‘I’m afraid we’re not allowed,’ Bobby said, ignoring a glare from Dilys. ‘We’re not even supposed to be talking to you. Fraternisation with your kind is strictly forbidden until we’ve been here a fortnight.’
‘Didn’t you listen to my talk? I thought we were fostering Commonwealth relations.’
Bobby smiled. ‘“Your kind” meaning men, not Canadians. Sorry, but you’d have to take it up with our WAAF commandant.’
‘I might do that.’ He gave her another warm smile. ‘I’m glad you’re here, kid.’
He strode off towards the door, but Bobby called to him.
‘Ernie, wait! Have you had any news from Teddy?’ she asked. ‘We’re not allowed to receive letters for a fortnight either. I’m dying to know how everyone is at home.’
‘I had a letter from the new Mr and Mrs Nowak just before I left Cambridge,’ he called over his shoulder. ‘Happy to report that all’s joyous with the honeymooners. I’m told the old lady’s just become a proud gran of nine feathery grandchildren.’
‘Oh! You mean Norman and Jemima’s goslings have hatched?’
Ernie laughed. ‘Sorry, I have to go. I have to be on the airfield in ten minutes to take a sprog up. Meet me in the NAAFI tomorrow and I’ll let you read it for yourself, OK?’
‘You know I can’t. Mulligan would have my head.’
‘We’ll see about that,’ he said, grinning, and left the hut.
‘Bloody hell!’ Carol stared at Bobby like some wondrous thing. Mike had fixed her in an awestruck gaze as well, and even Dilys looked reluctantly impressed. ‘All right, tell useverything.’
Bobby shrugged. ‘He’s a friend from home, that’s all. I didn’t know he was being moved here. Last I heard he was in Cambridge.’
‘What kind of a friend?’ Dilys asked, narrowing one eye.
‘What kinds are there?’
‘Men and women can’t really be friends,’ Mike said. ‘Sooner or later he goes gooey on her or she does on him, or something happens between them when they’re tight, and it all ends up one big mess.’
Carol frowned at Bobby. ‘Is that it, Bobs?’
‘Don’t be daft,’ Bobby said, fighting a blush. ‘It isn’t always like that. Ernie was billeted in my village and we got to know each other performing in a Christmas pantomime.’ She glanced at Mike, who was smirking. ‘Honestly, that was all there was to it. He helped me with my Lambeth Walk.’
Mike snorted. ‘I’ll bet he did.’
Dilys gave Bobby an impressed nod. ‘Maybe you’re not so clueless after all, Bobsy. Sounded like he was keen to make a date with you.’
‘It wouldn’t be a date. It’s comforting to see a familiar face in a new place, that’s all – for both of us.’
‘He invited us to the NAAFI tomorrow,’ Mike said reverently. ‘I mean, we obviously have to go. He’s an officer, isn’t he? He could put us on a fizzer for disobeying orders.’
‘I doubt Stewpot’s going to see it that way,’ Bobby said, laughing. ‘Come on, let’s bimble over to the cookhouse. We’ll be at the back of the lunch queue as it is.’
‘This is wonderful though, Bobs.’ Carol claimed her arm and gave it a gleeful squeeze as they headed to the cookhouse, Dilys and Mike walking off ahead deep in gossipy conference. ‘Now you can tell me all about him, and if he can get us special permission from Stewpot so we can meet in the NAAFI, I can get my hands on him before any of the others. Quick, tell me everything you know.’
Bobby blinked. What did she know about Ernie, really? Not that much, now she came to think about it.
‘He’s from Alberta,’ she said. ‘His parents have a farm there.’
Carol’s eyes gleamed. ‘A farm like… a plantation? Like Ashley Wilkes inGone with the Wind?’
‘I shouldn’t think so. That’s at the bottom of America, isn’t it? Ernie’s from near the Rocky Mountains.’
‘So he’s rich?’
Bobby laughed. ‘I have absolutely no idea, Car, I’ve never asked.’
