Her brother almost smiled but he still didn’t look happy. ‘Now you can’t fly anymore you can work here – you know more about farming than either George or I do.’
They all assumed he was going to stay and that he didn’t have any plans of his own. Jack supposed he could hardly refuse after what both Fred and Ellie had said. Now Greg looked less than delighted. Bloody hell! Whatever he decided to do was going to upset someone. He decided to change the subject completely to give him time to make up his mind.
‘Is anyone going to tell Fred what you’re planning to do, Ellie?’
*
Before Neil could prevent her, she told her dad everything, including that she thought they should hand over the list of names before the police returned.
‘As it happens I had a letter from a solicitor this morning acting for your mother. It seems she wants to divorce me on the grounds of cruelty. I’ve never raised my hand to her so I’m not sure what that’s all about.’
‘Dad, how dreadful. What are you going to do? Will you contest it?’ Ellie asked.
‘The marriage is over; I don’t want her back and she’ll be happier with her own sort. Doesn’t do to marry out of your class, Ellie, you need to remember that.’
There was an uncomfortable silence but Fred seemed unaware that he’d dropped a clanger. Fred carried on oblivious to the embarrassment he’d caused his daughter and her boyfriend.
‘If I agree then I don’t have to pay any maintenance, make a settlement or pay costs. Seems fair enough to me.’ He nodded and looked better than he had for weeks. ‘You go ahead and do what you think’s right, love, it’s nothing to do with us now.’
‘I’ll do it, if you like. Might be better coming from me as it was my uncle got us into this mess.’
‘Jack, would you? I’ll go and get the list for you. Perhaps you could do it from the telephone at the airfield?’
‘Good idea, Ellie.’ He stood up and was collecting the empty mugs when Mrs B put her head around the door. ‘As you weren’t here for a proper Sunday lunch, Ellie, we’re having it now. In the dining room tonight as it looks like rain.’
No more was said about the police or the divorce which was a relief. Greg and Ellie went out to see to the new arrivals and Neil was on the telephone talking to his brother.
This gave Jack an opportunity to speak to Fred alone. ‘When I give this list of names to the proper authorities they might still decide to prosecute all of us for not handing it over when we first had it. We could be charged with treason…’
‘Don’t be daft, Jack, it won’t come to that. They’ll be so glad to have these names that they’ll forget it’s taken us a few weeks to pass them over.’
Jack left him to his cocoa. Despite being told that he was one of the family, tonight he felt he was intruding. Things would be easier when Greg and Neil went back to their bases tomorrow morning.
*
Ellie didn’t want to go to the airfield but Jack persuaded her. ‘You’ve been working with Sid for years; you owe it to him to say goodbye.’
‘All right, I’ll come. It’s going to be unbearable seeing the planes and not being allowed to fly them anymore.’ She swallowed the lump in her throat as they pulled up for what would be the last time outside the office.
The place was deserted – no sign of Sid or Gladys. ‘This is very strange, they are usually here by now,’ she said.
‘I went to see them yesterday morning so they already know what’s going on. I told them to come at ten o’clock to collect their wages and have a final cup of tea with us.’
She was clutching a cake tin and put it down on the packing case. ‘In which case, we’ve got an hour to take everything out of the office. I’m surprised you have buyers for the aircrafts as no one can use them until the war’s over.’
‘The Swallow is going to be locked in the hangar – but the two Tiger Moths are being bought by the RAF. They’re sending a couple of blokes over to collect them sometime today.’
The thought that one of the aircraft would remain was a comfort. When this wretched war was finished she’d be able to fly again.
‘I’d like to buy the Swallow, Jack, how much do you want for it?’
‘I’ve signed everything over to Fred; he was cheated by Joe and this is one way of putting things straight.’
‘I hope The Ministry of Agriculture doesn’t insist that the strip’s ploughed up to grow potatoes.’
‘It’s possible, but hopefully they won’t realise it’s part of the farm.’
*
Saying goodbye to Sid was difficult, but he promised to come back when things were back to normal so she could start the flying club again. Gladys was tearful but resigned.
‘My Bert says I can get decent money working in a factory, but I think I might try the telephone exchange. What are you going to do, Ellie? Join the WAAFs?’
‘I wouldn’t be let anywhere near an aircraft so I’m going to stay at home and help my dad with the farm. He’s got the pamphlets about the Land Army which will be starting up again in the New Year so I’ll not be the only woman working on the farm.’
‘I’ve been asked to work at Hornchurch – I’m a bit long in the tooth – but ground engineers are in short supply so I’m going
