‘Actually you’re very wrong there,’ Walter told him firmly. ‘It almost killed that girl when you were missing and I happen to know she would still want you if you had no eyesight at all, or arms or legs for that matter, so we’ll have no more of that silly talk, if you please. She’s come all this way to see you. Doesn’t that tell you something?’

‘Really?’ Marcus had dreaded this moment and had convinced himself that Ivy wouldn’t love him any more but if what his father was saying was true then there was hope for him yet.

‘Look, I’m going to go outside now and send her in and perhaps when you’ve had a little time to yourselves I can come back in again, all right?’

Marcus took a deep breath and nodded. This was the moment he had been dreading. The fear that Ivy couldn’t deal with the fact that he had lost an eye. But now at least he would know where he stood with her one way or another.

Minutes later he heard the door to the day room open again and he held his breath. But he needn’t have worried.

‘Marcus!’ She spotted him instantly and was across the room like a shot, eager to hold him and kiss him. ‘I never thought I was going to see you again,’ she sobbed, oblivious to the other patients who would certainly be able to hear her. ‘I lost the will to live back there for a time when I thought you were dead and it was only knowing that Alice needed me that kept me going.’

‘Oh, sweetheart, I love you so much,’ Marcus croaked. ‘It was only the thought of coming home to you that kept me going! … But you do know that I’ve lost the sight in one eye …’

‘Huh! So what, you have another one, don’t you?’ she replied in her usual forthright way and then they were in each other’s arms again and it felt wonderful. ‘Right, young man,’ she said bossily when they finally drew apart. ‘Here’s what’s going to happen and I don’t want any arguing about it! As soon as you come home we’re going to be married. You won’t be going back to fight again so when you’re better you can help your father wi’ the business. There’s no point in waitin’, so what do yer say?’

He grinned. ‘Sounds to me like you’ve got it all planned,’ he answered and when his father joined them again a short time later Walter saw a totally different young man to the one he had first seen when he entered the room. It was as if young Ivy had breathed new life into him as they excitedly told him about their wedding plans and he couldn’t have been happier for them both.

‘Well, you certainly have my approval,’ he assured them. ‘And I’ve no doubt Emma and Holly will love helping with the arrangements for the wedding. Katie and Florence will be excited too. In fact, I dare say they’ll demand to be bridesmaids.’