

Gran shrugged. “Whoever needed me. There were army offices there, just like all over England at the time.”

“What was your home base?” Liam pushed.

“I believe this is my story to tell, young man. If you’ll let me tell it,” said Gran sharply.

The air snapped with tension, and Cara looked between Liam and Gran. Yes, he’d asked a few questions, but nothing out of the ordinary. He was curious, just like she was.

Gran, seeming to realize that she’d been rude, set a photograph she was holding down, and said, “I apologize, Liam. I didn’t mean to be short with you—it’s just that I have something of a headache.”

But Cara knew better—Gran had done this to her too many times before. Cara wasn’t going to allow her to shut things down now. Desperate to keep the conversation going, Cara dove back into the box and pulled out a photograph.

“Tell me about this one,” she demanded.

She held up the photograph of Gran, young and pretty, standing next to a man. His arm was looped around her waist, as though someone had interrupted them while dancing and they’d looked back.

“That’s Edwin Godfrey,” said Gran, her voice thick.

“Who was he?” she asked.

“My superior officer.”

“You danced together?” Cara asked.

“The rules could be loose sometimes,” said Gran.

Cara pulled out another photo from the box. “And this?”

Gran sat between two men, Edwin Godfrey and another, her head tipped so that her hair brushed Edwin’s shoulder.

“Oh, who knows?” Gran said, snatching up the photographs of her with Edwin Godfrey quickly.

Sensing they were now on precarious ground, Cara said, “There was something else in the safe.”

“What’s that, dear?” Gran asked distractedly as she tucked the photographs underneath Granddad’s bundle of letters.

“Why would Mum have your medical records?”

Gran stilled, her eyes fixed on her hands. “Your mother was keeping them safe for me. So many things were in disarray during the move.”

“Gran,” Cara said carefully. “I want to ask you again: What was the fight about? I could hear Mum’s side, but I don’t know yours.”

All at once, her vibrant, irrepressible Gran went pale and waxy, and she looked every bit her age. “That was the last conversation I had with my daughter. A fight. A ridiculous, stupid fight.”

“Did it have to do with why you refuse to talk about that period in your life? I won’t judge you for the things you had to do. It was a different time,” said Cara.

“Don’t press me, Cara. Not about this.”

“But, Gran—”

Gran rose to her feet, imperious as a queen. “It’s time you remembered that you’re my granddaughter and that I deserve the respect of being left alone when I tell you I don’t wish to speak about something.”

“Iris, she just wants answers,” said Liam.

Gran rounded on him. “Really, young man, this is not any of your concern.”

“Don’t snap at him,” said Cara. “He’s done nothing wrong.”