On the stroke of twelve on New Year’s Eve, as they listened to the chimes of Big Ben, the girls toasted each other with a glass of sherry that Ivy had bought especially for the occasion, and Holly resolved to make her mother proud of her in the coming year. Neither of them had drunk alcohol before and Holly wasn’t that keen on it but Ivy drank two small glasses straight off and then couldn’t stop giggling.

The day after New Year’s Day, they were back at work bright and early and Holly began to feel a little happier, though she still missed her mother dreadfully and wondered if it might be possible to visit her. She suggested it to Ivy that night as they sat eating dinner.

‘I don’t see why not,’ Ivy answered. ‘You could always meet her away from the house if you don’t feel comfortable going back there. Your gran’father couldn’t object to that surely? There’s no reason why you couldn’t let her have your address either. At least we have somewhere respectable to live now.’

And so that very evening Holly sat down and wrote to her mother.

Dear Mother,

I hope this letter finds you well and that you had a good Christmas and New Year. Both Ivy and I are well and are now living in a very nice flat above the shop where I work. My employer, Miss May, is a dear soul and Ivy and I are enjoying making the flat into a home when we are not working. We had a quiet Christmas together and I must admit that I missed you terribly and I know Ivy missed her family too. In fact, she sent a large portion of her wages home to ensure her mother had money to buy some little gifts for her siblings. I pray that some time soon I might see you, there is so much to tell. It is so different living here to being back in our sleepy little market town. Everything here is hustle and bustle and the city never seems to sleep! I found it hard to adjust at first but thankfully I am getting more used to it now. Do give my love to Cook and, of course, my regards to Grandfather. It seems so long since I last saw you …

She went on to talk of trivialities before adding their address and the next morning during her short break she hurried along to the post box to post it.

The girls spent the next weekend scouring the markets for things for their flat. Holly still had some of the money her mother had given her and she was eager to make their little place into a real home. They bought a roll of oil cloth, which they managed to fit in the lounge themselves and then they found a large rug to cover most of it and make the room feel warmer. She also bought some material which she sewed into curtains for their bedrooms.