Emma Pearson and her family offered a rural holiday to two orphaned children in the 1930s. The two boys, John and Tommy, were from one of the poorest parts of London but become as close as family over the holiday. Over the years, the family stay in touch with them and try and help, even though the local authorities refuse to let them adopt the children. Despite this John and Tommy are treated like family members by Emma, her husband Sam and daughters Bella and Emily. When World War Two breaks out, tragedy strikes when John is killed at Dunkirk. Tom and the Pearson family are deeply distressed by his death. Emma is worried about Bella who seems very tired, is working long hours as a Land-Army girl and taking sleeping tablets at night. Her other daughter Emily, is recovering from injuries inflicted during a London air raid. And Tom's landlady, Daisy Gaskin, is upset when her eldest daughter is arrested for possession of stolen goods.