In his letters he wrote of his life in Plymouth, the garage, his father, their small cottage by the sea. It seemed an idyllic existence, and Olivia wished she had been able to share it with him. She began to read the latest letter.

Dearest Toff,

I’m very much looking forward to seeing you again and hearing your news. I understand that things were a little sensitive in our last meeting, but I would hope that things will be different this time. I’ve loved receiving your letters, and hearing about your friends and life in Shirehampton – I feel as though I’ve met Maude and Josie. I’m glad things worked out for you once you left Liverpool …

Olivia placed the letter down on her lap. In her letters to Ted she had been evasive about her life after he’d left, but she’d told him heaps about her time in the WAAF. She supposed the anguish of her father’s revelation was still too raw, and even though she didn’t blame Ted, it could come across as though she did.

She picked up the letter and read on, a smile blooming on her cheeks. Ted was coming to see her! She folded the letter and placed it with the others in her mother’s small keepsake box, which she kept in her locker.

As she headed out to tell the girls about Ted’s imminent arrival, her thoughts turned to Beth, and Ralph’s revelations. If she confronted her, she was certain Beth would deny everything, and with Ralph clamming up on the subject Olivia couldn’t even say exactly what it was that she was accusing Beth of.

‘I’d look ridiculous making half-cocked accusations,’ she said to Josie and Maude as they patrolled the picket fence. ‘I can hardly say what he told me, because it doesn’t even make sense – it’s more an implication than an accusation.’

Maude nodded. ‘He’s left you without a leg to stand on.’ She hesitated. ‘I know this probably isn’t the time, but have you heard from Ted?’ She chuckled. ‘Silly question, considering the amount of mail you get!’

Olivia gave her a shy smile. ‘I just got a letter from him. He’s written to say he’ll be coming to see me in a week or so – he’s going to book a B&B.’

‘Good thinking,’ said Josie approvingly, ‘although it’s a long way for him to come for little to no information, don’t you think?’

‘I suppose so, but I feel partly responsible because it’s my father who’s caused all this.’

‘That’s hardly your fault!’ Maude said indignantly.

Olivia gave her a resigned smile. ‘That may be so, but it doesn’t stop me from blaming myself.’

‘And is that the only reason you’re meeting up?’ Maude asked with a wry smile.