A Sister's War by Molly Green (the reading strategies book txt) 📕

phone Raine to ask her if she could manage a day off to coincide with her three days until she was already home. The line hadn’t been very good, but she thought she heard Raine say she’d see what she could do. But her sister hadn’t sounded very hopeful.

Ronnie sighed. Maman’s company could be stifling. If it wasn’t for Rusty she would have made some excuse to go back early. By the second day she thought she would scream with boredom, listening to Maman’s gossip of the neighbours, how frumpy they looked, how difficult it was to shop with more and more items being rationed … She hardly showed any interest in what her daughter had been doing these past few weeks, simply repeating that she hoped Ronnie would change her mind and be sensible and find a job in Bromley.

Everywhere she went Maman wanted to accompany her.

‘I’m going to see Mr Lincoln tomorrow,’ Ronnie announced. To her delight Maman wrinkled her nose. There was no chance her mother would give the vet’s a second visit.

‘Ugh. He is a very nice man and I am sure very clever, but the smell in that place. I thought I would be sick. I cannot believe you worked there.’

‘I didn’t know you’d been to the vet’s.’

‘I took Rusty once as he kept whining. It drove me crazy.’

Yes, Ronnie gathered that from Mr Lincoln’s letter but she knew better than to tell Maman he’d written. No, what was so strange was hearing her mother call him Rusty for the very first time instead of ‘that dog’. She decided it would be prudent not to draw attention to it.

‘Oh, what did Mr Lincoln say about him?’

Simone hesitated.

‘Maman, what did he think was the matter?’ Ronnie said impatiently.

Simone shrugged. ‘Maybe he was missing you.’

‘He seems to have settled now,’ Ronnie said, twiddling his ears. He gazed up at her with his usual adoring look.

‘We get along well enough,’ Simone said. ‘I make him behave. He is better that way.’

Rusty pricked up his ears and gave a loud bark. Then he rushed to the window, jumping up, his tail wagging madly.

‘What is it, boy?’ Ronnie said, going over to the window and pulling one side of the blackout curtains to expose an inch of the outside. It was already pitch-dark at only just gone four.

A figure stood on the doorstep but she couldn’t make out the face under the umbrella. Someone collecting for charity, she thought, as she went to the front door, Rusty at her heels. She opened it to see her sister with her hand raised to the doorbell.

‘Raine! How did you manage it?’

‘Let me in – it’s freezing out here.’ Raine grinned as she folded the umbrella, shook it and came into the hallway. She tossed it into the umbrella stand and shrugged off her wet coat. ‘You know, I think it’s trying to snow.’

Ronnie flung her arms around her sister who squeezed her tightly in return before letting her go. ‘How long have you got?’

Every moment was going to be precious.

‘Back tomorrow after lunch,’ Raine said, ‘but I thought it was better than nothing. I managed to swap a day with someone who owed me a favour.’ Rusty thrust his nose in her gloved hand. She peeled off her gloves and stuffed them in her coat pocket, then bent down, laughing, to pet him. ‘Yes, I know you’re there, Rusty. But just let me get myself sorted.’

‘Tell whoever the other pilot is that I love her,’ Ronnie beamed. ‘You go through. I’ll make some more tea. Maman’s in the front room.’ She dropped her voice. ‘I can’t believe this, Raine, but she’s finally taken to Rusty. She doesn’t want me to take him on the boat, though she won’t actually come out and say it.’

‘So what’s she said to make you think that?’ Raine laughed, patting the dog’s head.

It was at that moment Ronnie gave a gasp of surprise. For on the finger of her sister’s left hand was a ring she’d never seen before.

‘Raine, is that what I think it is?’

Raine gave her infectious laugh and looked down at her hand. ‘Probably. What do you think?’

‘I think it’s an engagement ring.’

‘You’re absolutely right, kiddo.’

‘Why didn’t you tell us?’

‘It only happened the night before last. Alec and I went out for dinner and he popped the question in the restaurant. It was all very romantic in the candlelight.’

It shouldn’t have been that unexpected, but somehow it sent the signal that her sister would one day leave the family to set up her own home with her husband. She was pleased for Raine but things wouldn’t ever be the same again. She bit the inside of her lip.

‘What did you say?’

‘I said yes, you idiot.’ Raine ruffled Ronnie’s curls. ‘And then I said, “Shall we have some champagne to celebrate?” So we did.’

Raine laughed, and even in the dim hallway Ronnie could see her sister’s face alight with happiness. She mustn’t ever let Raine know her own selfish thoughts. She must be happy for her. Goodness knew, Maman might not be that thrilled with her news. As though to verify the thought she heard her mother call.

‘Who is at the door, Véronique?’

‘Oh, just someone wanting to know an address,’ Ronnie said, giving her sister a wink.

‘There is a draught. Please shut the door.’

‘I already have.’

Ronnie followed Raine into the front room, the excited dog rushing between their feet. She forgot all about making tea, she was so curious to see Maman’s reaction to the engagement ring.

‘Hello, Maman.’

‘Lorraine, how nice to see you. We didn’t expect you. Why did you not telephone me?’

‘I didn’t know it myself until a few hours ago. But here I am.’

Still seated, Simone turned her cheek for her daughter’s kiss. Raine rolled her eyes towards Ronnie who had to bite her lip hard to stop a burst of laughter. Everything was wonderful now her sister was here and she was determined to make the most of it. They had something