A few days later the women had packed and readied themselves to travel to their respective homes.
Ellie sat on her bed in the hut. ‘So this is it.’
‘Yes,’ said Florry, who had come in to help Ellie with her bags.
‘What if we stay here? Forever?’ Ellie looked around, already missing the hut. ‘Then we don’t have to say goodbye.’
‘We’re not saying goodbye.’
‘You’re going back to Torrens Creek and I have no idea what I’m doing. Be prepared for lots of letters.’
Florry stared at her shoes. ‘It can’t happen.’
‘What do you mean?’
Florry looked up. ‘I’m done keeping secrets.’
‘You can’t tell anyone what we did. You’d be arrested and thrown into jail. Just like Viv.’
‘That’s why we can’t stay in contact.’
‘You don’t mean that.’ Although Ellie could tell by the look on Florry’s face this was exactly what she meant. ‘Please, Florry. You’re one of my dearest friends. We’ve been through so much together.’
‘I know.’ Her voice shook, like she was trying to quash her emotions. ‘I need to move on with my life and as much as I’ve loved my time with you and every one of these beautiful women, I can’t keep in contact. I can’t risk being asked questions.’
‘But I’ll only write about what I’m doing. Central Bureau will never be mentioned.’
Florry held her head in her hands. ‘You don’t get it.’
‘No, I don’t.’ Why was Florry so adamant? ‘We’re sisters.’
‘I know.’ Tears streamed down Florry’s face. ‘And that’s why this is so hard. I love you dearly, my sweet, beautiful friend, but having to keep this secret has taken its toll on me. I need to break free and forge a life away from all this.’
‘Do you regret your time with Central Bureau?’
She shook her head. ‘No, not at all. I’ve adored every minute with you and the girls. I’m proud of the work we’ve done, and it’s been an honour. However, this secret is too big, too heavy, and the only way I can start my new life is to break all ties.’
There was nothing Ellie could do. Florry had made up her mind.
‘I’m sorry.’ Florry’s voice cracked. ‘I really am.’
‘I lost you once, I don’t want to lose you again.’
‘Ellie, you are the sister of my heart and nothing will ever change that.’ Florry’s lips trembled. She wrapped her arms around Ellie and whispered in her ear. ‘Wherever this life leads you, fly high like a bird. Soar the skies and don’t look back.’
PART FOUR
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Brisbane—October 1945
Ellie sat on Mrs Hanley’s verandah, surrounded by the delightful honey scent of the purple jacarandas. The garden had grown dramatically since she’d first arrived at Mrs Hanley’s nearly five years ago. The bougainvillea now caressed the trellises that formed part of the verandah and the rose bushes that had once been spindly bloomed in a rainbow of oranges and reds. It felt good to be living here once more. Not quite home, but very close.
It had been a huge adjustment moving from the rustic huts back to a house with a large comfy bed and home-cooked meals. Not that Ellie hadn’t enjoyed her time at the barracks—she’d loved living with her Garage Girls. But it was nice to return to creature comforts and be back in the motherly care of Mrs Hanley, especially after spending a month back in Longreach with her parents. Up until that trip, Ellie hadn’t mentioned the problems with Harry. She should have told them when it first happened, but she’d been embarrassed and, if she were entirely honest, she’d secretly hoped Harry would return and they’d have a chance of salvaging what was left. But time had piled up on itself and she’d had no choice other than to let her family know the truth. Revisiting the painful memories had been difficult, but it had to be done.
Her parents hadn’t been happy about her returning to Brisbane but, thankfully, they’d let her go without her enduring too much guilt. Ellie knew how her folks thought—give her time to get Brisbane out of her system and she’ll return to the farm. Ellie, however, knew different.
A willie wagtail flitted along the bougainvillea. Seven weeks had passed since the war had ended. Men were returning home and celebrations continued. There was an air of excitement and hope in the city, yet after the initial elation of war ending, Ellie hadn’t been able to embrace the optimism of the nation building itself from the rubble of heartache and despair. She desperately wanted to, but she was lost without a compass to point her in the right direction.
The wire door creaked open and Kat appeared in a cream dress. ‘It’s time.’
Ellie stood and presented a posy of flowers she’d collected from Mrs Hanley’s garden. ‘You look absolutely beautiful. How are you feeling?’
‘Nervous. Excited.’ She smoothed down her dress. ‘Are you sure this looks all right?’
‘It fits you like a glove.’
Kat rested her lace-gloved hands on the balustrade and looked over the garden.
‘Are you okay?’ asked Ellie.
‘Do you think he’s right?’
‘Who?’
‘The Archbishop of Brisbane wanting to ban wartime marriages between GIs and Australian women. Does he know something we don’t?’
‘No one has a crystal ball and some person—no matter how influential in the church—making sweeping statements about different nationalities marrying each other is ridiculous.’
Kat’s mouth hung open. ‘Did you just call the Archbishop of Brisbane ridiculous?’
‘No! Good grief, definitely no! I meant his line of thought is ridiculous.’ Ellie made a dramatic gesture of wiping her forehead. ‘Mrs Hanley would have my guts for garters if she heard me say something bad about the archbishop.’
The door opened and Mrs Hanley stepped out. ‘What about the archbishop?’
‘I just said his views on Americans marrying Australians is ridiculous.’
‘True love is true love, no matter where you are from or where you go,’ said Mrs Hanley. She folded her hands in front of her. ‘My gorgeous girls.’
Kat wiped away a tear. ‘I’m not leaving you!’
‘Yet.’ Mrs Hanley shooed them down the stairs to where Louis was waiting with his car. ‘A bride can only be a few minutes late, not a half-hour.’
The trio got in the car with Louis, who looked dapper in his mid-blue suit. He opened the doors and the women climbed in, Mrs Hanley in the front passenger seat.
‘Where’s Maude?’ she asked.
‘Visiting family in Mackay.’ He looked at Kat via the rear-view mirror. ‘She sends her apologies.’
‘That’s fine,’ said Kat. ‘This was all very last minute.’
They drove in silence towards the registry office while Kat fidgeted with her hair, the net on her hat, the posy of flowers on her lap.
Ellie grasped Kat’s hand and said quietly, ‘Listen to your heart.’
Kat turned her attention to outside the window, an air of peace settling around her. Louis pulled up out the front of the registry office and helped the women out of the car.
‘I’ll go park then I’ll be right back.’
Kat took a series of deep breaths. ‘This is it.’
‘It is,’ Ellie’s cheeks hurt from smiling. ‘And I couldn’t be happier for you.’
Louis reappeared and escorted them inside the foyer. Four men in uniform turned around, one with a smile as wide as the Brisbane River.
‘You look absolutely divine.’ He stepped forward and held Kat’s hand like she was precious china. ‘I’m the happiest man on earth.’
‘And I’m the happiest woman.’ She kissed him softly. ‘I love you so much, Leonard Cooper.’
Ellie entered the room she shared with Kat. After a very brief honeymoon at Deception Bay, Kat and Leonard had been forced to say farewell as his ship sailed for the States. Although initially upset about Leonard leaving, she’d quickly taken to writi
ng him a letter every day and set about planning her move to America.
‘Mail for Mrs Leonard Cooper.’ Ellie handed the envelope to Kat, who had been lying on her bed. She sat bolt upright and eagerly ripped it open and scanned the words. Looking up, she said, ‘His parents are excited to meet me. And he’s found a house he knows I’ll love. It’s close to a school.’ Her eyes widened. ‘Oh my. Imagine me as a mother!’
‘You’d be the perfect mother.’ Ellie sounded encouraging but, in reality, she was dreading the day Kat would leave Australia.
‘What if I can’t get pregnant?’
‘I’d say right now that’s a physical impossibility but when you get to Chicago you and Leonard will have a fun time practising.’
Kat threw a pillow at Ellie and they dissolved into giggles.
‘Mrs Leonard Cooper,’ Ellie said again. ‘It rolls off the tongue rather nicely.’
‘Well, if the bureaucrats don’t get a wriggle on, I’ll be old and grey and past my prime.’
‘You’ll get your papers. You just have to be patient.’
Kat sighed. ‘I miss him so much.’
‘I know you do.’ Ellie said. ‘Did you ever think you’d be doing this? Going to America and starting a new life?’
‘It’s hard to believe …’ Her smile disappeared and her eyes widened. ‘Don’t get me wrong, I still adore and love my Clifford. I just …’
‘He’d want you to be happy. I’m sure there’s a special corner of your heart reserved just for him.’
‘There is.’ She folded the letter and placed it in a large jewellery box. ‘Leonard understands, and that’s one of the reasons I love him so much.’
‘He’s a good man,’ said Ellie.
‘What about you?’
‘What about me?’
‘Now that Harry … you know … Isn’t it time you opened up to having a man in your life again?’
Ellie fiddled with the fringe of the crocheted blanket. ‘I haven’t given it any thought.’
‘You should. You’re smart and independent. Though not so young.’ Kat snorted.
‘Hey! Watch it!’ Ellie threw the cushion back at Kat. ‘Seriously, though, being independent could turn men off and I have no plans to become a simpering floozie.’
‘Well, if a man can’t respect your independence then they are not right for you.’ Kat gave an indignant nod.
‘Exactly. Though …’
‘What?’ asked Kat.
‘Though maybe I’m not meant to be married. I enjoy not answering to anyone but myself. I don’t even know if I want children. I thought I did with Harry but …’
‘You just haven’t found the right man.’
‘You’re all loved up and think everyone should be part of a couple.’ Ellie raised an eyebrow. ‘I might like being a spinster. Perhaps I should get twenty cats.’
‘You’re a dog person.’
‘That I am.’
The job at Mossman Department Store wasn’t what she’d had in mind but she was grateful for any employment right now, especially as it had taken a few weeks to find a position. Ellie’s biggest frustration when applying for jobs was downplaying her skills and leading people to believe she had worked in administration for AWAS.
She walked down Ann Street and arrived at an elegant stone building that housed Mossman Department Store. Business was booming. Rationing hadn’t fully ended but life had started to feel like it was before the war. The government had relaxed some restrictions as manufacturing increased, and although cotton and rayon were still in short supply, at least woollen garments and some headwear and footwear were more readily available.
She followed a group of women through the side entrance and made her way to the change room in the basement. Slivers of sunlight forced their way through the small windows at street level, and while the women changed into their uniforms and fixed their make-up, they chatted about their weekends, fashion and the current dreamy actor. The Garage Girls had talked about such things, but it felt different at Mossman’s. Maybe it was the type of work—selling clothing versus working with highly sensitive information. Of course, Mossman’s couldn’t compare. What did she expect? She’d got her wish of the war ending, she just didn’t expect to feel so … useless.
Is that how it felt for the returned servicemen? They were expected to fit into the role of husband or devoted son, and work in jobs that didn’t give the same sense of achievement as the one they’d had during the war.
Ellie went to the locker she’d been assigned and got changed into the navy blue uniform that felt like cardboard and scratched her skin. Perhaps she just needed some time to wear it in. Ellie put her handbag and clothes away and clocked on with the punch card—a punch card just like she’d had at Central Bureau. Stop it! She needed to let go of the life she’d had and adapt and appreciate the one she now lived.
‘Hello, I’m Jane Wiseman.’ A woman with hair pulled back in a loose bun and thick glasses held out her hand and shook Ellie’s.
‘Ellie O’Sullivan.’
‘Welcome. I’ll be getting you acquainted with selling accessories. Have you worked in a department store before?’
‘No.’
‘Oh.’ Jane sounded disappointed. ‘Sorry, that was rude of me. It’s just that the last girl was the boss’s niece and she was hopeless. No experience and no inclination to learn. Everyone had to work harder to pick up the slack.’
‘I promise I will give this my all, no slacking whatsoever.’
‘Great.’ Jane held the door open for Ellie and they went up the stairs to the first floor and to the accessories department at the back of the store. The shelves and stands displayed an array of gloves, hats and scarves. Maybe one day they’d have silk stockings. Ellie supressed a smile as she remembered Joy with her bag of American contraband.
Jane talked about the department and how the store had struggled during the war years with minimal stock but an abundance of hope. The doors opened and a sea of women entered. A quartet of young women dressed in various shades of blue made a beeline for the scarves.
Jane nodded towards the women. ‘First customer of the day is the lucky one.’
Ellie went over and helped each woman choose a scarf. It came as no surprise they all wanted hues of blue. She enjoyed the friendly chatter and eased into the work, happy to have helped. The end of her shift came around faster than expected. With the store now closed, Ellie and Jane and the rest of the women made their way to the locker room to clock off and change into their street clothes.
‘You did really well,’ said Jane.
‘Thank you.’
‘You’ve got a good head for maths. I’ve never seen anyone as fast as you.’
‘It’s something I enjoy.’
Jane laughed. ‘I don’t hear that often.’
Ellie slipped on her jacket and checked her reflection in the mirror. ‘Thank you for today.’
‘You are most welcome.’ Jane donned her gloves. ‘And Ellie?’
‘Yes.’
‘You are an excellent addition to Mossman Department Store. I hope your career here is long and fruitful.’
In December Kat had received the good news the US government were allowing Australian brides to join their husbands in America. It had been an early Christmas present and a very long wait until the following March when Kat could finally be reunited with Leonard. All the while, Ellie made sure she savoured every moment with her friend.
She stood with Mrs Hanley and Kat at South Brisbane train station. A huge crowd had gathered as trains from Melbourne, Perth and Sydney rolled in. The Ascot Army Camp band played upbeat music as women and children alighted from the trains, assisted by members of the Red Cross and American sailors. From the train station they would be transported to Hamilton to board the Lurline, a ship that would take them across the ocean to San Francisco and a new life in America.
Ellie wrapped her arms around Kat and held on tight. ‘I don’t want to let go.’
Kat ga
ve a small laugh. ‘It’s not like I’m dropping off the face of the earth. We’ll write and you can tell me about all the marvellous things you’re doing and the interesting people you’re meeting. And one day we’ll see each other again in person and we’ll pick up where we left off.’
‘America is so far away.’
‘I know.’ Kat played with the wedding ring on her finger.
Ellie opened her handbag and pulled out the stationery set she’d saved up for and bought with her Mossman’s discount. ‘I expect to receive these pages back with your writing on them.’
Kat took the gift and held it against her chest. ‘I promise they’ll be full of adventures and gossip, about what I’m not sure, but they will wing their way back to you. You have my word.’
Mrs Hanley spread her arms wide and Kat and Ellie fell into her embrace. ‘I’ll miss having both my girls in the same house.’
The trio hugged tightly until an announcement called for all women and children to board the buses that would take them to the dock.
‘I’m not ready,’ said Kat.
‘You’re more than ready.’ Ellie put her hands on Kat’s shoulders and locked eyes with her. ‘This is an adventure of a lifetime and I want to live vicariously through you.’
‘Promise me something.’
‘Anything,’ said Ellie.
‘That you’ll have your own adventures so I can live vicariously through you, too.’
Ellie crossed her heart. ‘You have my word.’
‘Just what I wanted to hear. So …’ Kat looked over at the crowds lining up at the buses.
‘You better go, darling. The ship won’t wait.’ Mrs Hanley dabbed her eyes with her handkerchief. ‘Oh, silly me. Getting so emotional.’
Kat hugged Mrs Hanley then Ellie once more. She turned and dragged her bag towards the bus and a young sailor rushed forward to help. He attached a tag and gave her a slip of paper. In a few swift seconds Kat boarded the bus and sat next to the window. She blew kisses and waved as the bus revved and joined the others in the convoy to Hamilton.
The Codebreakers Page 26
