Page 82 of The London Girls
‘So you think I’m wrong? That sheshouldbe back?’
He unfolded his arms and looked at her, long and steady. ‘That’s not what I’m saying at all. But if Ava wants to be back at work, there’s nothing you can do to stop her, and it’s not up to us to say whether it’s too soon or not.’
‘I thought you of all people would understand,’ she huffed. ‘She almost died, Jack!’
He crossed his arms again, no longer leaning against the door. ‘Someone might have said the same about you working and becoming a Wren so soon after your family were killed,’ he said, his voice low. ‘We cope with grief and pain in different ways, so all I’m saying is that she probably has her reasons, just like we do.’
Florence threw her oil-stained cloth at Jack’s chest and pushed past him, anger firing inside her. She’d genuinely thought he’d understand, that he’d remember how close she’d been to losing her friend that night and support her on this. She hated the way she was behaving, especially towards him, but she just couldn’t stop thinking about seeing Ava’s motorcycle that morning, thinking she’d lost her. She already felt like she’d lost enough to last a lifetime.
She walked to the door of the garage and pulled it open, needing the fresh air. They’d had a quiet night so far, which was why she’d decided to stay busy by cleaning Petal; she should have taken the time to rest, but staying busy somehow always seemed like the better option.
The sky was surprisingly clear, and there was something peaceful about staring up at the moon as the clouds gently moved across it. When she heard Jack come up behind her, she softened, waiting for him to come close, wishing she could lean back into him and feel his arms encircle her body. But he stayed just far enough away that they didn’t touch.
‘I’m sorry,’ she said. ‘I didn’t mean to lash out at you like that.’
‘It’s fine, I’m sorry too. I—’
He never got the rest of his sentence out, as an explosion like nothing she’d ever heard before sounded, too close for comfort. She reached for him then, and the distance immediately closed between them as she took a moment to hold his hand, to pull strength from him for just a second.
So much for a quiet night.
The boom of another bomb landing had her bracing against the wall, before turning and running back to Petal. It reminded her of that fateful night when the West End had been bombed.
The Luftwaffe have arrived. Again.
She only prayed that tonight wouldn’t be as bad as the rest of the nights they’d had over the past week.
Florence knew her prayers hadn’t been answered within thirty minutes of joining the convoy, following tightly behind fire engines as they picked their way to the worst-hit streets. Every time, her stomach clenched like someone had hold of her insides, but it was the terror that kept her moving, refusing to stop no matter what the danger.
‘I think we need to hold back,’ Jack said, as they inched forward.
Flames had engulfed a row of homes around them, and somehow they’d ended up being the only ambulance accompanying the many fire engines that were already in position.
‘You think we should reverse and come in on foot?’ she asked.
Jack didn’t say anything for a moment, and she glanced across at him.
‘I’m saying that I think we should stay put,’ he said.
Florence digested his words. Since that very first disagreement they’d had, Jack had never once told her they shouldn’t dosomething, which was why she was inclined to listen to him this time.
Just as she was about to try to get them out of the convoy, Jack slammed his hand down on his thigh. ‘Don’t listen to me,’ he said. ‘Keep going.’
She breathed a sigh of relief. She’d been torn about what to do, but hearing him say that gave her confidence. ‘If not us then who, right?’
She inched forward, blocking out the noise of the siren and the air-raid wardens blowing whistles as they waited for orders. Within minutes there was a bang on the window, frightening the life out of Florence, and she quickly wound the glass down.
‘We have reports of people being stuck ahead, a few more houses down. We’re trying to dampen the flames so we can get to them.’
‘We’ll be right behind you, waiting to take them,’ Florence said, winding up her window the moment he left.
She heard Jack let out a breath beside her and imagined he felt as relieved as she did that they’d stayed.
‘I’m going to keep going, get us nice and close,’ she said, moving around the fire engine and driving up on the pavement slightly to get past, biting down on her lower lip as she manoeuvred them.
One moment Florence was driving, steady as could be, and the next a strange sound swept around them, like a severe gust of wind had caught them and wasn’t letting go. Only this wasn’t wind.
They were on fire.
