Peggy smiled while she dried the china and stacked it away in her lovely new cupboards. She guessed this healthy glow was down to the way Danuta’s strong feelings for Stanislaw were reciprocated, but she did worry that the girl would be taking on rather a lot if she married him. Stan wasn’t the easiest of men to persuade to take things slowly and be patient, but at least he’d cut down on the drinking, and was looking healthier for it.

As yet, there had been no engagement announcement, but Peggy suspected it would come as soon as Stan was released from Cliffe and could lead a more independent life. His ability to walk unaided was improving by the day, so much so that he’d taken Danuta to a dance on New Year’s Eve and managed a short turn round the floor which had thrilled them both. There was little doubt he adored Danuta, but how on earth would he be able to provide for her? Surely he wasn’t really contemplating getting back into a cockpit again?

Peggy set these worries aside when she heard the knock on the front door. Whipping off her apron, she hurried to see who was calling on this murky Sunday afternoon. When she saw the telegram boy on the step and the brown envelope in his hand, she felt light-headed and had to steady herself against the door jamb. She’d been here before, and really didn’t know how she’d cope if it was bad news from Jim.

‘Sorry, missus,’ the boy said, the rain dripping from his cap. ‘Is there a reply?’

She took a deep breath and ripped open the envelope. Reading the few words, she gave a screech of joy, grabbed the startled boy and hugged him. ‘Thank you, thank you,’ she babbled, tears of happiness rolling down her face. ‘You can’t possibly know what this means to me.’

He looked at her warily as he disentangled himself, straightened his cap and dug in his bag for his notebook. ‘Is there a reply, missus? Only I got to get on.’

‘Yes. Tell him, “I can’t wait, stop. Love you, stop. Peggy, stop.”’ She scrabbled for her purse which she’d left on the hall table and found the appropriate money. Adding a few coppers as a tip, she grinned as the boy dashed off down the steps and disappeared round the corner. ‘He must think I’m absolutely potty,’ she giggled.

She closed the front door and read the telegram again, hardly daring to believe it could be true. But there it was, as clear and definite as it could be.

Home by May * Love you * Jim

‘Oh, Jim,’ she breathed, sinking onto the hall chair. ‘Such wonderful, wonderful news. You must be over the moon.’

Realising she didn’t have to keep this to herself, she leapt from the chair and bounded up the stairs two at a time, ran along the landing and raced up the second flight.

‘Charlie! Charlie!’ she called breathlessly.