Annie’s Day, Excerpt by Apple Gidley

War took everything. Love never had a chance. Until now.

As an Australian Army nurse, Annie endures the brutalities of World War II in Singapore and New Guinea. Later, seeking a change, she accepts a job with a British diplomatic family in Berlin, only to find herself caught up in the upheaval of the Blockade. Through it all, and despite the support of friends, the death of a man she barely knew leaves a wound that refuses to heal, threatening her to a life without love.

Years later, Annie is still haunted by what she’d lost—and what might have been. Her days are quiet, but her memories are loud. When a dying man’s fear forces her to confront her own doubts, she forms an unexpected friendship that rekindles something she thought she’d lost: hope.

Annie’s Day is a powerful story of love, war, and the quiet courage to start again—even when it seems far too late.

Excerpt

Chapter 12 – Australia – January, 1944

“G’day, darl,” Auntie May’s greeting never changed. Nor the scent of fresh bread and lavender that clung to her like a warm quilt.

Annie melted into her wide arms.

“Whoa, darl, what’s happened?” May led her into the kitchen which opened onto the back porch overlooking her rose-filled garden, nurtured through the hottest summers with tender care. Putting the kettle on, she asked, “It’s not Joe, is it?”

When Annie shook her head, she added, “Or your father, the miserable old sod?” That at least evoked a smile, but she shook her head again.

“It is a man though, isn’t it?” She poured water into the pot. “What you need is a cup of tea, and a piece of Victoria sponge, although it’s not very spongey—the bloody chooks have stopped laying—so it’s made with powdered muck.” Auntie May picked up the cake. “You bring the teapot. Cups are out there already.” She settled herself on the sofa and patted the space next to her. “Righto, darl, start talking.”

The words, jumbled at first, flew out along with tears.

“It’s so silly.” Annie gulped, “I mean, I hardly know the man.” She picked up the cup Auntie May had refilled and blew. “You know what he does? When he finishes a night shift?” Annie didn’t wait for an answer. “He puts a hibiscus on my window sill so I see something beautiful every morning.” She touched her lips. “Before the sadness and gore of the wards.”

May stayed quiet until Annie’s sobs subsided and only hiccups remained. “Sounds like he knows you pretty well.” She licked her finger and picked up crumbs from the plate. “Darl, I have to ask, are you having a baby?”

Annie blushed. “No, Auntie May, I’m not.”

“But you have lain down with him?”

May smiled at Annie’s blushing nod. “Alright then. No complications. Baby or a married man. That’s good.”

“Doesn’t feel it.” Annie sipped her tea. “I don’t know when I’ll see him again.”

“Good grief, darl, this must be love. I’ve never seen you so down on a maybe.”

“What do you mean maybe?”

“Maybe you’ll see him in New Guinea again. Maybe you won’t. Maybe he will be sent to Lae. Maybe he won’t. Maybe you’ll have to wait until the end of the war. Lots of maybes, Annie, but from what you’ve said there’s no question about if you see him again. You love each other. That’s all that matters.” Auntie May poured another cup of tea.

“I didn’t want to love anybody. Not in wartime. Not after Ernie.”

“Oh, Annie, it doesn’t work like that. Love whacks you around the head like a breaker dumping you in the surf.” She hugged Annie. “You come up spluttering, wondering what hit you.”

“But war changes everything.”

“Of course it does. But you can’t time these things, darl.” She nudged Annie in the ribs and winked. “It’s not like doing your ward rounds on the clock.”

Annie gave a watery smile. “What if something happens?”

“What if it doesn’t, Annie?” May touched a rose petal. “You can’t waste your life on what ifs. You grab every moment of happiness you can. Don’t give a hoot about what people say. Just grab life, Annie. It’s too damn short for worrying about what ifs.” May stood, tipping Pearl off her lap. “Righto, lecture over. I think it might be time for something stronger.”

Annie picked up the tray and followed her aunt into the kitchen, then watched her take down a bottle of whisky and pour two slugs.

“It’s cooling down. We’ll sit in here. Now,” she asked with a grin, “is there anything wrong with this man?”

With a laugh, Annie said, “Not exactly wrong, but he has a dancing eyebrow.”

“A what?”

“His left eyebrow has a mind of its own. When he laughs, it does a jig.”

“Thank God,” she tapped her glass against Annie’s, “an imperfection!”

Annie spluttered over her drink. “No, more a quirk! Did I mention he knows James? In a roundabout kind of way, that makes it seem as if he almost knows Ernie.” She paused. “That sounds a bit crazy, doesn’t it?”

“Not really. Just a woman in love. I’ll have to get an unbiased report from Joe, or, better yet, meet him myself.”

“You will, Auntie May. As soon as we’re in Australia together, you’ll be the first.” Annie stroked Pearl, now sitting on her lap.

“In all that rush of words you didn’t say where Bill is from.”

“Glen Innes.”

“Well, at least he’s sort of local. Not about to whisk you off to the other side of Australia or, God forbid, to Victoria.”

Sidetracked for a moment, Annie asked, “What’s wrong with Victoria?”

“Snobs!”

“An entire state labelled in a word. You do know you’re a bit mad, don’t you?”

May nodded with a satisfied grin. “That’s why you children love me, and your father doesn’t.”

“You know, I never understood what Ma saw in him.”

“As a young man he was beautiful. Can you call a man beautiful? Dunno! But he was. And you know your Ma was a looker. They made a stunning couple. She tried so hard to be everything. But for some reason that wasn’t enough. She nearly always agreed with him.”

“Apart from allowing him to walk over us,” said Annie.

“She did love him, Annie, but maybe that was the issue. Her time diluted by you kids.”

“Then why have any?”

“Well, darl, that isn’t always an exact science, is it?”

“Auntie May,” Annie paused then blurted, “why didn’t you marry? You’d have been a wonderful mother, just like Ma.”

“Never met ‘my’ Bill, darl, but I had some fun looking.” Her laugh felt like a hug. “And I wasn’t prepared to settle for less.”

Universal Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/mZJq05

Vine Leaves Press Paperback Buy Link: https://shorturl.at/cUXbU

Meet Apple Gidley

Anglo-Australian, Apple Gidley’s nomadic life has helped imbue her writing with rich, diverse cultures and experiences. Annie’s Day is her seventh book.

Gidley currently lives in Cambridgeshire, England with her husband, and rescue cat, Bella, aka assistant editor.