He coughed to clear his throat before going on. ‘Well, with the weather being so bad you and Kathy are a bit stuck in here with the twins and I was thinking that perhaps you’d all like to move back into the house. Purely on a no-strings basis, of course,’ he added hastily when he saw her eyes widen. Then with a sigh he said, ‘Look … I realise I was probably out of order when I proposed to you and you were most likely right – we probably are both a bit long in the tooth to be starting a new relationship – but that shouldn’t mean we can’t enjoy each other’s company. I’m missing Giles and I know you’re missing Livvy. And this place …’ He spread his hands as he looked about the small room. ‘As comfortable as you’ve made it it’s hardly on the level of Treetops, is it? The twins would have more room to play and you’d be doing me a favour. You and Kathy could help Edith with Peggy and Bobby and I know they’d love to have the twins there.

‘There’s something else to think of as well. Anderson shelters are popping up everywhere. I was thinking that we could make the cellar suitable for a shelter just in case of a raid. You’d all be so much safer there. I think we’ve all been lulled into a false sense of security with us living out in the sticks. But what we have to remember is that all the car factories in Coventry are now making tanks or ammunition and they’ll be a target. What if the Jerries decide to randomly drop bombs on us on the way there or back? Won’t you at least consider it, if not for yourself for the children?’

Sunday paused in the act of pouring the tea and bit her lip as she thought about what he’d said. ‘All right,’ she agreed eventually. ‘I will think on it, but I’m not making any promises, mind. I need to know what Kathy thinks of the idea too.’

‘That’s good enough,’ he answered with a beaming smile and they went on to talk of other things.

But when Sunday relayed the conversation to her daughter the next morning, Kathy had very mixed feelings about the idea.

The thought of living back in her old home was tempting and because of his many kindnesses, she had long since lost any feelings of resentment she’d felt towards John. And she could see the sense in what he said; they would all be much safer there if the bombings were about to start. But still, like her mother, Kathy had her pride.