Kathy’s eyes stretched wide as David looked at her over the twins’ heads and suddenly she realised how much he had come to mean to her. She had dreamed of Ben returning for so long, but now it hit her that he had never really cared for her, let alone loved her. She had offered herself to him on a plate but now she could see what had happened for what it was. To him it had been no more than a fling: she was there, she had made herself available to him and he had taken advantage of the fact. She wasn’t even sure now that she’d ever loved him, not truly – it was more like idolisation, a silly teenage crush, nothing at all like what she now realised she felt for David.

Conscious that David was still staring at her avidly she gave him a wobbly smile as he finally answered, ‘If your mummy would allow it there is nothing I would like better than to be your daddy.’

Then somehow, she was in his arms and his lips were on hers and she felt her heart swell with love for him.

‘I think that’s an excellent idea,’ she said gruffly when they finally drew apart. Sunday was watching with a broad smile on her face, and suddenly feeling self-conscious, Kathy gently pushed him away, saying, ‘But now you’d better be off. You don’t want to miss your train.’

‘Come on, children, let’s go and wait outside while David and Mummy say their goodbyes,’ Sunday urged, shepherding the twins ahead of her.

‘Did you mean it, Kathy, or did you say that just for the sake of the children?’ David looked as if all his birthdays and Christmases had come at once as he took her in his arms again and she laid her head against his shoulder.

‘I mean it.’ She stared up at him with tears glistening on her long lashes. ‘I think I’ve loved you for a long time but didn’t admit it to myself.’

Her words, so long awaited, were like music to his ears. ‘Well now you have and from now on I want you to write to me at least once a month. I want to know everything you and the twins have been up to. Do you promise?’

She nodded but there was no more time for at that moment they heard George stop outside in the pony and trap to give him a lift to the station. Petrol was heavily rationed and hard to come by and David had told George that he could walk, but George wouldn’t hear of it.

‘The exercise will do the horse good,’ he had insisted.