The holidaymakers had returned in force to the seaside for their annual family holiday now the men had come home, and the town was buzzing with life again despite the bomb sites and the lack of a pier or decent cinema.

It was in moments like this that Jim’s absence was most poignant, for she was reminded of how, before the war, they’d come down to the beach with the children, laden with buckets, spades, towels, sun hats and picnic hamper, staying until teatime, and then carrying the tired younger ones home.

She blinked back her tears, feeling foolish and rather cross with herself for being so soppy. There would be other summers, and when Jim came home, they could spend every one of them on the beach with their grandchildren.

‘Dad said I’d find you here.’

Startled, Peggy looked up and then scrambled awkwardly out of the deckchair. ‘Brendon,’ she gasped, throwing her arms around him. ‘Oh, my goodness, how wonderful that you’re home at last! It’s so lovely to see you again.’

He hugged her back and grinned down at her. ‘And I didn’t come alone, either,’ he said, reaching for the hand of the small, fair-haired young woman Peggy had noticed keeping a discreet distance from this loving reunion.

‘This is my Betty,’ Brendon said with great pride.

Brendon and Betty had met down in Devon whilst he’d been visiting his Aunt Carol, who’d been working as a land girl on a farm. Betty was a primary school teacher who had been raised in an orphanage and had suffered from polio as a child. Peggy looked into her elfin face as they shook hands, taking in her bright, intelligent eyes and wide smile, and instantly liked what she saw. ‘I’m thrilled to meet you at last,’ she said. ‘We’ve all heard so much about you through Brendon’s letters.’

Betty laughed. ‘I’m delighted to meet you too. Carol and her mother, Dolly, sang your praises so highly, I almost feel I know you already.’

Aware of the thick boot and caliper on Betty’s foot, and studiously avoiding looking at it, Peggy dragged over another deckchair. ‘Come and sit down,’ she urged. ‘I’m bursting to hear all your news. How’s Carol? And has Dolly been down to Devon recently? And what about you and Brendon? May I see your engagement ring?’

Betty plumped down into the deckchair as Brendon dragged a third across to join them. ‘Gosh, that’s quite a list,’ she chuckled. ‘But first things first.’ She held out her hand to show off her diamond and emerald ring and giggled as Peggy gasped at the sight of the gold band nestled next to it.

‘We got married on special licence when Brendon was demobbed from the Royal Naval Reserve two weeks ago.’