The Diamond Waterfall (91 page)

“Married. I feel goofy again, I'd meant to say—I heard just last week. Although one's hardly
surprised.
But it's been good, the authorities letting her go back to Paris, though it's the least she deserves. Now It Can Be Told, and all that. Teddy, a secret agent. She had a dreadful time—”

“And a wonderful escape.”

“Yes, so wonderful. When she was over here at Christmas and told me about it, I couldn't believe … I mean, and knowing Henri before the war and everything. Though he wasn't anyone she'd ever
mentioned. “
She stirred her tea thoughtfully. “I've always wanted Teddy to be happy. Now she is.”

“Will they live in Paris?”

“For the moment, yes. But they want to work with refugee children. He's very rich, evidently. Anyway, that's what they plan. He'll stop his business—and then they'll devote themselves to refugee children. She always did love children.”

“Right. That's Teddy settled and happy. What about
you?
That's the one set of plans that doesn't get mentioned in letters. What Willow Gilmartin's going to do when the Ministry of Aircraft Production's finished with her.”

She picked up a finger of toast. “Oh, me. Oh well …” She got margarine on her thumb and rubbed it off. She said, “We haven't decided. The Waterfall. What I'm to do with it.”

“You don't think if you sell it, your children might ask after it? Why you didn't keep it for them?”

“That could be.”

“I had a thought,” he said.

“That's not very remarkable, thoughts are not rationed, you know.”

“You're very acid suddenly. O.K., second try. I've been thinking—we've got this week together. Maybe we should do some talking.”

“Sure, what about?” Her voice was sharp again. She felt herself suddenly threatened, edgy. The sun gone in.
Don't go away and leave me, Jay.

“About Christopher. The Eighth Army's liberated a lot of camps already. He'll be appearing before long. By the summer surely.”

“I'm going to—I'll tell him. No. Even if he's been hoping, it'd be only fair. I feel
terrible,
but that's not important, how I feel. For him, it's awful. After being a POW. But it's been really difficult to decide.”

“You know
why
it's been so difficult?”

“Yes. No.”

“Because you love me.”

“You've got a nerve.”

“Well, if it's not true—why do you look like that?”

“Like what?”

“Open your bag and get out your mirror. … Like
that.
See? Say it's true. It's true, isn't it? I used to think maybe how you are with me it's because you're grateful—like—I found your father, and all that. But that isn't it, is it? I watched you all today. I thought … For Chrissake, I thought, I'll say something over the tea cakes.”

“Look, I didn't mean—”

“I've just loved you—rather a long while I reckon. … I'm not sure it didn't start way back when I saw you in Mike's sweater with coal dust on your face.”

“Jay, it couldn't—”

“It could.”

“Anyway I'd have to think. I don't know if … You might
organize
me. You know—‘You do what you want, Willow, so long as it's what I want.'”

“You could say no if you don't like something. You always did before.”

She saw his teacup was empty, and she leaned over and tossed the dregs into the slop basin, then refilled his cup without asking.

“Willow, just tell me. What were you going to do when peace breaks out—if not marry me?”

She didn't answer, feeling suddenly panicky amid the teacups. Panicky with happiness. (Of course I shall say yes, of course it's what I wanted and hadn't even dared to think of.)

She said obstinately, “If I did—marry you, would everything happen here, or the States? I know you'll want to get back. You propped up Britain in her Darkest Hour. But now—”

“I guess I will want to get back, for a while at least.”

“Well, I'd love to see America. And I'd really really love to meet all your family—who are my family too. Harry and Esther and Lily, and then your mother, and Great-aunt Daisy. Oh, everybody! It would be absolutely wonderful. Only well, I'm not so sure, just like that, that I want to live over there. I mean I don't just want it assumed we go where
you
want to go.”

“O.K. So maybe I haven't decided yet. Look, it's only a problem if we make it one. We've got a week to talk it all through—and other things. Like how much I want to kiss you. And more … and more …”

“I do love you a lot, Jay. And the Diamond Waterfall
not at all”
She saw it suddenly in her mind's eye. Who had ever spoken of it with love? To whom had it ever brought happiness? She could not wait to be rid of it. “Oh but what shall I
do
with it?” she cried. “What does Jay say?”

“I say the hell with it. Where there's a Willow there's a way.”

“You do make the most terrible puns,” she said happily. She had this sudden picture—it was so lovely—of Aunt Alice's face when she heard the news. Aunt Alice would understand best of all. Aunt Alice, who had not wanted to be an alone child. Who too had loved and lost her mother. Who had hated the Waterfall (what must it have cost her to tell me of those photographs?). She said:

“I know it's a bit soon and there's no hurry, darling, but you weren't planning—we won't have an alone child?”

“There you go again. Problems.” He smiled. “That one … well, I guess that one won't be very difficult.”

In loving memory of my father HARRY BURROWS 1898–1978

This electronic edition published in July 2011 by Bloomsbury Reader

Bloomsbury Reader is a division of Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, 50 Bedford Square, London WC1B 3DP

Copyright © Pamela Haines

The Moral rights of this author have been asserted.

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ISBN: 9781448203154
eISBN: 9781448202829

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