Having read the most important part, Roz tucked the letter back into its envelope. She would read the rest later in bed. A small, happy smile formed on her cheeks. Felix was coming home!

CHAPTER SIX

December 1940

When Felix arrived at Alan and Bill’s house he already knew that Roz was no longer living at the flat, and was hoping he might find her back with the carters, so was disappointed to learn that she was living on a farm in North Wales.

‘How far away is that?’ he asked, his brow furrowing as he tried to place Wales on the map of Britain in his mind’s eye.

Alan laughed. ‘Far enough, and Roz is smack bang in the middle of the mountains, so not easy to get to, although I’ve only ever been to Rhyl myself, so maybe I’m no expert.’

‘Do you think I’d have time to get there and back before my training?’ said Felix, his voice laced with hope.

Alan looked to his father, who had a better knowledge of the Welsh countryside.

Bill sucked the air between his teeth as he weighed it up. ‘Depends on the transport. Getting to North Wales is the easy part; getting to the farm where she’s working will be a lot harder. A taxi from the train station will probably cost you an arm and a leg, so you’d have to bus it. Even so, I very much doubt it would take you more than a couple of days from here, so the answer is yes, you could make it there and back. Don’t forget you’ll have to clear it with the folk she’s staying with, only I shouldn’t imagine there’s a B&B nearby, nor a hotel come to that.’

‘I could stay in a tent?’ suggested Felix, causing both Alan and Bill to break into laughter.

‘In December? You’d freeze yer knackers off!’ Bill spluttered.

‘An igloo,’ chuckled Alan, ‘that’d be a better bet.’

‘Just how far away is it?’ said Felix.

‘Like Alan said,’ replied Bill, ‘she’s in the mountains. It’s not so much distance as height, if you get my meaning?’

Felix nodded slowly. ‘But the mail takes for ever. I never got any of your letters and you only got one of mine. I know Australia’s a lot further, but even so, it’ll take time, and that’s the one thing I’ve not got.’

Bill was rubbing the newly formed stubble on his chin. ‘You could always send a telegram, that’d be a lot quicker.’

Felix beamed. ‘Of course! Why didn’t I think of that?’

‘Because you’re too busy gettin’ your knickers in a twist, and not thinkin’ straight,’ said Alan, ‘that’s what women do to you.’ He turned to find he was talking to thin air – Felix had already left.

Roz stared at the boy who stood in the doorway to the kitchen. ‘A telegram? Are you sure it’s for me?’