Suzy smiled and put Teddy back down on the floor with his truck. ‘I’m feeling very much better, thank you, Doris, and really looking forward to catching up with everyone tonight. It’s such a shame Fran’s not well enough to come, but she telephoned this morning and asked me to give you her love and best wishes.’

‘That was very kind of her,’ Doris muttered. Actually, she was bitterly disappointed that Fran couldn’t play the violin at her wedding. ‘Tonight will be a very quiet affair. We’re just meeting for a few drinks at the Officers’ Club,’ she continued stiffly. ‘My sister Doreen is due to arrive from Swansea very soon, and Rosie has kindly offered to babysit for a couple of hours while Ron takes charge at the Anchor.’

She gave a little sniff of disapproval. ‘Ron blotted his copybook the last time he was left to look after the children, so he won’t be asked again.’

‘Oh dear,’ said Suzy with laughter in her blue eyes. ‘Poor Ron will never learn, will he?’

‘It seems not,’ Doris replied, unwilling to discuss Ron’s unedifying behaviour with her daughter-in-law. She glanced at her watch, and then headed out to the kitchen where Anthony and John were in deep discussion about the Japanese surrender.

‘I wouldn’t put it past the Japs to renege on the whole thing,’ said Anthony. ‘It’s highly suspicious that they’re taking so long to sign the surrender, and I suspect they’re plotting something.’

‘Surely not?’ said John. ‘They’ve been thoroughly beaten throughout the Pacific, and after those atomic bombs – which must have killed hundreds of thousands of their people – surely they won’t want to risk another being dropped.’

Anthony shrugged and turned to his mother. ‘Sorry about being so gloomy on the eve of your wedding, Mother, but we got talking and …’ He kissed her and put his arm round her waist. ‘John and I will spend a quiet evening at your place with Teddy while you girls paint the town red. I brought some fillet steak and a good bottle of wine, so we’ll be quite content.’

Doris giggled girlishly. ‘We won’t be painting the town red – but perhaps with a tinge of pink. I’ll need my wits about me tomorrow.’

‘John told me about your plans to turn the two bungalows into one. It’s a splendid idea, Mother.’

‘Yes, isn’t it? We’re both very excited about it. Work won’t start until we get back from our honeymoon, but we hope to have it all finished by Christmas.’

‘It’ll be our best Christmas ever,’ murmured John, kissing Doris’s hand.

Feeling slightly embarrassed, Doris blushed. ‘I’ve made up my spare room for you, Anthony, and borrowed a cot for Teddy. So here’s a spare key. Come and go as you please.’

‘Thank you, Mother. Now I propose we have a cup of tea and a slice of Suzy’s lovely Victoria sponge before you girls get all dolled up for your evening out.’

Doris had to reluctantly admit that Suzy’s baking skills were as good as her own, and when it was time to return to her bungalow to put Teddy to bed, the girl had asked her if she’d like to bath him and read him a story. Doris was beginning to warm to Suzy, but to her chagrin, there was still a tiny nub of jealousy that niggled away at her, for her son was committed wholeheartedly to the girl and would never really be her boy again.