Olivia looked around to check that no one was close by before answering. ‘Last time we saw each other it was a little fractious because I didn’t know what Ted was going to say, but after we’d gone through everything, I found myself wishing I had more time to talk to him. We’ve got so much unfinished business, and I don’t mean with our baby, but our relationship, because it didn’t end properly. It’s kind of like we’re still in limbo, even all these years later. Ted meant an awful lot to me at one time …’ she paused, ‘… in fact Ted meant everything to me. He was my whole world, my escape from Dad, my shoulder to cry on and my confidant, and even though we’ve corresponded a lot, it’s not the same as seeing him face-to-face.’

Josie’s eyebrows neared her hairline. ‘Blimey, sounds more like love than friends.’

‘It was,’ said Olivia simply. ‘You don’t think we’d have got that intimate otherwise?’

Maude shrugged. ‘Caught up in a moment of passion?’

Olivia shook her head. ‘After finding me kissing Ted, my father told me I was never to see him again. I refused and that’s when things got nasty. I ran to Ted because he was my safe haven. When he opened his front door I started to cry, so he held me close and comforted me.’ She shrugged. ‘One thing led to another, it seemed so natural at the time.’

‘So had your father not been such a pig, you probably would never have fallen pregnant?’ said Josie thoughtfully.

Olivia nodded. ‘I turned to Ted because I had no one else to turn to, and I could hardly talk to Mum because she would have agreed with Dad that I was too young to be kissing boys.’

‘Do you reckon he realises that he’s partly to blame for everything that ensued as a result of his behaviour?’ said Josie tentatively.

Olivia laughed. ‘God no, he thinks I’m a hussy.’

Maude shook her head. ‘There’s none so blind as those that will not see.’

‘That’s my dad all over. There’s no reasoning with him, he won’t even try to listen.’ Olivia eyed her two friends curiously. ‘Do you think it’s wrong of me to meet Ted?’

Josie and Maude exchanged glances. ‘No-o,’ said Josie slowly, ‘because you’ve a legitimate reason.’

‘Are you going to tell Ralph you’re meeting him?’ Maude asked.

Olivia pulled a face. ‘That’s the thing, I’m not going to tell Ralph, but only because I don’t want him to get the wrong idea.’ She eyed her friends anxiously. ‘I’m going to spend the week in town with Ted – that way people won’t wonder where I’m going every morning. I’m owed leave, so I can’t see it being a problem.’