Returning to the chaos in the kitchen as the women began to dish up the dinner, he quickly went through the mound of post that was waiting for him on the mantelpiece. Swiftly reading the cards and telegrams welcoming him home, he left the official-looking letter until last in the hope it would prove to be what he hoped it was. Scanning the two pages, he smiled and folded it back into its envelope. He’d wait until later to tell Peggy what it was all about, he decided.

Jim had eaten his fill, and now he was sitting at the table in the beautifully refurbished dining room, listening to the happy chatter and laughter going on around him. His heart was full with love and thankfulness that he’d made it home to these wonderful people when so many hadn’t been given that blessing. The feast Peggy had laid on was magnificent given how restrictive the rationing was now there were so many shortages, yet it seemed everyone had chipped in, and he was profoundly grateful for their kindness.

He watched Peggy and their eyes met repeatedly across the table, holding promises for later that would be fulfilled once they were alone, and Jim was content to wait, for this was the homecoming he’d dreamed of for many years.

As he ate and drank and listened to his da’s tall stories, his gaze flitted from face to face, marvelling at how they’d changed – and yet were still recognisable because of all the photographs Peggy had sent to him over the years. He’d been shocked to hear about Pauline’s desertion, but his brother didn’t look as if he was too concerned, appearing very happy with Brenda. Rosie was looking as glamorous as he’d remembered, Doris was as neatly groomed as always and he definitely approved of her husband, who’d wrought such a change in her that she was actually being pleasant to him for once.

As for Anne, she was now a mature woman and mother with another baby on the way, and her little girls – his granddaughters – were quite lovely, if a bit of a handful. He was relieved that Anne and Martin had survived the trauma of Martin’s wartime experiences, and were making terrific progress both in their marriage and in their future.

Jim watched the children playing together on the rug in front of the fire. He’d never considered himself old enough to be a grandfather, and yet the proof that he’d aged was there in Rose and Emily, as well as in his little Daisy, who was going to turn into another Cissy if she carried on as she was – but that was all right. Cissy certainly hadn’t turned out so badly after those tempestuous early years, even if she did now talk as if she had a plum in her mouth.

Brendon and Betty seemed very happy together and little Joseph was a joy – but it was his two strapping sons who were a forcible reminder of the years that had passed since the last time they’d all sat together, and he was finding that hard to digest.