The Last Garden in England(82)

“Ruth, if we’re just here to…” Walking out of the station door was Graeme.

Beth broke into a run, pushing through people to get to him. She was almost to Graeme when finally he saw her. His kit bag fell from his shoulder, and he opened his arms, sweeping her up into a kiss.

“You’re here. How are you here?” she murmured against his lips.

“When my commanding officer granted me leave, I was on the first train up from Southampton. You are the only place I want to be.”

Right there, in the middle of the train station with all of Leamington Spa watching, she kissed him as though she’d never kiss him again.

Finally, when they pulled apart a little breathless, Graeme touched his forehead to hers. “That is exactly how a man imagines his homecoming will go.”

“I can’t believe you’re here,” she whispered.

“Captain Hastings, it’s good to see you,” called Ruth from somewhere behind Beth.

“Go away, Ruth,” said Beth, earning a laugh from her roommate.

“Beth?”

Her bubble of joy popped. Both she and Graeme turned, and, for the first time in nearly a year, Beth saw Colin. He looked taller, but he was maybe just thinner than she remembered. His uniform looked clean, but worn. But the most remarkable change was his face. He was gaunt, his eyes hollow, and he seemed somehow… gone.

“Colin,” she said as she felt Graeme’s arm go around her.

“Is this him?” Colin asked.

“Who are you?” Graeme countered.

Beth glanced at Ruth, whose mouth was hanging wide open.

“Respectfully, Captain, you’ve got your arm around my girl,” said Colin through gritted teeth.

Graeme tensed. “You’re mistaken, Private. This is my fiancée.”

“Beth, tell him—”

“Stop,” she said sharply, cutting off Colin midsentence. “Both of you, stop.”

“I didn’t expect you to be the type, Beth,” Colin said.

“The type?” she asked.

“The backstabbing type,” he spat.

Graeme surged forward, but Beth clamped a hand on his arm. “You stay right there.”

She stepped up to Colin then, facing him squarely. “What are you doing here?”

“I applied for a transfer right after I received your letter, but it only just came through. I managed forty-eight hours’ leave to come see you.”

“You should have used it to see your parents. We tried, Colin, but I never loved you and you didn’t love me, either.”

“And now you’re engaged.” Colin’s expression darkened. “I didn’t think you meant it. Lots of girls write things they don’t mean.”

She shook her head. “Colin, I’m sorry if I’ve hurt you. I could have told you more about Graeme and how I felt about him, but things moved so fast. But you also have some blame here, Colin. You ambushed me on the phone, asking me to be your girl just as you were leaving to fight. That wasn’t fair.”

He deflated a little. “I thought… I thought we were friends.”

“We were, but that’s all. You just wanted a woman waiting at home for you, and that might have been enough for me in Dorking, but it isn’t enough for me now. I have a life here. I have people who love me.”

“I love you,” he said, but she could see that even he didn’t fully believe it.

“No, Colin, you don’t. You love the idea of having someone.”

“Your letters got me through. Knowing that someone other than Ma was writing helped me,” he said.

“I’m glad for it. I will always care for you, but I don’t love you. I love Graeme,” she said, looking up at her fiancé, who’d edged closer. “I’m going to marry him.”

When Colin didn’t say anything, Ruth patted him on the arm.

“Come on, Private…”—Ruth peered at Colin’s uniform badge—“Colin Eccles. Let’s go buy me a flower.”

Still looking stunned, Colin let Ruth guide him away to the stand.

“Poor chap,” said Graeme.

She raised a brow. “Poor chap? You were about to fight him in the middle of the train station.”

“When I thought he was trying to steal you away.”

“I’m not something to be stolen. I’m a woman whose mind is made up,” she said.

He smiled. “I’d marry you today if you’d have me, Elizabeth Pedley.”

“How long is your leave?” she asked.

“Four days.”

“We’ll marry on Monday, the day after tomorrow.” The moment the words were out of Beth’s mouth, she knew that was what she wanted.

“Do you really mean that?” he asked, touching his hand to her cheek.

She didn’t want to wait for Graeme any longer. She didn’t know what their life would look like, but they would figure those things out. Together.

“I’ll marry you, Graeme, but I want you to know that I’m not going to be happy picking up and blindly following wherever the army sends you,” she said.

“We don’t have to talk about this right now,” he said.

“Yes, we do. I want to be your wife, but I won’t do it unless you promise me that I can have a home. A permanent home.”