Page 93 of The London Girls
‘Flo, while we’re talking about children, there’s something I need to tell you.’
‘Let me guess, you’re giving up motorcycle riding to become a teacher, too?’ she teased.
‘Actually, I’m pregnant,’ Ava replied, her face blooming into a smile.
Florence dropped her hand and then grabbed for it again. ‘Pregnant? You’repregnant?’
Ava nodded. ‘I am.’
Florence leaned forward and flung her arms around her. ‘Oh, Ava, I’m so happy for you! I can’t believe it!’
She let her go and reached out a hand, gently touching it to her friend’s stomach.
‘George must be thrilled?’
Ava looked guilty. ‘Well, actually, you’re the very first person I’ve told.’
Florence knew her mouth was hanging open, but she couldn’t help it. ‘Ava! How can you not have told him?’ She was secretly thrilled to be the first, but there was something wrong about her knowing before the baby’s father. ‘Do you not think he’ll be happy?’
‘Oh, I know he’ll be happy,’ Ava said. ‘I suppose I just haven’t found the right moment to tell him. Yet.’
Florence sighed. ‘It’s because you know he’ll take you off the roster, isn’t it? He won’t let you ride again as soon as he knows.’
A guilty smile twisted Ava’s mouth.
‘Ava, you know how much I love you, and I’m so proud of the work you do, but I can’t lose another friend,’ she said. ‘If I lost you and your unborn baby, I don’t know how I’d survive, not after Olivia.’Not after my family.
Ava sighed. ‘I know. And I promise, tonight will be my last ride. I just couldn’t bear the thought of giving it up, not after everything this job has given me, but I can’t stand the thought of risking my baby, either.’
They sat a moment, as the clouds drifted away from the sun again, and Florence looked across at her friend. She hadn’t realised quite how much she’d missed Ava until today. Life had become so busy, and with so many hours spent working there was barely time to do anything during the day other than sleep and volunteer with the children, but she wished she’d made the effort to see her more. It must have been a month at least since they’d last spent time together.
‘Think of it as a break,’ Florence told Ava. ‘You can ride motorcycles until you’re old and grey if you want, but you just need some time away to grow your beautiful baby.’
‘I know, you’re absolutely right. And I will, I promise. I just can’t stand the thought of sitting idle.’
‘I’m sure you’ll find something to keep you busy,’ Florence said. ‘I can’t imagine you doing nothing until the baby is born, you just need to do something less dangerous.’
Ava grinned.
‘Well, I’d better be going,’ Florence finally said. ‘I’d much prefer to spend the day with you, but I have so much to do before my shift.’
She stood and held out a hand to Ava.
‘Promise we won’t leave it so long next time?’ Ava asked.
Florence placed her hand on Ava’s stomach again. ‘And miss this little cherub growing? Not a chance.’
‘I’ll see you soon, then,’ Ava said.
‘See you soon,’ Florence repeated. She kissed her friend on the cheek and walked away, barely able to wipe the smile from her face as she thought about Ava having a baby.
‘The London Girls forever, right?’ she heard Ava call.
Florence laughed. ‘The London Girls forever.’
There were times she wondered if there was any kindness or hope left in the world, but news like Ava’s reminded her what they were fighting for.
Florence drove the ambulance slowly through the streets of London in the early hours, the sun just starting to rise in the sky. She was driving a different ambulance now; Petal had been a workhorse for years, but the fire damage she’d received, as well as being hit by afire engine some months later, had meant she’d needed significant repairs, which meant Florence had a new ambulance to drive for the time being.
