‘Not an inkling. Not only that, but she thinks Dad’s her father.’

Ted made a hissing noise between his teeth. ‘We’re going to have to find her as soon as possible, so that we can put her right on that score, because I’m not having my daughter think that … that man,’ his tone was filled with disgust, ‘is her father.’

‘I wish you’d been with me when Bonnie told us about Jess …’ Olivia’s voice faded as she tried to hold on to her emotions. ‘I hate this war. You should’ve been with me, we should be learning the news together, so that we could comfort each other.’

‘I’m with you in principle, queen,’ he said softly, ‘but this war brought us back together. Not only that, but if it hadn’t been for the war you’d never have met Bonnie, and then where would we be?’

Olivia let out a small gasp. ‘We’d never have found Jessica, and she’d never have known the truth, because goodness only knows what she must be thinking of her family.’

‘With your father being the only example she has to go on, then I’d say she probably hasn’t a high opinion of any of us, which is why it’s so important we find her.’ His voice trembled. ‘We can’t have her thinking we knew anything about his callous behaviour; she needs to know the truth.’

‘Bonnie’s put out some feelers,’ Olivia said, ‘so hopefully we’ll hear something soon. I wonder what she’ll think when she hears that we’re searching for her.’

‘If she mistakes me for your father then she’ll probably run a mile!’ said Ted bitterly.

‘That’s where Bonnie can put her straight,’ said Olivia. ‘She can speak on our behalf.’

‘Only didn’t you say that Bonnie wasn’t Jess’s favourite person?’

‘True,’ Olivia conceded, ‘but she says she’s changed a lot since those days, and that Tom, Jess’s boyfriend, knows how remorseful she is for her previous actions.’

‘Then we have to place our faith in Bonnie’s hands, and hope she comes up trumps.’

‘She will,’ said Olivia. ‘I’ve a good feeling about this, Ted.’

‘Caller, your three minutes is up …’ interrupted the operator.

‘Let me know what happens,’ said Ted. ‘Ta-ra, Toff, sending all my love.’

‘I love you too, Ted.’ Olivia heard the click as the operator terminated the call.

October 1943

It had been a couple of months since Olivia had visited Maude, and despite several attempts to get in touch with Tom Durning, Bonnie’s search had drawn a blank.

‘That’s the trouble with the ack-acks,’ Bonnie told Maude and Josie, as the girls took a seat at the table. ‘They can move daily if necessary, so trying to track them down is virtually impossible, and because Tom was training the girls in my group they’re not with him any more.’ She shrugged helplessly. ‘It’s going to be like looking for a needle in a haystack.’