She laid her head against his shoulder as they walked away from the station. She felt terrible knowing that she had once considered their future to be in question, especially since he had clearly been worrying about her. She glanced up at his chin, flecked with stubble. Another new thing, she thought, but Felix was looking fully a man now.

‘I’ve booked you in at the Adam and Eve,’ said Felix. ‘It’s not far from the station, and I’ve eaten there a few times, and the food is always good.’

‘I’ve just thought of something,’ said Roz. ‘This is my first sort of holiday, and I’ll be spending it with you!’

He chuckled softly. ‘I do have to keep working, but I know what you mean. It’ll be lovely to spend some time together. They’ve a nice park here, and the river makes for a pleasant stroll. How’s things at the farm?’

‘Busy,’ said Roz. ‘We’ve been housing people who have lost their homes or their jobs due to the bombing, so there’s plenty of help, but that can come with its own set of problems.’

He looked down at her in surprise, his eyes twinkling as they gazed into hers. ‘Really? I’d have thought the more hands the better.’

‘They don’t know what they’re doing, so have to be taught,’ Roz explained, ‘and some people aren’t natural when it comes to livestock, and others have children who think it’s alright to run in circles around animals.’

He winced. ‘Dangerous!’

‘It certainly is,’ agreed Roz. ‘It’s a miracle no one’s been kicked or bitten yet, although I daresay it’s just a matter of time.’

‘Farms are a brilliant place for children to grow up but they come with their hazards, and the livestock’s just one of them. I hope their parents have enough sense to keep them away from the plough and harvesting machines.’

‘So far,’ said Roz, ‘but then again, they’re all kept in the Dutch barn where the children can’t get at them.’

Felix stopped outside the public house where Roz would be staying and motioned for her to go in ahead of him. ‘Here we are, let’s get you checked in.’

Roz looked around to see where she should go, then turned to Felix with a helpless shrug.

‘Check-in’s at the bar,’ said Felix. ‘Come with me.’

Roz followed him through to a warm and cosy-looking bar. The ceiling had black beams running from one side to the other, and each one was decorated with various brasses. ‘It’s lovely!’ said Roz approvingly.

A woman’s voice came from below the bar. ‘Thank you, dear, we try our best.’ She emerged into view, a friendly smile etched on her cheeks, her blue eyes twinkling at Roz, but as soon as her eyes fell on Felix, the friendly smile turned into a broad grin. ‘Felix!’ She turned to Roz. ‘And you must be the beautiful Roz!’

‘She certainly is!’ said Felix. He turned his attention from Roz to the woman and back again. ‘Roz, meet Celia, she serves the best pale ale in Lincoln.’