‘I’ll have a pint of your best bitter, and …’ Ralph looked at Olivia who ordered a half of mild.

The woman got two glasses and held the first under the pump handle as she explained the menu choices. ‘We don’t bother with written menus any more ’cos we don’t know what we’ll be having from one day to the next, so today’s choice is either meat and potato pie with all the trimmings, or fish and chips.’

‘I’ll have the meat and potato pie, please,’ Ralph said promptly. ‘Liv?’ Before she could answer he quickly added, ‘Do you mind if I call you Liv?’

‘Not at all,’ said Olivia, enjoying his familiarity. ‘And make that two meat and potato pies, please.’

The woman finished pouring their drinks and handed them over. ‘If you’d like to take a pew, I’ll bring your meals out when they’re ready.’

Ralph handed the money over before joining Olivia at the window seat she had chosen. ‘It’s a lovely little spot, this, isn’t it?’ she said, staring out at the meadows across the way.

‘I wonder what they’re having back at the station?’ said Ralph as the aroma of pie being cooked wafted towards them.

Olivia grinned. ‘Fried Spam with bubble and squeak, much to Beth’s disgust, although I don’t think that’s the reason why she got so upset.’

He cocked an eyebrow. ‘Oh? Sounds interesting.’

Olivia told him how she had explained to Beth about her planned evening.

Ralph drummed his fingers on the table top as he tried to place Beth, although he soon remembered after a quick, rather unflattering description by Olivia.

‘The busty, brassy blonde, eh?’ he chuckled. ‘I remember her now, the shy wallflower.’

Olivia, who had just taken a sip of her drink, began to cough. ‘Are you sure we’re talking about the same girl?’

He grinned and then winked, and this time, there was no doubting his action. ‘The RAF’s full of Beths. They work their way through the base, moving from one poor sucker to the next. The war’s created a playground for women like her.’

Olivia hesitated. She didn’t like the other girl much, and according to what Josie had said, Beth certainly had had a lot of male companions, but to suggest she worked her way through the entire base seemed a trifle unfair. At the same time, she was pleased to hear that Ralph didn’t approve of women like her, and just to make sure she asked the question uppermost in her thoughts. ‘So not your type, then?’

He pulled a disapproving face. ‘God, no. She’s the sort of girl my father warned me about – fast and easy.’

Olivia stared at him, the thought of her indiscretion flying through her mind, and the smile vanished from her lips as she imagined what he would say if he knew the truth about her past. Ralph looked at her with concern. ‘Sorry, did I say something amiss?’

Olivia shook her head hastily. ‘Not at all,’ she lied.