By the time Mrs Larch left, having been on the errand she had promised, the groceries were delivered, the bed was aired with hot-water bottles, the bedding was aired around a roaring fire they had lit in the front parlour, and all Flors had to do was make her bed and soak in the bath. Even her evening meal was taken care of, as Mrs Larch took herself off to the pie shop, which hadn’t been there when Flors was last here. ‘You’ll love pie ’n’ peas. There’s nothing like it to compare. My treat. I’ll see you in an hour.’

As Flors lay back in the bath, she realized that she’d not given a thought to how she was all alone, and how all those she loved were in danger. It all crowded in on her now and the floodgates opened, leaving her a sobbing wreck.

But she didn’t mope for long. She had always been one to do something about her situation rather than dwell on it. Thinking everything through, she decided that the first thing she would do was write to Marjella. Please, God, make it possible that I can see my beloved daughter again and hold her close to me.

With this plan settled, Flors thought of her dear friend, Mags. How is it that so much was asked of us all in the last war, and now here we are, all suffering again?

Thinking about their friendship during such times and how it sustained her, Flors made her mind up that as soon as she’d heard from Marjella, she would visit Mags. It would be so nice to be with her. And maybe she could arrange a visit to Scotland, as she’d heard so much about Betsy and Susan.

Then came the thought she’d avoided: her need to visit her little Alice’s and Nanny Pru’s graves. Closing her eyes, she let her mind drift back. Beautiful memories came to her, but so did some very ugly ones. The past was buried and should remain so, but oh, how it still hurt at times. Maybe I will visit my parents’ grave. Perhaps take them some flowers.

The thought cheered her a little, but the feeling soon died, to be replaced with a bitter one: How could two people treat their only daughter as if she didn’t exist?