Dolly dutifully admired the sharp-featured woman in the photograph, glad to have the opportunity to see what she looked like so she would be able to recognise her again. Then she gazed round the cramped space of this makeshift ticket office and left-luggage store. ‘I’m surprised she’s not keeping you company,’ she said lightly. ‘It must get very boring sitting here on your own for hours.’

‘Ethel’s on night shift up at the armaments factory all this week,’ he replied, setting the photograph almost reverently back on the counter. ‘But you don’t have to worry about me getting bored, Dolly. There’s always something to do.’ He pointed to a collection of freshly planted seed trays and small garden tools that needed mending or sharpening. ‘They keep me out of mischief, right enough.’

Dolly smiled at him fondly. ‘I seem to remember you, Ron, Fred, Alf and Chalky were always getting up to some mischief or other when you were boys – and I bet that hasn’t changed.’

He shot her a conspiratorial wink. ‘Well, we do have a couple of enterprises in hand at the moment. Will you stay for a cuppa?’

‘I’m sorry, Stan, but I can’t. I’ll pop in tomorrow, and perhaps get to meet Ethel at last. I’ve heard a lot about her from Peggy.’

‘She gets back at seven, has a sleep until about two, and starts her shift at six. I’ll tell her you called in.’

Dolly hugged him again, wishing she had time to reminisce and catch up with what the others in the gang had been up to, for Ron and Stan had been an intrinsic part of her formative years – the brothers she’d never had, her conspirators in mischief and adventure, and confidants in times of trouble.

She returned to the car and drove quickly up to the Memorial to check on Danuta and explain Peggy’s absence before she returned to Tamarisk Bay and her daughter’s cold company. She’d already decided how to deal with Ethel in a way that would avoid Stan finding out how devious his wife was – but it would mean an early start tomorrow.

17

Peggy felt drained after letting her pent-up emotions out with Dolly and could easily have followed her friend’s advice and gone to bed once Daisy was settled, but there had been a marvellous delivery of letters waiting for her, and they’d perked her up no end.