And all the time, Anna’s gaze kept straying to the clock on the wall, its ponderous ticking measuring away the precious time she had left with her father.

Finally, Friedrich said, ‘I’m sorry, my girls, but we must talk about the practicalities of what is to come.’

He sat very still, his thin hands resting on his knees. The skin on the back of them was wrinkled and spotted with age. He was barely fifty but his shoulders were stooped like an old man’s, Anna noticed.

‘Now,’ he said. ‘I want you to know that you will be well looked after, even though I cannot be here myself to take care of you. I have written to a solicitor and made arrangements for you both.’

‘Papa, please. Don’t,’ Anna begged, but her father held up his hand.

‘No, Liebling, this is something I must say. I need you both to listen.’ He looked from one to the other. ‘Liesel, I have arranged for you to have some money. It is not a fortune – as you know, I am not a rich man – but it will be enough to make sure you are reasonably comfortable until you get married.’

For once Liesel didn’t seem to be able to speak. She could only nod, her head bowed.

Friedrich turned to Anna. ‘And you, my dear,’ he reached for her hands, ‘I am giving you my bakery.’

‘Papa!’

‘I would have divided everything between you both equally, but I know Anna has always been more interested in the business than you are, Liesel.’ He looked anxiously at them both. ‘What do you say? Do you agree it is fair for your sister to take over the bakery?’

Anna held her breath as she waited for her sister to speak.

‘Yes, Papa,’ Liesel replied.

‘But I don’t want you to think you have to keep the business going,’ he said to Anna. ‘You may sell it if you wish, use the money to make a life for yourself. But as you know, I have always said I would pass it on to you and Edward, so – I wish to keep my promise.’

‘Thank you, Papa.’

The words didn’t seem enough to express the emotions welling up inside her. This was all so enormous, she could barely take it in.

She was still in a daze when they came to say goodbye. After warning Liesel not to make a fuss, when Anna fell into her father’s arms for a final hug she could not stop the tears flooding out of her.

‘There, my Liebling. Don’t cry. This is the start of a new adventure for us all.’ Friedrich held her face between his hands and stroked away her tears with his thumbs. He stared at her, his dark eyes holding hers, as if trying to imprint the memory of her in his mind forever. ‘Take care of yourself, and your little sister for me,’ he whispered. ‘I’m sorry I can’t be there to dry your tears forever, my precious girl …’