A few days before Christmas, Lizzie was just leaving the operations room when she noticed someone waiting. She knew who it was, even with his back to her. As he turned, a smile lit up Jack’s face. Even though they had been going out now for three months her stomach still flip-flopped when she saw him.
‘There’s my girl,’ he said, stamping out his cigarette and walking towards her. Even with other air-force personnel around, he didn’t hesitate. He put his arms around her and gathered her in for a gentle kiss.
A couple of the operators whistled and hooted their encouragement as they passed by, and they parted, laughed, then walked together, hand in hand.
‘This is a nice surprise,’ said Lizzie. ‘I thought we weren’t seeing each other until next week.’
‘I managed to get a couple of days off. That’s why I wanted to see you,’ he said with a smile, stopping and turning her around to face him. ‘Could you get the night off tomorrow? Is Abigail still with you?’
‘She is. We’ve been in touch with the Red Cross again, but there’s still no news on her family.’
‘Could you get someone to take care of her tomorrow night and on Saturday? I have somewhere special I want to take you, but it’s a surprise.’
Lizzie raised her eyebrows with delight. ‘I’m sure Julia can help out. I love surprises. Is it a surprise I will like?’
‘I think so,’ he said. ‘And pack an overnight bag.’
Something inside Lizzie’s stomach tightened. As much as she trusted Jack, there was a side of her that was fearful of ever getting into a situation as she had with Fergus. Quickly, she dismissed the thought. This was Jack. She loved Jack. He was one of the most honourable people she’d ever known, and she knew he would never hurt her or put her in a position where she would feel any kind of pressure.
‘All right,’ she agreed. ‘I’ll meet you here after work.’
‘See you then; I have to go and arrange something.’ He kissed her gently on the lips, and she could tell he was excited as he moved away.
Even with the apprehension, she was thrilled to spend the evening with Jack and maybe the next day. Where could he be thinking of taking her? Lizzie didn’t sleep well that night, and visions of Fergus came back to haunt her. She couldn’t believe after all of this time that she could still be so affected by the experience. The pressure, the feeling of guilt, then her daughter being torn from her arms, all returned to torture her as she tossed and turned through the night. She was almost glad when the raid started, and the three of them made their way down to the shelter. In the garden, Abigail curled up in Lizzie’s lap, cat-like, and fell straight back to sleep, and as the bombs rattled the walls of the little metal Anderson shelter, Lizzie shared with Julia what Jack had said. Julia was excited.
‘He must have something special for you for Christmas,’ she said. ‘What a lovely thought. Abigail will be fine with me. Besides, I’m really missing my children; I can’t believe it’s been six months,’ she sighed. ‘I have so wanted to go down and see them again before Christmas, but we have been so busy at work. Also, the last time I saw Tom he was so upset when I left, I wonder if it is harder on him when I visit. I’m looking forward to hanging a stocking with Abigail and have her help me decorate the tree. It’s a bit of a pathetic one this year, but at least we’ll be celebrating Christmas all together.’
The next afternoon Jack was waiting for Lizzie again when she came off duty. As she came out of the operations room, he was standing there, hands tucked in his pockets, a broad smile on his face. Slipping his arm around her shoulders, he walked with her to a car he must have borrowed. But he didn’t drive to the main gate; instead he turned and drove to the aerodrome. She curiously raised an eyebrow. ‘Are you going to tell me where you’re taking me?’
‘Not yet,’ he said, smiling. When he pulled the car to a stop beside one of the hangars, she became even more curious. He came round and opened the car door for her, and she took his hand as he helped her out. In her months with