War Torn

Agnieszka ran to open the door quickly so no one would see him. She didn’t want to smile at him but she could not stop herself.‘Darrel!’‘I don’t start work until one today. So I thought I’d stop by and show you my new wheels.’‘You get new car?’‘Yeah, came into the garage last week. A part-ex. It’s a Mazda MR2, not very new but some old bloke had it for years and didn’t drive anywhere. It’s even still got its original tyres!’He talked about the handling, the acceleration, and something about cylinders. She nodded and tried to look as though she understood, the way she did when Jamie talked about weapons.‘I see from window!’She went back to the living room and peered out at the car.He followed her. ‘I was going to take you for a ride in it. But it’s just not the weather today.’‘We go when sun shines again. Darrel, this very nice car. This beautiful car.’And it was. He looked pleased.‘Er . . . Shouldn’t you . . .?’ He hesitated. ‘So, what’s upset Luke?’She realized, for the first time since he had started, that Luke was still crying.‘He always begin when doorbell ring,’ she said, going to his pushchair and unstrapping him before she remembered that she had answered the door before Darrel had rung.Darrel held out his hands as if Luke was an old friend.‘How are you doing, mate? Want a hug with Darrel?’She handed Luke over and gradually, walking slowly around the room and chatting in a calm voice, Darrel worked his magic. She watched as Luke turned into a quiet, soft, pliable baby.Darrel said, softly: ‘Aggie, I’ve got something to tell you.’‘Something more than new car?’‘Yeah, something else. I’m going away for a while.’She felt her body stiffen. She looked up at him.‘My boss has a garage back in his home town. And it’s not doing very well. He wants me to spend a few weeks sorting it out.’There was a long silence.‘Where this garage?’ she asked at last.‘Great Yarmouth. East. The other side of London. Not far from Poland.’‘You not come back for a few weeks?’His face drooped.‘I’ll try. But the place is in a right mess. I’d rather get the job done and finished . . .’‘When you go?’‘Today.’‘Oh!’She turned away from him, back to the window. It sounded as though someone was throwing gravel at the glass. But it was just the rain.‘Look at me, Aggie.’She did not want to face him. She felt desolate. Desolation was a long, flat field, covered with snow. The field had been there when her father died. And when she had first arrived in England. She had cried herself to sleep each night for a whole month at the hotel where she worked. The field was there every time Jamie went away, every time Luke went to the hospital. And now here it was again. That blanket of snow over frozen earth in a field in a frozen world far from anywhere.‘Ags? Come here.’She walked over to him obediently and he put his free arm around her. He managed to kiss her, although he was still holding Luke with the other arm.‘Aggie, it’s not for long and I’ll ring you often,’ he said softly.He stroked her hair and the repetitive movement was soothing.‘I want to take care of you. I wish you hadn’t sent me away the other day, after the beach.’She closed her eyes. She leaned against him. It was one thing to look at Adi Kasanita on a summery evening laughing with her brood of healthy kids and think that was how life ought to be. And another to send away your only friend when you were stuck alone in a small house with a sick child on a rainy day. She was sure now that she did not want Darrel to go.‘Will you miss me?’ he asked.She nodded. She was frozen.‘I have to get to work,’ he said softly. ‘I’ll be back soon, Ags. Take care of yourself.’He carefully settled Luke into the corner of the sofa and this time the baby did not object. Darrel bent over Agnieszka. When she didn’t turn her face up to him he kissed her on the forehead.She stood at the window watching the beautiful car drive away. She did not permit herself to feel anything.She switched on the TV. The screen was filled with British soldiers. They were wearing desert camouflage and streaming out of the back of a Chinook. This must be Afghanistan. Her heart missed a beat.‘A new development,’ said the anchorman, ‘in the unfolding Afghan hostage crisis.’