‘Is there cream in it?’ Florrie asked.
‘And jelly?’ Jess chimed in.
‘There’s real whipped cream, an absolute mountain of it, and custard made with real eggs, and so much jelly you’ll have tummy ache for a year just from looking at it. It’s a proper trifle, with silver balls on top and everything, just like I remember from before the war.’
‘Gosh!’
‘And cakes too. Proper cakes, with egg and sugar and icing.’ Lilian lowered her voice. ‘I’ll see if I can pinch one to take one home with us. We can serve it to Dad as a lovely surprise with his evening pipe, can’t we?’
‘I want to give Dad the cake,’ Jess said at once.
Florrie, who at fourteen was indifferent to privileges like serving her father cake when she had hairstyles and film stars to think of, only shrugged.
Lilian left Annie with the other children and went to join Bobby, Topsy and Teddy. Bobby nodded at her son, patting his little bare belly to impress his friends. Annie seemed just as amazed as Abigail at this incredible skill.
‘Look at him there, flirting,’ Bobby said. ‘I ought to have known he’d take after his father.’
‘Let’s hope the next one’s a girl, then she can take after you,’ Lilian said with a smile.
‘What time is Tony coming?’
‘He’s travelling up from his barracks on the midday train. It was good of George to offer to forgo the party. We’re very civilised, but it still feels awkward to have my former husband and my current one mingling in company.’
Topsy smiled at her little blue-eyed daughter, who was trying to eat a paper chain link. Florrie spotted this in time, however, and quickly took it from her.
‘It’ll be lovely to see this place filled with children,’ she said dreamily. ‘We ought to have quite a collection to do justice to Maimie’s tea. Jolka and Piotr are bringing Tommy and Maria, and your brother and his wife will be here with their little one, Birdy, and there’ll be Mabs and Gil’s boy Andrew, plus I don’t know how many from the village.’
‘Aren’t you worried about your beautiful home being destroyed when they start romping?’ Lilian asked. ‘I must say, I thought it was very brave of you to offer to host the party when you have so many precious things.’
‘Or very foolish,’ Bobby said with a laugh.
‘Oh, no, not a bit,’ Topsy said. ‘It’s felt as quiet as anything since the RAF went away. After years in a cottage, I can’t even describe how big Sumner House feels to me now.’ She smiled, and took Teddy’s hand. ‘But we’re going to do something about that, aren’t we, darling?’
‘What do you mean?’ Bobby asked.
‘I told you that all Teddy and I wanted was to fill this place with children. Well, so we will. I’ve decided to turn it into a home for war orphans. It’s foolish for just we three to be rattling around here when I could be doing some good with it. I’m meeting with the trustees of a children’s charity next week to plan it all out.’
‘Oh, I think that’s a lovely idea.’ Bobby gave her friend a hug. ‘This would be a wonderful place for children to grow up. If I can do anything to help, let me know.’
‘I’m sure there’ll be lots our celebrated author can help with,’ Topsy said with a smile. ‘I’m engaging you to cut the ribbon when we open the place, for one thing.’
Bobby laughed. ‘I’m not sure my name’s going to be much of a draw, but I’d be happy to.’
‘Come on, darling,’ Topsy said to her husband. ‘There’s still bunting to put up in the library. You had better make sure you’re there to catch me if I fall off my ladder.’
‘Your wish is my command, as always,’ Teddy said, kissing her hand. Topsy took charge of his wheelchair and they left Bobby with her sister.
‘Where could Dad and Charlie have got to?’ Bobby asked. ‘They were supposed to be helping put up the decorations, but they went out an hour ago on some secret mission and I haven’t seen them since.’
Lilian smiled. ‘Ah yes, the secret mission. You’ll see.’
‘What are you up to?’ Bobby asked, narrowing one eye.
‘Like I said. You’ll see.’
Charlie and Rob turned up twenty minutes later, along with Mary and Reg. All four were grinning in a way that made Bobby highly suspicious. Charlie was hugging a large cardboard box.
‘Why are you all smiling like that?’ Bobby asked. ‘And what’s in there?’
