Chapter 2

“Yes, I know, dear,” she said. “Your Uncle Les is a very, very mean man, but what can we do?”

“Okay. Now I’m definitely awake. You were saying?”

“I said who knew it could take so long?”

Leslie glanced at his wristwatch. “Forty-five minutes or so since you left the house. I wouldn’t call that long.”

She glared back at him. “Not what I meant.”

“Oh, you were talking about the baby.”

Caroline kicked off her shoes and stretched out as best she could given her newly acquired weight. “It’s all so endless. The whole damn process.”

“Just ask any woman who’s had one.” He paused a moment and shifted his position on the sofa. “The common wisdom is you’ll be just dandy in three months, two weeks, and fourteen days. And guess what? There’s a darling Baby Graham at the end of it.”

“Well, you don’t know everything. Your calculations are off and you’ve just extended my pregnancy by a month. Thanks heaps for that.”

“I did?” He tried to suppress a laugh, but couldn’t quite manage it.”

“You’re a devil, and I’ve a mind to tell Edward what a beast you’ve been while he’s been away.”

“And you’re an angel, I suppose?”

“Oh, shut up, Les. I don’t want to fight.” She hesitated a moment, then said, “I’d pop over and give you a quick peck on the cheek if I didn’t feel like a baby elephant right now.” She rubbed her belly. “I sure as hell hope you’re worth it, Baby Graham.”

“He will be. You’ll see. It’s just this rough patch and then—”

“Rough patch! That’s a laugh. You have no idea.”

“Go take an aspirin or some such.” Leslie pushed Samson gently from his feet and told Caroline he was off to the kitchen to make her a good, strong cuppa.

“Sounds lovely. I take it back. You’re definitely the angel in this little family.”

* * * *

While waiting for Leslie to return from the kitchen, Caroline thought about Cyril, off on another mission. Damn you. And to have the nerve to leave me behind! Nothing ever happens in an English village and lately that goes double for wartime. Caroline wasn’t in the least thrilled Cyril spoke to the Director about her condition. She didn’t need a home front assignment. How much watching and observing could she do in this little hamlet without going round the bend in the process?

A few minutes later, Leslie brought in a tea tray and placed it in her now ample lap. “There. Shall I play mother?”

“I don’t think so. One mother in this family is quite enough.” She fixed her tea, black and strong, just the way she liked it, and then asked him to move the tray and set it down on the small table near the front window.

“You seemed pensive when I came in. What were you thinking?” Leslie poured his tea then sat down across from her on the sofa, waiting for her to respond. When she didn’t he arched his eyebrows.

“I was thinking of that stinker of a husband of mine. Running off and leaving me—”

“Alone with boring little me,” he supplied.

“You know that isn’t what I meant. He’s out there having all the fun and I’m having…something else.”

Leslie laughed. “Your really are a silly goose. You want this child—and you know it—yet you also want to go on dangerous assignments with the boys as if this baby hadn’t happened. You can’t do both. Not right now, love.”

“Why not? I’m perfectly capable of doing anything a man can do, maybe more so.” She burped loudly and put a hand up to her mouth. “Oh, that acid is ugly.”

“Right and that’s exactly why Cyril got you a home assignment. You can be just as effective here on the lookout for nefarious doings and suspicious characters. Everyone must do his or her bit.”

“Yes, all right. You’ve made your point.”

“Anyway given your condition, you never know quite how you’re going to feel, especially now since the baby’s so near.” She started to speak, but he cut her off. “Truth be known, you sent your husband literally flying out the front door.”

“Did not.” She flashed him an indignant look.

“Did, too.”

“I did no such thing. You know he had an assignment, mind you a simple one this time, but still a mission.”

“A voluntary one as I recall,” Leslie said.

“And Edward gladly went with him. Maybe it was youwho drove them both away.”

“And me the angel as you just said. You have to admit, Caro, you’ve been in some rather beastly moods lately.”

She shrugged her shoulders and took a long sip of her tea. “Let’s talk about something else.”

“Good. I wanted to get your opinion on something.”

She nodded.