Maude snapped her fingers. ‘Why don’t you write to her? You could send it to Tom and he could pass it on. That way there’s no awkwardness and you can tell her everything before you’ve met, so she’ll get the whole story without interruption. You can get your side across, tell her the truth about her grandfather, so that she doesn’t fear meeting him, and tell her about Ted.’

Olivia was beaming. ‘That’s a fantastic idea, Maude, I’ll certainly do that.’

Maude could hear the smile in her friend’s voice. ‘I do have good ideas on occasion.’

‘Well, this one’s a corker!’ said Olivia.

‘I’ll ask Bonnie to give me Tom’s details.’

‘Thanks, Maude.’

‘Ta-ra, Liv.’

Olivia replaced the receiver and turned to Beth who was waiting patiently for her. ‘Have you got any spare paper I can use?’

Beth nodded. ‘Of course I have. Has this got anything to do with Maude’s fantastic idea?’

Olivia grinned. ‘I’m going to write to Jess and explain everything so that she knows what’s what before I speak to her.’

Beth smiled approvingly. ‘You’re right, that is a good idea. Does that mean you know where she’s based?’

‘No, I’m going to send it to her boyfriend Tom, and ask him to pass it on.’

‘Oh heck, I hope he doesn’t move around too much. It took long enough to find him this time,’ said Beth.

Lowering her voice, Olivia glanced around. ‘I get the feeling that this is the calm before the storm. According to Bonnie, Tom’s been at his new base for a few days now, and I know Josie said things seem to have settled down in Ramsbury. It reminds me of a game of chess, where you get all your pieces in position before you checkmate.’

Beth’s tummy lurched unpleasantly. ‘I hope to goodness that whatever they’ve got planned works and that this isn’t another Dunkirk.’

Olivia nodded reassuringly. ‘Course it will. We’ve got all the key players – you mark my words, we’re approaching the beginning of the end. Oh, I do miss having Josie and Maude around, like the old days.’

Beth nodded. ‘Me too. Fingers crossed we’re all right and this wretched business really is coming to an end, because the sooner that happens the sooner we can all get together again.’