Flame-haired Wimbledon girl Joan Harvey could not have chosen a worse time to fall in love with East End looker Matt Pearson. With no end in sight to the Second World War, it is only a matter of time before he returns to the fight, and all the horror that entails. So when Matt proposes, and Joan discovers she is pregnant, a rushed marriage is her only option, despite her family's reservations.No one is happier than Joan to see the end of the war. Moving from Wimbeldon to Bull Yard in the East End is a wrench, but finally she and Matt can begin to behave like a normal family, and bring up their son James, and their two daughters Meg and Rose. Finally, life is good. Joan has a husband she loves, and who loves her, a spacious, comfortable house, a safe secure life and three wonderful children. But then a call from a solicitor threatens to shatter all her hard fought happiness. His astonishing news, dating back to the day her son was born, is set to change Joan's life forever...