When the third year of war begins, Maud and her family are homeless and misplaced. Only Bert, an old friend of her dead husband has the ability to help them. Gradually Maud and her daughter begin to rebuild their lives taking on responsibility after responsibility as the deprivations of war continue to affect them. Although Maud continues to find great comfort in the love Richard has for her, the effects of the war changes the personalities of those she knows. And with that comes bitterness and frustration as everyone realises that this is a war than is not going to end any time soon. There are more deaths of loved ones, an unknown brother arrives, two jail sentences, Maud's love for orphan Freddy is tested, in her circle of friends more babies are born and eventually, her love for William, her only son, is tested as the army turns him into a fighting man. A man he was not destined to be.