Daughter of the Winds by Jo Bunt Page A

Eddie’s direction, “got Makarios out of the country last week?”
    Pru didn ’t want to show her ignorance or her disinterest in what her husband was involved in. “Erm... Tell me again how it happened.”
    Pleased to be given an open invitation to talk some more, Bernie swallowed a large mouthful of ham and began.
    “He’s a good bloke, whatever they say. He made sure this group of school kids were oot of the presidential gaff and safe before he fled, y’nah? And he could’ve bin killed. We had no idea where he was until he turned up in Paphos. All we were told was the Greek military had overthrown the government. We were sent to get him to this RAF fighter jet and that was it. He was away. It’s anyone’s guess now what’ll happen. I heard that some of ‘em higher up wanted to intervene but have been told to stay put. They say it’s been coming for years. There was all that trouble in the sixties. Each side blames the other. The Greeks should never have got rid of Makarios because now the Turks think that the Greek military are going to align Cyprus with mainland Greece. I can’t see why they would want to anyway. Any more ham, hinny?
    “ The Turks tried to get wor support for their ‘peace operation’. Ha! When we didn’t give it they invaded anyway. Turkish troops landed on the Northern coast in the early hours and they are pushin’ the Greeks oot a their homes with more force than I’d say is strictly necessary. But that’s what happens when the fighting starts. ‘Peace’ isn’t in the forefront of their minds and anyone who says it is, is a lying bastard. Pardon me French love.
    “ It’s frustrating for us that we just have to sit by and watch it all. We’re gathering intelligence and keeping tabs on where the Turks are but what else can we do, y’nah? Listen to me blitherin’ on. Any mustard, hinny? Anyway you’ve got bigger things on yer mind. Sorry to hear about yer Dad, pet. Got any brothers an’ sisters?”
    “ What?” asked Pru, surprised to find herself suddenly included in the conversation. “Er, no. Only child.”
    “ Sorry to hear that.”
    “ Don’t be. I’m not.”
    “ Even so,” Bernie continued, “not nice that it falls on your shoulders to take care of your Ma.”
    “ It doesn’t. Fall on my shoulders, that is. No, she has made it clear that she can cope on her own.” Eddie reached out and entwined his fingers with Pru. He didn’t say anything, but that gesture was enough to let Pru know that he knew how much she was hurting. Sometimes she wondered what she would do without Eddie. No one else knew her quite like he did. And there was no one else left to care anymore.
     
     
    The next few days were a welcome break for Pru. The four of them slid into an easy routine together and Pru helped Betty with the house, cooking and garden.
    Pru was becoming impatient, even excited, to have this baby. She hadn’t had a great relationship with her own mother but was certain that it would be different between her and her own baby. An only child to a couple who had had her too late in life to enjoy her energy, she craved the family life that she had never had. Her mam and dad weren’t just a different generation to her but, it seemed to a young Pru, a different species. Mam’s maternal instinct failed to be roused when a screaming baby had invaded her life when she was just embarking on her forty-fifth year. Dad wasn’t a man of many words and if he wasn’t on the allotment, he was reading the Sun newspaper or nodding off in his armchair. But there was still a bond in this silence that had the young Pru following her dad to the allotment and back every day.
    “ Pass me the dibber, Little Bean. Ha’penny for every slug you find and put in this jar, Little Bean.” She missed Dad. What hurt her more than anything was that he hadn’t stuck up for her when Mum had kicked her out of home.
    Her thoughts were interrupted abruptly when Betty swung open her bedroom door with