these folks have heard quite enough.” He tucked his happy weeping wife beneath his arm and tossed them a wink. “Besides, I’m sure they have better things to do.”
“No, please don’t stop on our account,” Anya said.
“Yes, please continue,” Danny added. “Anya and I both missed the big celebrations that day, so it’s a real treat to finally hear about it from someone who was here.”
Sybil laughed, still dabbing her eyes. “Oh, now you’re just being nice.”
“No, it’s true. Besides,” Danny continued, “this is Anya’s first visit to London, so I’m sure she’s enjoying your firsthand account.”
Sybil reached for Anya’s wrist. “I’ve been trying and trying to place your accent, but you see, I’m horrible with such things.”
“I’m from The Netherlands. Utrecht, to be exact.”
“Ah yes, of course that’s it. You’re Dutch. But how do you speak English so well? Were you raised here in England?”
“No, but my father grew up here in England in a tiny fishing village called Port Isaac. We spoke both languages in our home.”
“That explains it, then.” Sybil’s expression grew serious. “Oh, we heard such terrible things about the Occupation in Holland. I’m so very glad you survived. And now look at you—married and starting your happy-ever-after just like Jack and me. But you must tell us how you and your husband met?”
Anya and Danny looked at each other and smiled. “It’s a long story, but we actually knew each other before the war,” Danny began. “We hadn’t met face to face, but we’d corresponded for several years. Then I guess you could say I quite literally dropped in to meet her when my crew had to bail out of our Fort over Holland.”
“Were you shot down?” Jack asked.
“No, but badly damaged by shrapnel and engines on fire. We had no choice but to bail.”
“Oh my goodness! How utterly romantic,” Sybil trilled.
Jack shook his head and patted Sybil’s head. “Sweetheart, somehow I doubt the lieutenant had romance on his mind when he jumped out of his plane. That was quite a harrowing experience. Glad to see you survived.”
“Yes, and thank God for the Dutch Resistance workers who rescued me so the Germans couldn’t take me prisoner. And that’s where I met Anya—at a safe house. She was working with the Resistance—”
“Oh Anya, what a love story! It must have been so exciting—”
“Sybil, pipe down, will you?” Jack laughed, cupping his hand over her mouth. “Let these nice people have some peace.” He turned to face them. “You’ll have to forgive my wife. She could chat up a tree stump.”
She laughed, pulling his hand away. “That’s not true!”
“No, it’s actually quite nice to meet another war bride,” Anya said, coming to her defense. “That’s what they’re calling us, isn’t it?”
Sybil continued playfully fighting Jack’s attempts to hush her. “Yes, and there are thousands of us. Strength in numbers, don’t you think?”
“Yes, I agree.”
“Well, it’s been nice meeting you,” Danny said, “We don’t want to keep you.”
Jack peeked at his wristwatch then reached for his wife’s hand. “Wow, look at the time, Syb. I’ve got to catch a train back to my base. I’m sure you understand—”
“But wait,” Sybil said. “I have an idea. If you would allow me to see Jack off at the station, perhaps I could meet you somewhere afterwards and show you a few of the sights.”
“We wouldn’t want to impose on you like that,” Anya said.
“No, it wouldn’t be an imposition in the least. I’ll be wretchedly sad once Jack leaves, and this way, you will give me something to do rather than shed rivers of tears.”
“Are you sure?” Danny asked glancing at Jack.
“Don’t look at me.” Jack raked a hand through his hair before putting his cap back on. “Either way, we’ve got to run.” He started pulling Sybil along beside him. She turned, walking
“No, please don’t stop on our account,” Anya said.
“Yes, please continue,” Danny added. “Anya and I both missed the big celebrations that day, so it’s a real treat to finally hear about it from someone who was here.”
Sybil laughed, still dabbing her eyes. “Oh, now you’re just being nice.”
“No, it’s true. Besides,” Danny continued, “this is Anya’s first visit to London, so I’m sure she’s enjoying your firsthand account.”
Sybil reached for Anya’s wrist. “I’ve been trying and trying to place your accent, but you see, I’m horrible with such things.”
“I’m from The Netherlands. Utrecht, to be exact.”
“Ah yes, of course that’s it. You’re Dutch. But how do you speak English so well? Were you raised here in England?”
“No, but my father grew up here in England in a tiny fishing village called Port Isaac. We spoke both languages in our home.”
“That explains it, then.” Sybil’s expression grew serious. “Oh, we heard such terrible things about the Occupation in Holland. I’m so very glad you survived. And now look at you—married and starting your happy-ever-after just like Jack and me. But you must tell us how you and your husband met?”
Anya and Danny looked at each other and smiled. “It’s a long story, but we actually knew each other before the war,” Danny began. “We hadn’t met face to face, but we’d corresponded for several years. Then I guess you could say I quite literally dropped in to meet her when my crew had to bail out of our Fort over Holland.”
“Were you shot down?” Jack asked.
“No, but badly damaged by shrapnel and engines on fire. We had no choice but to bail.”
“Oh my goodness! How utterly romantic,” Sybil trilled.
Jack shook his head and patted Sybil’s head. “Sweetheart, somehow I doubt the lieutenant had romance on his mind when he jumped out of his plane. That was quite a harrowing experience. Glad to see you survived.”
“Yes, and thank God for the Dutch Resistance workers who rescued me so the Germans couldn’t take me prisoner. And that’s where I met Anya—at a safe house. She was working with the Resistance—”
“Oh Anya, what a love story! It must have been so exciting—”
“Sybil, pipe down, will you?” Jack laughed, cupping his hand over her mouth. “Let these nice people have some peace.” He turned to face them. “You’ll have to forgive my wife. She could chat up a tree stump.”
She laughed, pulling his hand away. “That’s not true!”
“No, it’s actually quite nice to meet another war bride,” Anya said, coming to her defense. “That’s what they’re calling us, isn’t it?”
Sybil continued playfully fighting Jack’s attempts to hush her. “Yes, and there are thousands of us. Strength in numbers, don’t you think?”
“Yes, I agree.”
“Well, it’s been nice meeting you,” Danny said, “We don’t want to keep you.”
Jack peeked at his wristwatch then reached for his wife’s hand. “Wow, look at the time, Syb. I’ve got to catch a train back to my base. I’m sure you understand—”
“But wait,” Sybil said. “I have an idea. If you would allow me to see Jack off at the station, perhaps I could meet you somewhere afterwards and show you a few of the sights.”
“We wouldn’t want to impose on you like that,” Anya said.
“No, it wouldn’t be an imposition in the least. I’ll be wretchedly sad once Jack leaves, and this way, you will give me something to do rather than shed rivers of tears.”
“Are you sure?” Danny asked glancing at Jack.
“Don’t look at me.” Jack raked a hand through his hair before putting his cap back on. “Either way, we’ve got to run.” He started pulling Sybil along beside him. She turned, walking
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