‘Dear Ma and Pa,
I don’t know what to say. I love you. That seems like a good place to start. I love you, I love Danny and Connor and Sam, and I love the memories I have of being with you all at home. Every night I fall asleep thinking of you all, wishing we could be together and back home, eating a big feast of roast lamb like we haven’t had in years. I wish this blasted war was over and all our boys were home. I wish that I was home, too, but if it’s Scarlet giving you this letter, then make her stay for tea and let her tell you all about the adventures we had together. Don’t cry sad tears for me, cry happy tears knowing that I had a smile on my face every time I thought of home.
Love you more than anything,
Ellie.’
She paused, still staring at the letter, wanting to keep smiling instead of breaking down in a flood of tears. Her family meant everything to her, and no matter how much she tried to smile her way through each day and have fun, she was always thinking of home.
‘If I have to give them that letter, I promise I’ll stay for tea. You know, any chance to talk about my best friend Ellie.’
Scarlet’s soft voice soothed her, making her smile real instead of forced.
‘Do you really think I’m your best friend?’ Ellie asked.
‘Of course. We’re going to be living in a tent together for so long, I reckon we’ll be as good as sisters by the end of it.’
‘You think so?’ Ellie asked.
‘I know so. Now, give me that letter and let me tuck it away so you don’t have to think about it again.’
Ellie folded it back into a small square and handed it over, taking Scarlet’s from her at the same time. She tucked it into her brassiere, not wanting to risk losing it and content that it would be safe there no matter where they travelled or what she was doing. She could sew it into her uniform properly when she had a spare moment.
‘I might as well put mine there, too, then,’ Scarlet said, tucking Ellie’s away for safekeeping.
‘So, back to Thomas,’ Ellie said. ‘You’ve not told me enough. What’s he like? How did it feel when you first met him? How did you know he was the one?’
Scarlet lay back again, pulling her blanket with her. ‘Can we not talk about Thomas? Not tonight.’
‘James then?’
Scarlet’s groan, followed by the sock she threw in her friend’s direction, made Ellie hide under her pillow for cover.
‘Fine then, let’s talk about Spencer,’ Ellie said. ‘Because I can’t figure the man out, and it’s killing me.’
‘What can’t you work out? Because if you’re worried about whether he likes you or not, then surely I can tell you how crazy you are. That man is definitely interested.’
‘Why are you so sure?’
‘He singled you out and asked you to be his nurse. I think that tells you everything you need to know!’ Scarlet made a clucking noise. ‘Besides, I think you’ll find he’s a lot less friendly, and rather more brusque, with the other nurses.’
Ellie sighed. ‘But, I just, well . . .’ She shut her eyes, finding the words hard to put together. ‘I don’t know why he’d like me. I mean, why me over all those other women?’
‘Oh, sweetheart,’ Scarlet said, taking her hand and squeezing it. ‘Because you’re you. You’re beautiful and sweet and kind, and you always have this gorgeous smile on your face. Why wouldn’t any man pick you above anyone else?’
Ellie kept her eyes shut but squeezed Scarlet’s hand back. ‘Thank you.’
‘For what?’
‘For being the best big sister I never had.’
Ellie lay there as Scarlet put out the lamp. She meant it, too. Scarlet was everything she’d ever imagined a sister would be. She might be the funny one, the smiley one, the one who made fun of everything, but Scarlet was hers, her one person in the world she could count on right now, and she knew that no matter what happened or where they went, Scarlet would have her back.
‘I can’t believe we actually have a film to go to!’ Ellie was so excited about doing something fun and taking her mind off everything they’d been learning. If she had to talk about burns with Spencer again she’d probably be sick, not to mention having to run around in her blinkin’ battledress training for wherever it was they were sending them. ‘I wish I had a pretty dress to wear.’
‘Me too,’ Scarlet groaned. ‘Just one night of being normal in pretty clothes. A pretty dress freshly pressed for the evening.’
The commotion outside made Ellie hurry along, worried that they’d miss out on a good seat if they didn’t get moving; and she wanted to find Spencer. He was so quiet sometimes, made her so uncertain, but he did seem to like having her near, so she wasn’t giving up on him yet.
‘Do you think I should kiss him?’ Ellie asked.
‘What?’
‘Me. Kiss him. He’s so bloody proper, and I want to know if he really likes me or not!’
Scarlet laughed so hard that Ellie didn’t know whether to kick her or join in. ‘What’s so funny?’
‘You! You’re so impatient, and the poor man probably doesn’t know what to do with you.’
‘Fine. So I won’t kiss him.’ Ellie crawled out of the tent, stretching as she always did when she emerged.
‘Kiss him,’ Scarlet said, her arm looping around Ellie’s shoulders. ‘Make his day and kiss him. Go on.’
Ellie grinned at her as they walked away, following the other nurses towards the screening. She bet Scarlet was on the lookout for James. She would be if she was her, but she didn’t mention him. Ellie already knew how upset Scarlet was with herself about the whole thing, but she could tell that there was something between them, a flicker of something that she knew Scarlet didn’t want to admit to. All she wanted was to encourage her to harmlessly flirt with the man, to have a little fun, to make the days pass with a smile on her face. She’d rather see her friend happy than miserable over a missing man she doubted would ever be found, but she could understand why she was so torn. It must be so hard on her, all the not knowing.
‘Ellie!’
She looked around, certain she’d heard her name called.
‘Ellie! Over here!’
Ellie finally saw Spencer, waving up ahead, closer to the big house. She waved back and he immediately gestured to her, pointing inside.
‘I think he needs me. Are you all right if I leave you for a bit?’
‘Of course.’ Scarlet gave her a little wave and she waved back. ‘Just don’t go making any excuses later about why you couldn’t kiss him.’
Ellie couldn’t help her smile broadening as she walked over to the doctor, although the sombre look on his face wasn’t what she’d been expecting.
‘Are you looking forward to the film?’ she asked. ‘I can’t wait.’ She looked up at him. Normally that was enough to make him break out into one of his shy smiles, but not today.
‘No, Ellie, I’m not. I’m afraid they might cancel the film, unless they make the announcement after.’
She wasn’t sure what he was talking about. ‘Is there something we should know? What announcement?’