‘Hm!’ Cissie sniffed disapprovingly, but she didn’t push it. Ben could be as stubborn as a mule when he had a mind to be, and she knew she’d have been wasting her breath.

That evening, after Kathy and Livvy had both got home from work and they were all sitting together at the kitchen table, Cissie raised the subject again.

‘Well, I’d love to go,’ Livvy said immediately.

‘Hm … I think I’d best stay here with Ben, just in case Blaze needs us,’ Kathy said.

Cissie sighed.

Livvy meanwhile was looking hopefully at her mother. Like Cissie, she felt that it was time for her to get out and about again. It had been hard for her and Kathy to lose their father too, but over the last few years their mother had been so locked in her own grief that sometimes the girls felt they had lost her as well. The only time she ever ventured out was to attend meetings at the town hall about the new housing that was being built in and around the town.

‘So, shall we go then, Mum?’ Livvy asked pointedly, and Sunday sighed, knowing when she was beaten.

‘I suppose so, if you really want to.’

‘I do!’ Livvy declared joyously.

Cissie beamed with satisfaction.

On Saturday, they set off for Nuneaton in George’s motor car, and were soon wandering amongst the throngs of people lining the streets, waiting for the carnival to start. Luckily it was a fine, sunny day and when the first float appeared everybody began to cheer. Once again, all money raised would go to the General Hospital, and for the next hour they stood cheering and throwing pennies into the fundraisers’ buckets, as the gay carnival floats passed by. Dotted in between them were marching bands, dancers, clowns and horses, and the air rang with the sound of laughter.

The last of the floats was just passing them when Sunday noticed Livvy speaking to a very attractive young man. Her heart did a little flutter. Livvy had shown no interest in courting as yet – but perhaps things were about to change?

Hurrying over to them, she introduced herself, ‘Hello, I’m Livvy’s mother.’

He quickly removed his cap and gave her a disarming smile, showing a set of straight, white teeth. She noticed his hair was dark, with a tendency to curl, and he had lovely blue eyes.

‘How do you do, Mrs Branning?’ He gave a courteous little bow. ‘I’m David Deacon.’

‘Dr David Deacon,’ Livvy chipped in, with a grin. ‘He works at the hospital with Kathy.’

‘Only junior doctor.’ He laughed. ‘And is Kathy not here with you today?’

When Sunday shook her head, she thought she detected a look of disappointment flash in his eyes. ‘Oh well, do give her my regards when you get home, and enjoy the rest of your day,’ he said politely, and, lifting his hat, he disappeared off into the crowds.