His thoughts turned to Olivia. He knew from her letters that she was in Shirehampton and that she was enjoying her new life in the WAAF. He drew a deep breath. In some respects he supposed it must be wonderful to be happy when you had nothing but your comrades. Which led him to another thought: Olivia had walked away from the factory, the house, the wealthy lifestyle in favour of … nothing. Was it because she knew she could come back if it didn’t work out? He shook his head. He had told her she wasn’t to come back, something which he had said in haste, but she had heeded his words.

He sighed heavily. The people below him belonged to him during the day, but they would go home to loving families once the whistle blew, and that’s where their true lives were. He thought about his own work life, and it occurred to him that the whistle never blew as far as he was concerned. He was working whether he was at home or in the factory. In fact, his business was the last thing on his mind when he went to bed and the first thing he thought of when he woke. He never switched off, he wouldn’t know how to. Every decision he made was based on the business. His stomach lurched unpleasantly. It was the whole reason why he had objected to Olivia and Edward’s relationship. He knew Edward would use Olivia to wiggle his way into William’s life, and once he got his feet under the table, William would never be able to get rid of him. As a result, William had been forced to make some major sacrifices. He’d had no choice, and that was all Edward’s fault. Everything he had done had been with his family’s best interest in mind. You couldn’t afford to think with your heart in situations like that, because it would only land you in deep water. Far better to shut it out and think logically. So why was his head now allowing his heart to be heard?

Olivia stared at the letter in her hands.

Maude looked up curiously. ‘What’s up?’

‘It’s from my dad …’ Olivia said, turning the envelope over in her hands.

‘Do you think it’s bad news?’ said Josie tentatively.

Olivia shrugged. ‘I’ve not heard a word since the day I left, so I suppose it must be.’

Beth came up behind them. ‘For goodness’ sake, just open it!’ She took a bite out of her toast and sat down next to Olivia.

Olivia slit the envelope open and scanned the contents.

Olivia,

I trust you are well. Liverpool looks very different from when you saw it last, but we’re a resilient lot. If you ever come back to take a look perhaps you could call by? It would be nice to see you after all this time.