Heedless of the bitingly cold weather she raced outside and grabbed Livvy in a fierce hug. ‘Oh, Liv, it’s so good to see you,’ she said as fresh tears started down her cheeks. She felt as if all she had done was cry ever since the terrible news about Bobby had reached them. ‘This will cheer Mum up no end. She’s up at the house at the minute. Edith is in such a state we don’t like to leave her alone at present. But come on in out of the cold.’

Giles touched his peaked cap as he strode on, while Livvy allowed herself to be dragged unceremoniously into the lodge.

‘Aunt Livvy.’ The twins raced towards her with cries of delight.

‘Hello, my lovelies,’ Livvy laughed. Then glancing up over their heads she was surprised to see David. ‘Hello, David. Now calm down and let me catch my breath, won’t you. And my goodness – how you’ve grown! I hardly recognised you.’

‘Bobby’s gone to be an angel in the sky with God,’ Thomas told her solemnly as he plugged his thumb into his mouth and Daisy nodded in agreement.

‘Come on, children. The shop will be sold out of gobstoppers at this rate,’ David told them hastily, hoping to lighten the mood. ‘Let’s get on and then you can see your Aunt Livvy when we get back.’

Muffled up in their warm clothes, the children went off happily enough, and Kathy went to put the kettle on.

‘Little monkeys,’ she said ruefully. ‘I don’t think there’s anything they wouldn’t do for gobstoppers.’

‘That’s kids for you,’ Livvy agreed as she peeled her gloves off and looked around. It felt strange, but lovely to be back after being away so long. ‘But what’s David doing here?’

Kathy flushed prettily. ‘He just called in to see us last week on his way home to Yorkshire and somehow the twins persuaded him to stay.’

‘Did they now?’ Livvy grinned and raised an eyebrow. ‘And how do you feel about that?’

Kathy tried to shrug nonchalantly. ‘Well, we’ve always got on and been friends, haven’t we?’

‘Hm, I’d say from the way he was looking at you just now he thinks of you as a lot more than a friend.’

‘What about you marching up the road with Giles, then?’ Kathy retorted defensively. ‘I’d say you two looked more than a little chummy too.’

The two sisters glanced at each other and grinned.

‘Touché!’ Livvy said and then listened intently as Kathy told her about all that had been happening.

‘But what will happen to little Peggy now?’ Livvy asked with concern.

Kathy sighed. ‘John had a phone call from the welfare department in London that deals with war orphans and they’re going to come and see him once the funeral is over.’