She paused before inching the door open and peeping into the room. John was lying in bed with a peaceful smile on his face and she knew before she reached him that he was dead. He had said his goodbyes to her in his own inimitable way the night before. Leaning over him she bent to kiss his cold forehead as a tear slid down her cheek.

‘Goodbye, dear friend. And thank you,’ she whispered and then turning she quietly tiptoed from the room.

Chapter Fifty-Seven

July 1946

‘Do you really have to go into town today, darling?’

Kathy glanced at her mother in the mirror as she brushed her hair. She had only popped in to Treetops to check on Sunday on her way into town.

‘Yes, I do,’ she said. ‘And I wish you’d stop fussing over me, Mum. I’m pregnant, not ill.’

‘Well, I don’t think anyone could doubt that looking at you,’ her mother quipped. In actual fact Kathy was positively glowing with health. ‘But you are very close to your time and I don’t like you going out alone.’

‘Oh, Mum, do stop fussing.’ Kathy grinned. ‘If I felt anything happening in town, I wouldn’t have to go far to the hospital now, would I? And I have a few last-minute things that I need to pick up before this little one – or should I say not so little one – makes an appearance. Honestly it can’t happen soon enough for me now. I feel like a beached whale and I’ve forgotten what my feet look like! But don’t get worrying, I shall be back in plenty of time to meet the children from school. I think Giles is taking the twins and Peggy swimming this evening. Meantime you just take your time and put your feet up.’

‘I’m perfectly all right, thank you,’ Sunday said.

‘Oh yes, so why did the doctor call round to see you again on Friday?’

‘I just asked him to call to prescribe me a tonic,’ her mother said a little too quickly and Kathy frowned.

‘You would tell me if something were wrong, wouldn’t you?’ she persisted, and Sunday scowled.

‘Oh, get away with you if you’re going. Didn’t I say I was fine? Or at least as fine as a woman of seventy-six can hope to be. You’d hardly expect me to be leaping about like a spring chicken now, would you?’

Kathy grinned and, snatching up her bag, she headed for the door, stopping on her way to plant a kiss on her mother’s cheek and tell her, ‘I love you, Mum.’