It was later that same morning and Roz had been on her tea break, telling the girls what she intended to make for their first supper at the flat, when Robin, Mabel’s oldest brother, had come tearing into the laundry shouting for Roz. Fearing that Mabel had taken a turn for the worse, she had run over and asked for an explanation. Taking her by the hand he had uttered the words ‘Felix has been arrested’ before turning and running full tilt down to the docks.

As she ran behind him, a hundred questions raced through Roz’s mind. What on earth had Felix done that could have caused him to be arrested? Or was this Callum’s idea of revenge? Perhaps they really had found a body! She quickly dismissed this, because Callum wasn’t the sort of man to go to the police – he’d far rather use his fists.

All became clear when she arrived at the quayside to see Felix sitting on his suitcase, alongside a few other men. As she approached, he stood up to greet her.

Tears trickling down her cheeks, she looked from Felix to the other men, then to a group of British soldiers who stood close by.

‘What’s happened? Robin said you’d been arrested, but I don’t see any handcuffs or police?’

Felix gave her a sad smile. ‘Not arrested in the sense you think.’ He sighed heavily. ‘I’m eighteen, Roz, so the British government have decided to intern me as an enemy alien.’

Her eyes widened. ‘But they can’t! You’ve been living and working in Liverpool for over a year. It doesn’t make sense, it’s obvious you’re not one of them …’

He placed an arm around her shoulders. ‘I’m not in any trouble, they’re just making sure they keep their people safe. Once the war is over, they’ll let me go.’ He pressed a key into the palm of her hand. ‘I’ve paid a month in advance, so you’ve no worries for a bit …’

‘How long do you think you’re going to be away?’ Hearing movement behind her, Roz looked round to see the first of the men being led up the gangplank to HMT Dunera. ‘Where are they going?’ As the words left her lips, a soldier approached Felix.

‘Time to go,’ he said, jerking his head in the direction of the ship.

Gripping Felix’s hand in hers, she turned to the soldier. ‘Please don’t do this, he’d never do anything to hurt anyone.’ Her voice was getting higher as the soldier tried to lead Felix away. ‘You’re making a big mistake. Ask Alan or Bill if you don’t believe me; they’ve lived in Liverpool their whole lives.’

Realising that Roz’s outburst was beginning to attract unwanted attention, the soldier tried to push her gently to one side, but she was having none of it. Doubling her efforts to keep Felix with her, she wrapped her arms around his waist to prevent them from taking him away.