When 16-year-old Sally is evacuated to the English south coast she is terrified by what lies ahead of her. Sally swallows her tears as they leave the familiar landmarks behind knowing that she has to play mother to her six-year-old brother Ernie. Their real mother Florrie hasn’t even come to the station and Ernie crippled at an early age by polio is used to depending on his older sister. When they arrive in Cliffehaven they’re taken to live at the Beach View Boarding House where they’re welcomed by the open-hearted O’Reilly family. Sally gets a job in a uniforms factory to help pay her way - and to pay for Ernie’s expensive medicines - but then Florrie arrives in Cliffehaven bringing disaster with her…

Part of the The Beach View Boarding House Series series.