Page 30 of The Little Island Flower Stall
Dolly was thoughtful for a moment. ‘I’d have been six when it all started. I recall my seventh birthday being a bit overlooked because my parents were so worried.’
‘That’s so sad. It must have been terrifying.’
‘I got used to it quickly – we all did. We had to. I always remember the adults seemed more scared than us youngsters, and I could never understand that. Now, of course, I do, but back then…’ She shrugged. ‘I just remember the soldiers being around, but they mostly ignored me so I ignored them. They used to notice Violette and her sister; I do remember that. The adults were always warning all us girls to stay away from the Germans, even the younger ones like me. Not everyone did. It was a strange time and people did strange things…’ Dolly’s tone darkened, but as quickly as it did, she was back to normal again. ‘Violette and Anais – that’s her sister, you know – they were both so pretty. Not me…How I envied them. Celestine too, though she’d never say it.’
‘I bet you were lovely,’ Bella said as they emerged from the shade of the narrow street and out onto a wider boulevard where the sun was already breaking through the haze.
‘People said so, but they didn’t stare like they did at Violette and Anais. I’m sure every girl in St Rosa was jealous.’
‘You were a lot younger, though.’
‘Oh, yes, but even as I got older, I didn’t fill out in the way they had. I suppose I was what you’d call a late bloomer – I was practically married by the time I got a figure to speak of.’
‘I’d love to see a photo of you all. Do you have any?’
‘I might have one or two, but I’m not sure where they are. Haven’t looked at them in years.’
‘I have this friend…’ Bella began slowly, an idea forming. ‘He’s interested in the history of Jersey around St Rosa at that time. I bet he’d love to talk to you.’
If Bella had given it a second’s more thought, she might have realised what trouble she was stirring up. ‘I don’t suppose you’d talk to him about those days? About your little gang of friends?’
‘I’m sure he wouldn’t be bothered about that after all these years.’ Dolly wafted away the idea. ‘You said he wanted to know about the history of the island.’
‘Yes, and you’re a part of that history. That bit, anyway. I know he’d love to hear about it.’
Dolly paused and her pace stuttered with it, so that Bella was walking so slowly she almost felt she’d stopped. ‘Does he live here then?’
‘No, he’s staying for…well, I’m not sure about that, but I know he’d make time to talk to you, whenever it suited you.’
‘And he wants to know about Jersey history?’
‘Sort of. He’s really just interested in those few years when the war was on, I think. About the prisoners of war who used to work here too. Do you know about them?’
‘Can’t say I do. I know we used to see them arrive sometimes, but that’s all.’
‘Oh. I suppose anything might be good, though.’
‘I could talk to him,’ Dolly said thoughtfully. ‘Is he going to ask Celestine as well?’
‘I don’t…’ Bella hesitated. She realised she was going to have to ask Dolly not to mention this to Celestine, but how on earth could she do that without it sounding like a very dodgy request? ‘I’m not sure. She doesn’t seem keen. I asked her, but…’
‘She’s very sensitive about it all, you know. She was never the same after the falling-out with Violette.’
‘They fell out? How?’
‘I don’t know exactly what it was about, but it was shortly before Violette went away.’
‘Went away where?’
‘She said Cornwall to see some relatives, but…’ Dolly tapped the side of her nose. ‘She was gone for a long time, and when she came back…well, she wasn’t the same girl. Always crying at the strangest moments. Wouldn’t even look at a man, and before that she’d been the biggest flirt…loved the attention. Celestine tried to make it up, but Violette wouldn’t have any of it. Didn’t speak to her for years, and even when she started to again, it was only to say what she had to say.’
‘Really? And you don’t know what happened?’
‘Neither of them would talk about it.’
‘Was this during the war? Because I thought the Nazis didn’t allow anyone to leave the island?—’
‘Afterwards. Not long, though.’
