Isabella’s Airman (11 page)

“They might. It’s all the chance I need.”

“And then what?” Her tears were falling freely now. I felt as though I was being torn apart.

“I pray that Davy survives his other ops, and then we can be together.”

She tugged her hands free, rubbing her face and standing abruptly before moving to lean against the window. The afternoon sun shone on the grass beyond. Conditions were perfect for nighttime bombing missions. “Please, Bella. Don’t ask me to do this.”

I stared at her back, her silhouette against the lit window. Juliet was my closest friend, and I would miss her so much. And it was ironic that she’d always been the rule breaker, while I never stepped out of line. This was different, though. It wasn’t just a minor infraction.

The prospect of leaping into the unknown was terrifying. The idea of making a new life in this ancient culture where everything was alien to me was paralyzing. Did I have the courage for this? I thought again of Davy.

“I love him, Juliet.” My voice was little more than a whisper.

She whirled to stare at me, tears pouring down her cheeks. “What if Marc is sent to hunt you? Your
cousin
. What about the shame to your family?” Her breath hitched. “What about me? I thought we’d always be together.”

So had I. We’d planned our futures that way. They’d never included a dark-eyed Welshman who’d steal my heart.

“If you won’t help me, I’ll do it on my own.”

I spent another sleepless night, but this one was filled with thoughts of Davy. Of our future together. I refused to believe we didn’t have one. All through the breakfast shift, I smiled to myself as I thought back to our afternoon in the woods. How we’d cuddled and kissed afterward and then walked together in the sunshine, pausing every few steps for another kiss.

Juliet had been wrong. Making love was something so incredible, I didn’t have words to describe it. I thought I came from an enlightened society, but without love, it was an empty landscape. How had we gotten it so wrong?

Thoughts danced and skittered through my head, and I counted the minutes until I could meet Davy.

As before, he met me at the kitchen door. His smile looked strained, but he caught my hand and squeezed my fingers before lifting them to his lips. “Let’s go for a walk. We’re on ops tonight, so we can’t go out anywhere, but we can find a quiet spot to sit in.”

We didn’t have to walk far to a sheltered area under a cluster of trees at the far edge of the airfield. From here, the bustle and noise of the runways was muffled. It could be another world. I knew the armorers were busy loading bombs and incendiaries into the planes, pumping fuel, and testing the engines. Engineers swarmed over the great machines, checking and rechecking every working part. Making them safe for tonight. If only they could make the crews safe too.

I took a deep breath and tried to block it out, to listen to the birdsong instead. It was hard.

Davy tugged me to sit on the grass beside him, and again he kissed my fingers. My heart fluttered, and I felt a silly smile break out over my face.

“That’s better,” he said. “I don’t like to see you worried. There’s only four to go, sweetheart. When they’re all done and I transfer for re-training, I’m going to ask you to marry me.”
Oh
. I lifted trembling hands to my mouth, and he waved a finger at me. “I know it’s soon. I know we’re young. But I know I love you more than anything, Belle. I don’t want to think about a future without you.”

I couldn’t listen to any more. I threw my arms around his neck and pressed my face against his throat. This was right. I was going to do the right thing. “Yes, Davy. I’m telling you yes.” With his arms holding me tight, I let out a shuddering breath. “I love you more than I have words.”

His kiss was tender, sweet, and the best answer he could have given.

We sat entwined for an hour or more until he had to leave for yet another briefing, and I went back to my quarters.

With Juliet out somewhere and the room to myself, I started my plans in detail. I would have one shot at this. Failure simply wasn’t an option.

•●•

I didn’t get a chance to speak to Juliet until we returned for the evening shift. Before I could say anything, Mrs. Latham pulled us to one side. “We serve supper around seven for all the crew, then cocoa and buns when they get back. Seeing as your boys are both active tonight, would you like me to change your rosters so you’re on duty then?” Her voice was calm and reassuring. “That’s normally around three in the morning, after they’ve been debriefed.”

We both jumped at the chance. I wouldn’t sleep, anyway, if Davy was out there in the darkness somewhere.

I stood in line serving fried eggs and bacon to the airmen as they filed in for supper. Waiting to see Davy. They all looked subdued, their normal jokes and banter turned down a notch, and my stomach churned. Gods. How would I cope with this month after month? The bombing raids would continue for another three years. Thirty-six more months. And even if—when—Davy was granted a transfer, he would still be flying, just not on active missions.

“Isabella.” My eyes flicked up to see Teddy’s open, smiling face. “Is Jules around?” He alone looked confident.

“Yes, she’s, ah…” I searched the crowded mess hall, seeing her in the corner pouring cups of tea. He followed my gaze, his grin broadening.

“Thanks.” He winked, accepted his food, and turned to saunter toward Juliet. Behind Teddy came another airman I knew to be from C-for-Charlie, and then Davy. I released a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding. Dark eyes twinkled back at me, his grin flashing.

“Davy. I’ll be here with the cocoa. When you get back.”

“That’s good. I can give you a good-night kiss later.” I blushed, even though his words were too low for anyone else to hear. I held onto the plate too long, desperate for something else to say but unable to articulate anything. I knew he’d been in briefing sessions all afternoon, as well as checking every inch of his plane with the rest of the crew. And now, according to Mrs. Latham, they would be closeted away until the start of the mission. I wouldn’t see him again until it was all over.

“Come on, Porteous.” The airman behind him jostled his arm. “Chaps are hungry back here. Don’t keep hogging the pretty girls.”

I released him, pulling together the semblance of a smile for the men still in the queue. I slid fried eggs onto the plates, my eyes tracking Davy as he made his way to a seat where he could watch me. As our eyes met, he patted his top pocket, a hint of bright yellow just visible. Like a medieval knight wearing his lady’s colors as he went into battle, Davy carried my ribbon as promised. Right over his heart.

The last food had been dispensed. As my eyes searched for Davy, I saw him lounging in the doorway, waiting for me. He nodded toward outside and quirked his eyebrows. I didn’t hesitate. Walking swiftly to the kitchen door, I ran around the corner, barging right into him as he hurried in my direction.

We laughed as we collided, Davy sweeping me off my feet and into his arms, his mouth seeking mine. I slid back to the ground, our kiss desperate, the impending separation terrifying. His arms tight around me, I imagined I’d become part of his body, fused to him. He shifted and held my face. I ached for more, but we were out of time.

One final caress, a kiss so precious. A promise of more later. A rakish salute, his fingers just touching his cap. I watched him walking backward, his eyes on me for as long as possible. My Davy. My love.

The kitchen staff were busy for the next few hours, serving, cleaning up, and preparing the start of the next day’s food. It didn’t work as a distraction. As I mopped and cleaned, my mind kept harking back to my problems. Like a ragged fingernail, I kept worrying at it, trying to create a perfect solution. If Juliet didn’t help me, didn’t provide a cover story for me. If I couldn’t find a way to make Davy ill. If I couldn’t avoid the
ghardians
.

The sun set, twilight falling across the aerodrome, and I heard the first rumbles of an engine coming to life. I froze over my mop and stared at Juliet, busy wiping shelves. We gazed at each other for a moment and then darted to the doorway to watch.

One by one, the huge planes fired up, coughing and spluttering, and then roaring as the engines caught. Lights flashed in the distance on the runways, and the banging and rumbling got louder as they started their journeys. Juliet and I clung to each other. Logic told me they would return home safely in the wee hours of the morning. Fear held me, and I knew with a certainty I would not relax until I saw Davy again.

As the Wellingtons took off, their massively laden bellies heavy with bombs, they lurched into the air with all the clumsiness of sheep attempting to fly. God knew how they could even stay in the air, let alone fly thousands of miles. The noise was colossal, the vibrations pouring through my body, the ground trembling beneath our feet.

The moon was just rising, full and yellow. It would be bright later—a perfect bomber’s moon. I had to wonder what it must feel like for the Germans to see these raids flying overhead, dozens of English aircraft in tight formation, raining death upon them. I shuddered at the thought, feeling suddenly weak at the knees.

Juliet wrapped her arms around me and murmured into my hair. “Breathe,” she whispered. “Keep breathing, slow and steady. He’ll be fine, you know this.”

“Yeah,” I gasped back. “And Teddy too. But I’m still scared.”

•●•

Back in our room, I sat on Juliet’s bunk, while she paced up and down. Eventually she stopped to crouch before me, a tiny bottle in her hand.

“This is something I’ve got from the infirmary. I told them I had constipation.”

I took the bottle from her and slowly tipped it sideways, watching the thick, oily liquid slosh around inside.

“Syrup of figs. Take two spoons before bedtime.” I read the label aloud, and then looked up to Juliet. “This is perfect, but how much should I give him?”

She shrugged. “I’ve no idea. And you need to disguise the taste somehow. I tried just a tiny bit, and it’s disgusting.” Her nose wrinkled, her lips pursed, and I nodded.