We Fly Beneath the Stars: An utterly heartbreaking and powerful WW2 novel, based on a true story by Suzanne Kelman

Author:Suzanne Kelman [Kelman, Suzanne]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781803143811
Publisher: Bookouture
Published: 2022-11-29T16:00:00+00:00

35

Tasha

A few days later she had got word that Sergei had pulled through, and she was dressing one evening, wondering how much she was going to enjoy throwing her heroic exploits into his face once he was well enough, when Eva came to find her.

“Did you hear Nadia is leaving?”

“What?” Tasha spat out incredulously.

“I just heard from one of the other girls that she’s already packed her stuff and will be leaving today.”

“That’s impossible,” Tasha responded, buttoning up her flying suit. “She has said nothing to me.”

Pulling on her boots, she rushed out of the tent to find her sister.

And there she was. Nadia, dressed in her civilian clothes, coming out of the commander’s tent, a suitcase by her side.

Tasha raced to her sister.

“Nadia, what are you doing? You’re leaving us?”

Nadia’s face was flushed, her eyes full of sadness.

“I have to go,” she stammered.

“You don’t have to leave if this is about me not doing what I’m supposed to do,” Tasha begged. “I promise that from now on, I’ll do everything you say.”

Nadia smiled and shook her head. “Well, as nice as that experience would be, this isn’t about you, Tasha. It’s Ivan, he didn’t even realize I was at the front and now…” The words caught in her sister’s throat, and the tears started to brim.

“What?”

She handed a letter to her sister. It was from Babka. She scanned it. Ivan had been injured, shrapnel in the leg, and had come home unhappy to find that his wife was not waiting there to help take care of him. Babka’s letter said he was furious, and she encouraged Nadia to come home as soon as possible so she could sort this out.

“You’re leaving because of him? Giving all this up because of your husband?”

“No, I’ve asked for extended compassionate leave. I’ve been given some time off to help nurse him, and while I’m with him, I’ll talk to him about the importance of returning. Until then, Irina will lead the squadron. So make sure you take care of her and don’t give her any trouble.”

Tasha turned her sister to her. “Are you sure this is the only way? Why can’t you write to him and tell him how important this is and how much we need you? How much I need you.”

Nadia’s expression softened. “I’ve written to him trying to explain, but he’s written back insisting I return. He doesn’t want me fighting. He says it’s not right for a married woman. It’s not what he wants his wife to be doing. With this injury, I have a chance to talk to him properly, make him see what I’m doing and how important it is. I promise I’ll only stay as long as it takes to talk to him and get him on his road to healing. Then I’ll come back.”

Tasha took hold of her sister and hugged her so tightly she was frightened she might snap her. She didn’t want her to go and hadn’t realized how much she had got used to her being around.

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