Page 96 of The Spitfire Girls
She sighed and went to him, falling into the spot beside him on the sofa. Jackson’s arm drew her in, and she relaxed against him as he kissed the top of her head.
‘They’re fools,’ he said, ‘but then so was the army, and look what you managed to achieve. Keep writing. Keep making your voice heard.’
‘Really?’ she asked, looking up into blue eyes that still managed to mesmerise her.
‘Really,’ he insisted, kissing her. ‘There is nothing,nothingthat can stop you.’
She groaned and buried her face in his chest. ‘Actually, there is,’ she mumbled.
Jackson pushed her back a little, tilting her face up with his thumb. ‘Lizzie Montgomery, tell me what it is,’ he said sternly.
‘Well, let me begin by saying that I kept meticulous records of all the WASPs. Well, actually, I made the doctor at the training centre keep them, to ensure we had records of when the women had their periods to track their performance and health.’ Jackson shifted uncomfortably, but she continued, not caring if it made him feel squeamish. ‘What I’m trying to say is that the doctor found that women flew as well at that time of the month as any other – in fact we hadlesstime off, despite having to deal with the discomfort of our periods. At most, some of the women would use a hot-water bottle during a flight to help with their cramps.’
Jackson was frowning now. ‘I’m not sure I’m following. Why are you telling me all this about women’s monthly cycles?’
She averted her gaze. ‘I’m only trying to say that regardless of whether a woman might have her monthly courses or bepregnanteven, it has no impact on her flying abilities.’ Lizzie held her breath and forced herself to look at Jackson, her heart thumping.
‘Pregnant?’
She blew out a breath that made wisps of her hair fly up. ‘Yes, pregnant,’ she confirmed.
‘Hold on, that entire speech was you trying to tell me that you intended to take a flying job while you werepregnant? With my child?’
She laughed. ‘I suppose it was, yes.’
‘Over my dead body!’ he growled, leaning in and holding her close.
‘I’ll be deciding what to do with my own body, thank you very much,’ she muttered.
‘We’re actually having a baby?’ He had tears in his eyes. ‘Oh, Lizzie. This is incredible news.’
‘Try to stop me flying and I’ll divorce you immediately,’ she said.
‘I’ll tell you right now that you won’t be flying dangerous aircraft with my baby on board,’ he told her. ‘This is not a negotiation, Liz, this is me firmly putting my foot down!’
‘Just try stopping me.’ Lizzie stood, hands on hips as she glared back at him.
‘Fine, then you can’t fly without me in the cockpit beside you.’
He stood too, and a flicker or excitement ran through her. This was what it had been like working together, the fire between the two of them always flaring, and she’d missed it.
‘I’ll think about it,’ she replied with a shrug, knowing that it was probably the best compromise she was going to get.
‘You’ll be doing more than thinking about it.’
‘I haven’t told Mama yet, but I’ve asked her around for dinner,’ she said, ignoring his words. ‘I thought I’d cook for a change instead of her having us over. I actually can’t wait to tell her.’
He groaned. ‘Can’t your mother do the cooking? You know I’m only going to have to go buy ready-made food after you set the oven on fire.’
She swatted at him, but he just laughed at her.
‘Come here,’ he said, grabbing her and pulling her in, kissing her fiercely as she clung on to him. He was one in a million, her Jackson, and there wasn’t another man who’d ever have managed to get her to marry him, let alone have his child.
‘I love you,’ she whispered into his ear.
‘My crazy flygirl,’ he whispered back. ‘I love you too.’
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
