‘Please take care of yourself,’ Sunday implored as she threw her arms about Ben. ‘You must know that I love you.’ She so bitterly regretted the way she had treated him when she had discovered that he was Tom’s son, but it was too late to turn the clock back and she could only pray that he would return safely so that she could prove to him just how very much he meant to her.

He nodded as he gave her a hug. He had forgiven her for the cold way she had treated him when she discovered that he was her husband’s son. It had been no hardship, for in truth Sunday was the closest thing to a mother he had ever known, and until then she had doted on him.

‘I’m only going to do my training,’ he teased her as he gently wiped a tear from her cheek. ‘I shall no doubt be back for a short while on leave in a couple of weeks’ time.’ He turned to Tom then and shook his hand.

‘Stay safe, son,’ Tom muttered thickly and then Ben was throwing his kitbag on board and clambering into the train after it. The platform began to empty as the other young men followed suit and then the air was filled with shouts of, ‘Goodbye, stay safe!’ as the train began to pull away. Sunday and Tom stood there waving until it was out of sight then sadly made their way back to the car, missing Ben already.

That evening, Cissie finished her chores at Treetops and set off for Primrose Cottage, leaving George to help Tom stable the horses. She strode through the copse thinking that she wouldn’t be able to take this short-cut for much longer. Once the nights started to darken there was far more chance of tripping over a tree root or something and hurting herself, so she tended to skirt the woods then. She had gone about halfway when Hugh suddenly appeared like a spectre from behind a tree. Her heart sank into her boots. He must have been waiting for her, and she cursed herself silently for coming this way. Even so she greeted him with a smile.

‘Hello, son. How are you?’

He fell into step beside her. ‘Not too bad as it happens although I do have a favour to ask of you.’

Cissie thought she knew what was coming although she remained tight-lipped.

‘The thing is,’ Hugh went shamelessly on, ‘I have this friend who I borrowed some money off some time ago and the long and the short of it is, he needs it back. I wouldn’t ask normally but this chap can cut up a bit rough, if you know what I mean. Anyway, I was wondering if perhaps you could see your way clear to giving me another loan. Just until I find another job, of course.’

‘Oh, Hugh, I’m so sorry, I’m afraid I can’t,’ Cissie told him nervously.