‘I’m not going,’ Bobby said, blowing her nose on Charlie’s hanky. ‘I’m really not in the mood for a party.’
‘Nonsense,’ Mike said stoutly. ‘Best thing for you. Take your mind off he-who-shall-not-be-named and remind you how many more fish there are in the sea. Better fish, who know how to treat a girl properly.’
‘Honestly, I can’t. I just know if anyone asks me to dance, I’ll blub all over him. I’ll bring everyone down with my miserable face.’
‘You’re coming and I won’t take no for an answer. Have a few drinks with the girls and toast to the demise of every swine who thinks he can treat us like dirt. Better than lying here sobbing on your own.’ Mike picked up the photo of Charlie, waved a two-finger salute at it and shoved it in Bobby’s drawer. ‘There. A clean slate.’
Bobby gave a damp laugh. ‘I’ll go for a little while, but only if you promise to protect me. I swear I never want to see a man again. Don’t let Carol matchmake for me, and if you see any airman heading in my direction with longing in his eyes, just punch him right in the nose.’
Mike grinned. ‘It would be my pleasure. Come on, let’s get that face of yours washed up.’
‘All right.’
Bobby stood to follow her out. Then she paused, looking down at her left hand. After a moment, she slid her engagement ring off and put it in the drawer with Charlie’s photo. She shoved a pile of kit on top so they were hidden from view before following Mike to the ablutions block.
Chapter 37
The dance in the NAAFI canteen was to begin at seven p.m. It was the last thing Bobby was in the mood for, but since she could tell Mike wasn’t going to let her get out of it, she made herself presentable in best blues and a pair of contraband silk stockings. Mike had assured her a blind eye was always turned to a few luxuries that would allow them to feel more feminine at social events. Bobby was hoping that after half an hour, her friends would be so caught up in the party that she could slip out and retire to bed to cry in peace.
By the time she, Carol, Dilys and Mike arrived, the party was in full swing. WAAF recruits were taking full advantage of their new freedom, hurling themselves around with the airmen while a gramophone blared out ‘Deep in the Heart of Texas’.
Everyone seemed to have a bottle of beer, and the air was heavy with smoke. As they entered, winks and wolf whistles greeted them from a gaggle of men still without partners. Since these were mere recruits, however, Mike silenced them with a withering look of contempt.
‘I told you we should’ve got here early, Mike,’ Carol muttered, glaring at the WAAFs already dancing. ‘Now this lot have had first choice of the men.’
‘They’re only dancing with erks,’ Mike said dismissively. She nodded to a table where three male officers were seated. ‘There’s your man, look. And he’s generously brought friends for us.’
Bobby hung back when she saw Ernie.
‘Can’t we find a table just for us?’ she asked. ‘You know Mulligan doesn’t approve of other ranks getting chummy with officers.’
‘Are you joking?’ Carol turned disbelieving eyes on her. ‘We need to get in there, before someone else snatches them.’
‘You go. I’ll get us drinks or something.’
‘No you won’t, they’ll get us drinks. That’s the whole point.’ Carol took her arm. ‘Besides, we need you. You’re the one who knows him. If we stand about nonchalantly, he might ask us to join them.’
In fact they didn’t need to stand around. Ernie had spotted them and stood to wave them over.
‘Slacks. Hey,’ he called. ‘Free at last, huh? Why don’t you and your pals sit with us?’
‘Thank you, that’s very kind,’ Carol said, trying and failing to sound aloof. ‘We were just going to buy drinks.’
‘Nonsense,’ said one of the other men: a startlingly blond pilot officer with a clipped moustache who wore the half-brevet of an observer. ‘Won’t hear of it. Carter, go get these young ladies some drinks. Everyone shuffle up and make room.’
Carter, the youngest of the three and clearly used to this sort of treatment, rolled his eyes as he stood to obey.
‘What are you ladies having?’ he asked. ‘There’s beer or… well, more beer. That’s rather it, I’m afraid.’
Mike smiled. ‘We’re all happy with beer. Thank you.’
He looked at the men. ‘I don’t suppose one of you lazy blighters is going to help me carry them?’
‘Oh, there’s no need for anyone else to get up,’ Dilys said, blushing a little. ‘I can help.’
‘Righty-ho,’ Carter said jovially. ‘Back soon, chaps.’
Bobby hung back, waiting for Mike and Carol to draw over some chairs so Carol could claim the spot next to Ernie. He had already stood up to let the women sit down, however, and when they were seated he pulled up a chair beside Bobby. He looked at her curiously.
