‘Very well, get her into that side ward so we can see the extent of the injuries.’

David was still standing as if he had been turned to stone and everything seemed to be happening in slow motion.

‘Nurse, get Dr Deacon a cup of hot, sweet tea,’ Matron ordered as she swept past at Kathy’s side. And still David stood there as if he had been rooted to the spot. Suddenly he seemed to come to his senses and sprang forward to follow them only to be stopped by a restraining hand on his arm.

‘Come on, David.’ He glanced up to see one of the ward sisters looking at him sympathetically. ‘Let them assess her before you go in.’

He allowed himself to be led away, still in a state of deep shock and minutes later there was a steaming cup in front of him.

‘Get that down you. It will make you feel better,’ the kindly sister urged but he shook his head numbly.

This wasn’t how he and Kathy had planned the birth of their baby to be at all and he felt completely useless. The minutes dragged by, each one feeling like an hour. After what seemed an eternity, Matron reappeared in the doorway.

‘Kathy is in theatre,’ she told him gravely. ‘Dr Greaves is going to deliver the baby then see what we can do for Kathy, but I should warn you it appears that she has serious injuries. I’m so sorry.’

He sat on until the door opened again.

‘You have a very beautiful little son,’ Matron informed him.

His head snapped up. ‘And Kathy …?’

Gravely she shook her head and as his heart began to thump painfully, he saw that there were tears in her eyes. ‘I’m so sorry, there was nothing that could be done for her.’

As David’s whole world collapsed around him, he lowered his head and wept.

‘I can’t believe it,’ Sunday muttered brokenly to Cissie later that evening. ‘We lived all through the war and then we lose my girl to a car accident! Didn’t I tell you this morning that I had a bad feeling? It’s like losing my Kitty all over again.’

Cissie squeezed her arm gently. ‘It’s tragic what’s happened, but we have to stay strong for David and the new baby now, love. And the twins. They’re going to need us all to stay strong for them. It’s what Kathy would have wanted. We’ve lived through enough heartache in our time, we’ll come through this, you’ll see.’