Rita lowered her voice in case Ivy overheard, for it was clear Andy had yet to tell her the news. ‘My boss, John Hicks, has had to cut the hours of all the stand-in staff now some of the regulars have returned from their war duties to take up their jobs again. He’s keeping me and Ivy’s Andy on part-time until the end of the month, but then he’ll have to let us go. John didn’t like doing it, but we all knew our jobs were only for the duration of the war, so we really can’t complain.’

‘That’s tough,’ murmured Peter. ‘Especially for Andy and Ivy who were saving up to get married.’ His tone lightened. ‘Talking of which, it will leave you free to spend time with your dad and give you the chance to make up your mind about marrying me.’

‘It certainly will,’ she said with a lightness she didn’t feel. ‘But I am really worried about your very valuable ring, and was wondering if you’d mind me putting it in a safety deposit box. With so many out of work, it could prove too big a temptation if I flash it about, and I don’t want Beach View burgled.’

There was a long pause before he spoke again. ‘You’re right, Rita. I hadn’t thought of that. I’ll miss not seeing it on your finger, but it’s for the best. I’d hate to hear you’ve been robbed of it.’

‘I’ll go into town before I come to see you,’ she replied just as the pips went.

‘Gotta go. No more change. See you tomorrow, darling,’ he managed before the line was cut.

Rita returned to the kitchen to find that Andy had arrived and Ivy was in tears.

‘I’m sorry, love, but there’s nothing I can do about it,’ he murmured as he held Ivy close. ‘But John has promised to try his best to get me a job with one of the London fire stations. And even if it is only part-time, it’ll be better than nothing.’

‘It feels as if the end of the war has brought us nothing but bad luck,’ she sobbed. ‘What we going to do, Andy? We’ll never get a place of our own at this rate, and what with your bad ’earing, it ain’t likely anyone will take you on in the Smoke.’

‘John promised to write a glowing reference, paying particular attention to me ’earing,’ he replied stoutly. ‘I done five years down ’ere and not put a foot wrong, so I’ve earnt the right to a decent job with the London fire brigade. It’ll all work out, Ivy, I promise. So dry your tears, gel, and give me a lovely smile before I go back to Auntie Gloria’s to finish the painting before her first lot of guests arrive.’