Page 26 of The London Girls
‘You don’t need to say anything,’ Flo said, her smile bright. ‘I’m just pleased I’ve told you, because when everyone talks about their families it’s ...’ Her voice quavered. ‘It’s just easier when people know, that’s all.’
‘Well, I hope that one day you come to think of us as your family,’ Ava said, and Olivia gave her a grateful look, thankful that one of them had managed to say the right thing. ‘I want you to know that I’m here for you, whenever you need anything, even if it’s just a shoulder to cry on.’
‘Thank you,’ Florence said. ‘Honestly, I’m so thankful I’ve met you both. It’s reminded me of what life felt like before the war. Before everything fell apart.’
They all sat, blinking away tears as Florence held out her other hand to Ava, and Ava in turn held her other hand out to Olivia. She wondered what anyone watching them would think,as they smiled through their tears, each taking strength from one another.
‘We’re going to make a difference,’ Olivia said. ‘We’re going to help end this war with the work we’re doing.’
‘One motorcycle at a time,’ Ava said, grinning.
‘Hey, don’t forget about Petal!’ Florence said.
‘To Petal!’ Ava cried, letting go of them and raising her glass.
They all laughed, echoing Ava’s toast.
‘Actually, how about to us?’ Ava said. ‘To the London Girls.’
‘To the London Girls!’ Olivia and Florence both said at the same time, clinking glasses as a waiter hesitantly approached them.
‘Ah, ladies, will you be ordering dinner?’
‘What do you recommend?’ Olivia asked.
‘Unfortunately, our menu isn’t as extensive as it once was, and the only item we have in oversupply each night is the Woolton pie.’
‘Absolutely not,’ Olivia made a face as she shook her head at him. ‘I’d rather starve! I’ve eaten that enough at home.’
‘We do have meatloaf with mashed potato, which is one of our most popular meals, but you’ll want to order soon before it runs out.’
‘What? No fillet steak?’ Ava asked, in such a posh voice that Olivia had to put her hand over her mouth to hide her smile. ‘Or lamb chops? Gosh, what I wouldn’t do for a big juicy roast leg of lamb.’
‘Anything would be better than fried spam,’ Florence groaned. ‘I feel like my grandmother has become obsessed with the stuff. She’s actually convinced herself she can make it taste different if she cooks it in different ways.’
‘The meatloaf it is then, for all of us,’ Olivia said, smiling at the waiter. ‘I’m sure it’ll be delicious.’ She hated to think what meat they might be using, but if it was tasty and covered in a nice sauce, she’d be happy.
She nursed her glass of champagne as she listened to Ava and Florence talk about all the food they missed, and what they wouldn’t give for white flour, and a hearty plate of bacon and eggs.
‘What about you, Livvy? What do you miss about before?’
A shiver ran down her spine when Ava called her Livvy. Her fiancé, Leo, was the only other person in the world who’d ever called her that, and strangely enough he was also the exact thing she was missing, although she wasn’t going to admit that to the girls.
‘Eggs,’ she said. ‘And sugar. I’ve a real sweet tooth so I can’t wait to bake again.’
‘Oh, sugar! How I would love sweet baking again!’ Ava moaned.
‘I lied,’ Olivia said, changing her mind about opening up to them. ‘I actually couldn’t care less about eggs, I just want my fiancé to come home. I miss him so much, him and my brother.’
‘Tell us about him,’ Florence said, leaning forward. ‘What’s he like?’
Olivia sat back in her chair, seeing Leo in her mind from the day he’d left, his hat under his arm as he’d dramatically blown her kisses from the steps of the train, managing to make her laugh when all she’d wanted to do was cry.
‘Leo’s the man who can entertain everyone at a party with hilarious stories. He could arrive late and instead of everyone being cross with him for making them wait, he’d immediately light up the room,’ she said. ‘I miss dancing with him and getting home one minute before curfew, and sneaking out of my bedroom window late at night when he’d throw pebbles against the glass to wake me. He made life so much fun.’
‘I think I need a Leo in my life,’ Florence said with a sigh. ‘I was just starting my nursing training before the war, and I expected to nurse for a few years and then meet a handsome doctor to marry.’
‘You were nursing?’ Ava asked.
