Chapter 34

He woke up to Tilly coming into the room carrying a tray. She put it down on the dressing table, then helped him sit up in bed.

"Isn't it a lovely day!" she said as she passed him his cup.

"It's beautiful," he agreed, sipping his tea.

"You were dreaming," Tilly said, "about the war."

Johnny smiled at her. "Yes," he said. "And about a lovely young nurse I met when I came back." He tried to touch her face, remembered his hand was useless, and settled for a slight wave in her direction with the hand that held the cup. "She is still lovely."

"You always were a charmer." She smiled a smug smile. "The other girls were so jealous. A captain. It sounded so grand."

Johnny shrugged. "Promotion comes quick in wartime." He wanted very much to grab her with both hands, take her round the waist and pull her onto the bed. "Is that why you went out with me? My exalted rank?"

"That, and the fact that you looked like a film star."

"Oh, which one?"

"Charlie Chaplin."