She shook her head. ‘No,’ she said, ‘it wouldn’t be right. We can’t go back, Tom. We mustn’t. We have to look to the future. Everything has changed now. Mother and Papa have their new lives in Germany, and Liesel is getting married to Davy in the New Year. They’ve all moved on, and now it’s time I did the same.’

‘So what will you do?’ he asked.

Anna shrugged. ‘I suppose I’ll carry on working at the Nightingale.’

‘And then?’

‘I don’t know.’

They had reached the hospital gates. She turned to him, forcing a smile.

‘Well, I suppose this is where we part company. I’ll be seeing you, Tom.’

He nodded. ‘I daresay you will.’ Once again, she caught the look of yearning on his face, as if he was fighting some inner battle.

She went through the gates and had nearly reached the Porters’ Lodge before she heard his voice behind her.

‘Your letters …’

She turned. ‘What about them?’

‘They kept me going when I was in France.’ Deep colour suffused his face. ‘There was something in them – like you felt something for me?’ He lifted his gaze to meet hers, his black eyes full of a vulnerability she had never seen in him before. ‘Am I wrong? Tell me if I am and I’ll walk away.’

‘No, Tom, you’re not wrong.’

Anna walked back to where he stood. It was only a few paces, but it seemed to take forever.

She looked up into his narrow face; his black eyes fixed on hers intently. His years at war had left him battered and walking with a limp, but all his scars were on the surface. When she looked into his eyes, she saw none of the darkness she had seen in Edward’s. She saw only love.

But it wasn’t that simple. Tom had offered to rebuild her home for her, but to rebuild her shattered trust was what she really needed.

‘I don’t know if I’m ready,’ she said. ‘What I went through with Edward – it’s going to take me a long time to get over it.’

‘Then I’ll just have to wait, won’t I?’ Tom squared his shoulders. ‘I’ve loved you all these years, I reckon I can wait a bit longer for you to love me back.’

This time Anna didn’t try to stop herself from reaching for his hands. His fingers curled around hers, not seeking to possess her as Edward had, but making her feel cherished and safe.

Perhaps it wouldn’t take her such a long time to regain her trust in love after all.

THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING

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