‘Oh definitely,’ Holly agreed.

‘So … do you think you can ever forgive me? My reasons for doing what I did were not entirely selfish. I’d had to stand by and watch the appalling way your father treated your mother and I couldn’t bear to think that that might happen to you too. After she came home when she was carrying you, I shut myself off from the pair of you and that was my loss. But perhaps it’s not too late to put things right, eh?’

Holly smiled up at him and gently returned the pressure on her hand before standing on tiptoe to kiss his cheek. ‘It’s never too late,’ she told him softly and she had never felt closer to him.

Emma had tried to talk her into inviting Harry to the wedding but Holly had declined. She continued to feel uncertain about him and the memory of Richard was still far too painful, but she had invited him to join them at the reception that evening and when he arrived he found the dance floor full of people dancing and singing along to Al Jolsen’s, ‘You Made Me Love You’, and he grinned as he spotted Holly.

‘Crikey,’ he shouted to make himself heard above the din. ‘Looks like everyone’s having a good time.’

‘It’s been a lovely day,’ she agreed as she took his hand and led him to the bar. ‘Now, what would you like to drink. Oh, and there’s a buffet laid on in the next room if you’re hungry.’

He looked her up and down approvingly. ‘You look beautiful,’ he told her. ‘That colour really suits you.’

Holly grinned as she glanced down at her dress. ‘I dare say it is an improvement on my uniform.’

They got him a drink and soon after they joined in the dancing and the evening seemed to pass in the blink of an eye. Finally somebody shouted, ‘The car’s here!’ and the guests trooped outside to watch the newly-weds leave, laughing as they saw the trail of tin cans someone had tied to the back of the car.

Walter shook the men’s hands as Emma hugged her daughter and there were tears in her eyes.

‘I shall miss you so much,’ she said in a choked voice.

Holly was feeling tearful too. ‘But it isn’t as if you’re going to be a million miles away,’ she pointed out bravely. ‘And we’ll still see each other often.’

‘Of course we will but look after yourself, darling.’ And then Walter was there helping her into the car and as it drew away taking the couple to a hotel for the night everyone cheered and waved. They would be leaving for their honeymoon in Venice in August.

‘Goodbye … goodbye …’ Holly’s voice trailed away and a comforting arm came about her shoulders and she looked up into Harry’s sympathetic eyes.

‘Don’t take any notice of me, I’m just being silly and sentimental,’ Holly sniffed as she mopped at her eyes with the large white handkerchief he handed to her.