August 1944

Olivia waited outside Ted’s barracks, her tummy fluttering with anticipation. She caught sight of him and waved as he approached the taxi. Smiling, Ted slid along the back seat towards her and kissed her softly. ‘Hello, darling.’

Olivia felt her heart rise in her chest. ‘Hello, Ted.’ She spoke directly to the driver: ‘Brougham Terrace, please.’ As the cab pulled away, she turned her attention back to Ted. ‘It’s so good to see you. I’ve missed you so much, and I know we talk over the telephone two or three times a week, but it’s not the same as seeing you in person.’

Ted cupped her face in his hands and kissed her again, only this time, the kiss lasted longer and was deeper than the first. ‘Not as much as I’ve missed you,’ he said quietly. ‘How do you feel about the wedding?’

She smiled. ‘Mixed emotions. I know I shouldn’t have placed all my eggs in one basket when we thought Jess was our daughter, but I did, and even though I know it’s not possible, I feel as though she’s mine – her and Dana – which is ridiculous, I know.’

Ted ran the back of his fingers down her cheek. ‘It’s not ridiculous, sweetheart, or if it is then I’m just as guilty, because I was also certain that we’d found our baby girl.’

Olivia nodded. ‘I feel like a ghost parent, if that makes sense?’

‘If you mean you feel like you’re a parent which no one else recognises, then yes, that does make sense. I feel so proud of them both, yet I’ve never met them.’

‘Me too,’ enthused Olivia. ‘Those girls have really beaten the odds and are doing so incredibly well for themselves despite the hand that fate dealt them. I can only hope our daughter’s done as well.’

He shrugged. ‘Perhaps they feel the same way. You’ve an awful lot in common with them regarding nasty fathers.’

Olivia leaned her head against his chest. ‘Two evil so-and-sos, both from Liverpool – I’d never have believed it.’

Ted frowned. ‘I don’t suppose your father had a twin?’

She laughed mirthlessly. ‘No, Ted, he didn’t, but a cousin of his did – but if you’re suggesting his cousin’s twin was in Glasgow the same time as us, with the same dilemma, I think that’s even more far-fetched than some of the theories I’ve come up with.’

He smiled. One of Olivia’s theories had been that she’d had twins and not been aware of the second baby. This, of course, had been dismissed straight away by Ted, who had asked her how anyone could have another baby without knowing.

Olivia thanked the taxi driver as Ted paid the fare and together they made their way into the register office. They asked where they might find Jessica Wilson and Dana Quinn, and the receptionist pointed them in the right direction. ‘You’ll have to be quiet,’ she said, ‘they’ve already started. We’re actually running ahead of time for once.’