Rita felt the prick of tears and blinked them away. She could barely remember her mother now, for the few photographs of her had been destroyed during the fire-bombing. Yet, in the silence of the night, she could still hear faint echoes of her voice, and feel the comfort of her arms about her in those moments when she missed her the most. The thought of leaving her father behind troubled her, and despite all his assurances to the contrary, she seen the sadness in him when he’d thought he was unobserved, and knew he would be bereft at her departure.

And then there was Peggy, who’d been a mother, confidante and wise adviser during her formative years, and dear old Ron, who’d been a grandfather and font of knowledge about the world. And Beach View, which had been her home; this room shared with Ivy who’d become as close as a sister, and who’d been with her during moments of great fear and deep sorrow, as well as times of fun. Was her love for Peter and the promise of a new life strong enough for her to make such a sacrifice? Or would their adventure together turn sour through her longing for home and those she loved?

Rita took a shallow, quavering breath, knowing their love was indeed strong enough to see them through whatever they had to face – and that although she might get horribly homesick, she was meant to spend the rest of her life with Peter, even if it was on the other side of the world.

‘Rita? What you doing there? You’ll catch yer death, gel.’ Ivy threw the old dressing gown over Rita’s shoulders and hugged her waist. ‘Not ’aving second thoughts, are yer?’ she teased.

Rita shook her head and dismissed the doubts as last-minute nerves. ‘Not about getting married to Peter. But I was thinking about you, Dad and Peggy, and this place. It’s going to be so hard to leave you all behind, and I feel horribly guilty about abandoning Dad.’

‘Then you mustn’t,’ said Ivy firmly. ‘Yer dad will ’ave Peggy and Ron to talk to, and he’ll be so busy with ’is workshop, I reckon he won’t ’ave time to worry about what you’re up to. Besides, he promised to visit you out there when you and Pete are settled and start ’aving kids.’

‘I know,’ Rita sighed, leaning her head on Ivy’s narrow shoulder. ‘But I still wish he’d agreed to come with us and set up over there.’

‘Jack’s a man what knows ’is own mind, Rita, love. He’s been away from home right through the war and is too old to be going gallivanting again. I know it won’t be easy for yer, but you gotta give it a go, gel. A chance like this don’t come that often, and Pete’s a good bloke. He’ll look after yer.’

Rita giggled. ‘You’re right, Ivy. I’m just suffering from last-minute nerves, that’s all.’

‘It’s the time of night,’ said Ivy, shivering in her thin nightdress. ‘No one can think straight at two in the morning, and you’re just letting yer imagination run away with yer.’ Ivy drew Rita from the window towards the two single beds. ‘It’s time you was in that bed and sleeping,’ she said bossily. ‘Come on, gel, or you’ll be fit fer nothing in the morning.’