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herself cleaning the flat one day, working in the shop the next, and looking after the baby once I’m satisfied he’s happy with her.’
    â€˜I think you’ll find her only too glad to do anything that will enable her to stay close to her sisters.’
    â€˜You’re determined to keep the others?’
    â€˜Yes. I saw the matron in the Central Homes before I came here. She’s agreed to take Liza on as a ward maid in maternity, so there’s really only the two younger ones. And I’ve already made an appointment to see the Parish Guardians to ask if they can stay with me, at least until the end of the war.’
    â€˜I’d be happy to pay half their keep.’
    â€˜I can manage.’
    â€˜I know you can, but if we take joint responsibility for them, then it’s the two of us against the old bag. Given the respectability of Andrew’s surname and the money the shops are bringing in, the parish can hardly object to our keeping the Clark girls, no matter what Mrs Llewellyn-Jones says. We could even go for formal adoption.’
    â€˜The war won’t last for ever and things are bound to change when the men come home. They may not be happy at us taking on a family of orphaned girls.’
    â€˜I know Charlie won’t mind. Will Andrew?’
    â€˜As I’ve already gone ahead and done it, he’s got little choice in the matter.’
    â€˜You can always blame it on Mrs Llewellyn-Jones. After all, she billeted the Clark girls on you in the first place.’ Alma reached for the teapot. ‘Want a refill?’
    â€˜Much as I’d like to, if I don’t start my rounds I won’t finish before midnight.’ Bethan rose from her chair. ‘See you on Sunday?’
    â€˜Unless I get a better offer.’
    â€˜From an American?’ Bethan joked.
    Alma looked to her son again. ‘A homecoming,’ she said softly, so softly Bethan couldn’t be quite sure she’d heard her correctly.
    â€˜Thank you for sending me to the police station, ma’am. They were most helpful.’ Kurt Schaffer smiled at Tina as he stood before the counter of Ronconi’s café.
    â€˜I thought they would be. What can I get you?’
    â€˜Coffee would be good.’ Slipping his hand into his pocket he pulled out a notebook. ‘I was hoping to find the other ladies here.’
    â€˜They work, like everyone else around here.’ Tina filled a cup and slammed it down in front of him. ‘That’ll be sixpence.’
    He took half a crown from his pocket and handed it to her.
    â€˜Any chance of cream or sugar?’
    â€˜Cream exists only in the imagination and memory. You can have milk, but I warn you now, it’s household.’
    â€˜Powdered?’
    â€˜What else?’ She poured a little – a very little – into his cup. ‘And sugar’s rationed. Haven’t you heard there’s a war on?’
    â€˜I could pay extra.’
    â€˜I’ve heard that you Yanks are rich.’
    â€˜We’re well paid.’
    â€˜Overpaid compared to the British Tommy, but money can’t buy everything in this country, especially extra rations in this café.’
    Still hoping to circumvent her hostility he gave up on the sugar and flashed her his most charming smile. ‘It’s official, we’re staying in Pontypridd.’
    â€˜Who’s we?’
    â€˜Me and a few fellow Americans. Colonel Ford thought we should mark our arrival by throwing a party for the natives. A sort of “getting to know you” affair. I was hoping for some friendly advice.’
    â€˜You’d be better off asking someone who has time to spare for parties.’
    â€˜I was hoping you’d come, ma’am.’
    â€˜I’ll be busy.’
    â€˜You don’t even know when it is.’
    â€˜I run this place.’
    â€˜Every night?’ He lifted a sceptical eyebrow.
    â€˜Every day and