Danuta watched as Ron leapt out of Rosie’s car to help him down the steps, and once he was settled in the passenger seat, Stanislaw waved to her and Peggy, and Ron drove away.

Peggy closed the front door and grinned. ‘Well, well, Danuta. You are a dark horse, aren’t you?’

Danuta blushed. ‘I don’t know what this dark horse means,’ she muttered.

‘It means you kept your date with Stanislaw a secret, you naughty girl.’

‘Was not a date,’ she said. ‘It was just for dinner.’

‘You can call it what you like,’ said Peggy on a chuckle. ‘But that man is smitten with you, and I get the feeling you’re not exactly immune to him.’

‘You are too romantic, Mama Peggy,’ she replied, heading for the kitchen. ‘You see things that are not there.’ She sat down at the table and tucked into the ham salad. ‘Thank you for keeping this for me. I am very hungry.’

Peggy refreshed the teapot and put a cosy over it. ‘So what happened tonight to keep you so late?’ she asked.

As she ate, Danuta explained about the twins and the heart-stopping moment when she’d thought the little girl wouldn’t survive. ‘All is well now, I think. She should thrive in the hospital incubator, and Mr Wilson will find he can cope with the boys if he doesn’t panic like he did earlier.’

‘They’re a lovely couple,’ said Peggy. ‘Kate wears the trousers, though, because Fred can be a bit dithery and needs a strong woman to guide him in the right direction. He’ll be lost without her. Perhaps I should pop in tomorrow evening with a bit of that ham and some pickle, and make sure he’s coping.’

‘I’m sure he will be most grateful,’ said Danuta. She smiled fondly at Peggy. ‘You are very kind to everyone, Mama Peggy, and thank you for looking after Stanislaw this evening.’

‘It was a pleasure,’ she replied, lighting a cigarette. ‘He’s a really intelligent, interesting man when he’s not trying to charm the pants off everyone.’ She took a puff of her cigarette and then her expression became solemn. ‘He told me how dangerous it would be for you and Solly to try to go back to Poland, and begged me to dissuade you both.’

‘I have listened and will try to find out more before I decide,’ Danuta told her.

‘Solly isn’t a well man, Danuta, and no matter how urgently he needs to find the surviving members of his family, it’s not wise to risk his life – or yours, for that matter. Have you discussed the dangers with him?’

‘I have been very busy all day and not had the chance, but I will see him tomorrow to talk it over.’ Danuta finished the cup of tea and went to the sink to wash her supper dishes. ‘We all want to go back, Mama Peggy. Poland is in our hearts, no matter how happy we have found it here.’