‘I can’t be the only young wife who thinks the worst when she sees a car pulling up, or a cyclist approach. You hear so many heartbreaking stories about telegraph boys arriving with terrible news, shattering families and all their hopes of future happiness.’ As tears filled Ada’s big blue eyes, she added with an emotional catch in her throat, ‘You’ve got to grasp life by the throat and squeeze every bit of joy out of it while you can.’

‘Life’s very precious,’ Sister Ann agreed. Laying aside her teacup, she rose to her feet. ‘I left the end of a fresh loaf of Sister Mary Paul’s bread on your kitchen table; she handed it to me as I was leaving.’

‘Sweet Mary Paul,’ Ada murmured. ‘How lucky I am to have you all.’

After Sister Ann had cycled off, Ada went into a flat spin, washing the kitchen curtains, sweeping the garden path, ironing sheets and ploughing through recipe books intent on finding a dish she could make out of her meagre rations for her beloved. In the end she decided on corned-beef fritters and dark, sticky gingerbread for pudding.

‘That’s if I can borrow some spices and black treacle from Sister Mary Paul’s larder,’ she said out loud.

By the end of the day, Ada, worn out with sheer overexcitement, went to bed early, but, as she lay back against her pillows listening to owls calling in the nearby forest, her thoughts flew to her husband. Where was he? On a troop ship crossing the Channel, sleeping on a bench at a draughty railway station waiting for a train to pull in?

‘Stay safe, my darling, we’re waiting for you,’ she murmured, and she stroked her tummy, where her baby lay peacefully sleeping.

The following morning, nice and early before the day warmed up, Ada set off for Mary Vale, where she was welcomed by Sisters Theresa and Mary Paul.

‘Look at the size of you,’ the older nun lovingly fretted. ‘You shouldn’t be out walking in this heat.’

‘I picked the coolest time of the day,’ Ada protested, as she willingly accepted a glass of water from Theresa.

‘You look marvellous,’ the younger nun smiled. ‘Bonnier than ever. And we know why you’ve got such a happy smile on your face,’ she said with a conspiratorial wink. ‘You must be so excited?’

‘Oh, I am,’ Ada earnestly replied. ‘I’m sick with longing, it’s been months since we met.’

‘Don’t go overdoing it,’ Mary Paul urged.

‘I did way too much yesterday,’ Ada admitted. ‘I want Jamie to love the cottage as much as I do, so I spring-cleaned it yet again.’

‘He’s bound to love it,’ Theresa exclaimed. ‘Though to be honest I think he’ll only have eyes for you,’ she giggled.