Page 42
‘I’m so sorry, Valentina. There will be no time before I leave.’
TEN
Peter hadn’t known how to tell her.
He’d wrestled with the knowledge since the Wing Commander had spoken to him in private, not really wanting to leave Malta but now understanding that he had to go home.
Of course, he now knew Valentina had a crush on him, their conversation earlier making it abundantly clear. He’d had an inkling before, noting the girl’s shining eyes, her flushed cheeks, in his presence, but he hadn’t fully acknowledged its truth until a conversation with bossy Nurse Maria the previous day.
He had gone to the hospital to let his carers know that he was being recalled to England, and to thank them for all they’d done towards getting him back on his feet. He’d arrived with some black-market goods in a tiny hamper for Maria, and a bottle of good Scotch for the doctor who had set his bones and stitched him up. Soon the walking stick might no longer be required, as his ankle was healing fast.
With moist eyes, the usually stern Nurse Maria had surprised him with her emotional farewell, hugging him and cupping his cheeks. ‘You must stay safe now.’
‘Well, London’s not exactly safe, but let’s see what they have in store for me. I’d rather stay here, if I’m being honest. I had such high hopes of getting back up into the skies over Malta and doing my job.’
‘You’ve done your job, Peter,’ she said in her lovely Maltese accent. ‘May I walk out with you?’
‘Of course.’ He waved farewell to the other staff who had helped take care of him, and gave a final salute to Dr Sammut, who raised a hand. ‘I hate to leave you all.’
‘You know we have many brave pilots flying overhead. Maybe you have an important job to do back in England to help the Allies win this heaven-forsaken war.’
‘I hope so.’ He gave her a sad smile.
They walked together down the hospital corridor towards the main doors.
‘Have you said goodbye to Valentina and her family?’ Maria asked.
His embarrassed silence gave the answer.
‘Peter, I hope you won’t mind what I say next… It might be… um…’ She searched for the right word in English. ‘Hard for you to hear.’
He frowned. ‘Go ahead. I shan’t mind.’
‘It’s about young Valentina. I’m unsure of how much you know about teenage girls… Did you have a sister?’
He shook his head. ‘I’m an only child.’
‘And you went to a school with only boys?’
‘Yes, I’m afraid so.’
She chuckled. ‘That explains it.’
They had reached the doorway of the hospital now and she gestured for them to move outside as it was a busy threshold.
‘Explains what exactly?’ he asked, good-humouredly.
‘That you have little experience of the heart of a young girl who will soon become a young woman.’
He stopped and smiled. ‘Guilty.’
She paused. ‘May I give you some insight?’
‘Please.’
‘It’s clear – to me, anyway – that Valentina has developed a deep crush on you.’
Peter opened his mouth to object, but then let it sink in properly. ‘I don’t know about deep, but perhaps on the rim of my mind I was becoming aware of this,’ he admitted.
