He sat away from her and lifted her chin so he could look into her face. ‘If you love this man and can’t imagine being without him, then you must follow your heart – just as I did with your mother. Life is for living, Rita, and far too short to be beleaguered by regrets.’

‘But it would mean leaving you and Peggy and …’

‘Peggy and I will keep each other company, and I’m sure Ron will too. Of course we’ll miss you – but we want you to be happy. And if that means going to Australia with Peter, so be it.’

‘Oh, Dad, I’m so sorry to let you down. If things had been different I would’ve loved going into partnership with you. I’ve learned so much these past years looking after the engines at the fire station, and I’ve passed all my exams.’

‘Then use those skills over there,’ he urged despite his inner sadness. ‘And write and tell me all about it when you and Pete are tall poppies with a brood of kids.’

Rita burst into tears and hugged him fiercely. ‘I do love you, Dad,’ she sobbed against his lapel. ‘Please won’t you consider coming with us?’

‘Maybe I’ll visit when the first grandbaby is born,’ he soothed. ‘But don’t run away with the idea that I’m totally convinced about all this,’ he warned. ‘I’ve yet to meet this man who wants to whisk my daughter off to the other side of the world – and he’s yet to earn my approval.’

‘Oh, Dad, you’ll get on with him like a house on fire, I just know you will,’ she said, her tear-streaked face alight with happiness.

Jack very much doubted it. Young Peter Ryan sounded far too perfect for his liking, and he meant to get to know him thoroughly before he even considered giving his consent to anything.

Peggy had returned to Beach View to find Jane, Sarah, Danuta and Cordelia putting the final touches to the lunch while Daisy played with her dolls beneath the table. Cissy was in the hall talking animatedly on the telephone as usual, and Harvey was slumped in front of the range getting under everyone’s feet. She took off her coat and scarf and quietly told them what had happened to Ivy’s family.

Hearing the news so swiftly after the tragic loss of Freddy Pargeter, Cordelia became very upset and was only soothed by a glass of the sherry Jane had brought with her. ‘There are times,’ she said tearfully, ‘when I feel I’ve lived too long. It’s so unfair that those so much younger than I should be cut down, when I just keep on going.’