Josie looked from Maude to Olivia. ‘Is anyone going to tell me and Beth who Ted is?’

Maude eyed the paper clutched between Olivia’s fingers. ‘Only one way to find out.’

Nodding, Olivia turned her attention to the letter. ‘You’d best tell Beth and Josie about Ted whilst I read.’

Maude looked uncertain. ‘What, everything?’

Olivia nodded. ‘They won’t blab and I know they won’t judge me either.’

As you can imagine, your Pops wasn’t best pleased and I’m afraid to say he gave Edward a piece of his mind, as well as a right hook! Needless to say, neither of us wanted to talk to him, but you have to give people a chance, so we let him say his piece and I’ve agreed to pass his details on so that you might get in contact should you wish to. Now I’m not one to interfere, but I think it might be in your interest to at least give him a chance to give his side of the story. Anyway, with that being said I’ve written his address at the bottom of this letter.

Pops’s gout is playing up again, but he doesn’t do himself any favours …

Olivia turned the paper over and glanced at the address on the bottom. She looked up at Maude and Beth, who was looking slightly stunned. ‘He’s in RAF Speke!’

‘You’re a bit of a dark horse,’ said Beth quietly. ‘Did your grandparents say anything else?’

Olivia shrugged. ‘Only that Pops gave him what for, as well as a right hook.’ She waited for Josie to stop giggling before continuing, ‘Nana did say that she thought it a good idea to hear his side of things.’

Maude nodded. ‘I agree. You’ve said yourself you’ve had doubts as to what your father told you regarding Ted’s sudden disappearance, and I’ve already given my opinion – you know I wouldn’t trust your father as far as I could throw him.’

‘I know, but it all happened such a long time ago. What’s the sense in dragging it all up again? I can’t see why he’d want to! It’s not as if any good could come of it. At best he’ll deny any knowledge, but that still won’t change the outcome.’

‘Only it would mean that you’d know the truth,’ Josie said levelly, ‘and that alone could help you understand what really went on. I wonder if that’s why your father wrote to you?’

Olivia’s mouth hung open. ‘Of course! I’d forgotten about that, but it makes sense now. I bet Ted went to see Dad first and that’s why Dad wrote to me, because he wants to speak to me before Ted has a chance to.’ She shook her head. ‘My God, are there no lengths that man won’t go to to cover his tracks?’

‘So you do think he was lying?’ said Maude.

‘It certainly looks that way,’ Olivia confirmed. ‘All this time and not a word, but as soon as Ted turns up, bingo!’