“Are you okay, Liz? You don’t have to fly today if you’re feeling under the weather.” He didn’t want to pry, and she didn’t answer him at first when her eyes met his.

“I need to fly today. We have a job to do.” Her voice didn’t sound like her.

“If you’re sure . . .” he said and was about to leave when her words stopped him in his tracks.

“My brother Greg died yesterday. They came to tell me at midnight last night. He was a doctor. The hospital where he was working was strafed by Japanese fighter pilots and he was killed.” She stood still like a statue, for a minute, and without saying a word, he took her in his arms and held her as she shook with silent sobs, and he clung to her as tightly as he could. There was nothing he could say to her. They had all been through it before, or most of them had. All he could do was be there. She clutched him as though she would drown if she didn’t.

“I’m sorry, Lizzie . . . so sorry. Do you want to go back to the barracks?” he whispered. “I can have someone drive you back.” She shook her head vehemently and looked up at him.

“I want to be with you, and I need to work.” She knew it was the only thing that would keep her sane, and she realized that she wanted to be with him. She knew he understood, just as Audrey did. He brought her a cloth dipped in cool water and she put it on her face and held it there for a minute. Then she dropped it in a bucket and nodded at him, and he gently led her back to her seat where she strapped herself in. Pru looked at him questioningly when he took his own seat, and he shook his head almost imperceptibly and she understood. It was a look that they all understood, one that said the worst had happened. She didn’t know who, but she could guess what. Lizzie’s world had been blown to bits for the second time in less than two and a half years. It was a cruel turn of fate. The cruelest.

Ed kept a close eye on her for the rest of the day, to make sure she was careful and alert during their brief landing. He didn’t want anything to happen to her. She managed to tend to the men she needed to. Pru put a gentle hand on her shoulder and gave her a hug once the men were loaded.

They flew four missions that day, and Lizzie looked like she’d been beaten when their last patients of the day had left in ambulances with the medics. Ed walked her back to her barracks then, and held her again for a moment before he walked her inside. Audrey was waiting for her in the hall. She had told the others, so they all knew what had happened.