There was a tap at the back door and Sarah let herself in, her expression revealing that she’d overheard their heated discussion. ‘Give over, the pair of you. We’re all listening at home, so come across now and you’ll catch the news. I was coming to ask to borrow a loaf tin, but it’ll wait.’

‘Thanks, Sar,’ said Danny, abandoning the dial and switching off the set, the hisses and buzzing stopping as swiftly as they’d started. If he was honest, it was true that Kitty had the knack of finding the Home Service more quickly than he could, but he wasn’t going to admit this now.

The three of them hurried across to the Feeny household, where Pop and Dolly were standing by their large wireless in the kitchen, while Violet peeled potatoes for tomorrow’s stew at the sink, her faded apron splashed with muddy water. Dolly looked anxious. ‘You’re just in time,’ she said. ‘Sarah, did you get that tin—’

‘Hush now,’ said Pop gently, putting his hand out to Dolly.

At that moment a clear and calm voice filled the room. ‘Here is the news, read by Joseph Macleod.’

They all stood totally still to take in Churchill’s statement about what had happened that day in France, and what was still going on. The big offensive was under way at last, on the beaches of Normandy. Violet put down her peeler and leant against the sink, her hands clasped tightly, the last of the evening light falling through the kitchen window and on to her anxious face.

Kitty stared at the floor, wondering where her friend Laura’s boyfriend was now – somewhere in the thick of it, most probably. She thought about Marjorie, setting off so steadfastly, unsure where she would be going or what she’d have to face. Maybe she was in Normandy too. They had no way of knowing. Despite her earlier mood, she found herself relieved that Frank Feeny wasn’t caught up in the action but was safe in the underground bunker in Liverpool’s city centre. No doubt he’d still be at work, just in case information came through that he was best placed to deal with, even though his shift should have ended by now.

Nobody spoke until the broadcast drew to a close, then they let out a collective sigh of breath.

‘Sounds as if it’s all going as well as it could do,’ said Pop staunchly. ‘Better than some might have hoped, in fact.’