The Spitfire Girls(59)
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
HAMBLE AIRFIELD, HAMPSHIRE,
AUGUST 1942
LIZZIE
Lizzie hadn’t expected to be so emotional about leaving England. When she’d arrived she’d thought it was a gloomy, unexciting place, but since then everything had changed. She’d explored London, ferried all types of planes and made the most amazing friends despite the constant fears and trepidation about being in a country at war. She blinked away tears as she thought of Ruby and May – on first meeting she’d found them as boring and uptight as a pair of old nuns, but that couldn’t have been further from the truth. In reality, it had been her who’d needed the personality adjustment, and when she thought back to how she’d behaved, it was impossible not to cringe.
But she had to leave – her country needed her. And so did her father. She needed to get home to see him, to sit with him and tell him how proud she was of him, before going off to lead her squadron.
‘We’re going to miss you terribly,’ said Mrs Robinson, enveloping her in a big hug.
‘Thank you. For everything,’ Lizzie said, hoping they knew how grateful she truly was.
‘I only wish it was before the war,’ Mrs Robinson replied, dabbing her eyes. ‘I would have been making light fluffy cakes and scones with jam for you. Oh, and the stews! Without all this rationing I’m quite the cook, you know.’
Lizzie laughed through her tears, surprised by how hard it was to say goodbye. ‘I’m sure you are. And you cooked us wonderful, hearty meals, so there’s nothing to be worried about.’ In all honesty, she’d eaten enough Brussels sprouts and Woolton pies for a lifetime. ‘Did I tell you that Mrs Roosevelt knew all about the rationing here? She told me over dinner that even the Queen has to use a ration book, so there was nothing fancy for the first lady when she stayed at Buckingham Palace.’
‘Honestly? I thought it was all nonsense that the royal family was on rations.’
‘Not at all. And even the hot water for Mrs Roosevelt’s bath had to be rationed. I’m sure it was quite an experience for her.’
‘Well I never,’ Mrs Robinson clucked. ‘I thought it was all propaganda to make us feel better, and that they were probably still living a life of luxury.’
‘Lizzie!’ Ruby exclaimed, as she burst down the stairs. ‘Were you going to leave just like that?’
‘Don’t be daft, we were only letting you sleep in a bit,’ their hostess said.
‘I’d never leave without saying goodbye,’ Lizzie told her. ‘In fact, why don’t you travel in with me to base? May is coming to get me herself.’
Ruby nodded. ‘Give me a minute, will you?’
‘You need breakfast first!’ Mrs Robinson insisted, dashing off to the kitchen. Lizzie grinned, wondering if the older woman actually liked looking after them. She certainly seemed to enjoy keeping them well fed, and both she and her husband enjoyed listening to their stories; she would bet that they loved bragging to their friends about the two female pilots living with them.
A car horn sounded outside, and Lizzie turned to embrace Mr Robinson, who’d been standing quietly in the corner.
‘Thank you for being so gracious,’ Lizzie said honestly. ‘I’ll never forget your kindness.’
He was gruff as she kissed his cheek, then picked up her single suitcase and stepped out of the front door. Mrs Robinson came rushing up behind her and pressed something into her hand, and when she looked down and saw the cookies wrapped in paper, she didn’t know what to say.
‘I’ve been saving up my sugar and butter in case I needed to make a special cake, but I decided to bake some proper biscuits for your journey instead.’
Tears started to trickle down Lizzie’s cheeks then. Suddenly all she wanted was to get home to her own father, to hold him and kiss his cheek.
‘Thank you,’ she said.
May was out of the car and had the back door open, and Lizzie got in as Ruby came leaping down the steps with a piece of bread in her hand. As her friend scrambled in beside her, Lizzie leaned back and stared at the house she was leaving behind. Every bone in her body was ready to go home, but it didn’t make leaving any easier. She waved one last time to her English family as May pulled away.
‘A telegram arrived for you this morning,’ May said, as they headed down the road, passing it back to her. ‘I offered to bring it directly to you.’
Lizzie reached for it, hand trembling as she pressed her thumbnail beneath the envelope flap and then unfolded the letter inside, hoping it wasn’t bad news about her father. When she saw General Hap’s name she breathed a sigh of relief.
FEMALE SQUADRON IS COMMENCING AS PLANNED. YOU WILL ESTABLISH THE WOMEN’S FLYING DETACHMENT ON YOUR RETURN AND TRAIN WOMEN PILOTS FOR FERRYING MILITARY PLANES. NANCY LOVE WILL CONTINUE TO HEAD HER OWN SQUADRON. CAPTAIN JACKSON MONTGOMERY WILL BE ON BASE WITH YOU TO ESTABLISH YOUR OPERATIONS. RETURN DIRECTLY TO WASHINGTON AFTER YOUR VISIT HOME TO MEET ME IN PERSON. GENERAL ARNOLD.
She was actually getting it! She was going to be leading her own squadron! The only disappointing part was that she was going to have to put up with Jackson Montgomery back home. Why hadn’t he been redeployed? She carefully folded the telegram and took a deep, shuddering breath.
But Jackson was the least of her worries. She had no idea who this Nancy Love person was, who’d somehow managed to establish an entire flying division without her being notified. She gripped her seat, reminding herself that she was part of a bigger picture, that she needed to think of everyone as a team. If it helped win the war, there was nothing wrong with her and Love having a squadron each.