After Dunkirk [Discontinued]

Five ~ Juggling

"This is your sister?" I ask in shock and quickly remove my arms from around the trembling young woman.

"Yes, that's Georgina, the one I told you about," Tommy pointedly says and she runs into his arms. "Shhh, it's okay, Georgie."

She's definitely not a lassie with pigtails, that's for sure.

"What's going on?" Mrs. Hughes worriedly asks, walking over to Tommy and Georgina and I mentally prepare myself to be kicked out. "Are you okay, love? What happened?"

"It was my fault, Mrs. Hughes. I was hungry, so I came down to get something to eat and I startled her," I explain while picking up the scattered apples and I place them in the wire basket on the counter. "Are you okay, Georgina?"

"Yeah, I-I guess. My heart's still pounding though."

"Why don't you sit down and I'll warm some milk for you, love," Mrs. Hughes coos and walks Georgina over to one of the four chairs at the table. "It'll calm you down."

While Mrs. Hughes walks over to the stove, Tommy sits down next to Georgina at the table and I don't dare move from my spot. I figure the less noise and movement I make at the moment, the better.

"Would either of you boys like some milk?"

"No thanks, Mum," Tommy says, keeping his eyes on me like a hawk and I shake my head in answer. He breaks eye contact with me by kissing her head and he soothes her shoulder. "Are you okay, sweet pea?"

"Yeah, I am now, hey, wait a minute," Georgina confusedly says, sitting up in her seat. "You're home a-and you're alive."

"'Course I'm alive," he playfully scoffs and taps her nose, earning a giggle. "I promised you I'd come home, didn't I?"

"Yeah," she smiles and wraps her arms around his neck for a hug. "I just can't believe it. I'm so happy you're home, Tom Tom."

"Me too, Georgie, you have no bloody idea," he chuckles, leaning back and he pets her hair back. He whispers something that I can't hear and she shakes her head. "Okay then. I believe you. Now, lemme properly introduce you two. Alex Rutherford, this is my little sister, Georgina. Georgie, this is Alex, my best mate when we were over in France. He doesn't have a place to stay right now, so Mum's letting him stay here with us for a bit."

"Nice to meet you, Georgina," I quietly say with a polite nod and she rolls her eyes.

"Yeah, a real pleasure," she breathes out a laugh, but I still don't find this situation humorous.

"Well, love," Mrs. Hughes says in a warning tone as she sets a mug of milk in front of Georgina, "if you would've been home before your curfew, you would've met Alex under better circumstances. You know I don't like you out at night, but considering the events of tonight, I won't ground you."

Thank God. I think she would've made my life a living hell. She has mischief written all over her face. That and freckles.

"Alex, why don't you join us?" Mrs. Hughes suggests and I furrow my eyebrows in confusion.

"Really? Y-you're not gonna kick me out?"

"What? Heavens no, love. Have a seat and finish what you were eating. What were you eating?"

"Pickles and roast beef. M'sorry for making a mess, but I was hungry," I explain and she shakes her head. "Don't worry, I'll clean it up."

"Oh this just won't do," she says, grabbing the plate of roast beef and jar of pickles and she walks over to the counter.

But I'm still hungry.

"Georgie, would you believe that Alex can juggle?" Tommy knowingly says and I look over at him in surprise. "Go on and use the apples, mate. Wow us."