‘It’s a dear little boy. He’s very tiny, because he’s premature I suppose, and Sister says we can visit him in the nursery as long as one of the nurses comes with us, but we can’t take him out for a couple of days. Albert’s there now, positively bursting with pride. He and Janine had already discussed names and if it was a boy Janine wanted to call him Philip, because she says she’s always liked that name. Only this being Liverpool he’ll get called Philly, I expect.’

‘And very nice too,’ Jonty said approvingly, and Gran blinked and held out her hands to him. ‘Jonty! My dear boy, I had no idea you were here; you must have thought me dreadfully rude, but I’m afraid in all the excitement I quite forgot that you were coming to stay for a couple of days. But now it’s time we all went home. Albert’s going to buy celebratory fish and chips for everyone and I’ve baked enough mince pies to supply an army, so if I make a custard we can have them as a pudding.’

‘Lovely,’ Tess said. ‘Jonty’s mum has sent a big bag full of goodies, so we look like having an excellent Christmas . . .’ The door shot open again at this point and Albert, beaming, came into the room. Tess was surprised when he gave her a kiss before grabbing Jonty’s hand and giving it a hearty shake.

‘Nice to see you again, young man,’ he said. ‘How long are you staying? I take it it won’t be over Christmas – we’d love to have you, of course, but I expect your mam would have a thing or two to say if you announced you weren’t going home.’

‘You’re right there; she’d be terribly hurt and upset,’ Jonty said regretfully. ‘I’d love to stay, of course, but it’s impossible.’ He shot a quick glance at Tess. ‘Besides, I know Tess has plans of her own. I gather Snowy will be home any day, and the saying two’s company, three’s a crowd is very true. Still, I reckon I’ll hang on until Christmas Eve, and go back then. I’ve some presents to buy, so if you can put up with me for a couple of days I’d be grateful.’

‘Of course we can,’ Edie and Albert said in chorus, then broke into laughter. ‘Sorry, sorry,’ Albert said. ‘I expect you’ve guessed that you can have Janine’s room whilst she’s in hospital, so no need for a shakedown on Edie’s floor.’

Jonty and Tess, hand in hand, were wandering through Paddy’s Market, looking for some stocking fillers for Elsie and Mitch, when Jonty grabbed Tess’s arm. ‘Who’s the fillum star?’ he hissed. ‘Eh, she’s a looker and no mistake.’

He pointed, and Tess stared at the young woman coming towards them. Her gleaming gold hair was cut and curled into a fashionable poodle style and she wore high-heeled shoes and a scarlet sling-back coat with enormous mother-of-pearl buttons, whilst around her neck was a blue chiffon scarf which exactly matched her eyes.