Ivy almost choked on the mouthful of soup she was eating. ‘But it’s the week before Christmas! Surely you could at least wait till the New Year.’

‘I suppose our soldiers fighting out there would like to be home for Christmas too,’ she answered flatly, and Ivy flushed. Holly did have a point.

‘Unfortunately we are needed as soon as possible so three of us from the hospital are sailing on a military ship from Portsmouth next Monday. There will be Harr … Dr Phillips, myself and another Red Cross nurse, Angela Dewis.’

Her grandfather, who had said nothing up to now, looked dismayed but all the same he raised a smile and told her solemnly, ‘I’m very proud of you, my dear, more than you will ever know.’

The unexpected show of affection brought a lump to her throat and the rest of the meal was finished in silence as they all tried not to think of what might lie ahead for Holly.

Chapter Thirty-Nine

‘Now, are you quite sure you have everything you need?’ Emma asked her yet again on the morning of Holly’s departure. She had come to see her off and was very tearful. She stared at the small carpet bag Holly had packed with a frown. There certainly didn’t seem to be much in there.

‘All I need is my clean underwear and nightwear, one civilian outfit, just in case, toiletries and my other uniform,’ Holly assured her. ‘I’m not going on holiday, Mother!’

Emma sniffed and Holly softened and leaned over to give her an affectionate hug.

‘So can’t I at least come to the station with you to see you off?’

Holly shook her head. ‘I’d rather you didn’t. I’m meeting the other two there and once the train gets to Portsmouth we have to get on the hospital ship that will take us over to France. I have a feeling it will be packed with doctors and nurses from all over the country.’

‘Then this is it.’ Emma couldn’t prevent a tear from trickling down her cheek as Holly lifted her bag. ‘Promise me you’ll be careful and that you’ll write regularly.’

‘That goes without saying, of course I will.’ Holly stood on tiptoe to kiss her grandfather’s whiskery cheek.

‘Just take care,’ he said gruffly as she turned to the cook and Ivy. Ivy was crying freely and even Mrs Bell had a tear in her eye.

‘Look after him for me,’ Holly said softly as she embraced Ivy, who nodded tearfully. She said the same to Mrs Bell, and then, after kissing her mother and baby Alice she hurried towards the door keen to get the goodbyes over with. She was feeling rather emotional herself.

She paused just once at the end of the street to take one last look at her home, wondering if she would ever see it again, then she straightened her back, swallowed the lump in her throat and strode purposefully towards the train station.

Harry and Angela were already there waiting for her and she saw at a glance that Angela, a pretty brunette with soft grey eyes, had been crying too. Harry, however, seemed in fine spirits. He was dressed in a navy pinstriped suit and a white shirt with a navy tie and looked very handsome.