‘Oh, I wish I could!’ she said, turning wide eyes on him. ‘That must be heavenly.’
He narrowed one eye. ‘Hey, that’s not a bad idea. How’d you like to come up with me for a joyride sometime?’
‘No, thanks all the same,’ Carol said, although the invitation hadn’t really been addressed to her. ‘I get sick from heights.’
‘Would that be allowed?’ Bobby asked Ernie.
‘Well, not exactly, but brass turn a blind eye to the occasional flip as long as there’s an officer to take responsibility. I know Gardiner secretly thinks it does you girls good to see what it’s all about up there. Seems only right we baptise you properly if you’re to carry the name of airwoman.’
‘You really think it would be all right?’
‘Sure. I’m doing a training flight tomorrow. Why don’t you come along?’
‘I’d love to, if it’s not going to get us into trouble.’
A young RAF recruit approached them, looking sheepish.
‘Sorry, but would one of you girls like to dance?’ he asked. ‘All my mates have got a partner and I feel daft on my own.’
Carol glanced at Ernie, hesitated, then shrugged.
‘I will. Might as well.’ She drained her beer and stood up. ‘Come on then, sonny.’
Chapter 38
Ernie laughed as Carol and the recruit walked off. ‘We seem to have driven your pal away. Are we that dull, do you think?’
‘I think we might be,’ Bobby said, smiling.
He shuffled round to look at her. ‘And now she’s gone, you can tell me what’s the matter.’
She flushed. ‘What makes you think anything is?’
‘Come on, Slacks. I saw your face when Carter mentioned your guy. And don’t think I haven’t noticed that white mark around your finger and the ring that’s conspicuous by its absence.’
‘Please, Ernie, don’t. I just… I can’t.’
He blinked as a tear she couldn’t keep in escaped.
‘Sure,’ he said gently. ‘If you don’t want to talk about it, that’s your prerogative. Just thought you might welcome a listening ear.’
‘Not from you.’
‘Why not? Your new girlfriends seem nice and all, but you’ve known me longer.’
‘I…’ She swallowed hard, endeavouring to push back the threatening tears. ‘Because I’ll weep all over you, that’s why. Talk about anything else. Silverdale, Canada, anything. I don’t want to think about it until… until it’s bedtime and I have to.’
‘If that’s what you want.’ Ernie was still watching her with a worried expression. ‘I hate to see you like this, Slacks.’
‘Yes, well, I hate being like this.’ She closed her eyes. ‘But I don’t want to go to bed,’ she said quietly. ‘I thought I did, but there won’t be any sleep waiting for me. Just thoughts, and pain. If you really want to be a friend tonight, talk to me. Make me think about anything else, please.’
Ernie watched her for a moment, then took something from the breast pocket of his tunic and put it down in front of her.
‘Take a look at this. It arrived today from my mom.’
It was a photograph: a man and woman in middle age, arms around each other, both grinning very Ernie-like grins. The woman had her dress rolled to the elbows and looked merry, rosy-cheeked and like she wouldn’t brook any nonsense. The man was the image of Ernie with a couple of decades added, handsome and grizzle-haired, with a full beard that gave him the look of a seasoned outdoorsman. Beside them were a couple of equally merry-looking kids. Behind was a large wooden farmhouse that looked to be straight out ofTom Sawyer, with a porch and a white picket fence. Snow-capped mountains that would dwarf Great Bowside rose up in the distance.
‘It’s beautiful,’ Bobby whispered. ‘This is your family?’
