“It’s not goodbye, silly,” Ruby said, giving Dot a hug. “I’ll bring you something from France when I’m back. Cheese? Oh, wait. That’s Switzerland. Chocolate? Switzerland again. How about a croissant?”
Gordon looked like he didn’t know whether to shake Dot’s hand or not, so Dot took the initiative and hugged him instead. “We listeners don’t say good luck. We say ‘good hunting,’?” she told him. “I hope you hunt them all down.”
“We will,” he assured her. “We may not be able to tell you anything about it, but you’ll know we did well when you see us again.”
It was difficult to say goodbye. Especially when the future was so unknown. Nothing in this world, Dot had discovered, was guaranteed.
After dinner, she passed Frances, Gerald’s secretary, sitting at her desk. Frances was a tiny little thing with a bubbly smile that might encourage a stranger to underestimate her. But above her deep dimples, Frances’s eyes were steel with intelligence. Dot had recognized that right away and stayed firmly on the woman’s good side, which was easy. She was a lovely girl, and Dot was in awe of her efficiency. If someone asked Frances for directions to China, she’d have a map in her hand within seconds, Dot was sure.
“Oh, Dot! There’s a telegram for you,” Frances said, holding it out. Dot opened it right away.
DAD IS ILL NOT MUCH TIME
COME HOME STOP MOM
Breathless, she pressed the note to her heart, too stunned to move, and felt the walls closing in on her. Her hands were suddenly cold with sweat. Not much time? What could be wrong? Her mother’s letters had mentioned his headaches were increasing, but she’d never suggested they were serious. Were they to do with his illness?
“Dot?”
Her mind went to Dash, who she imagined was already packing for the long trip from Fort William. Getting home would take a couple of days. Oh, how lost her mother must feel, all on her own! Dot had to go home right now, to tend her father and help her mother. She would leave first thing in the morning. First, she had to talk to Gerald.
“Dot? Are you all right?”
She glanced at Frances, off balance. “I… I need to speak with Gerald.”
Frances quickly brought her in, and Dot stood stiffly in front of his desk until he gestured for her to sit.
“Dot,” he said with a broad smile, “I have been meaning to commend you on the superior work you’ve been doing.”
“Thank you, sir,” she said, her fists bunched at her sides. “Unfortunately, I am here on a personal matter.” She thrust the telegram into his hand. “This just arrived. I have no time to waste, sir.”
He frowned at the note, then he slowly passed it back. “I’m sorry to see this. Truly.”
“I need to go home and take care of him, sir. Right away. Dash will already be on a train.”
“And Dash is…?”
“My sister, sir. She’s been building Hurricanes at CanCar, but she’ll soon be going to England to join the ATA.”
“Ah. Your parents had a sense of humour with names,” he observed.
“Yes, sir. About my father, sir?”
He laced his fingers together and looked her straight in the eye. “We talked about this when you first arrived. I am afraid I cannot permit you off the base at this time.”
Her throat knotted with panic. “But, sir, you said that if there were special circumstances—”
“I did. And these would be considered special circumstances, of course; however, at this time, we have too many operations going on. I simply cannot allow you to leave.”
“But, sir! It’s my father! Please.”
His expression was sympathetic. “I am very sorry.”
“My mother would never have sent this if it wasn’t urgent. I fear he is dying. How can I tell my family that I cannot join them at his side?” She knew it was unprofessional, but she couldn’t stop tears from coming to her eyes. “My poor mother and my sister… They think I’m a clerk, sir! They won’t understand!”
He let out a long breath, and Dot wished with everything that she had that he would change his mind. Then he reached inside his coat for his handkerchief and handed it to her, and she knew her cause was lost.
“I suggest you tell your family that you are working on a top-secretfile that requires a report, which is being written for the office of the prime minister. It is due on his desk in Ottawa right away, but it has only this morning been started. It will take a while to pull it all together.”
