Maude rushed over and picked the letter up. ‘Oh no, what now?’

Olivia shook her head. ‘It’s not bad …’ she hesitated, ‘… or at least I don’t think it is.’ She took the letter back from Maude. ‘Ted’s been to see Nana and Pops.’

‘Who’s Ted?’ asked Beth inquisitively.

Maude’s eyes widened as she waved Beth into silence. ‘The Ted?’

Olivia nodded. ‘I can’t imagine why he’s turned up after all these years, let alone why he’d go and visit my grandparents. He’s got some nerve, I’ll give him that.’

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.’