Their Guilty Pleasures

by June Tate

  He got up and returned to his office.

  The next few days were a nightmare for Jenny. The doctor had called and changed Adam’s dressing. She glanced at the wound, which still looked quite nasty, and afterwards Adam had been his usual demanding self and she’d hardly had a moment to breathe. But today she’d driven him to his golf club, where he was going to meet old friends and stay for lunch. She delivered him safely and drove to the stables where Chad was waiting for her. She had managed to call him when she knew she’d be free.

  As she drove into the yard, he was waiting for her. She parked the car and ran into his arms. ‘Just hold me,’ she cried. ‘I need to feel safe.’

  Chad could feel her trembling, and he tilted her chin upwards and kissed her. ‘Calm down, honey, I’m here now.’ He led her to the kitchen, where Beth had told him to take her so they could have some privacy to talk.

  He poured them both a cup of coffee, then sat beside her. Putting a comforting arm around her he asked, ‘Is it that bad, darlin’?’

  She sipped her drink. ‘Well, Adam is Adam. Nothing changes. I’m not sure just how long I can keep up this pretence. I’m sleeping in the spare room. I told him he would get a better night’s sleep. I can’t help feeling guilty, knowing what I plan to do.’

  ‘If you feel that bad, Jenny, then sit down and tell him, as you said you would.’

  ‘I thought I should wait until he’s stronger. After all, he’s been through a lot and it’s going to come as a great shock to him.’

  Chad gave her a hard stare. ‘You haven’t changed your mind, have you?’

  ‘Oh my God, no! Seeing him again, I know that even if you were not in my life I couldn’t live with Adam as his wife, not any more.’

  He was relieved. ‘You had me a mite worried there for a moment.’

  She laughed and kissed him. ‘You are stuck with me, you crazy cowboy, like it or not!’

  The next three hours was heaven for Jenny. Being with Chad had given her an inner strength, and she drove to collect Adam with a much lighter heart, which he noticed when she walked into the club to collect him, but he didn’t say anything until they were in the car.

  ‘Well, you look happier than I’ve seen you since I arrived home. Where have you been to make such a change?’

  She was somewhat startled by his remark. ‘I went to see Beth at the stables, that’s all.’ But Adam didn’t look convinced.

  ‘Is that really all?’

  ‘I didn’t have time to go anywhere else,’ she said tartly. Thinking she would have to be careful to hide her happiness if she saw Chad again.

  At the prisoner of war camp at Bishop’s Waltham, Gunter Reinhardt sat beaming with delight as he looked at the snaps of his new son, Hans. He blinked away tears of emotion as he gazed at Sarah holding the baby. Their son, how wonderful! He silently vowed that no matter what difficulties lay before them, he would be united with his family one day and his son would have a secure future. He put the letter and picture in his pocket and walked towards the main office, where he asked permission to see the officer in charge.

  When eventually he was admitted, he stood to attention and made his request. ‘Today, sir, I received a letter from my fiancée with a photograph of our son, born last week.’

  The officer looked surprised. ‘Your fiancée?’

  ‘Yes, sir, we met when I was held in Southampton, and we fell in love. I asked Sarah to be my wife, and she accepted.’

  ‘How the hell did you manage to make her pregnant if you were interned?’

  ‘I was working on a small farm for several months, and the farmer allowed her to visit, sir.’

  The officer murmured his disapproval. ‘So why are you here?’

  Gunter removed the photograph from his pocket and showed it to the man. ‘Here they are, sir,’ he said proudly. ‘I was wondering if there was some way they could visit me so I could see them . . . just this once?’ He hesitated, then added, ‘I intend to take them to Germany after the war. I want to have my family with me, sir.’

  The officer looked at the photograph. He had children of his own, and he’d heard the yearning in the young man’s voice as he spoke. He had quickly looked at Gunter’s papers when he was asked for the interview, had seen his background and the report from Farmer Brown about his work on his farm. He’d liked what he’d read. This young man was no threat to the country, just a soldier doing his job, as was he.

  ‘Very well, Reinhardt. Seeing you have a new baby, I’ll give my permission . . . Just this once, you understand? This is a one-off.’

  Gunter beamed at him. ‘Thank you, sir; I won’t forget your kindness. Thank you.’

  ‘Find out when they can come, and let me know. Dismiss!’

  Gunter rushed to his room and wrote to Sarah, telling her the good news. He could hardly wait to see them both; it would help him tolerate being in captivity for the rest of the war. Now he had a family of his own, and it felt so good.

  He lay on his bed and let his mind conjure pictures of the future. He would want to continue with his studies, if at all possible, and then when he’d passed all his exams, he’d open a practice or maybe join his father in his. They would have a nice house on the outskirts of Hamburg. He’d teach Sarah German. Little Hans would learn it at school, but they would speak English at home so the boy would be bilingual. And so he dreamed for the rest of the day until the camp lights were turned off. He slept with a smile, the smile of a new father.

  Seventeen

  Adam had been home for a week when everything came to a head. He had walked up to Jenny, put his arms around her, one hand on her breast as he nuzzled he neck – and she’d frozen!

  ‘What’s the matter?’ he asked angrily as she pushed his hand away. ‘I am your husband, after all.’ He stepped towards her, but she put out her hand to stop him.

  Taking a deep breath she said, ‘Come into the sitting room, we need to talk.’ She tucked her trembling hands into the pockets of her cardigan.

  Adam sat on the settee and waited impatiently. ‘Well, what the devil do we have to talk about?’

  Jenny sat opposite him. ‘I’m sorry, Adam, but I want a divorce.’

  ‘You what?’

  ‘I want a divorce.’

  His face flushed with fury. ‘I’ve never heard anything so ridiculous in all my life!’

  ‘I’m in love with another man.’ She thought he was going to have a fit.

  ‘In love . . .’ He rose from his chair and stomped up and down, then stopped in front of her. ‘So who is this other man?’

  ‘He’s an American soldier.’

  He scowled. ‘Not Captain Jackson, the man you seem to meet up with all the time.’

  ‘No, not Captain Jackson. His name is Chad Maxwell.’

  ‘Another bloody officer, I suppose?’

  Jenny tried to remain calm. ‘No, as a matter of fact he’s a corporal.’

  ‘A bloody corporal? Are you serious?’

  ‘To me his rank is of no importance. I love him for what he is.’

  ‘And what is he exactly?’

  ‘He’s a horse whisperer; he tames wild horses.’

  ‘He sounds like a bloody cowboy!’

  Jenny stared straight at him. ‘Yes, precisely. He’s going to buy a ranch in Wyoming after the war and raise horses.’

  He gazed at her in disbelief. ‘You mean to say you’d give up all this –’ he gestured with his hand around the room – ‘to live on some ranch in the middle of nowhere with some cowboy? Have you completely lost your marbles?’

  ‘I know it sounds strange to you, Adam, as you have always liked material things, but to live a simple life with Chad, riding the range, to me sounds like heaven.’

  ‘Chad? What kind of name is that for God’s sake?’

  ‘It really doesn’t matter. I’m sorry, Adam, none of this was planned, it just happened.’

  He sat back down on the settee. ‘I can’t believe I’m hearing this. Christ, Jenny, we’ve been married f
or years. I thought you were happy.’

  ‘I was to begin with, but as the years passed, it became just a routine.’

  ‘Thanks a bunch!’

  ‘You said when you came home last time that I had changed – well, it was true. I suddenly discovered I was a person, not an appendage. I like the woman I found, but unfortunately for you, I no longer want my old life. I no longer want to be your wife. I want a divorce.’

  He suddenly realized she was serious, and anger took over from disbelief. ‘If that’s what you want, then go to your bloody cowboy. Pack your stuff and get out!’

  ‘But what about you, Adam? You need looking after until you’re better.’

  ‘It’s a little late to be concerned about my welfare, isn’t it?’ he said bitterly.

  ‘I’m quite prepared to stay and look after you until you’re well enough to return to your unit.’

  ‘That’s very big of you! No thanks. Do you think I would want you around me knowing you would rather be with another man? No. I’ll hire a nurse and a housekeeper. Now, I suggest you pack a bag.’ He got out of the chair and limped out of the room to his study.

  Jenny heard the door slam. Although she didn’t regret her decision for a moment, she was sorry she’d had to break the news to Adam when he was still injured, but she’d had no choice. She couldn’t bear him to touch her. Not now.

  She went upstairs to her bedroom and, getting out a large suitcase, started to pack her clothes. She would collect the rest of her things when Adam had returned to his unit. She would go to Rusty’s flat for a while until she sorted herself out – she would have to rent a flat and find a job. There were sufficient funds in her bank account to see her through until then. Although she and Adam had a joint account, she had always had an account in her own name – which, as things had turned out, was just as well.

  Adam stood at the study window and watched Jenny put her case in the boot of her car and drive away, using the petrol she was allowed to do her war work. He was stunned. He could hardly believe what was happening. Jenny must be completely mad, he thought. How could she give up her comfortable way of life with him to go and live in Wyoming – with a bloody cowboy, for Christ’s sake! What’s more, she seemed completely enamoured with this man.

  He lit a cigarette. She’ll soon come to her senses, he told himself. The war would have to end first, then time would pass before she could go to the States. But if she changed her mind, did he even want her back? All these thoughts clouded his brain until he couldn’t think straight. He’d call a taxi and go to his club for a meal, a couple of drinks, and then come home. Perhaps then he could make some sense of what happened. Tomorrow he’d call an agency and hire a housekeeper and get a nurse to look after his medical needs until he was well. Maybe by then Jenny would have come to her senses and he would then decide what to do about their marriage.

  Jenny and Rusty sat in the small lounge of Rusty’s flat, eating baked beans on toast, washed down by a not particularly good bottle of red wine.

  ‘I’ll have to look for a job tomorrow,’ Jenny said.

  ‘Doing what?’

  ‘I’ll look in the Echo and see what’s on offer. I’m good at administration, so maybe something to do with the military. After all, I’m already working with them.’

  ‘Why don’t you have a word with Brad?’

  ‘Yes, I could do that I suppose. I’ll wait and see what’s in the paper first. By the way, I rang Chad and told him I was here and gave him this address. I hope you don’t mind?’

  ‘Look, Jenny, this is your home for as long as you want it, and you have your own key, so stop worrying . . . and if you want Chad to stay overnight, that’s fine too.’ She chuckled softly. ‘Mind you, it will be bit of a squeeze with two of you in a single bed!’

  Thanks, Rusty, what would I do without you?’

  ‘Don’t be silly. You’d have done the same for me.’ She rose to her feet. ‘I’m off to bed; I have to be up for work in the morning.’

  ‘I’ll go shopping for food tomorrow. I’ve brought my ration book; I’ll see what I can find. I’ll have a meal ready for when you get home.’

  ‘How lovely! And to have company. I’ve felt really lonely since I moved here.’

  There was a plaintive note to her voice, and Jenny felt sorry that the situation between her friend and Brad was so bad. She wondered if there wasn’t something she could do to change this.

  The following morning Jenny caught the tram and went to army headquarters and asked to speak to Captain Jackson. Chad came from the outer office, grinned broadly at her and said, ‘Would you come this way, Mrs Procter?’

  Brad walked round his desk, kissed her on the cheek and said, ‘Chad told me about your husband. Sit down, Jenny, what can I do for you?’

  She explained her situation. ‘I’m looking for a job. I wondered if you knew of anything.’

  ‘As a matter of fact, I do! We’ve set up a department to deal with war brides –’ he smiled at her – ‘which is something I know that you will be interested in personally in the future. Several of our men have met British girls and have already married them, and others plan to do so in the near future. After the war is over, we will have to ship these women out to the States, of course, but there are several steps that have to be taken before this can happen. You will have to liaise with the Red Cross – and us, of course, but you do that already so know the drill. I’ll bring some papers over to your place late this afternoon if you like, and we can go over them together so you’ll understand just what I want from you.’

  ‘That’s marvellous! Thank you, Brad, I’ll really enjoy doing that.’ She gave him her new address without telling him that she was staying with Rusty.

  On the way home, Jenny joined several queues for food and eventually returned with some sausages, a rabbit and some vegetables, thinking all the while of the vegetables growing in her garden at home, which would be going to waste. She would make a good rabbit stew for this evening, which would perhaps help to cheer her friend and fill in her time waiting for Brad to call.

  The American arrived late in the afternoon, laden with coffee, eggs, fruit and butter. ‘I thought this would help out,’ he said as he unpacked the goods.

  Jenny was most grateful and even more delighted when he produced a tin of ham.

  They sat down together and went through the papers he’d brought with him, discussing the finer details and what would be required of Jenny.

  ‘I only hope these girls realize what they’re letting themselves in for,’ he said. ‘I’m sure that many of the men have shot their women a line about their homes and lives back in the States, and some, I’m sure, are in for a big disappointment when they get there. But that’s out of my hands. We’ve talked to the guys about doing this, of course, but that’s all we can do.’

  ‘If they really love their man, they’ll put up with a lot before quitting,’ Jenny said with conviction.

  He smiled at her. ‘I don’t think you have a thing to worry about with Chad – he’s a great guy.’

  ‘I think so.’ As she spoke, Jenny heard the front door being opened.

  Rusty walked into the room and was shocked to see Brad sitting there. They looked at each other in surprise.

  ‘This is Rusty’s flat,’ Jenny explained. ‘She offered me a room when Adam kicked me out. I’ll go and make us some coffee.’

  Left alone, neither Brad nor Rusty knew what to say. Brad broke the silence first. ‘You’re looking well. How’ve you been?’

  ‘Fine, thanks.’ Rusty felt her heart pounding, she wanted to reach out and touch him.

  ‘Rusty’s working at Edwin Jones,’ called Jenny from the kitchen.

  ‘Is that right?’ Brad asked with surprise.

  ‘Yes, I got the job just before the last time we met. As you can see, I’ve moved. I’ve started a new life altogether,’ she said hopefully.

  ‘That’s good to hear.’ Brad looked at his watch. ‘I’d better be on my way.’ Getting to
his feet, he walked to the kitchen door ‘I’ll in touch, Jenny, when I’ve set you up with an office. Probably by Monday. Gotta fly.’ He smiled across at Rusty. ‘Good to see you again.’ And he left the flat.

  Jenny walked back into the room. Rusty was sitting looking devastated.

  ‘That didn’t turn out quite as I had hoped,’ Jenny told her as she sat beside her. ‘Sorry I didn’t tell you Brad was coming. I hoped once he saw you . . .’

  Her friend grimaced and forced a smile. ‘It was a nice try, Jenny, and I thank you for the thought, but as you see, it really is over as far as Brad is concerned. Oh well! Any tea in that pot?’ And the subject was closed.

  Eighteen

  Brad Jackson drove away from Rusty’s flat, his equilibrium definitely shaken. The last person he’d expected to see was the beautiful redhead with whom he’d shared so many romantic and intimate moments. How well she looked, and how shocked she was to see him there, but once that moment had passed – how tenderly she had looked at him. He pulled over to the side of the road and looked over Southampton Water. He got out of the jeep, lit a cigarette and walked over the grass and perched on a large piece of stone, staring into space.

  God! How he’d missed her! His life with her around had seemed so full. Without her, it had no purpose, and now she was working at a proper job and had been, apparently, since before their last meeting. But why had she waited so long to do so? Why didn’t she do so when first they met – or at least when they became lovers? He mentally argued with himself for the next fifteen minutes before getting in the car and driving back to the flat and ringing the bell with great insistence.

  ‘All right! I’m coming!’ Rusty yelled as she went to open the door.

  ‘Get your coat, you’re coming with me!’ Brad demanded.

  Jenny watched in amazement as Rusty grabbed her overcoat and was hauled out of the room by Brad, who was looking more than a little determined.