‘Look forward to it,’ said Olivia, and she meant every word. He hadn’t gone more than ten paces before she gave a small squeal of excitement. ‘I’m going to have dinner with Ralph!’

Maude giggled as Olivia led the way to their billet. ‘Do you think it’s a date?’

‘I hope so, because I’d love to see the look on that Beth’s face when she finds out!’ Olivia’s grin broadened as a young airman walked past. ‘Oh look, it’s that airman, the one who couldn’t keep his eyes off you earlier!’

Maude smiled as the airman waved to her. ‘Corporal Stanley Williams,’ she informed Olivia. ‘He was so busy watching me, he tripped over one of the wires and got a right rollicking.’

‘He looks nice,’ said Olivia. ‘I wonder if he’d consider double dating?’

Maude gave a snort of contempt. ‘Don’t care if he does. I’ve sworn off men, you know I have.’

Olivia began walking towards their billet. ‘We’ll see.’

‘There’s nothing to see,’ Maude assured her as they entered the billet.

Beth looked up from getting something from her kitbag. ‘Someone’s in good spirits. My hands are in ruins after holding them stupid wires.’ She held up a hand which was covered in blisters.

Olivia beamed happily at the other girl. ‘We had a wonderful first day, didn’t we, Maude?’

Maude agreed heartily. ‘And one of us is going to be topping it off with a wonderful evening out with the handsome Corporal Stebbins.’

Olivia’s smile broadened at the sight of Beth face, which had dropped at Maude’s words. ‘I don’t believe you!’

Olivia nodded. ‘’Fraid so! We’re going out for dinner. Enjoy your fried Spam!’

Maude wrinkled her nostrils. ‘Don’t rub it in.’

Olivia beamed with satisfaction as Beth stormed out of the billet, a look of disbelieving fury etched across her face.

‘Well, you got to see the look on her face. Was it everything you imagined?’ Maude asked as the door to their billet slammed shut in Beth’s wake.

Olivia nodded happily. ‘I feel like the cat who got the cream! And even if it isn’t a date, I never said it was, just that we were going for dinner, which is true!’

‘Clever girl! I wonder if she’ll tell the others?’

Olivia shrugged. ‘Don’t care if she does.’ She had often wondered what Ralph’s feelings towards her were, but Beth had made it plain how she felt about the handsome corporal, and if she had been his type, surely Ralph would have asked her out to dinner and not Olivia?

At five o’clock, she headed towards the picket fence, where Ralph stood waiting for her, holding his arm out as she approached. She slipped her arm through his and together they struck out in the direction of the pub.

Turning his head, he gave her one of his secretive winks. ‘I see you ditched your battledress.’