She shut the kitchen door behind her and leaned against it for a moment to take a deep breath and calm down. Then she headed for the chintzy drawing room where she found the little family huddled miserably together on the large overstuffed couch.

They all looked up at her with fearful eyes. ‘I’m sorry about me brothers turning up like that,’ she said. ‘They do look a bit scary, I know. Fair gave me a fright when I saw ’em, I can tell you that,’ she added, trying to make light of the situation and failing miserably. ‘But for all their size, Stanley and Mick are just as soft under all that muscle as our dad was. Gentle giants, all of ’em, and don’t mean no ’arm to no one ’ere.’

Her heart went out to George and Elsie who were still in their school uniforms as they clung to Marjorie and Richard. ‘They’re your brothers too,’ she said softly. ‘Though they left ’ome long before you was even a twinkle in our dad’s eye. They’d like to meet you before they leave ’cos they’ll be going back to sea and might never get the chance again.’

‘Do we have to, Mummy?’ whispered Elsie into Marjorie’s shoulder.

George balled his fists in his lap and sat very stiffly next to Richard, saying nothing.

Marjorie looked to Ivy who nodded and tried to silently convey that it was important the meeting took place.

Marjorie seemed to understand. ‘I think we should,’ she said, kissing the top of Elsie’s head and reaching across to put her hand over George’s tight fists. ‘They’ve come a long way to see you both, and it would be rude and churlish not to let them.’

She looked at her husband, and together they coaxed the children off the couch and held their hands as they walked into the hall.

‘Thanks ever so,’ breathed Ivy to Marjorie as they paused outside the kitchen door. ‘I expect you ’eard part of that conversation, and I’m ’oping that meeting the kids will convince them I made the right decision.’

Marjorie was pale and drawn, but there was determination in her eyes as she nodded and opened the door.

The two men were standing and seemed to fill the kitchen as Ivy made the introductions and they all shook hands. Their eyes widened at the sight of the smart uniforms, and they suddenly appeared less sure of themselves when Marjorie asked pleasantly in her plummy voice if they’d travelled very far to get here.

‘We come ashore at Portsmouth,’ Stanley replied bashfully. ‘But went all the way to Cliffehaven afore we was told Ivy were ’ere.’