Page 54 of The Spitfire Girls
May raised an eyebrow. ‘Do Iwantto hear what you’re going to say?’
Lizzie grinned. ‘I actually thought about staying, and not going back at all. I actually wondered if I’m more help here – if I’m better being on the front line and ferrying planes for the ATA.’
‘But you changed your mind?’ May almost hoped she would stay, after everything. Lizzie was finally starting to show them a nicer side.
‘I miss my family so much,’ Lizzie admitted, and May saw that the arrogant smile and the sharply raised eyebrow had gone. This Lizzie seemed more open, more emotional. ‘If my daddy dies while I’m on the other side of the world, I’ll never forgive myself. And I can see that, after being here, I can share that knowledge with our women pilots back home.’
May took her hand and squeezed it tight. ‘I’d have given the world to see my brother again, just one last time, if I’d had the chance. So you get yourself back home as quickly as you can.’
‘But your brother – you said he was a flying ace? That first night ...’
May inhaled and slowly let the breath go before forcing the words out. ‘My brotherwasan amazing pilot, but he died in the air, Liz. And I miss him so badly every single day.’
Lizzie’s eyes flooded with tears and May had to swallow hard to stifle her own.
‘Honey, I’m so sorry,’ Lizzie whispered. ‘I had no idea. I would never have said all that if I’d known.’
‘Just go back and see your father, Liz. Promise me you’ll go straight to him before it’s too late.’
At that moment, a murmur rippled through the group, and they both turned to see what the commotion was about.
‘Ah, here she is, our shining star!’ Lizzie cooed as Ruby walked towards them in her striking dark-blue uniform, her cheeks pink.
‘Stop it!’ Ruby hissed, coming up to them. ‘You know I don’t like a fuss.’
But Lizzie started to clap, and soon everyone gathered was clapping, too – the other pilots, the ground crew and even Captain MacMillan.
‘We’re so proud of you, Ruby,’ May said to her, breaking from formality and giving her a big hug. ‘I was talking to Captain MacMillan earlier, and we both agree that you deserve every accolade. Congratulations on your success flying the Halifax.’ She glanced at Lizzie, expecting to see her bristle, but she was smiling instead.
‘I don’t want to brag about knowing a celebrity, but ...’ Lizzie started to say, dramatically pulling a newspaper cutting from her pocket and unfolding it. She held it out and Ruby let out an audible moan.
Britain’s Four-Engine Bomber Girl – Ain’t She Grand?
There was a grainy photo of Ruby beneath the bold, black headline, shaking her long, dark hair out as if she were advertising a special brand of shampoo. Her flying suit was unzipped a tiny bit at the neck, as if she was trying to show a hint of cleavage, and she was wearing a huge smile.
May glanced at Ruby, who looked utterly mortified.
‘Put it away,’ May scolded.
Lizzie grinned as she folded and tucked the paper away. Then they all craned their necks as the sound of vehicles drifted across the base.
‘In position, everyone. They’re here,’ said May, her heart beating faster as a cavalcade of black cars came into sight, driving slowly towards them. The vehicles came to a halt in front of the gathered group, and security men leapt out to attend to the doors.
May held what she hoped was a calm expression as the first guest emerged. Then she almost gasped as out stepped ... Jackson!
‘Captain Montgomery, what a pleasure to see you again!’ she said, holding out a hand and smiling when he kissed her cheek instead. She’d thought he’d left the country already, but clearly he’d stayed behind to escort the first lady on this outing.
‘The pleasure is mine,’ he said, before turning back to the vehicle and helping an elegantly dressed woman from the car. ‘Senior Commander Jones, it is also my great pleasure to introduce you to the first lady of the United States of America, Mrs Roosevelt.’
May tried not to gape at the woman who emerged, her smile fixed perfectly in place as their eyes met.
‘Welcome, Mrs Roosevelt. It’s our absolute honour to have you here,’ she gushed.
‘Why thank you, Senior Commander. I can’t tell you what ...’
Before she could finish her sentence, rain started to pelt them, falling in huge, angry drops from the sky.
Why now? Honestly! Why were they having so much awful weather?May leapt to take the first lady’s arm and usher her out of the wet, but a man approached and bustled her out of the way, proffering his arm and an umbrella.
