Page 22 of The Spitfire Girls
Ruby ran over, her long hair pinned up and out of the way, trousers on to make it easier to fly. She caught Tom’s hand and twirled closer, leaning in for a kiss, her lips finding his as she sighed into his mouth. Every time, every single time they were together, she wondered how she’d ever managed to find someone who made her heart race as much as it did when she was at the controls of an aircraft.
‘I don’t want you to go,’ she said, cupping his cheeks as he stroked fingers through her hair.
‘Ruby, this war will be over before it even starts,’ he said, kissing her lips again, then pulling her close. ‘And I’m not going yet. It could be months before I have to leave.’
She held him tight, listened to the strong, steady beat of his heart.
‘Ruby, look at me,’ he said, his voice husky.
‘What is it?’
‘Fly with me?’ he asked, more tender than usual, his hand skimming her arm before gesturing for her to get in the plane.
‘Since when did you have to ask?’
He laughed and followed her up, settled in andstartedthe engine. They taxied down the short runway, then Tom abruptly stopped the plane. She looked over at him, confused, until she saw what he was holding in his open palm.
The diamond twinkled in the light, the dainty ring seeming to stare back at her as she froze, then finally raised her eyes to meet Tom’s.
‘Ruby, will you marry me?’ he asked.
‘Yes!’ she squealed, holding out her finger as he slipped the ring on and leaned in for a quick kiss, before letting out a whoop and firing up the plane again. They taxied fast down the runway this time, her stomach leaping as they lifted into the air. She laughed as he swooped, showing off, tipping left and then right as they soared.
In that moment, Tom had been all she’d needed: Tom and the thrill of gliding through the sky as if nothing could ever stand in the way of their happiness. She dropped her head to the table as the memory faded, shutting her eyes and fingering the ring at her neck, still hanging from the little silver chain she’d strung it from to keep Tom near. Was it all worth it? If she lost Tom, would she wish she’d stayed at home and kept on volunteering at the post office instead of running off to ferry planes? Perhaps he was right to want to protect her; perhaps he did know what was best for her.
She squeezed her eyes shut and tried to clear her mind, wishing she could stop the voice in her head and trust her instincts instead.
‘I was told I’d find you in here.’
Ruby blinked and sat up. ‘Polly!’ She stood and threw her arms around her friend. ‘What are you doing here? When did you arrive?’
‘Oh, you know, I’ve been ferrying Spitfires. But I was dropped off here on my way home to fly another plane back to base this afternoon.’
‘It’s so good to see you. Any gossip? What’s happening back at White Waltham?’
‘Nothing really, but wearetaking bets on whether it’ll be you or Lizzie to be first in the air in a bomber. It’s a nice distraction from listening to the wireless and fretting about who’s late back. We’ve been told it’s turned into quite the competition!’
Ruby groaned. Of course they all knew about it; gossip spread like wildfire between the pilots. ‘It’s not going to be me. Seriously, she’s so good it’s insane. I don’t even know why we’re competing. Why isn’t it enough thatoneof us, a woman from our base, is going to get it? She’s turned it into some awful kind of race.’
‘Don’t be daft,’ Polly said. ‘First of all, there’s nothing wrong with a bit of friendly competition, and second, I didn’t place the biggest bet only to lose it. You’re a sure thing!’
‘Why does everyone else have more confidence in me than I do? And I’d hardly call the competitionfriendly,’ Ruby grumbled. ‘As soon as May announced that the first flight was between me and Lizzie, it became very serious.’
‘Look, just beat her, would you?’ Polly asked. ‘If it’s not me up there in the sky then I want it to be you.’
Ruby stared. ‘You wanted to be in the running for it?’ she asked, guilt trickling through her as she saw the look on Polly’s face. ‘I didn’t even think. How stupid of me – of course you did!’
‘Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth, Ruby. You get up there and prove to everyone that you’re better than her. I would have loved to be transferred here, but I didn’t have enough flying hours to even be considered, so I’m living vicariously through you!’
Ruby took a deep breath. Hearing Polly say that was exactly what she’d needed. She couldn’t give up, not now, not when she was so fortunate to be training in a Halifax. ‘Did May tell you to come in here and give me a good kick up the backside?’
Polly laughed. ‘No, I did that all on my own. Now, can we get a hot cuppa? I’m dying of thirst here.’
Ruby shut her textbook and stood, linking arms with Polly. ‘Good idea. And while we’re talking about good ideas, do you have any leave this weekend?’
‘Yes, why?’
‘Because I need a night away. Can you afford a night in London with me?’
