By the beginning of 1944, Walter Webb and Stanley Gardner have been together for twenty years. They live quietly above the grocer's shop on Cheltenham's Lower High Street, outwardly two middle-aged bachelors sharing a home.
Cheltenham might have escaped the worst of the bombing raids, but the privations and dangers of the second war have put a strain on the whole community. This includes ongoing concern about loved ones on active duty. Stanley's beloved nephew Jack is serving in Italy, while engaged in the fiercely fought Battle for Rome.
Walter worries about the strain on Stanley's health, never robust after the Great War, as they both deal with family issues and direct threats from the enemy.
As St. Valentine's Day approaches, can Walter and Stanley find solace in the hope of a peaceful shared future after the war?
