Olivia frowned as she finished the letter. She looked up into the expectant faces of Maude, Josie and Beth. ‘He didn’t say much apart from suggesting I might call in if I were passing.’

‘Perhaps he’s missing you?’ Maude volunteered.

Olivia chuckled. ‘No, not my dad.’

Maude shrugged. ‘He’s been on his own for a long time now – he’s had a while to think about things.’

Olivia looked doubtful. ‘He’s not like other people, trust me. I lived with him long enough.’

‘He’s opened the door, which is a start,’ Beth said.

Olivia nodded. She hadn’t had any intention of going back to Liverpool, but should she consider it? She knew her grandparents would be in favour of her doing so, especially if they got to see her whilst she was there. She thought of Ralph’s proposal that he might accompany her and imagined her father’s face if she turned up with Ralph on her arm. He would undoubtedly approve, but on the other hand, she didn’t want him to think that she was trying to impress him, nor did she want to give Ralph the wrong impression. She stared at the letter. What do you want, William Campbell?

June 1942

As Ted had anticipated, the last few months had been volatile, but not because of the war. Isobel’s solicitor had informed her of Ted’s father’s ruse regarding his partnership in the business, and she had not been happy, demanding that her solicitor make the paperwork she had been handed legal. When he had told her that this wasn’t possible, she had rung the NAAFI in RAF Speke and demanded to speak to Ted.

‘Your father’s an idiot!’ she had fumed down the receiver, heedless of the listening operator. ‘Didn’t he realise he needed a legal document drawn up, and that he couldn’t make you a partner in a handwritten letter? You’ll have to tell him to do it properly!’

‘And why would I do that?’ said Ted, his tone level.

‘Because your stupid father has duped you, Ted! Blimey, talk about the apple not falling far from the tree!’

‘It’s not me who’s been duped,’ Ted replied quietly. There was a long pause, so he continued, ‘I told you I didn’t want to be a partner and I meant it, but you went behind my back to get my father to sign me up without my knowledge, and you did that because you wanted a divorce but only when I had a legal stake in the business.’ He chuckled softly. ‘Sorry to disappoint you, Issy, but I haven’t got two pennies to rub together, never mind a third of a successful business.’

He held the receiver away from his ear as Isobel shrieked angrily down the line before slamming the phone down.