She saw that they were turning slowly off the main line to the spur which would take them into Cliffehaven, so she gathered up the books and dolls and stuffed them into her large shopping bag. ‘Stir your stumps, Charlie. We’re almost there.’

Peggy could barely contain her fury at Martin’s absence at the station, but when she saw the train slowly come round the bend, excitement took over. She walked down the platform, looking in every carriage window as the train slowly and rather majestically drew to a halt at the buffers with a snort of steam and smoke.

She peered through the foggy, sooty swirl as carriage doors opened, and Stan bustled down the platform with Ron to collect the luggage from the guard’s van. And then Anne emerged from the thick haze with Emily on her hip and Rose clinging to her hand.

Peggy burst into tears and ran to them with open arms. ‘Oh, my darlings, welcome home.’ She kissed Anne and tearfully smiled as Emily shyly buried her face in Anne’s neck, and then bent down to kiss Rose’s soft cheek. ‘Hello, darling,’ she murmured. ‘Remember me? I’m your grandma.’

The little girl shook her head and plugged her thumb into her mouth as she leaned against Anne’s leg.

‘Never mind,’ said Peggy, swallowing her disappointment. ‘We’ll get to know each other soon enough. And look,’ she said to Rose, drawing Daisy to her side. ‘This is your niece, Daisy, and I just know you’re going to have a lot of fun together.’

The little girls eyed one another warily for there were only months between them, and then Daisy put her arms around Rose and gave her a rough hug. ‘I got lots of toys,’ she said in her piping voice. ‘You can play with them if you like.’

Peggy met Anne’s gaze as Daisy continued to chatter on nineteen to the dozen and Rose slowly lost her shyness. ‘They’ll be fine,’ said Peggy. ‘But where’s Charlie got to? Surely you didn’t have to leave him behind?’

‘He’s helping Stan and Grandad with the luggage,’ replied Anne, peering over her shoulder in search of Martin.

Peggy looked down the platform and stared in disbelief at the sturdy, dark-haired youth who was hoisting bulky cases and bags onto the trolley as if they weighed nothing. He was almost six feet tall and had the striking good looks and strong build of all the Reilly men. ‘That can’t possibly be my little Charlie,’ she gasped.