Tess felt a twinge of sadness at the thought of cutting her connnection with the shop, but knew that she could not be in two places at once, and every part of her longed to be with Jonty. Going to university, expanding the pet shop, watching over Mitch and Elsie, even being with Gran, all faded into insignificance beside the love she felt for her ‘ploughboy’.

Edie and Albert had a quiet Christmas Day, a day as near perfect as any Edie could remember. They drank their tea, then parted to get dressed and ready for the day ahead. They had a light breakfast because they intended to have a large dinner, and as soon as the last slice of toast was eaten they went down to the pet shop, where Mitch, who had been given his own key when the arrival of Janine’s baby had thrown everything into disarray, was already cleaning cages.

By ten o’clock they were back in the flat preparing their Christmas dinner, and at three in the afternoon, well fed and content, they listened to the King’s speech before going to the hospital to visit Janine and her little boy. Janine seemed in an oddly softened mood, was far more polite to Edie than usual, but saw them off with the reminder that she would be home in three or four days. ‘I suppose you’ve kept Dad from feeling lonely,’ she said to Edie, when Albert had gone to visit a friend in another ward. ‘When’s Tess coming back? Did she say?’

Edie shook her head. ‘No, she didn’t mention it, but we can manage very well without her, you know. The place runs like clockwork and in fact we’ve very little stock in since we had an excellent Christmas.’ She looked quizzically at the younger woman. ‘In the old days, January, February and March were always called the hungry months, when belts were tightened and people stayed in their houses and waited for spring. But you’ll have your little boy to keep you busy.’

‘And Dad, of course,’ Janine cut in. ‘He and I are learning to build a life for ourselves. I want a little job once we’re settled, but for now I shall just be like every other housewife, cooking, cleaning and making do.’

Edie read this as a keep off the grass message, but simply smiled and said that she hoped Janine’s aversion to the smell of tobacco would have vanished along with her pregnancy. ‘You’ll want to give your dad a hand, no doubt,’ she said. ‘And as for making a new life . . .’

But here Albert arrived back, gave his daughter a kiss on the brow and stroked his grandson’s cheek gently, then spoke to Edie. ‘It’s time we were off,’ he said briskly. He turned back to Janine. ‘Do you know, we’ve not even opened our Christmas presents yet? And I’ve got quite a surprise for Edie here.’

He would have turned away from the bed but Janine clutched his arm. ‘Don’t go doin’ anythin’ I wouldn’t like, Dad,’ she said urgently. ‘Remember, I don’t know nothin’ about babies; I’m goin’ to need all the help I can get. Lookin’ after babies is a two-man job . . .’