Daughter of the Winds by Jo Bunt

patio filled full of bright, bowing stems of orange-red geraniums with lush tiered leaves. In the raised bed on one side of the garden there were numerous cacti, some with vicious spikes, while others looked soft enough to stroke. The other side was abundant with tomatoes, none of which were the smooth spheres that Pru was used to. The colours ranged from yellow to purple, and some were pear-shaped while others were more like ridged, small pumpkins.
    “ There’s a bowl on the table. Could you fill it with toms? The boys’ll be back soon.”
    The whitewashed walls dazzled like they had absorbed the very rays of the sun and were radiating the golden glory themselves. The whiteness was enhanced by the violet-blue of the midday sky and Pru had to shade her eyes to be able to focus on the task in hand. Somewhere at the bottom of the garden Pru could hear the sound of a lone cricket and as the baby squirmed inside her, an extension of her body, she felt something akin to contentment.
    When the task was completed, Pru sat at the table in the shade with a glass of weak orange squash. She could still smell the pungent bitterness of the tomatoes on her fingers. She had been surprised to hear from Betty that there were rations and Pru had been delivered to Betty ’s house yesterday with a box of dried goods like rice, biscuits and some tins. Betty didn’t seem to be worried about lack of food and was boiling some ham and potatoes for lunch while humming a tune that Pru had never heard before.
    “ Not too much for me, Hinny,” boomed a man’s jocular voice from the kitchen that made Pru jump. She looked towards the door and found herself hoping that Eddie was home too.
    “ You’re late. And dirty!” came Betty’s voice with a chuckle. “Get cleaned up! Eddie, pet, you look tired. Prudence is ootside, why don’t you go sit down. I’ll bring you a drink.”
    “ Thanks, Bet.” Pru was surprised to find that her heart soared at her husband’s voice.
    Eddie pushed aside the multi-coloured strips of plastic that served as a back door during the warm su mmer months and smiled boyishly at Pru. “All right?” His crooked smile and tilt of his head made Pru flush.
    Pru smiled. “Tired. You?”
    “ Shattered.”
    Eddie kissed the top of her head and sat down next to her with a grunt , placing his tanned hand on her thigh.
    “ Where were you, Eddie? It’s been terrible. No one would tell me where we were going. I thought I was going to have the baby then and there. And then I get here to be told that Dad has died. Where were you?”
    “ There is a war going on, you know?”
    “ Do I know? Are you seriously asking me that? Someone tried to shoot me, Eddie! Shoot me! Can you believe it?”
    Eddie sighed wearily but didn ’t answer her straight away.
    “ I am sorry about your Dad. I didn’t know until Bet told me. You know I wouldn’t leave you if I didn’t have to.”
    “ Why should you put your work before me, Eddie? It’s just not fair that I–”
    Eddie leant over and kissed Pru firmly. She resisted at first, trying to keep her mouth closed against his insistent tongue. She was furious with him and would tell him so as soon as she could open her mouth to talk. Feeling his stubble against her smooth skin and his hot lips against hers, though, caused Pru to give in to his kisses. She would chastise him later.
    “ Pru! Lovely to meet you.” Suddenly the man whose voice she had heard in the kitchen was upon her. Pru pulled away from Eddie in an instant and regained her composure. The colossal man held out his hand in what Pru assumed was a handshake but as soon as her hand was in his he hauled her to her feet and hugged her.
    “ I see you’ve met Bernie,” laughed Betty as she came through to the garden with a tray of food. “Sit down, you old fool.”
    The men tucked into the food while Betty bombarded Bernie with questions about the fighting.
    “ Well y’nah how me and the kid here,” Bernie nodded in