'Who…?'- and then she recognized the unshaven, bedraggled man as Tom Osgood, Niv's friend, Oz. 'What's happened, Oz?' She stood aside and pushed him into the hall. She took his muddied raincoat, forced him into the living-room and made him relax while she brewed the tea. Then she went into him, sat by his side, waiting for him to talk. The kids were quiet, happy upstairs, parcelling up their presents for Christmas.
'I've got this for you, Gwen.' He took the ring from his pocket, pressed it into her hand. 'Thought you should have it.' Before she could answer he was fishing an envelope out of his pocket. ' The Master-at-Arms asked me to give it to you from the lads.' He handed it over awkwardly, as if it was burning a hole in his palm.
Inside was a cheque for £350 and a crumpled sheet of paper bearing a few lines of model longhand: ' To help you over difficult times,' was all the note said, ' from the Ship's Company of Icarus.'' She broke down and hurried into the kitchen. When she rejoined Oz, he was standing at the window, his raincoat hung neatly across the back of a chair. He had smoothed back his fair hair and was tidying up his suit. There were blue shadows beneath his brown eyes.
'Thanks for this,' she said softly. ' I'll write when I can.'
He came close to her, put an arm about her shoulders, saying nothing. Merle and she had often swapped confidences and she knew she was safe with him. ' What's happened to you, Oz?' she asked. 'You look done in. It's kind of Merle to let you come down: it's an awkward bus journey from Roborough.' Watching him closely, she was upset by his wild appearance. Oz was normally a fine-looking man, someone any woman could be proud of, but at the moment he looked muddy and dead-teat ' What's happened, Oz?' she repeated softly.' Tell me.'
'Oh, Christ…' he whispered, his hand clutching at her shoulder.
'Oz,' she asked,' what's wrong?'
'Merle's left me.' She felt the shaking of his body as he was wracked by an outburst of uncontrollable sobbing. She let him break away from her and quietly slipped into the kitchen. She selected two glasses from the cupboard, poured him the last of the sweet sherry, tipping a few drops into her own. When she returned to the lounge, he was himself again, the same, strong Oz. She went to him, touched his hand; she said nothing, waiting… as he stood up from the sofa his brown eyes were on a level with hers. He looked as hurt as a whipped spaniel.
'When I got home on Friday evening…' Oz was hesitating, glancing at her for assurance. She sat down and patted the cushion by her. ' I found our flat locked. The caretaker told me that Merle had left three days ago; she left the key with him in case I got home before she did.' She listened to his half-whispered words, caught the bitterness. 'I never knew, Gwen, honest, I didn't, whether she was speaking the truth or lying.' He was staring at her, hesitating. She had never before seen a man so stripped of his pride. It was not a pretty sight and she was glad to see Oz holding up his head again. His chin jutted obstinately and there was an edge to his voice when he continued:
'There was a note on the kitchen table, just a note, saying she'd left me and taken Debbie with her… taken Debbie, just like that.' He choked and could not go on. He was whispering to himself, 'my little Deb,' over and over again. She stroked his forehead with her fingers and suddenly he laid his head on her shoulder.
'She gave no reason, Oz?'
'Yes, at the end of the note — she said she couldn't go on with these long separations and being skint all the time. She'd had enough of navy life. She's going to find happiness with someone who can give her a decent week's wage and who'll be at home. Oh, God, Gwen…' His fingers were crushing hers so that she wanted to cry out.
'I never really understood Merle,' she said to him. ' She seemed never to have grown up. She revelled in men's admiration — and with her figure she got plenty of it.' She bit her tongue, wished she'd kept quiet.
'It's Ray — Ray Bolt, I'm sure. He was always in the boozer when I was last home.' He looked her squarely in the eyes: ' You know, Gwen, I'm glad it's finished… I've been unhappy about things for a long time. She was never satisfied, never had enough lolly, was always moaning about our way of life. I realize we're getting a raw deal in the navy, but it'll get better soon. On this last trip I decided to chuck my hand in so that I could save our marriage. I was blaming the navy though she'd have been the same whatever I was earning — never bloody well enough, mate…' He swore beneath his breath. He said:
'Gwen…?'
'Yes?'
He took her fingers, crushed them in his huge hands. She allowed him to lean against her, his head on her shoulder while gradually the pain drained from him. He would talk when he wanted and, somehow, sharing his torment was helping her to forget…
The door burst open and two little figures tumbled over each other as they fought their way to the telly. He did not move, nor take away his hand.
'You remember Mr Osgood?' Gwen said. ' He's come to see us for a little while. He'll be staying for supper.' She glanced at Oz, her eyes inviting.
'Yes, Mum.' The elder one gave Oz a friendly, fleeting smile. ' Can we have the Grimbles, Mum? They're just after the news.'
Oz pulled himself to his feet. He leaned over and flicked the switch. The black and white shadows zigged, then swung into focus. The newscaster was reaching the end of the local news.
'You don't want to be bothered with this, Oz,' Gwen said.
'It's okay by me,' he said, glancing at her.' The news is almost finished and they won't miss their Grimbles.'
So they watched the newscaster who was adjusting the prompt cards in front of him: the friendly face looked up at his invisible viewers. 'Before wishing you all a very good evening,' he was saying, ' I have a special announcement from the Plymouth Command for the Royal Navy: All officers and men from the following ships should report back on board as soon as possible. The police have asked us to stress that this is an exercise and is no way an emergency. Here are the names of the ships…' and, as the newsreader read from his list, the names were superimposed across the screen: Icarus was fourth from the top.
'Not my lucky day,' Oz said, as he rose from the sofa. He turned to Gwen and hugged her, kissing her on each cheek.
He looked at Gwen steadily, took her hands. 'Thanks,' he said.' I'll be in touch.'
'Take care of yourself, Ozzie,' she said softly. ' There's always someone here, should you need help. I'll keep you posted when I move.'
He took his cap from the hall stand, slipped on his raincoat.
She opened the front door and watched him closing the gate behind him. The reflections of the orange street lights shone on the wet pavement; a steady mizzle, driving in from the west, was slatting across the street. Tom Osgood pulled up his coat collar and leaned against the wind.
Hob and Allie Gamble tottered out of bed at eight, Hob doubting whether he had enough strength to go over to his mother for lunch. They had done their Christmas shopping in Wendron on their way back from a long walk over the moor yesterday evening, a hilarious hour before returning home. Last night had been a night of heaven, warm in their tiny cottage, but they did not want to waste this Sunday. Hob had to be back in the ship for the Flight inventory next Thursday. Allie was deliciously happy and not taking life too seriously yet… ' All in good time,' he'd whispered into her ear this morning. ' We've a lot to do first.' She then suggested driving up to the north coast. 'Why do you want to leave home?' he asked.
'To get out to smell the cliffs and the sea,' she said. 'You love it up there.'