Molly Green - A Sister’s Courage

Simone didn’t know how seductive she looked when she was annoyed, Robert thought, his mouth curling in amusement. And how delightful her accent, which she was so sure she’d lost ten years ago.

‘I shall find out if she goes up,’ Simone had warned.

Now, looking at his daughter’s pleading expression, Robert relented. ‘If I let you, Raine, you must promise faithfully not to tell your mother. We would both be in terrible trouble.’ He looked down at his daughter with affection. ‘You know, you do rather take after your mother in your determination when you’ve made up your mind about something.’

Raine beamed. ‘That’s a good thing, isn’t it, Daddy?’

He laughed. ‘Yes, I suppose it is. It might carry you through life. On the other hand, you might be in for some huge disappointments.’

Raine gave a theatrical sigh. ‘I promise I won’t say anything, Daddy.’

‘Good girl. Now let’s find out how long we’ll have to wait in the queue.’

Robert strolled across the field to collect his daughter as the biplane touched down. He had to admit his heart had thumped in his ears as he’d watched every second of the plane’s progress, knowing his precious daughter was strapped into the ‘flimsy contraption’, as Simone had called it. But when his eyes alighted on his daughter’s shining face as she ran light-footed over the grass towards him, he smiled to himself that he hadn’t tried to clip her wings.

‘It was wonderful, Daddy. I didn’t feel sick at all.’ The words tumbled from her lips in her exhilaration. ‘The pilot – he said I could call him Jim …’ She took in a quick noisy breath. ‘He thought I was scared when I called out, but it was only ’cos I was so excited. I felt like a bird … or a kite.’ She laughed. ‘I wish you could have come with me, Daddy. You’d have loved it. And guess what …?’

‘I couldn’t possibly.’ But he knew without guessing.

‘One day I’m going to be a pilot!’

‘I’m not so sure about that.’

She stared at him, a defiant expression crossing her face.

‘I’m very sure, Daddy, and you and Maman won’t be able to stop me!’

February 1939

‘I’m so proud of you, darling.’

Raine’s father removed his spectacles and regarded her. She was sitting opposite him in his study, a room stuffed with books, papers and files. Blotting paper, pens and pencils littered his desk, and his beloved wireless set perched on a bookcase. He was holding the paper with the results of Raine’s test, the one that would give an indication as to what she might expect when she took her Higher National Certificate in the summer. He glanced at the paper again.

‘You’re up for top marks in mathematics.’ He looked up and caught her eye. ‘I’m not surprised. You gained a distinction in your School Certificate.’ He continued reading. ‘A pass in history and scripture, and credits in English, science and geography … even French. You’ll be able to converse with your mother in her native language at long last.’ His eyes twinkled as he looked at her and Raine gave a ghost of a smile.

Her father was well aware her mother was an impatient woman who couldn’t stand more than a couple of minutes’ French conversation with Raine without criticising her. Everyone in Raine’s French class envied her having a French mother she could practise with and who helped with her pronunciation and grammar.

If only they knew.

‘Well, there’s no question why you’ve got these results,’ her father broke into her thoughts, ‘being the brains of the family.’

Raine shrugged. ‘It’s only an indication, Dad. Who knows what the results will be when I take the proper exam. I’m not banking on anything in case I disappoint you. And I don’t want to be known as the brains in the family, either. Look at Suzanne with her music. She’s incredible the way she follows all those music scores and can play two instruments beautifully – the only one in the family who’s musical.’

Her father paused to pull out a packet of cigarettes. ‘Don’t know where she gets it from. Certainly not from me,’ he said, shaking one out. ‘But it’s marvellous, all the same.’

Raine noticed his hand was a little unsteady as he flicked the lighter. She noticed his hair was thinning and his eyes had heavy bags under them. She saw the deepening lines from his nose to his mouth. Maman had encouraged him to go into partnership with two other accountants eighteen months ago and Raine feared the extra responsibility was taking its toll on his health. Come to think of it, her father didn’t look very happy these days, either. She supposed he was getting old. She always forgot he was so much older than her mother.

‘But that doesn’t take away your achievement,’ her father continued, drawing on his cigarette and blowing out the smoke in a long stream through his nose.

She waited. She knew exactly what was coming, but today she had her answer prepared … and her request.

Her father took in another long drag and exhaled. Raine felt her eyes stinging but knew better than to say anything. Her father’s study was his haven. Even her mother wasn’t allowed in unless invited, and very definitely not Doreen, the cleaning lady, unless he was present. He always said he knew exactly where everything was, even though the papers and books piled on his desk were in danger of cascading any minute.

‘We’ve touched on the subject before, Raine. Maybe a little too soon when you were hardly old enough to make a decision, but I hope with these excellent marks – especially the one in mathematics – you’ll take up my offer to start a career in the company.’ She remained silent. ‘I know it will be harder for you to be accepted as a girl, but I can help overcome any problems on that front.’

Raine bristled. ‘Dad, I intend to fight my own battles. It would be awful if you interfered like that. Can you imagine what would it look like, one of the partners giving his daughter a shove up the ladder? They’d resent me and there’d be nothing you could do to stop it.’

Her father’s voice hardened a fraction. ‘What are you saying, Lorraine?’

‘That I’m not going to work in the company. I’m sorry, Dad, but I’m not interested in accounting – I’ve told you before – so I wouldn’t be any good at the job.’

‘Raine, I’m offering you a proper career – you’ll thank me one day. Then when the time comes and you decide to marry – though I’m not sure who would put up with you, you’re such an independent miss – at least you’ll have something solid behind you, should you ever need it.’

‘Thank you, Dad, but no. I’m not doing it. And as for getting married, I’ve no intention of doing that, either – not for a very long time, if ever. I want to see something of the world. Live a little. Not be stuck in some deadly office doing deadly figures with deadly people.’