Free A New Day by Beryl Matthews

the cheek. ‘I’ll come for you at six o’clock in two weeks’ time.’
    ‘I’ll look forward to it.’
    Once back in the house she ran up the stairs and danced along the landing to her room. Mrs Harcourt and the boys were staying with Captain Harcourt’s mother for the weekend, and wouldn’t be back until teatime tomorrow. There would be no need to get up early in the morning. What a luxury – what fun!

Nine
    How his life had changed. The years at the orphanage and the nightmare of being under Talbot’s control seemed like a distant dream. Jack felt as if he had stepped into another world. There was a comradeship among the men, almost like being part of a large family. Although he was new and young he had been accepted. The only concession they made to his youth was to take the time and trouble to explain things to him in detail so he understood exactly what he was being asked to do. It gave him a lovely comforting feeling.
    They had made a brief stop to pick up the mail and he had two letters from Hanna on the table in front of him.
    ‘Tea, Jack?’ Frank asked as he walked into the mess carrying boxes of supplies.
    ‘Please, I’m gasping.’
    ‘You going to read your letter, lad, or just gaze at it?’ Bill took two mugs from Frank and put one of them in front of Jack, and then sat beside him.
    Jack gave a nod of thanks. ‘I know she’s happy where she is, but I left a mess behind for her to sort out, and I’m afraid she might have had trouble with Talbot. He’s a nasty brute, and not the sort to let my disappearing go without a fight.’ He picked up a letter, weighing it in his hand. ‘And I don’t like the look of this one. It’s rather bulky.’
    ‘There’s only one way to find out. Go on, open them.’
    ‘You’re right.’ He slit open the thick letter first and frowned as he unfolded a child’s drawing. When he spread it out on the table all the men in the mess stopped what they were doing to have a look at it.
    ‘Your sister like drawing?’ one of the men asked.
    ‘No.’ He laughed, suddenly realizing what it was. ‘She’s looking after two young boys – twins – and one of them must have done this.’
    ‘Read what she says,’ Bill urged.
    Jack unfolded the letter and began to read quickly, a smile spreading across his face, and he roared with laughter from time to time. He looked up, his face animated. ‘The picture is from one of the boys, Andrew, and she said he did it especially for me, so I’ve got to put it by my bunk.’
    ‘Ah, in that case you must.’ Bill picked up the picture and studied it carefully. ‘Do you know where this is, or did the boy make it up?’
    ‘That’s Richmond Park. Hanna used to take me there now and again as a treat.’
    ‘And I have a feeling you didn’t get many of those,’ Bill said seriously.
    ‘No, but we really enjoyed them when we did. My sister was very good like that. She tried hard to see I didn’t miss out on everything. My favourite time was when we went to the swimming pool.’ Jack gulped some of his tea. ‘I’ve always liked the water.’
    ‘We’ve noticed that by the way you spend your spare moments gazing at the sea.’ Bill pointed to the drawing. ‘Tell you what, lad, we’ll tack it up for you and I’ll take a photo so you can send it to the boy.’
    ‘Would you, Bill? That would be wonderful.’
    ‘Easy done, lad. Now, you’d better read your other letter.’
    He slit this one open eagerly, and as he read his smile turned to a frown. ‘Oh, damn!’ he muttered. ‘I was afraid of this.’
    ‘What is it, lad?’
    ‘That blasted man has been causing trouble. I knew he would, but he went to the police about me! Can you believe that? A brute like that daring to take the police to question my sister!’ Jack was furious that Hanna had had to endure such an ordeal.
    The men sitting around him said nothing as Jack continued to read. Slowly his frown eased and he sighed with relief. ‘Oh, it’s turned out all