‘Ta, Rosie.’ She was rewarded by Roderick giving her a huge grin. ‘I’m all right about it now. Well, in a way. It’s hard to think of me brother and his mates fighting for our country, and I’ll never be able to. But, like you say, the nation has to be fed, and aye, I do me bit in rescuing them as get into distress on the sea. The lifeboat is busier than it’s ever been.’

‘That’s the way to look at it, Roddie. And, lad, stop trying to mend your flat feet; it can’t be done and you’re only causing yourself pain.’

‘Has me ma told you about that? Eeh, Ma, you can’t keep nowt to yourself. Well, except any chocolate that comes your way; aye, I knaw about that stash you have, an’ all.’

They all laughed. Ma had always been known for her love of chocolate, but no doubt she needed it more than ever now.

A rap on the door brought their laughter to a halt. There was something about it – not just that no one they knew ever knocked on the door, but simply walked right in; somehow Rosie knew this caller was going to tear their hearts to shreds.

Angus opened the door.

‘Telegram, sir.’

Ma’s gasp cut right through Rosie.

It was as if they’d all been turned to stone, from the moment the knock on the door had interrupted them. The sound of Angus opening the telegram seemed to fill the space around Rosie. Her throat tightened and her head rocked on her shoulders in a gesture that said: No!

Angus’s deep breath was pain-filled. He looked at Betsy and crumbled as his body sank into the nearest chair. No one spoke. Taking another deep breath, and with tears running down his face, he rose. ‘Oh, me lassie, me lassie, how are we to bear this?’

Ma’s head was rocking from side to side, just like Rosie’s was. Her mouth was open and spittle ran down her chin. When her body began to tremble and her colour drained, Rosie was spurred into action. ‘Roddie, help me, lad. Help me to help Ma.’

Together they held Ma, their arms entwined around her, holding each other’s hands. ‘Tell us, Da.’ The term came naturally to Rosie now, though it was only recently that she’d called this lovely man that her ma had married ‘Da’. And no one deserved the title more than him.

Angus’s mouth opened, but nothing came out.

‘Da? Please.’

‘D – Daisy and . . . And Fl – Florrie. They’re . . . Oh, God in heaven, I – I canna say it. I canna make it real.’

‘Dead?’ This was a shocked whisper from Ma.

Angus just stared.

‘How? God . . . how? They were rescued, you told me. Evacuated, you said. Angus, tell me, what happened to me babbies?’