The Last Letter from Juliet - Melanie Hudson Page 0,80

I was thrilled to see – a vibrant bright new smile. She waved madly at us from her perch on the balcony of the control tower as we taxied in.

‘She’s cheered up then,’ Anna whispered as we walked towards the operations room. Lottie, who despite being a WAAF was still completely oblivious to correct military protocol, ran wildly towards us, tripped over my parachute and fell straight into my open arms.

‘Oh, Juliet!’ she shouted. ‘It’s so wonderful to have you home for Christmas! You, too, Anna!’ She leaped forward to give Anna a hug. ‘Welcome to Cornwall!’

Anna responded by ruffling her hair. ‘Steady on,’ she said, ‘I need to pee, and then I need to eat. Do me a favour Lottie and point me in the direction of somewhere I can do both!’

We ate lunch in the airman’s dining hall. It never failed to surprise me just how much the wearing of our Sidcot flying suits could rouse such a stir. Lottie was getting glasses of water when one young woman dashed up to Anna – as Anna was about to spoon rice pudding into her mouth – with a pen and a notebook and asked for her autograph. Anna shrugged, put down her spoon and scribbled her signature across the book. The young woman, looking at the name, was clearly disappointed.

‘Oh,’ she said with a sigh. ‘I thought you were Amy Johnson … she flies for the ATA, doesn’t she?’

Anna bit her lip in an effort to remain polite.

‘She did. But I’m afraid she’s dead. It was in the papers, didn’t you see?’

The young woman’s shoulders dropped.

‘Dead? That’s terrible. But how?’

‘Flying accident, delivering for the ATA as it happened. She crashed into the Thames, I’m afraid.’

Anna tapped pointedly on the notebook in the girl’s hand. ‘But trust me, that signature will be worth a fortune one day, so I’d save it if I were you!’ (Marie was having a definite influence on Anna’s increased confidence).

The girl smiled, tapped her nose, tucked the notebook into her pocket, gave Anna a sudden hug and went on her way.

Lottie returned to the table with the drinks.

‘I’ve just been chatting to one of the girls,’ she said. ‘There’s a Christmas dance in the mess hall tonight. I know you won’t want to come, Juliet, what with just getting back to see Charles and everything, but you’ll come with me, won’t you, Anna?’

Anna turned to me. She knew I was dreading seeing Charles. Despite my letters and phone calls home, we had become almost entirely estranged, and anyway, a party at Predannack would be great fun.

‘I’m not sure,’ Anna said, uncertainly, glancing in my direction. ‘Wouldn’t your parents think it was a little rude if I disappear off, first night and all?’

‘Don’t be silly! And you don’t mind do you, Juliet.’ They both looked at me.

I shook my head in answer, trying to feign excitement for them both. Anna noticed my disappointment, Lottie didn’t.

‘How is Charles, by the way?’ Anna asked, diverting Lottie’s attention away from the party.

Lottie scrunched her nose.

‘Oh, you know. He’s getting there. Some days good, some days bad.’ She nudged me. ‘You can always tell when he’s been on the phone to Juliet, though. It cheers him up no end.’ I glanced at Anna, confused. Charles, cheered up? ‘Speaking of which,’ Lottie went on, ‘you must be desperate to see him, Juliet, and here we are chatting away.’ She stood and glanced around the dining hall. ‘I’ll just nip and see if I can tee us up a lift with one of the chaps on the squadron. Pa doesn’t let me use the old Rover anymore, so I have to cycle everywhere, or walk, worst luck! Back in a mo—’

She turned to leave but seemed to remember something and turned back quickly.

‘Oh, I almost forgot!’ She perched herself on the arm of the chair next to mine. Her face was on fire with excitement. ‘Remember that chap, Edward Nancarrow? The one I took quite a shine to before the war?’

Anna’s ears pricked up.

‘Well he’s back at Lanyon and you’ll never guess?’

‘Go on …’

‘He’s not married at all! I’ve no idea where he’s been lately, but I was chatting to him in the garden yesterday and …’

I swallowed.

‘Sorry, what did you say?’

‘I said … Ma and Pa are having a drinks party on Christmas Eve and he’s coming along as my guest!’

Lottie let out a little excitable shriek and dashed off. I glanced up at Anna who lips were moving but