Sylvia shrugged apologetically. ‘I’m not sure, Frank. I’m a bit on edge at the moment.’

Frank fell into step beside her as they moved along the underground corridor. ‘I can see. What’s up?’

She came to a halt. ‘Oh Frank, it’s Dad again. He’s been proper poorly. I can’t think about going out in the evenings at the moment. If I get any time off I’ll have to go home again, to help Mum out. I keep waiting for a telegram or a phone call; I’m dreading more bad news. It’s terrible and I’m sorry, but it’s on my mind all the time.’

Frank could hear the concern in her voice. ‘I’m so sorry, Sylvia. Of course you must see what happens. What a thing to have to think about, and when it’s almost Christmas, of all times.’

Sylvia nodded, and for a moment he thought she was going to lose her composure and start to cry, but she bit her lip and gathered herself together. ‘It’s not that I wouldn’t like to go to the pictures, Frank. Of course I would. It’s just I don’t think I’d be very good company.’

‘I understand, of course I do.’ Frank’s eyes were full of sympathy for her. He knew how hard she worked, and to have this worry on top of all that must be dreadful. ‘If you want any cheering up, you come straight to me. You will, won’t you?’

‘Thank you, Frank.’ Sylvia’s face was full of gratitude.

‘Oh, by the way. I meant to say before, but if you are free over Christmas then my mam says you’re to come over and join the family for dinner,’ Frank told her. Dolly had been most insistent – she wouldn’t have Sylvia being lonely on her own in her billet while the extended Feeny clan sat down to the roast turkey. ‘Mam will pull out all the stops; it’ll be just like there was no war on. She’s been saving bits and bobs for months.’

‘That’s very kind of her.’ Sylvia looked embarrassed. ‘I’d love to say yes, you know I would, and I think the world of your mum. Well, all your family. But under the circumstances, I don’t know … I don’t want to say yes and then to let her down. She’ll already have a crowd to feed, won’t she? Like Kitty and all her family too?’ Sylvia hesitated and an odd look passed over her face which Frank couldn’t read. ‘And what if I have to hurry back to Mum and Dad? I don’t want to put her to any trouble.’