Page 91

“You can’t share this with me,” she said, picking up a bit of cheddar cheese. Her mouth was already watering at the abundance of it.

“Sure I can.”

“But this is more than my entire week’s cheese ration was before I became a WAAF,” she protested.

He placed a hand on hers to still her. “Izzie, there is no one else I would rather share Mom’s care package with. Trust me. Now sit yourself down there and let me spoil you with a little American hospitality.”

She sank down on crossed legs to the spot he indicated on the blanket and watched him unpack the rest of his treasures from his bag before sitting across from her. Then he took out a penknife to slice up the cheese and a couple of apples, she watched his long fingers move with self-assurance, and when he caught her studying him he shot her a grin that made her go warm all over.

As they ate, they talked, and Izzie could feel herself loosen up. She liked this man. She enjoyed his easy company and the way he looked right at her with a little sparkle in his eyes when she spoke. He leaned back on his elbows, giving her a chance to study his face. He had a good, strong jaw and eyes that flashed and sparkled with amusement as he talked. When he listened, he would tilt his head a little, as though not wanting to miss a single thing she said.

When all that was left of their picnic was crumbs, Jack pulled out a candy bar of a brand she didn’t recognize. “Here,” he said, breaking it in half and handing it to her.

“I can’t eat half of your chocolate,” she protested.

“I thought we sorted this out already?” he asked.

She laughed and took the treat. When she broke a small square off and took a delicate bite, the richness of it burst in her mouth and she had to stop herself from moaning.

“I had forgotten how good that tastes,” she said.

“I thought you could get chocolate on the ration here,” he said.

She made a face. “You can, but it’s not the same as it used to be. Cadbury’s stopped making Dairy Milk last year because the government told the company there would be no more using fresh milk. Now it’s skimmed milk powder.”

Jack pulled a face of his own. “Sounds about as good as a D-ration bar.”

“What’s a D-ration bar?” she asked.

“Trust me, you don’t want to know,” he said, taking another bite of chocolate. “Have a bit more. Come on.”

She smiled at his teasing encouragement and took another sinful bite.

“That’s more like it. I can almost imagine you as a little girl, saving up your chocolate squares for a rainy day,” he said.

“Oh, no. I wasn’t like that at all. That was Sylvia. I was always the first to finish my sweets.”

“Are all sisters such opposites?” he asked.

She shrugged. “Maybe.”

“What did you decide in the end?”

“Hmm?”

“About your sister. Did you write to her?” he asked.

Her thoughts immediately flashed to the letter in her tunic pocket.

“She wrote to me again, actually. Lottie from my unit brought us the post just as I was leaving to meet you. I haven’t opened it yet.”

“Do you want to?” When she hesitated, he said, “Go ahead. I’m not going anywhere.”

“Can… can I read it to you?” she asked, unbuttoning the flap on her pocket and pulling the letter out.

His eyes softened. “Of course you can.”

She tore open the flap and pulled out the letter, her sister’s handwriting sending a fluttering through her stomach.