‘I wouldn’t call it a mystery, exactly—’ Tess was beginning, but was interrupted.

‘Not a mystery? When Mrs Williams and Mr Payne both knew which train we’d be catching? It’s a good job I had a few bob in my pocket – apart from my money for presents, I mean – because I bet you couldn’t have forked out for a taxi, and the stuff my mum packed for us to give Mrs Williams weighs a perishin’ ton.’

‘Well, yes, I suppose it is a bit of a mystery,’ Tess admitted. ‘But before we go rushing off to Albert’s place I think we ought to light the fire and see if there’s a note anywhere.’

‘Right; I’ll do the fire whilst you look for a note,’ Jonty said, and presently, with the fire banked down, the suitcases stowed away and no note discovered, they set off for the tobacconist’s shop. They reached it only to find Albert missing and Mr Clarke sitting on the tall stool behind the counter reading a copy of the Echo. He looked up as the two burst in.

‘Hello, Tess. Any news?’ he asked. Tess was beginning to say that this was the very question she was about to ask him when Jonty spoke over her.

‘We’ve only just arrived back from Norfolk and of course we went straight to the pet shop only to find it locked and barred, so to speak,’ he said. ‘So I guess Janine’s wait is over. Is everyone at the hospital?’

‘The baby!’ Tess shrieked. ‘Oh, how could I have forgotten? But it’s not due until January; the end of January they thought at the clinic. Does this mean something’s gone wrong?’

‘I don’t think so,’ Mr Clarke said, but Tess thought he sounded rather uneasy. ‘Albert told me that the pains – I mean the contractions – started late last night.’ He looked from one face to the other. ‘It’s been a while since me and the missus had our family, but babies is always contrary things; they come when they’re ready, not when they’re expected. You go off to the maternity hospital; they’ll tell you what’s what there.’

When they reached the hospital it was to find it decked with holly, paper chains and small Christmas trees. ‘As though the babies cared,’ Jonty whispered, but Tess gave him a reproving glance as a nurse took them along to a waiting room and said that no doubt Mrs Williams and Mr Payne, upon hearing of the arrival of their guests, would hurry along to tell them how things stood, and she was soon proved right. Tess was idly leafing through a magazine and Jonty was sitting, head tilted back, watching through a tiny window the slow descent of snowflakes, grey against the white-clouded sky, when the door of the waiting room opened and Edie rushed in. Tess ran across the room and gave her a hug. ‘The baby’s come, hasn’t it?’ she said excitedly. ‘Oh, Gran, you’re like the Cheshire cat, you’re one enormous smile from ear to ear. What did she have? Can we see it? Where’s Albert . . . the proud grandfather, I mean?’