Page 67 of The London Girls
‘I read your intake form. I know what you said on the record, but I have a feeling there’s more to you than that.’
Ava looked up at him. ‘I signed up for all the wrong reasons, and I’m embarrassed to say that it was more about the independence and adventure it afforded than the actual job itself.’
George leaned forward in his seat. ‘I probably should berate you and explain to you the seriousness of war, but if I’m not mistaken, you’ve seen that for yourself now.’
She nodded. ‘I have. Recently more than ever, if I’m completely honest.’ She smiled at him. ‘I’ve also realised how much I love riding a motorcycle and how much I respect the enormity of our job, the role we’re playing in the grand scheme of things. I’m so grateful to be here, truly I am.’
‘Well, I suppose that if we’re making confessions, I have one of my own,’ he said.
Ava watched him, surprised that he was being so candid with her. ‘And what would that be?’
‘I think that perhaps my feelings on women assisting with the war effort were unfounded.’
She opened her mouth, ready to admonish him foreverfeeling that way, when the telephone rang and almost sent her leaping through the ceiling in fright.
‘Captain George Robinson.’
She quietly took another mouthful of food, not wanting it to go to waste if she had to leave in a hurry.
‘Yes, sir, I understand.’
Ava swallowed. She was certain his sister was a wonderful cook, but the cuts of meat available this Christmas certainly hadn’t been the best, and she could have done with a drink to help wash it down.
‘Ava, I’m terribly sorry, but we’re going to have to cut our dinner short,’ George said when he hung up the telephone.
‘It’s fine. It’s not like the war waits for mealtimes to be over.’
‘Right then,’ he said, gathering his jacket and hurrying out the door, calling over his shoulder as he spoke. ‘Have that motorcycle ready to go, I’ll be back as soon as I can.’
Ava watched him leave before eating the rest of her meal. When she’d finished she put the plates away, hoping he’d have time to eat his leftovers later.
She smiled as she thought of George then, surprising herself by even thinking about him.Pity I’m sworn off men, because there’s something about that man that’s actually not so bad. He wasn’t suave and devastatingly handsome, or full of bravado or dripping in money – all things she’d been attracted to in the past. But after tonight, she was starting to wonder if perhaps she’d been missing what was right in front of her.
She smiled to herself as she went out to her bike, checking her pink ribbon was tied tightly and thinking back to how horrified George had been when he’d discovered it that first time.
The rumble of another motorcycle made her turn, and she went to open the heavy door to let the driver in. She looked out at the dark night sky, wondering if they’d have another evening without bombs falling, or whether all those people would indeed be spending another night post-Christmas underground. It was then she noticed a piece of holly hanging from the doorway opposite her, clearly supposed to look like mistletoe, and she wondered what she’d do if she found herself beneath it with George. The thought quickly put another smile on her face, and it was still there a few minutes later when another rider arrived back, and she called out hello and shut the door behind her, going back to tinker with her motorcycle until George returned.
He immediately strode towards her, but just as he opened his mouth to speak, a loud boom rang out and Ava shuddered, knowing exactly what that noise meant. It truly was Blitzmas.
‘You were fast,’ she said when George stayed silent, his face twisting as he seemed to wrestle with his thoughts, or perhaps what to say.
She held out her satchel, surprised when he hesitated before taking it from her. She watched as he put a document inside and then closed it, securing the buckle and handing it back to her.
But when she went to take it, he didn’t let go.
Ava looked up at him, and saw a softness around his eyes that she hadn’t ever seen before. There was a look there that took her completely by surprise.
‘I can find someone else to do this,’ George said, quietly.
She blinked. ‘I’m sorry, what did you say?’
‘Ava, it doesn’t have to be you. I should never have asked you to stay late after an already long shift.’
Her hand started to tremble then, and she tugged at the satchel, furious that he’d even suggest such a thing.
‘Give me the bag,’ she said, glaring at him.
‘Ava, please—’
