‘Yeah. Mom, Dad, kid brother and sister.’ Ernie smiled a little wistfully at the picture. ‘When I left, young Joey there was still in braces. In another year, he’ll be old enough to go to war. I guess Maggie will have grown up too before her big brother gets back again.’ He glanced at her. ‘I wish you could meet them. They’d love you.’
‘I’m sure I’d love them.’ Bobby looked again at the photograph. ‘They seem so happy.’
‘That’s the life out there. Mountain air, wholesome food and hard work. Man, my mom can cook! I can’t deny I’ve gotten fond of this place, but in the words of Dorothy Gale, there’s no place like home, right?’
‘You must miss it.’
‘Yeah,’ he said with a sigh. ‘I wonder, sometimes, if I’ll ever go back. I’d like to see the old place again.’
For a moment, Bobby thought he was talking about settling in England permanently after the war. Then she realised what he meant.
‘You will,’ she said, giving his hand a brief squeeze. ‘I’m sure of it.’
‘Seems arrogant to think I’ll be lucky when so many aren’t. Nice to know I’m in your prayers though.’ He looked up from the photograph to smile at her. ‘Now there’s a life that’d suit you, Slacks. If you think the piffling little hills you call mountains around these parts are beautiful, you ought to see the Rockies. Nothing to do but milk the cows, care for the little ones and fix your eyes on the sunset. Not a worry in the world apart from raccoons getting in the trash and the occasional straying bear.’
‘That sounds wonderful,’ Bobby said with a sigh. She blinked. ‘Sorry, did you say bear?’
He laughed. ‘Yeah, it’s grizzly country out there. Mostly they’re more scared of us than we are of them.’
‘I promise I am definitely more scared of them.’
‘Well, you look like a lady who could handle a shotgun. I’m sure you’d be striding the mountains like a true woodsman in no time, gun over your shoulder and a bearskin shawl on your back.’
They were interrupted by Mike, who ran over hand in hand with the officer she had been dancing with, Alfie. She took a long drink from her beer bottle.
‘Oh Lord, this is a party,’ she said breathlessly to Bobby. ‘Carol’s as tight as an owl, God bless her little spectacles. There’s gin being passed around if you want any, Bobs.’
‘Thanks, but I’m fine with beer,’ Bobby said, toasting Mike with her bottle.
‘Not asking this young lady to dance, Canada, you pig?’ Alfie said, grinning at his fellow officer.
Ernie glanced at Bobby. ‘Sorry, I guess that was rude. Would you like to?’ He smiled as the music for ‘The Lambeth Walk’ came on the gramophone. ‘They are playing our song.’
‘Oh, no,’ she said, laughing. ‘You know what a mess I always make of it.’
‘Suit yourselves.’ Mike dragged Alfie back to the floor.
Bobby followed them with her eyes. Dilys had hitched her skirt up past her suspenders while she did the Lambeth Walk, displaying knickers that were quite definitely knockouts and not blackouts. Carol was tripping over her feet and giggling as she attempted the steps, having sought solace for Ernie’s neglect in gin, while her equally drunk partner took advantage of the situation to let his hands wander where they shouldn’t. Mike was whispering something to Alfie – of what nature Bobby could only guess, but Alfie flashed his partner a very suggestive smirk in response.
Bobby glanced at Ernie. He was watching too, scowling.
‘What did I tell you?’ he muttered. ‘You put women in uniform, let them loose in a camp and pretty soon they’ve turned into a bunch of drunken pick-up girls. These your new friends, are they, Slacks?’
‘That isn’t fair,’ Bobby said. ‘OK, so Mike and the rest like to have a good time. I don’t see what’s so wrong with that. They’ll only be young once.’
‘The dame with the glasses can barely stand up. If a WAAF officer sees the Welsh one flashing her panties in uniform, she’ll find herself on a charge before she can blink. And I don’t suppose Alfie’s noticed the mark on that phoney blonde job’s wedding finger where she’s taken her ring off – not that he’s the type to care.’ He looked at Bobby. ‘What is it? Fiancé?’
‘Husband,’ she said, flushing. ‘But it’s more complicated than that. They’ve got an understanding.’
His gaze flickered to her own wedding finger, and the mark left by her engagement ring. ‘I don’t suppose…’
Bobby scowled. ‘Really? That’s what you think of me?’
‘No.’ He rubbed his head. ‘Sorry. That was a low thing to say. I guess I just don’t want to see you end up that way.’
‘What way is that?’
‘That way,’ he said, nodding to the women. ‘Exposing yourself to a roomful of strangers, too drunk to stand, getting cheap kicks with guys you just met.’ He curled his lip at Carol. ‘There’s nothing uglier than a drunken woman.’
