How long she’d been sitting motionless in Ma’s chair, Jenny didn’t know. Time seemed to have lost all meaning as the enormity of what had happened today dawned on her. The room was lovely and warm now, so she roused herself enough to stand up and remove her coat. She needed a cup of tea.

Every move seemed an effort as she dragged herself to the kitchen and put the kettle on. She stood watching it boil and slipped her hand into her pocket, pulling out the letter Dwight had given to her. She had forgotten all about that.

After making the tea, she took it back to the front room and sat in Ma’s chair again. When she opened the envelope, two photographs fell out with the names ‘Hal’ and ‘Rob’ written on the back. Two young dark-haired boys, each clutching a brightly coloured ball, stared out at her, and a petite woman with a bright smile on her face had her hands on their shoulders to hold them in line. Standing behind them, looking so proud, was her father.

She clutched the pictures to her to protect them from the tears that had suddenly burst from her like a torrent. It was caused by a mixture of delayed mourning for her father and joy that he had, for a few years, found happiness with his new family. She didn’t try to stop the tears. And she sobbed for the cruel death her father had suffered, and the sadness of all those who had loved him.

When there were no more tears to be shed, she wiped her eyes, blew her nose and settled down to read the letter from her father’s wife. Gracie was her name, and she wrote about the boys and how much like their father they were. At the end of the letter she told Jenny that there would always be a home for her with them if she wanted to come over to the United States.

Jenny sipped her tea. She had decisions to make about her future, but she felt too exhausted to think straight. The idea of going to America was appealing. After all, there was very little to keep her here …

‘Oh, but there is.’ It was as if Ma were speaking in her mind. ‘What about Matt?’

‘What about him?’ she replied out loud.

‘You’re in love with him, ducky.’

‘Am I?’ She frowned as the conversation ran around in her head.

‘’Course you are. Stop denying it.’

‘But he doesn’t love me.’

‘Don’t be daft, Jen. Would he risk his life for someone he didn’t care for?’