‘Something wrong, Slacks?’
‘No.’ She summoned a smile. ‘It feels like a long time since I danced with anyone, that’s all.’
‘We’ve done this plenty, haven’t we?’
‘We have.’
‘And I’ve always kept my hands to myself?’
‘Always.’
‘Then relax.’
He was looking into her eyes while he swayed her, smiling, but it wasn’t ‘the look’. Ernie’s eyes sparkled in a way that made her think of the merry, handsome family in the photograph. There was nothing romantic in the way he was regarding her now. Still, Bobby closed her eyes to shut out his face.
She had to ask, no matter how humiliating it felt to do so. If she was going to be stuck on this base with him for another two months, she had to know once and for all what his feelings were.
‘Ernie?’ she whispered.
‘Hmm?’
‘That night, when you fell on the ice…’
He laughed. ‘Oh yeah, you jumped on top of me. You might at least have bought me dinner first.’
Bobby flushed. ‘What I mean is, when I was struggling to get up, and you said… I don’t remember what exactly, but it did feel…’ She drew a deep breath. ‘What I’m trying to ask is, do you… you know, like me?’
Ernie looked puzzled. ‘Sure I do. You’re a swell kid, even if you are a little too fond of telling me off. Why do you have to ask?’
‘I don’t mean…’ Bobby bit her lip, wishing she hadn’t started this conversation. ‘I meant, do youlikeme? Do you like me… the way you used to like Topsy?’
‘What way was that?’
‘All right, now you’re being deliberately obtuse.’ She glanced at Mike, dancing with her officer conquest nearby. ‘Mike says… she says men and women can’t ever really just be friends. That feelings always show up to complicate matters.’
‘Ah. I get you.’ Ernie smiled, and gave her waist a squeeze. ‘Like I said, you’re a swell kid. I’ve missed you since I left Silverdale. There are some nights, like tonight, when I’d even go as far as to say you look kinda cute. But as I told you once before, Slacks: romantically speaking, you’re really not my type.’
Bobby exhaled with relief. ‘That’s what I thought.’
‘I suppose the gentlemanly thing would be to declare I was passionately in love with you,’ he said, grinning. ‘But then the ladylike thing would have been for you to look at least a little disappointed when I said I wasn’t, and not so darned relieved.’
Bobby flashed him a full smile, letting herself relax. ‘Come on. You’re not going to cry over one lost admirer among so many, are you?’
He glanced at her left hand, resting on his shoulder as they danced. ‘Does that make a difference? Will you tell me what happened, now you know my intentions are pure?’
She allowed her body to rest against his, enjoying the feeling of safety that came from being held by a strong pair of arms when you knew those arms had no ulterior motive.
‘Nothing happened,’ she whispered. ‘That’s just it. I haven’t had a letter for five weeks, though I know Charlie’s been writing to his family. I think…’ She swallowed. ‘I think he must have found someone else. I don’t understand how he could have seemed to love me so much and then just stopped, as if those feelings never existed.’
‘I guessed it must be something like that,’ Ernie said. ‘I’m sorry, kid. You deserve better. I hope you find it.’ He tilted her chin up. ‘Come up with me tomorrow, OK? It’s my last flight before I go on leave. Let me show you this country you love as it looks from the heavens.’
She smiled. ‘I’d like that very much.’
Chapter 39
The next day was Sunday, when the WAAFs were expected to attend a service at the camp chapel straight after breakfast. In deference to the fact there had been a dance the evening before, however, both breakfast and church were scheduled for half an hour later than usual. Nevertheless, there were many groans that spoke of sore heads when the bugle blared to wake them up.
Bobby had already visited the ablutions block, and she was dressed and ready by the time her friends showed a leg.
