Read For All Our Tomorrows for Free Online Page B

held tightly in Chad’s arms, where she’d been for much of the evening. What had he told her, and would it be true? Who could judge? These boys were out to impress the local girls in a foreign country.
    The song ended and Bette came over to request another slow number.
    Sara protested. ‘I thought we’d have Woodchopper’s Ball.’
    ‘Oh, for goodness sake, can’t you see everyone wants to hold each other close? Where is your sense of romance, sister dear? Here, let’s find Moonlight Serenade . It must be here somewhere,’ and she began rifling through the records.
      Sara took the opportunity to whisper a quick word of caution to her younger sister. ‘Take care, Bette. You know nothing about him, he could be married, spinning you a yarn, anything. I don’t want you to get hurt.’
    ‘You sound as bad as Mam. I’m a big girl and can look after myself, thanks very much.’
    ‘I’m sure you can in lots of ways, but I just want you to take care, to be aware that you’ve no means of checking him out. All this about him owning land could be nothing more than a tale, one big fairy story. He can say what he likes and you wouldn’t know any different. You wouldn’t believe the bragging I’ve heard this evening alone.’
    ‘Are you implying Chad is a liar? Charming, you don’t even know the man and already you’re condemning him.’
    ‘No, I’m not, but . . .’
    ‘Yes, you are. You just said that he was spinning me a yarn.’
    ‘I said that he might be.’
    While they were arguing, Sara’s job as record changer was taken over by one of the marines, probably because everyone was tired of waiting for the next record. He put on a bee-bop and within seconds, the men had grabbed a partner and the room was jumping, pulsating with energy. Chad came and whisked Bette away and the conversation abruptly ended.
    Sara stood watching and laughing, despite her reservations about her sister’s behaviour, dazzled by the display of energy, as well as the show of stocking tops, as girls were lifted and whirled and spun with crazy abandon. Never had she seen the like in all of her life.
    ‘Care to try it for yourself?’ A voice at her elbow politely enquired, and Sara laughingly shook her head without even looking who it was who spoke.  
    ‘No thanks. I’d make a complete fool of myself.’
    ‘I very much doubt that could be possible.’
    Something in the tone made her look up and there he was: the tall, rather earnest Lieutenant with short, curly dark hair and the so familiar face smiling down at her. ‘Oh, it’s you. Hello again!’
    He held up both hands in a gesture of surrender. ‘I left the jeep back at base this time. Are you ok?’
    ‘Quite recovered, thank you. Still a little bruised on the – er- um . . .’
    ‘On your butt,’ and they both laughed.
    ‘I expect I’ll live.’ She felt a rush of embarrassment and begged to be excused, mumbling something about having to check whether the fish supper was ready, and scurried away. Even as she ran, Sara kicked herself for a fool. Why had she fled? Not because he’d used that word, surely. Was it because of Hugh? Because she didn’t want it to get back to her husband that she’d been talking with a GI who’d asked her to dance the jitterbug with him? How very silly.
     
    ‘What was the chat about? Looked like you two were having a real spat.’ Chad shouted over the din as he spun Bette around.
    ‘Oh, take no notice. She’s just my sister, being bossy as usual.’
    When the dance was ended, he took her over to meet Barney. ‘He’s my best buddy, so I expect you two to be pals.’
    Barney was every bit as big and cheerful as Chad, and even better looking. Bette was instantly fascinated by him. Where Chad’s hair was an indeterminate brown, Barney’s was so dark it was almost black, what you could see of it since it was cut so close to the head. In contrast to the pale, insipid complexion of a regular British Tommy, his olive skin glowed with a