He lowered his head. “I hate that I have to leave her. What if Germany does bomb London? The three of you won’t be safe.”

He could scarcely stop bombs from falling from the sky, but Grace didn’t say as much. “We have the Andy you buried in the backyard to protect us, as well as the taped windows. You’ve even secured us with a garden. And you know your mother is well stocked on goods.”

He lifted his head and gave a small laugh. “Ah, yes. To keep the hoarders from buying it all first.” He winked at Grace.

“Exactly.” Grace leveled a gaze at him. “We’ll be fine here, Colin. You see to yourself, and we’ll have the grandest welcome party you’ve ever seen when you return.”

His responding smile was so sweet, it made Grace’s heart splinter.

“I’d like that,” he replied.

The front door opened and closed, followed by the light bump and clatter of shoes being removed and a purse and gas mask hung.

Colin grimaced and glanced around the wall.

“Is it your mother?” Grace mouthed.

Colin nodded with a wince.

“Should we tell her?” Grace asked.

He shook his head so vigorously, Grace had to press her hands to her mouth to keep from laughing.

A door swung open at the rear of the house and clicked closed. That was when they both realized there was no need to tell Mrs. Weatherford about the sacrifice of her flower beds. Her discovery was announced in the form of a shrill scream.

The devastation of Mrs. Weatherford’s flower beds and the taped windows, which she referred to as “unsightly,” were hardly their greatest loss. That came in the form of Colin’s departure.

On the morning of Armistice Day, Colin left for his medical examination. Two days later, he had orders to report for duty.

It all flew by far too quickly, and they found themselves waking to the day of Colin’s departure in stunned shock.

He accepted a hug from Viv first, who could scarcely summon a smile to see him off.

Next, he embraced Grace. “Please take care of Mum,” he whispered.

Grace nodded against his chest. “I promise.”

When at last he said goodbye to Mrs. Weatherford, his eyes filled with tears. He blinked with a hard sniff and swiftly left the house with an unnaturally straight back. His mother had wanted to accompany him, of course, but in the end, Colin told her he needed to do it alone.

The door closed behind him and the house fell unnaturally silent, as though it too immediately mourned the loss of his presence. Mrs. Weatherford went to the front window of the parlor and watched him as he made his way down the street.

She didn’t leave from that spot for the remainder of the day, as if she could still see him walking away, continuing to bid him farewell.