And, finally, Walter. They all loved Walter. Another gentle soul, he coped so well with his false leg that you would never believe he had one, and his mother was a hoot. Sibbie didn’t think she’d seen her without a cigarette dangling from her mouth. And the swearing – well! But she and Betsy had hit it off as though they’d been mates forever, which was lovely to see. Mrs Feller, the lady who had taken Walter under her wing, was here, too. She was much more at home with William’s parents, and they with her, which relieved William from having to pander to them all the time. Walter had a friend as best man, another doctor, who had brought along his wife and two girls, aged seven and six. Lonia had taken them under her wing and now walked proudly with the girls, as all three were bridesmaids in lovely red velvet dresses that matched the roses.

The church was packed, and Sibbie hoped against hope that Randie had made it. After waiting for everyone for so long, and finally knowing they were all coming, it would be so disappointing for Marjie – well, for her, too – if Randie didn’t make it. But she had no time to look around the church, as they were soon at the aisle and her Paulo had his hand out towards her. Taking it, she experienced a moment of extreme happiness as she looked into his eyes.

For Rosie, the moment Walter extended his hand and she touched his fingers was a moment when all past demons left her. She’d never forgotten Albie and had at times longed for him. Not that she had loved him more than Walter, but his memory burned within her and she couldn’t erase it.

At that moment, something happened. Albie faded. He seemed to settle somewhere deep in her heart, but at the same time left the whole of it for Walter. As she looked into Walter’s lovely soft grey eyes, Rosie gave to him all the love she could give. Walter’s eyes filled with tears, and yet he was smiling – a lovely gentle smile full of love. Her last words to Albie’s spirit were said in her mind: ‘Goodbye, Albie. Rest easy. I will keep my promise to take your letter to your mother. I’ll take my Walter with me. You’d love Walter. I do, with all my heart.’

For Marjie, the moment that Wills put out his hand to her was the most wonderful moment. Yes, they’d joined many times in a giving and receiving of love, but as she held his hand, she wasn’t loving him with just her body. Everything that she was she gave to him. His lovely eyes glistened as they looked into hers. His whispered ‘I love you’ touched every part of her.

‘Wills, my Wills.’