There was a silence, then Kate asked softly, ‘What about your mam? Was she all right when you left?’

Danny’s eyes were troubled. He nodded, ‘She was very brave, but I suppose it must bring back a lot of memories of the last time – seeing the young men off to war, not knowing if they’d ever come back.’ He looked at her steadily. ‘And young women too, this time. Oh, Katie, do be careful, won’t you?’

She nodded. ‘You, too, Danny. You too,’ she whispered.

There was half an hour before the train Kate had to catch left. In the café they sat across the table from each other, hardly speaking. They’d said everything and yet they’d said nothing. There was so much they could say, so much that still lay between them.

They sat together in an oasis of silence while all around them was the bustle of imminent departure. Most of the men were in uniform, while their families clustered around them; proud, tearful, apprehensive.

They heard the sound of a train approaching the station.

‘Come on,’ Danny said, getting up. ‘That’ll be yours.’

Now there was no time left to say anything and suddenly there was so much to say.

‘I had so hoped we’d be on the same camp,’ She raised her voice to him as they weaved their way through the crowded platform.

‘We might be – eventually. They shift people about quite a bit and I think you can apply for – what do they call it – remustering, I think it is. Here, let me put those on the rack for you.’

‘What on earth is remustering?’ she asked as he heaved her baggage up and then stepped off the train again. They stood on the platform, close but not touching, facing each other.

‘It’s when you apply to go into a new type of job.’

‘You’ll write?’ Kate said with sudden urgency.

Danny smiled lopsidedly. ‘I aren’t much of a letter-writer, Katie.’

‘That doesn’t matter. I just want to hear from you sometimes; just to know you’re . . . safe.’

He nodded. ‘All right.’

‘And when you get a posting, be sure to let me have your new address?’

Again he nodded.

‘And we could try to get leave at the same time, so we can be at home together.’ She was babbling now, desperate to put off the moment of parting.

‘That might be difficult.’

‘Oh, but we could try. Promise me you’ll try, Danny . . .?’ The shrill whistle sounded and doors banged. ‘Oh no, not yet . . .’

‘You must get on the train, Katie . . .’

Then suddenly she was in his arms, being held in a fierce hug. ‘Katie – take care,’ he whispered huskily against her hair. Then he released her suddenly and pushed her towards the train.