Free Vera's Valour by Anne Holman Page B

was away – and then of course she’d have to arrange for someone to take over her job when she had the baby.
    It was all a challenge. But Vera felt so glad to be home. Her only ache was wondering what was happening to her beloved husband in war torn France.
    “John will be popping in to take the dogs for a walk. Can you make an omelette for him too?”
    “John?”
    “You know John.”
    Vera smiled. She had the sense that she would soon learn much more about her Mum’s neighbour, John Baxter, who’d been helping her with walking the dogs. In her mum’s conversation, John was thrown in all the time!
    And when the elderly, upright gentleman arrived the dogs went mad to see him.
    Struck by his kindly face and the fondness he showed to her mother – as well as the dogs - Vera shook his hand warmly.
    “You would never believe half of what Vera’s been up to – in France,” Mum said, “It’s just as well I didn’t know all about it until she got back safely.”
    Vera dismissed her mother’s quick account of her experiences, saying, “I bet John has many stories to tell about his soldiering years.”
    Walking with his own dog, plus Vera’s two, was quite an art, but the agile ex soldier was well able to control all three on their leads as they trotted along with him. When John and the dogs set off down the road to exercise in a nearby park, Mum looked after him, and told her, “John has asked me to marry him.”
    Shocks galore Vera had had in the last few months of her life - but this was a delightful surprise.
    “Oh Mum!”
    Mum studied her daughter’s face and asked tentatively, “Do you think . . . ”
    Vera hugged her mother, “It’s what you want that matters, Mum.”
    “But do you like John?”
    “I hardly know him.”
    “I said I’d wait ‘till you got home, before I made up my mind.”
    Vera cried, “Your happiness is what matters, Mum. Will you be happy married to him?”
    Her mother nodded her head. “I think so, dear.”
    “Pity we haven’t some champagne to celebrate!”
    “Hold on. He only mentioned it. And I said I wanted to wait and think about it. He may not ask me again.”
    “Well I’m sure he will – especially as he won’t have to take my two dogs for a walk every day.”
    * * *
    It was a week later when John had checked over her car to make sure it was still in working order and Vera piled in the car, the dog beds, bowls, and her two dogs.
    Before she left she thanked John for walking her dogs every day. “It was very kind of you John. Three dogs to take out couldn’t have been easy at times.”
    John put his arm around her and gave her a quick kiss her cheek. “Vera, love, they were no trouble. It was my war work – and very pleasant to do. I love dogs.”
    Momentarily Vera thought of the German puppy, Freda, and hoped she was as well looked after and happy as her dogs were.
    John added, “Anyway, walking the dogs has given your Mum, and I the chance to get to know each other.”
    Vera smiled.
    “I’ll miss the dogs. I’ve got used to them now,” Mum said.
    “You’ve got John, and his dog.”
    Her mother smiled, “So I have.”
    “Anyway,” Vera reminded her, “next week I’ll come over on my day off so we can go shopping for baby things.”
    Mum brightened.
    “Mind you,” Vera said, “New things may not be available to buy. Geoff will understand his son may have to have second hand things. We’ll look in second hand shops for a cot and pram. And you get knitting his baby clothes - because I won’t have the time.”
    “I’d like to do that – it will make a change from knitting socks for soldiers. Which reminds me . . . “ she whispered. “John has kindly given me some clothing coupons for you to buy a larger size winter coat for yourself.”
    Vera put her head on one side and smiled at her mother, and whispered back, “Isn’t that thoughtful of him – I’ll have to repay him sometime.”
    Soon she was off in her car, with the dogs looking out