"I know. And Emily liked her too."
"Lovie tried to talk to Emily the other day when she was upset, but she couldn't catch up to her," Red said.
"When was Emily upset?" Kit asked. "The day I gave you the assignment to Ringway?"
"No. I think it was the day before that. After you rescued her from that German pilot. We had just landed and were crossing the infield. Willie said you had gone to the ready room. We saw Emily outside the ATA office."
"What are you talking about? I didn't see her outside the office."
"Yeah, she was standing outside the open window there where you park your motorcycle. She looked upset about something. She wrote a note and put it on your motorcycle then ran off. Lovie said she looked like she was crying, but she couldn't catch her. You know how Lovie was. Always ready to help her friends in a time of crisis. We assumed you would talk with her about it."
"Outside what open window?"
"Griggs's office."
"Oh, my God," Kit exclaimed, standing up and going to the window. "If she was outside the office, she heard what Griggs said to me. She heard her ultimatum."
"What are you talking about?"
Kit spun around, glaring over at Red
"That's why she did it," Kit said.
"Why she did what?" Red looked confused.
"Emily told me she didn't want to see me anymore. But the reason she broke it off is because she overheard what Griggs said to me. She heard it through the open window. She didn't want me to lose my wings. She was only trying to protect me. That little idiot." She laughed out loud.
"Told you what, Kit?"
"I'll tell you later," she said happily and kissed the top of Red's head. Kit kissed Lovie's picture too. "Thank you, Lovie, sweetheart. You were right. I know what I want, and I'm going to fight for it."
Kit rushed out the door and ran across the infield toward the motor pool.
"Where's Emily Mills?" she demanded breathlessly, looking past the office to the driver's waiting room. She didn't wait for a response. She hurried into the back, down the steps into the garage, searching for Emily. She checked every truck and car as she called her name.
"Are you looking for Emily Mills, Lieutenant?" a mechanic asked, rolling out from under a truck where she was changing the oil.
"Yes. Where is she?" Kit asked, looking behind the trucks in the garage.
"Didn't you hear? She transferred to Manchester. She left today."
Kit stopped in her tracks.
"Manchester?"
"Yeah. She went home to pack this morning. Someone is driving her up there at three."
Kit checked her watch. It was after three. She turned and raced across the field to the motorcycle. She stomped the starter and pulled away, slinging grass and gravel as she fish-tailed her way to the road. As she rounded the drive she noticed a car waiting in front of the big house. The driver was leaning against the fender smoking a cigarette. Kit knocked on the side door anxiously.
"Open up, Nigel," she said, pounding again. Finally the door opened slowly, Nigel smiling his passive smile.
"Good afternoon, Lieutenant Anderson. May I help you?" he said, but Kit had already pushed past him and headed down the hall for the stairs. "This is most irregular," he said. "If you will wait, I will see if Lady Marble will see you."
"I don't need to see her," Kit shouted back to him. "I'm here to see Emily."
"Lieutenant Anderson?" Lillian said, coming down the stairs. "What can I do for you?"
"Nothing, Lady Marble. I have to see Emily," Kit said looking up the staircase to where she suspected Emily was packing.
"I'm sorry, Lieutenant, but Emily is about to leave. She was just finishing her packing." Lillian stood in the middle of the bottom step, doing her best to block Kit from going upstairs. "She is going to work in Manchester."
"The hell she is," Kit said, squeezing past and vaulting up the steps two at a time.
"I beg your pardon." Lillian straightened her posture indignantly.
"I'm sorry, Lillian," Kit came back down to her and gave her a big hug. "It's just I have to talk to Emily before she leaves. It's very important." She started back up the stairs.
"Perhaps this isn't the proper time, Lieutenant."
"Oh, yes, it is. There will never be a better time for what I have to say."
"It may not surprise you, Lieutenant, but Emily has confided a great deal in me. I know all about you and her. I also know of her recent decision in regards to your relationship," Lillian said up to her.
Kit looked back at her.
"And I know why she did it," Kit said.
"Don't you think you should respect her decision?"
"No, I don't. I love her." Kit smiled then rushed up the stairs and down the hall to the corner room. She opened the door without knocking to find Emily in her slip and stockings. She looked up at Kit and screamed.
"What are you doing here?"
"I have come to see you." Kit closed the door and walked over to her. Emily grabbed her dress and held it against her chest.
"I thought we said everything we needed to say. I have to finish changing. A driver is waiting to take me to Manchester."
"You aren't going to Manchester, Miss Mills. You are staying right here in Alderbrook."
"No, I'm not. I transferred three days ago. I will be working for the flight command administration as a file clerk. They have a lovely room for me in the women's barracks, and I will have every other weekend free to visit Grandmother. I will be issued real uniforms, not those dreadful coveralls. Now, if you'll excuse me," she said, stepping into her dress and wiggling it up over her hips.
"I don't think so." Kit perched her hands on her hips. "You heard, didn't you?"
"Heard what?"
"You heard what Commander Griggs said to me in her office that afternoon when we got back with Peter, didn't you? You were standing outside her window and heard every word she said."
"No, I didn't hear anything," Emily insisted then went to her suitcase, frantically packing the rest of her clothes.
"I think you did. And what's more, I think the things you said to me were because Griggs threatened to take away my wings if we continued to see each other. Isn't that right?"
"No, I didn't say anything of the kind," she said, stuffing and closing her suitcase without looking up at Kit.
"Emily Mills, you are lying. You said those things just to protect me." Kit took Emily's arm and turned her around. "Admit it. You heard what Griggs said and you were willing to leave me just to protect my wings."
"No, that isn't it at all." Emily tried to pull away.
"Your decision had nothing to do with the way you feel about me. Admit it. Admit you still love me."
"I can't, Kit." She tried to squirm free, but Kit held on to her. "I have to go. I'll be late."
"I'm not letting go of you until you admit you still love me and want to see me."
"I will not." Emily frowned stubbornly.
"You will or else," Kit said, struggling to hold on to her.
"Or else what?" Emily tugged at Kit's fingers around her arm.
"Or I will paddle your bottom."
"You wouldn't dare." Emily glared up at her.
"Are you going to admit it?"
"No. I made my decision on my own, and you have to respect that."
"You had your chance." Kit sat down on the bed and pulled Emily across the lap.
"Let go of me, you bloody Yank," Emily said, fighting to cover her bottom with her hands.
"Not a chance." Kit began administering swats.
"Ouch!" Emily squealed.
"Are you going to admit it?" Kit asked as she struck another blow for love's sake.
"Ouch," Emily cried, kicking and fighting to get away. "You are a monster."
Kit gave her another.
"All right, all right," Emily screamed. "I admit it."
"That's better," Kit said, still holding her across her lap. "And tell me you love me."
Emily looked back at her.
"You have just beaten my bum. Why should I tell you I love you?"
"Who else was willing to stop you from running away from something wonderful?"
"Kit, I can't. I know what will happen if we stay together. You are too valuable to the ATA for me to put myself first." Emily sat up on Kit's lap and looked her in the eyes. "I couldn't stand it if you lost your wings because of me. Your last weeks here are important. I don't want to interfere with that."
"But you still love me?" Kit said encircling Emily with her arms.
"Yes, I still love you," she said softly. "I've always loved you."
"But what is this bloody Yank thing?"
"You are a bloody Yank. But you're my bloody Yank."
"Good, because there are going to be some changes."
"What kind of changes? We won't see each other, but we can still be friends?"
"No. I don't want you as a friend. I want you as my partner. You are all I've ever wanted, and I am staying here in England until they kick me out. If Griggs wants my wings, she can have them. I'll quit. I'll fly cargo planes, or I'll drive trucks, or I'll just live in the cottage and collect junk like Sam. But you and I are not giving up something beautiful. If they want me to fly ATA, they'll have to take me on my own terms."
"You're staying?" Emily threw her arms around Kit's neck.
"You betcha. That's a Yankee expression for I love you with all my heart, Emily Mills." She pulled Emily to her and kissed her passionately.
There was a knock at the bedroom door.
"Shall I dismiss the car, Miss Emily?" Nigel said through the door.
"Yes, Nigel. I won't be needing it," Emily replied.
"If you two would like to join her Ladyship, tea is being served in the library."
"Would you like a spot of tea, Lieutenant Anderson?" Emily asked seductively, draping her arms over Kit's shoulders.
"I would much rather have you," Kit said, laying Emily back on the bed.
"Tea is highly overrated," Emily whispered and pulled Kit down on top of her, kissing her completely.
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