The Edge of the Fall by Kate Williams

Trammell started talking, sorted out Celia’s flowers when she couldn’t get them to stand, came up and wished her good morning when they were on separate tables.
    Miss Brown was young, would have been pretty if it hadn’t been for her large nose. She had sparkling eyes and shiny brown hair. She’d probably make someone an excellent wife, they’d be very happy. I’m not like you! Celia wanted to say. You don’t understand .
    Miss Brown had been at home during the war, as Celia should have been. She talked of sewing circles and first-aid classes. I’ve had a friend, Celia thought, just as you want one. I had Shepherd,in the ambulance station, until she died and none of us could save her.
    She fiddled with the flowers for the rest of the afternoon, ignored Miss Brown trying to smile at her. At the end of the day, she gathered her coat and hat.
    â€˜I wondered if you’d like to take tea with me?’ Miss Brown asked. She blushed. ‘If you weren’t doing anything else, that is.’
    Celia shook her head. ‘I can’t, I’m afraid. Not today. Sorry.’
    â€˜Tomorrow, then? I’m free then too.’
    Celia shrugged, seized her coat and hurried past her, knew she was being unkind. She knew the look in Miss Brown’s eyes. She wanted someone to make all this silly occupation worthwhile, a friend to share it with. But Celia had known Shep and had lost her – and had lost Louisa too. She walked out, angrily arguing with herself. She hurried past the park, through the heat, past mothers with prams and workmen carrying ladders and bricks, towards her room in Hammersmith.
    â€˜Celia!’ She turned and saw Tom emerging from behind a glossy parked car. He was smartly dressed in a suit, hair shining, expensive coat. He looked like an actor who’d popped up in the wrong play.
    For a few seconds she was too surprised to speak. ‘What are you doing here?’ she said at last.
    â€˜I came to find you. Have you finished for today at the school?’
    â€˜No one would call it a school. But yes.’ She paused. ‘How did you know how to find me?’
    â€˜You wrote to me about it, remember?’
    â€˜Oh, yes.’
    â€˜So I found out the address. I thought you’d be finished about now. Are you going home?’
    â€˜I’m going to Hammersmith.’ She could hardly speak, her heart on fire. This was what she’d wanted, for months. Tom walking beside her, talking.
    â€˜May I come with you?’
    She shrugged. ‘Of course.’ Why? Why now, after ignoring me all these months, after saying I had to find other friends? There was abeat in her heart: what do you want? She threw it away, ignoring the voice.
    He fell into step beside her, dodging the prams. ‘A lot of babies around here,’ he said.
    â€˜I suppose so.’ She turned to him. ‘You look well. Nice suit.’
    â€˜I have my job with Captain Dalton now. I was under him in France. He went back to his family firm, exporting to Europe. I’ve joined him. I’ve learnt a lot.’
    â€˜Good.’
    She paused.
    â€˜I haven’t seen you for over a year.’
    He turned, briefly, looked forward again. ‘Has it been that long?’
    â€˜Yes. You remember, my cousin Louisa has come and gone since. She came to live with us and then she and Arthur left. We haven’t heard from them.’
    â€˜Yes. Didn’t you say they were living with a family called the Merlings?’ So he’d read her letters.
    â€˜They’ve left the Merlings’ now. Who knows where they are? Papa says they’re abroad.’
    â€˜They’ve gone?’
    She shrugged. ‘Papa says Arthur is keeping her safe.’
    â€˜I’m sure he is.’
    They’d reached the Hammersmith tube by now and he held the rail outside the station. ‘Let’s go to Covent Garden from here. Are you free?’
    â€˜I suppose so.’