Shelter from the Storm by Ellie Dean EPUB & PDF – eBook Details Online
- Status: Available for Free Download
- Authors: Ellie Dean
- Language: English
- Genre: Military Historical Fiction
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- Size: 2 MB
- Price: Free
Portsmouth, March 1943
They had been seeing each other at every opportunity since that night, and
April was still wildly, deeply and deliriously in love. She had no doubt at all
that Daniel would fulfil the promises he’d made during those wondrous hours
of lovemaking which had made her feel reborn and able to face anything and
everything – and even though this new-found courage would soon be put to
the hardest test, her faith in him held firm.
He’d proved to be a quiet, thoughtful man who was still in awe at the
exhilarating freedom from the colour bar here in England where he was
welcomed everywhere. It was all so different to the segregation and
restrictions of his home town in South Carolina – and to the prejudice he had
to withstand in the army camp. April had been deeply shocked by the severity
of the segregation imposed in America, and wondered how such prejudice
could be permitted in a country that was so wealthy and powerful – and yet
she was enchanted by the almost childlike delight he took in exploring this
brave new world, and fiercely defended his right to do so if there was even a
hint of trouble.
There had been moments over the past three months when things had
turned ugly owing to some of the more hidebound racists amongst the
American troops taking exception to him being with April, or daring to drink
at the same bar as them. These nasty episodes had mostly come to nothing,
for Daniel knew the consequences if he retaliated, and he’d simply turn on
his heel and find somewhere less threatening to go. Yet these instances
overshadowed April’s happiness, and she’d quickly realised how very
difficult Daniel’s life must have been back in America, which only made her
love him more.
‘I simply don’t understand it,’ she said to Paula as they got ready to go out
for the evening. ‘He’s not even really what you’d call black, not like some in
his regiment – and as we’re all fighting for the same cause, you’d think the
Yanks would accept them. But they have to live in separate barracks, eat in
different mess halls and shop at specific hours in the PX – and put up with
the most awful verbal and physical abuse.’
Paula turned from the dressing-table mirror and regarded her solemnly.
‘It’s the way things are, unfortunately,’ she said. ‘I’m just thankful we Brits
are more liberal-minded.’
‘But it’s quite frightening at times,’ April said. ‘They gang up and push
him around, calling him the most awful names. I don’t know how he can stay
so calm and not retaliate.’
‘Probably because he knows the MPs will arrest him if he lays a finger on
one of those white boys,’ said Paula tartly. ‘All is certainly not fair in love
and war.’
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