‘I’m so sorry, Mike,’ she said, brushing her hair and swiftly pinning it roughly into victory rolls on either side of her head. ‘It’s not the way I want to spend it either, but Ron and Rosie were good enough to give me some shifts after the factory cut my hours, and I can’t let them down.’

‘Well, at least we won’t have to run all the way down there,’ he said, fastening the brass buttons on his brown uniform jacket and buckling the Sam Browne belt. ‘I hired a car, so we can arrive in style.’

‘A car? But are you allowed to drive with …’

‘I can see just as well with one eye,’ he said evenly. ‘It’s just a case of adjusting to things, and I’ve had plenty of time to practise.’

Ruby put her arms around his waist and hugged him tight. ‘Of course you have, and I was daft to mention it.’ She stood on tiptoe and kissed his cheek. ‘Come on, or we’ll be late, even with the car.’

The Anchor was packed. Brenda was barely coping, and Ruby realised guiltily that there’d be little chance of any intimate conversation with Mike before closing time. It seemed a number of local men had been demobbed and were celebrating their return home, including Rita’s father who was introduced to her the minute Rita saw her come in.

Ruby quickly greeted Cordelia, Cissy, Sarah and her sister, introduced Mike, asked after Peggy who was at home with Daisy, and then hurried behind the bar to begin serving. Mike bought them all a round of drinks, and eventually gravitated towards a group of other Canadians.

The time passed swiftly as Ruby and Brenda were kept on the go until closing time, and Ruby’s stomach was growling with hunger, for she hadn’t eaten since breakfast. Jack Smith was leaning heavily on Rita as he weaved like a sailor towards Beach View, she noted as she closed the door on the last customer, and Mike didn’t exactly look sober either.

‘I think we’d better leave the car here and walk home,’ she said wearily, helping him off the bar stool. ‘The fresh air will do you good.’

‘Not as much good as you do me,’ he said with a soppy smile.

Ruby rolled her eyes and exchanged knowing looks with Brenda, for they both recognised the signs of the drink talking, but at least Mike was gentle in his cups, not like her brutish late husband who liked using his fists. The three of them left by the side door, and Ruby steadied Mike as they circumnavigated the rented Austin parked at the kerb and began the long uphill walk to Mafeking Terrace.