A Wartime Christmas by Carol Rivers Page A

That he’s led a miserable life without you?
Well, he hasn’t. In fact, he’s been very happy here at the cottage. He missed you at first, but then he began to enjoy himself in the freedom of the garden and with all his toys. At
night we read to him and in the mornings he always enjoys time with Len before he goes to work. I’ve spent every day with him, every hour really. Watching him. Playing with him.’ Doris
looked into Kay’s eyes and suddenly Kay saw all her own feelings reflected in them. It was then she guessed that Doris had begun to think of Alfie as her own son.
    ‘I don’t know how to thank you,’ Kay murmured, feeling this was inadequate. ‘And I understand it must be a wrench to see him go, but—’
    ‘How can you think of taking him?’ Doris interrupted. Kay got up to comfort her but she pushed Kay aside. ‘How can you be so selfish? The war is still on. What if the East End
is caught up in another Blitz? What if something happens to Alfie?’
    ‘It won’t,’ said Kay, sympathetic to Doris but also annoyed that her sister-in-law hadn’t given her any credit for considering these issues. ‘Doris, me and Alan
intend to make sure he’s safe. Believe me, being without him hasn’t been easy and we waited a good two months after the Blitz ended before coming to this decision.’
    ‘Well, it’s the wrong decision,’ burst out Doris, wiping her flushed cheeks with the palms of her hands. ‘You’re putting his life at risk when he can be perfectly
happy and safe here.’
    Kay nodded slowly but she decided it was time to voice her own strong feelings. ‘As I’ve said, you and Len have been very kind and Alan and me are grateful for all you’ve done.
But it’s also clear you’ve grown fond of Alfie. Perhaps it’s not before time that we’re taking him home.’
    ‘What a selfish way to think!’ Doris jumped to her feet, her face flushed with anger.
    ‘Nanty!’ Alfie ran to Doris. She picked him up and hugged him, the tears wet on her cheeks.
    Kay felt her heart twist as she saw Alfie’s concern. She knew then that, despite all Doris’s insistence about the East End being unsafe for Alfie to return to, this was not the true
reason for her wanting to keep Alfie. Her motives were far more complex and Kay knew that there would be no easy way of resolving them.

Chapter Eight
    Alan was trying to control his temper. The insults and accusations thrown at him – of being irresponsible and selfish added to the old chestnut that had stuck in
Len’s craw ever since Alan had had the gall to marry his sister: the insinuation that Alan had almost wrecked the ties that bound a close family – had come thick and fast.
    ‘Agreed,’ Alan apologized again, trying to resolve the situation. ‘I should have sent you a telegram the minute I found out the dates of my days off and given you both time to
adjust.’
    ‘Adjust!’ Len repeated with a gasp. ‘Do you realize what you’re doing? How in heaven’s name can you be certain the docks won’t be targeted again? And they
will, you know. It’s just a matter of time before Hitler finishes with Russia and sets his cap at us again.’ He pointed a finger in Alan’s face. ‘It’s irresponsible
behaviour, that’s what it is. And don’t go spouting any of your daft political notions at me. I had enough of those when you married my sister.’
    ‘Len, be reasonable,’ Alan said, ignoring the insult and telling himself that Len’s reaction to their sudden appearance was understandable. Nevertheless he didn’t like
the way Len kept throwing up their past differences. Differences that should be long forgotten by now. ‘This isn’t about my beliefs, or yours come to that. It’s about Alfie coming
back to his family.’
    Len pulled down his jacket with a sharp tug and stuck out his chin. ‘You have no idea about families or what makes them tick,’ he accused rudely. ‘Otherwise you wouldn’t
have upset ours like you did. Mum and