‘’Course they will,’ snapped Ivy, giving both brothers a push in the back. ‘Now get out of ’ere and leave us in peace.’

Stanley roared with laughter as he let her propel him into the hall. ‘She’s a right little firecracker, ain’t she, Mick? Reminds me of Mum. That Andy better watch ’is step or ’e’ll never know what ’it him.’

Ivy opened the front door and walked with them down the path to the garden gate. ‘When are you going back to sea?’

‘In three weeks,’ said Mick. ‘We got extra compassionate leave ’cos of Mum and Dad.’ He looked down at her and smiled. ‘I’m sorry you’ve ’ad to deal with everything on yer own, Ivy, but at least it looks as if them kids are settled all right.’

‘When will you two settle down?’ she asked. ‘Surely you’re not planning to be at sea for the rest of your lives?’

Stanley shrugged and pulled at his beard. ‘It’s a good life, gel. Three square meals a day, girls in every port and we get paid to see the world. What more could a bloke want?’

Put that way, Ivy rather envied them and certainly saw their point. ‘Just promise you’ll write to me now and then,’ she said. ‘It’s only us now, and Mum and Dad wouldn’t have liked it if we lost touch.’

‘Yeah, we’ll send a postcard when we got time,’ said Mick. ‘And try to get to see you when we’re next on ’ome leave.’

‘Don’t do me no favours,’ she sniffed.

Stanley laughed. ‘Touchy little mare,’ he said fondly before lifting her off her feet and planting a smacking kiss on her cheek.

‘You take care of yerself,’ said Mike, holding her in a bear hug which almost squeezed the breath out of her. ‘And treat that Andy right. He sounds a nice bloke.’

Ivy felt quite dizzy from their rough affection as she watched them stroll towards the centre of town and the bus station, their rolling gait proof of their years on the high seas. She had no idea when she’d see them again, but prayed she would. They were her brothers – and the three of them were the only ones left out of a family of eight. Their parents certainly wouldn’t rest easily in their graves if the survivors became further estranged and lost one another.

19