Emma dressed in her uniform and joined the children in the kitchen. She was playing games with them when Max walked in, looking as impeccably put together as he had the night before. She felt a little bit intimidated by him. He seemed so sophisticated, handsome, and aristocratic, and he had been nothing but welcoming to her since she’d arrived.

“I’m so sorry. Did the little monsters wake you?” He put one of the younger ones on his lap, and Emma had an adorable little girl on hers. They chatted over the din, and one of the babysitters made them coffee, which they agreed was ghastly ever since the war, and they ate some of the leftover scones. His mother joined them shortly after and told the children that Father Christmas had left them some presents in the great hall. Max told Emma when his mother left the room that she had wrapped them all herself. The children followed her like the Pied Piper and Max and Emma could hear the noise in the hall as they opened their gifts. Pru’s mother managed to make it a happy day for all of them, despite what the Pommerys had been through that year, losing two children. She thanked Emma profusely again for Pru’s journal. She said she had already read half of it.

“You two were quite the naughty girls together, playing tricks on the other nurses, I gather,” she teased Emma, and she laughed.

“We had fun.”

“Pru was always fun, even as a little girl,” she said. “Those were happy times. Life is much harder now, but hopefully it will be over soon.”

Emma said she had to leave, after breakfast. She didn’t want to overstay, and she said she needed to start the journey back or she wouldn’t get to the base, and she was flying the next day.

Lady Pommery hugged her before she left and looked at her with a warm smile. “Thank you for coming, my dear, and thank you for that incomparable gift. Nothing could have pleased me more. Promise me you’ll come back and visit soon, and stay longer next time.” Emma nodded with tears in her eyes. No one had ever been as kind to her, except Pru. Emma thanked her for letting her spend the night, and Max drove her to the station. She didn’t see his father again. Max said his father got up late now, to avoid the children in the kitchen at breakfast.

They were both quiet as they drove to the station.

“I had a really lovely time,” Emma said softly. “Thank you.”