Roz stopped in her tracks. The only person who ever called her bubala had been her father, and she was almost certain that she had never mentioned it to Felix. Was this a sign? Were they about to be parted for ever? Fishing a handkerchief from her dungarees pocket, she stopped a soldier who was about to move the gangplank.

‘Excuse me!’

Turning to acknowledge her, the soldier paused, ‘Can I help you, miss?’

‘Why do they have to stay on a ship?’ she asked, wiping her tears with her handkerchief. ‘Surely there’re other places they could stay?’

He frowned, looking from Roz to the Dunera and back again. ‘How else would they get to Canada?’

‘Canada!’ cried Roz. Her knees gave way and she fell against the soldier who caught her before she hit the ground.

Her face white with shock, she looked at the soldier who was frowning with concern. ‘They never said he was going to Canada. I just assumed he would be staying here …’ Hearing her own words, she realised now how silly this sounded. She turned pleading eyes to the soldier, who was looking both guilty and embarrassed. ‘He’s the only person I have left. I’ve lost my parents, and now the man I love most in the world. Couldn’t you make an exception, turn a blind eye? I swear I won’t tell a soul.’

Smiling sympathetically, he looked back at the ship. ‘I’m afraid not, queen. The most I can do is promise to keep an eye on him.’

Realising that there was nothing more that could be done, Roz stood on the quayside until the ship set sail. Even then she refused to leave until it was lost from sight, when she turned and walked home to the empty flat that should’ve been called home.

Feeling unable to go into the flat without Felix by her side, she sat on the steps. At the sound of approaching footsteps, she lifted her head. Hope ever present, she called out to her unseen visitor. ‘Felix?’

Bill rounded the corner, shaking his head sadly. ‘I’m afraid not, queen.’

Roz looked at Bill. He was ashen-faced, and the look of dread said it all. She placed her fingers to her lips, trying to stop the words which she feared to speak. ‘What’s happened?’

‘Torpedo,’ said Bill simply, adding hastily as Roz grabbed the stair banister for support, ‘only a glancing blow, no one’s been hurt, but they’ve had to change course.’

Sinking onto the step, Roz placed her head in her hands. ‘Honestly, Bill! I thought something even more terrible …’ She shook her head as relief swamped her.

Bill sat on the step next to her and placed a comforting arm around her shoulders. ‘Sorry, queen, I didn’t mean to scare you.’

Sniffing, she wiped her nose with her handkerchief and leaned into Bill’s shoulder. ‘He’s alright, and that’s the main thing.’ She glanced up at him through wet lashes. ‘You said they’ve had to change course?’