Sweet Memories of You (Beach View Boarding House) by Ellie Dean Page B

fish oil of all things, but as Daisy had rarely tasted proper butter, she quite liked it.
    The roar of fighter planes leaving Cliffe aerodrome reverberated through the shelter, and as Rita’s gaze followed the sound, Peggy’s heart went out to her. Matthew was her first love, so of course her emotions were heightened, and Peggy could understand how hard it must be for her to hear those planes and not know if he was up there – and if he was, whether he would return safely.
    As wave after wave of Spitfires and Hurricanes thundered above them, Peggy’s thoughts turned to Martin and all the pilots she’d been privileged to meet over the years. There had been tragic losses and close shaves, but it seemed this young generation was made of sterling stuff, and no matter what they had to face, they carried on determinedly. Kitty Makepeace was a prime example, for having lost a leg in the service of the Air Transport Auxiliary, she’d overcome the handicap, learned to walk on her prosthesis, got married to Roger, and climbed straight back into a plane again. Roger was still flying too, along with Kitty’s brother, Freddy, in Martin’s squadron, and all she could do was pray they would come through unscathed.
    Ron poured some tea in a saucer for Harvey and then glared belligerently at the noise of the planes. He’d definitely had more than a drop too many the night before, for his head was pounding and the racket the RAF was making didn’t help. Yet he realised they were heading west, so the enemy raid was probably going on further down the coast – in which case it wouldn’t be long before the all-clear went.
    He leaned back against the cold, damp wall of the shelter and quickly glanced across at Sarah before closing his eyes. She looked pale this morning, which was hardly surprising, for he’d come home well after midnight to find her alone and tearful in the kitchen. Immediately concerned, he’d made tea for them both and over the next hour or so, they’d discussed Jane’s posting, and the very real fear she had that her young sister might find herself out of her depth amongst such august company.
    Ron had been a bit befuddled with the drink, but he could empathise with the girl and allay her fears over her sister, who was clearly more than capable of standing on her own two feet. He also understood that Sarah’s concerns were not just for Jane. She had a great deal to contend with, for not only was she far from home and family, but she’d been charged with her sister’s care and now faced the prospect of being parted from her until the war ended, and having to keep all this from their mother.
    On top of all that she’d confided in him about the American and her feelings for him, and the awful guilt she felt over what she saw as a betrayal of Philip. His heart had gone out to her as he struggled to find the right words that might help, for he’d been in a similar situation during the First World War and had wrestled for months with his own guilt. He knew he wasn’t as good as Peggy with this sort of thing, and although he was flattered that the girl trusted him enough to confide in him, he’d found it a little awkward. But he’d done his best, and she’d seemed a little more positive by the time she’d finally gone back to bed.
    He gave a sigh. There had been times over the past four years when he’d also felt adrift and helpless. Uncertainty over the future made him fret, for he’d already lost two grandsons – Frank’s eldest boys – when their minesweeper blew up in the Atlantic. And now he had Jim and Frank to worry over, as well as his surviving grandchildren and great-grandchildren – who were scattered to the four winds, communication with them rare and unsatisfactory,
    He gritted his teeth. This damned war had a lot to answer for, and if he’d been a younger man he’d have taken up arms and gone over there to knock Hitler’s ruddy block off. Yet he knew his limitations and was content to do