‘Callaghan. There you are. Do you think you can spare a minute? One of the newer recruits has got herself in a right pickle.’

Kitty smiled at Frank and hurried after the other woman, leaving him with a strange mixture of emotions. He was pleased to help out, and Tommy was almost like a young brother to him, their two families had been so close for so long. But he couldn’t deny that the main feeling rushing through him was pleasure at bringing that look of happiness to Kitty’s face.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

‘This should do the trick. Do you like it?’ Rita pulled a big checked shirt from her wardrobe. ‘It used to be Jack’s but he hardly ever wore it because he doesn’t like anything too baggy. It was just the ticket for my last couple of months.’

Violet took it and noticed that it was a lovely soft flannel. ‘Are you sure? Won’t he want it when he comes home on leave?’

Rita laughed and shook her head. ‘You must be joking. It won’t fit under his pilot’s jacket and he’ll want to wear that all the time, if I know Jack. No, you take it and put it away somewhere for when you need it.’

‘That won’t be for a while,’ replied Violet, touching her belly self-consciously. She reckoned she was five months gone but there was little to show in the way of a bump as yet. At least the constant sickness had stopped, and she wasn’t quite as tired. Now it had become clear what had been causing her symptoms, she had far more energy, and she was determined to give her baby the best possible start, war or no war.

‘You’ll be surprised,’ predicted Rita. ‘Once you start to swell you keep on ballooning at a proper old pace. You’ll be due in January, won’t you? So this will keep you nice and cosy too.’

‘It will,’ said Violet. ‘I’m ever so grateful, Rita. You’ve all been so good to me, more than I deserve.’

‘Stuff and nonsense,’ said Rita robustly. ‘You’ve more than pulled your weight helping out everyone, so it’s our turn now.’ She knew that Violet didn’t have any real family of her own. Her father had died many years ago, her mother had died in a raid quite early in the war, and she’d always hated her drunken stepfather. The Feenys were her family now. Rita for one didn’t know how she’d cope without her sister-in-law.