She was tired after the long day and her feet hurt, but the fresh air had the desired effect, and by the time they reached the bungalow, Mike was almost sober and Ruby’s head had cleared.

‘Do you want a cuppa and a sandwich? I don’t know about you, but I’m starving.’ She kicked off her shoes and flexed her aching feet before going into the kitchen to find something to eat and put the kettle on.

Her spirits plummeted as she realised her larder was almost bare, but for the end of a stale loaf and a scrap of margarine. ‘Sorry,’ she said ruefully. ‘It looks like we’ll have to make do with tea and toast.’

‘Do you often go without, Ruby?’ Mike came to stand beside her, his brow creased with concern.

‘Not at all,’ she fibbed, keeping an eye on the bread under the grill while she loaded up a tin tray with cups and plates. ‘But things have been tight lately,’ she admitted.

‘Then you should have written and told me,’ he said sternly. ‘I offered to send you money to help out, but you always said you were coping okay.’

‘I was. I am,’ she insisted, not looking at him as she smeared the last of the margarine on the toast and filled the teapot. ‘I just forgot it was early closing today and didn’t get stuff in for the weekend.’

Mike sighed deeply and took the tray from her, leading the way into the sitting room where the lack of curtains meant the street light shone straight in and they were fully exposed to the neighbours. He placed the tray on a side table, removed the curtains and rugs, and drew her down beside him on the couch. ‘We’ll eat out tomorrow,’ he said firmly, ‘and on Monday, I’ll go and do the shopping.’

‘You really don’t have to do that,’ she protested through a mouthful of toast. ‘I’ve got money and plenty of ration stamps. Besides,’ she added, ‘the queues are endless, and you have to know the right one to join because you can’t buy anything if you’re not registered to shop there.’

He remained silent as he poured out the weak tea, adding just a couple of drops of milk from the half-empty bottle. ‘I’m an officer in the Canadian Army and have a tongue in my head, so I’m sure I can navigate my way around rules and regulations,’ he murmured.