Reg nodded wisely. ‘That’s families for you.’ He turned his attention back to his newspaper.

Ted gazed down at the letter in his hands. For the first time in years he cast his mind back to the reason why he had left Liverpool. He wondered what had become of Olivia. Doubtless she would be married by now with children. He turned his thoughts to her father and what his reaction would be if he saw Ted in uniform. He pulled a face. It was most unlikely that William would recognise Ted after all this time. He folded the letter and placed it in his pocket. He would have to tell Isobel that he was being stationed up north. A vision of his wife formed in his mind. Tall, svelte, with large blue eyes and platinum blonde curls – Ted had been the envy of every man. He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. Every man who didn’t know her personally, that was. Not that Ted blamed them, for he had been just as enchanted by her appearance. She had won him over with her dazzling smile and her seemingly doting nature, making him feel as though he was the only man in the world. So captivated was he, that he allowed her to push him into marriage, for fear of losing her otherwise. He remembered miserably how everything had changed the moment he climbed into bed beside her on their wedding night. Isobel had flinched as he laid a hand on her shoulder.

She had pulled the sheets up around her neck. ‘I thought you were taking me somewhere special for our honeymoon!’

‘What’s wrong with it here?’ said Ted. ‘You’ve got a beautiful beach and …’

Isobel kept her back to him. ‘When you said you were whisking me away on a surprise honeymoon I thought you’d be taking me somewhere like Paris or Rome, not Morecambe.’ She heaved a dramatic sigh. ‘What’s the point in running a successful business if you don’t get to enjoy the proceeds?’

‘It’s not my business,’ said Ted reasonably. ‘You know it’s not.’

‘As good as!’ said Isobel. ‘Your father’s a partner in it, isn’t he? Or did you just say that to get this on my finger?’

‘Of course not!’ said Ted. ‘But he doesn’t own the business.’

She shrugged. ‘Maybe not now, but Rob won’t be around forever, and seeing as how he hasn’t got any children of his own to pass the garage on to, it’s only logical …’

Ted stared at her in disbelief. ‘How long have you been thinking about this?’

Isobel turned round to face him, a pout forming on her ruby lips. ‘I’m only stating the inevitable. I don’t know why you’re looking at me like that – it’s good to plan ahead!’