His only reply was a wide grin before making short work of his extra portion.
‘I don’t know how you can eat that much.’ Simon handed Jack a cigarette when the second plate was empty. ‘You had half of Ruth’s as well.’
Drawing on the cigarette, Jack blew the smoke towards the ceiling, and then pulled Ruth close to him. ‘She knows how to look after me.’
This outward show of affection came as a surprise to Ruth. He had always been careful to make it appear that their relationship was platonic, but it was as if he didn’t care what people thought any more. This change made her think that he’d had a very bad time in France. Perhaps he had doubted that he would survive. Whatever his reasons, she was happy about it, and so was Lucy, by the look on her face.
They stayed until closing time and walked back to the house.
‘Are you staying tonight?’ Ruth asked, worried that he was doing too much too soon.
‘Not tonight, honey.’ He bent and brushed his lips over hers. ‘I’d never be able to stay out of your bed, and with Lucy there it could be awkward.’
‘You’ve got a few days’ leave, so why don’t you go and stay with my parents? They’d love to have you, and you’ll be able to rest there. It might be better if you get away from planes for a few days. If you don’t, I know you’ll be back at work far too soon.’ She looked up at him, not wanting to let him out of her sight, but she was just being silly: he was alive and back with them, and that was all that mattered.
‘That would be great. If you’re sure they wouldn’t mind?’
‘Positive. You’re always welcome there, Jack, and you don’t need an invitation.’
‘I’ll drive over and see them in the morning.’
Ruth’s parents had always made Jack so welcome that he felt like part of the family. He’d readily accepted Ruth’s suggestion. Not only did he need space to recover, but he also needed time to think. And this was just the place to do it.
‘Jack!’ Alice greeted him with obvious relief. ‘Ruth told us you were safe, and we’re so pleased to see you.’
George shook his hand. ‘Welcome back, son.’
‘Thank you, sir, it’s good to be back. Would you mind if I stayed for a couple of days? Please say no if it’s not convenient.’
‘Of course you can stay.’ Alice studied him carefully. ‘My dear, you’ve lost weight. You can rest here for as long as you like.’
He kissed her cheek. ‘I can see where Ruth gets her kindness from. They won’t let me fly again until I’ve had a medical, and that’s scheduled for the end of the week.’
‘Have you brought a bag with you?’
‘It’s in my car. I’ll go and fetch it.’
‘No, you sit yourself down.’ George urged him into a chair. ‘I’ll go and get it.’
‘Take it straight up to Jack’s usual room, George. I always keep it ready.’
George was soon back. ‘What on earth have you got in here, Jack? It weighs a ton.’
‘Something from Ma to help out with the food. She sends us regular parcels, though we don’t always receive them. Some get lost on the way over.’ Jack opened the bag and gave Alice several tins of various meats.
‘Oh, that’s very generous of her,’ she said as she examined the tins. ‘Anything we don’t use you must take back with you.’
Jack shook his head. ‘We don’t need them. I’m sure you can make good use of them.’
Alice accepted with a smile. ‘We know you need rest so we won’t get in your way, but join us for meals.’
They were very perceptive. He needed some time to himself to relax. ‘It’s a nice day so I’ll just go and enjoy the peace of your beautiful garden, if I may?’
‘Of course, my boy,’ George said. ‘We’ll call you when lunch is ready.’
Jack wandered down the garden to an old wooden seat he always used when he came here, sat down and gazed around him. The sun was pleasantly warm on his face. Alice really loved her flowers but, like everyone else, a section at the end had been dug over to grow vegetables. It seemed as if this whole country had been turned into a market garden in an effort to feed itself.
He closed his eyes, allowing his thoughts to drift back to his time in France. That storm had come out of nowhere. If he’d been in this country he would have turned back, but he didn’t have enough fuel for a return trip to England, and coming down in the Channel was not an option. He’d tried everything to get out of it – up, down, sideways – but before he’d been able to find the edge of the storm he had run out of fuel. The Spit was being buffeted about and he’d had a hell of a job getting out of the cockpit, but somehow he’d managed it and tumbled down. He’d just missed some trees and landed in a field of cabbages. After rolling up his parachute and stowing it out of sight in some bushes, he’d started walking. The rain was still pouring down, and after about fifteen minutes, soaked to the skin, the sound of voices reached him. There were tanks ahead and he’d been about to call out when he realised they were Germans.
Diving for cover he’d waited for them to move off, which they hadn’t done until morning. During the night the rain had stopped and his clothes dried on him. He’d been chilled to the bone and very hungry. He’d moved cautiously after that and it wasn’t long before he came across more German troops. The rest of the day was spent in a ditch, giving him plenty of time to curse his bad luck for coming down in the middle of the enemy.
He’d soon discovered that the only time he could move with any safety was at night. The journey had been slow, but he’d been determined not to get caught. Neither had he been prepared to risk revealing himself to any civilians, so he’d lived on raw vegetables from the fields and water from any stream he could find. He’d known the allies were somewhere near Paris, so he’d headed in what he hoped was the right direction. He always carried a compass with him in his pocket, but it must have fallen out as he’d struggled to free himself from the cockpit, and he’d cursed the loss. Fortunately he still had the silk map and the lucky dollar he always carried with him. He wasn’t normally a superstitious man, but this dollar had been given to him by a veteran of the First World War, and was a treasured possession. Day followed day, and he’d lost all sense of time, but he knew the allies must be close when the area was bombarded with shells …
Jack ran a hand over his eyes, opened them and gazed at the tranquil garden, absorbing the peace of this lovely spot.
As the shells had screamed around him, he’d begun to feel that his efforts to reach safety might have been in vain. He could still feel the great sadness that had engulfed him. Was he ever going to see Ma and Lucy again, or any of the friends he’d made in the ATA? And what about Ruth? The thought of leaving her caused him so much distress that he’d groaned out loud as he’d covered his head with his hands. The ground had rocked beneath him as one shell had fallen far too close.
Then, mercifully there had been silence, broken some minutes later by the sound of tanks and familiar American accents shouting orders. He’d crawled out of his hiding place – and the rest was a blur. He could remember asking them to take him to the nearest airfield. The next thing he knew Simon was there. He’d wept in relief and wasn’t ashamed to admit it.
‘Jack.’ George came up to him. ‘Lunch is ready. You can have it out here if you like.’
‘Thanks, George, but I’ll eat with you and Alice. I’m looking forward to hearing what you’ve been up to since I was last here.’ He stood up, feeling refreshed already. He’d needed this time alone to clear his mind and think over what had happened to him. He could see now just how damned lucky he had been. He had survived and now he could put it behind him. And another thing he couldn’t deny – life was now much sweeter for the experience.
Chapter Thirty
Ruth watched Jack strolling across the field carrying his parachute and couldn’t help smiling. He had only taken three days off after his adventures in France and, within a week, was once again crossing the Channel. The only difference sh
e had noticed in him over the last few days was that he was more relaxed, more openly affectionate, and seemed to enjoy everything he did. Their occasional nights together had taken on a new intensity. She was sure he loved her, but he’d still never uttered the words she longed to hear.
‘Hi, honey.’ He ruffled her hair as he walked past to report in. Then he stopped and turned. ‘I saw Gussie today, and she said to tell you that number one is on the way.’
It took a moment for that to sink in, then she gasped. ‘She’s expecting?’
‘Yep, and she said she’s leaving the ATA at Christmas.’
‘That’s only a week away. I must ask Mum to make a christening gown for the baby.’
‘What’s this about babies?’ Lucy asked as she came into the Mess.
‘Gussie’s pregnant.’
‘Wow, that’s terrific, Ruth! I’ll write to her tonight and see what she needs.’
‘Everything, I expect. She’s leaving the ATA almost immediately, Lucy, so we must try and get over to see her soon.’
‘First bit of free time we get.’ Lucy followed her brother to report in then paused at the door. ‘I thought they were going to wait until the war was over before starting a family?’
‘So did I, but they must have decided not to wait any longer. This damned war can’t go on for many more months.’
‘That’s what we all keep saying, but there’s still a way to go yet,’ Lucy said, and then disappeared.
Ruth knew Lucy was right. The faint hope they’d nurtured that the war would be over by Christmas had faded.
Not only had Hitler unleashed his V1 flying bombs on them, but the V2 rockets had followed. There was no warning with the rockets, and you didn’t know they were coming until they exploded.
‘Do you know where Simon is?’ Lucy asked Jack as she came back to the Mess with him.
‘Still in France. Why?’
She shrugged. ‘I wanted to wish him a happy Christmas before we go to Ruth’s folks for the holiday.’
‘Well, if the weather doesn’t improve he’ll be spending it in Paris.’ His eyes glinted with amusement. ‘I expect there’ll be plenty of grateful girls to keep him company.’
‘Yeah, I suppose.’ She looked thoughtful. ‘What are his folks like, Ruth? He never says much about them.’
‘They’re nice people, but Simon’s relationship with his father has been rather strained in the past. He’s a busy doctor and wanted his son to follow in his footsteps and join him in the practice, but Simon had other ideas. His family weren’t at all happy when he said he was going to fly instead of going to medical school.’
‘He ought to be proud of his son,’ Lucy declared. ‘He’s a terrific pilot.’
‘Yes, he is. From the age of seventeen Simon’s made his own way in life, but he thinks the world of his parents and visits them regularly. He’ll get home at Christmas if at all possible.’
‘He’s a strong character in a quiet way, isn’t he?’
Ruth nodded. ‘He knows what he wants, and sets about getting it with the minimum of fuss. In that way he’s like his father.’
‘Have his folks ever forgiven him?’ Lucy seemed quite concerned about this.
‘I’d say they’ve come to terms with it.’
‘Hmm …’ was Lucy’s only comment.
Two days later, Ruth and Lucy managed to catch up with Gussie when she flew into Bognor with her last delivery for the ATA. The baby wasn’t due until early May, but Harry wanted Gussie to stop flying until after the birth, and she had readily agreed. The most important thing in Gussie’s life now was that she had a healthy baby. The first of many, she hoped.
‘You keep in touch now,’ Gussie told them. ‘This baby is going to have heaps of godparents.’
‘You bet.’ Lucy couldn’t stop smiling. ‘We’ve got to look after a future pilot.’
Gussie ran her hand over her thickening middle. ‘Let’s hope the war is over before this little one puts in an appearance.’
‘It looks as if it could be.’ Ruth gazed into space. ‘It’s going to be strange, isn’t it? This will be our fifth Christmas at war, and in all probability, the fighting will be over well before the next one.’
‘Yes, and what an opportunity the war has given us, Ruthie. Who would have believed at the beginning that women would be given the chance to fly so many different planes?’
‘We’ve done a good job.’ Ruth smiled affectionately at Lucy. ‘And so have the many nationalities who have flown for the ATA. And that includes the Americans who have become our friends. It’s been a privilege, and we haven’t finished yet.’
‘No, but I have. Here comes my taxi.’
‘You take care of our baby!’ Lucy hugged Gussie. ‘I can’t wait to be a godmother.’
‘Same here.’ Ruth also hugged Gussie. ‘Love to Harry and tell him we’ll be around as often as we can to make sure you’re not tossing a Spit around in the air.’
Gussie kept a perfectly straight face. ‘You know that’s against the rules, Ruthie.’
‘Oh, come on, Gussie, are you trying to kid me you didn’t? Pull the other one.’
Her friend tipped back her head and roared with laughter. ‘And you didn’t, I suppose?’
‘You don’t expect me to admit to a thing like that, do you? I’m still in the ATA. What about you, Lucy, have you ever been tempted?’
‘Who, me?’ Her mouth twitched at the corners, making them all chuckle.
They waved Gussie on her way, and then made for their next job.
Ruth’s mother was in her element when they arrived late on Christmas Eve. She and George adored Jack and Lucy, treating them not like guests, but as part of the family.
‘Come and look at this!’ Alice towed them into the kitchen where the dresser was loaded with tins and boxes of delicious luxuries. ‘All this arrived over the last few days. I thought the parcels were never going to stop coming!’
‘Good old Mom,’ Lucy nodded approval. ‘She’s been busy.’
‘But my dears, this must have been very expensive.’ A frown of worry creased Alice’s brow. ‘She really shouldn’t have. It is so generous.’
Jack placed an arm around her shoulders. ‘Don’t worry, we’ve always seen that Ma isn’t short of a dollar or two. You’re feeding her children, and have made us welcome in your home ever since we arrived in England. We’re grateful to you for that, and so is Ma. It’s her way of thanking you.’
Ruth’s father, who had just come downstairs after insisting that he put their bags in their rooms, said, ‘We don’t need thanks; in fact, it should be the other way round. You’ve been the one bright spark in this terrible war. We were still hurting after losing our son, and then Ruth joined the ATA, leaving our house very empty. Then she brought you home, Jack. And when Lucy joined us as well we felt as if we had gained two more fine children.’
Lucy was quite overcome, and in her usual outgoing way, gave Ruth’s parents a big hug. ‘You’re great folks.’
George was clearly pleased with the show of affection. He picked up one of the boxes. ‘Let’s have a nice pot of tea and some of these. Are they biscuits, Lucy?’
‘Yeah, only we call them cookies.’
‘Then it’s tea and cookies,’ he teased.
Ruth helped her mother while the others went into the sitting room.
‘We’re going to miss them when they go home.’ Alice sighed. ‘What about Jack? He’s more than a little fond of you, and I know you’re in love with him, Ruth. I see it in your eyes when you look at him.’
There was little point in denying it. ‘I am, but I don’t know what’s going to happen when the war’s finally over. Jack’s been here since the beginning and must be longing to return home. He’s not a man you could easily tie down and I wouldn’t try. I’m not putting any pressure on him, and if he wants to take things further later, then that will have to be his decision. But it will be a tough one, Mum, with other people to consider. Jack and Lucy wouldn’t want to le
ave their mother, and I wouldn’t want to leave you and Dad.’
‘Yes, I agree it isn’t easy, and Lucy hasn’t anything to stay here for after losing Dave.’ Alice studied her daughter with respect. ‘You’ve grown into a very wise young woman, darling. We’d let you go to America if that’s what you really wanted to do, but I won’t pretend it wouldn’t break our hearts.’
‘I couldn’t leave you.’ Ruth changed the subject. If her brother had still been alive then she might have considered going if Jack had asked her to, but he hadn’t. It was a problem they were going to have to talk over soon, but they still had a little time yet. And the last thing you did to a man like Jack Nelson was try to tell him what to do.
‘Everyone’s looking to the future now. Simon’s going to open his flying school again and has asked me to join him. I’m going to get my instructor’s licence as soon as possible.’
‘That will be lovely for you.’ Alice arranged the cookies on a plate, clearly pleased her daughter was making arrangements to go into business with Simon. ‘I met Simon’s parents the other day and they were so proud of what he’s been doing.’
Ruth filled the pot. ‘He’s one of the best pilots in the ATA, if not the best.’
‘His father accepts that now. This war has changed a lot of our priorities, hasn’t it? I’ve asked them over for tea on Boxing Day.’
‘Oh, good. I haven’t seen them for some time. And you’re right, Mum, things we once considered important, no longer are.’
‘And in many cases that’s for the better.’ Alice picked up the tray. ‘We’d better take the tea through to the other room. I expect they’re wondering what we’re up to.’
Not only did Mr and Mrs Trent arrive on Boxing Day, but Simon was with them as well.
‘Glad you made it back in time,’ Jack said as soon as he saw his friend. ‘How was Paris?’
‘I wouldn’t know; I never made it that far.’ Simon introduced his parents to Jack and Lucy.
A Flight of Golden Wings Page 24