Mr Payne had been piling packets of cigarettes up into small pyramids on the shelf behind the counter, but now he stopped work and swung round to greet her. ‘Hello, young Tess!’ he said cheerfully. ‘We’ve missed you, your gran and me, so it’s grand to see your bright young face again. As for supper, I’d be delighted, and if we’re playing cards I’ll bring my loose change, though your gran and I usually play for matches.’

Tess had been feeling much more relaxed about Mr Payne’s friendship with her gran, but she began to bristle inwardly again when he mentioned that they had played cards together before. However, she knew she was being silly. Why should Mr Payne not visit her gran, who would have been lonely while Tess was in the country? So she made no comment, merely saying that they would look forward to seeing him not a moment later than six-thirty. Then she and Snowy left, closing the door carefully behind them, and made for the flat above the milliner’s to unload the marketing bag before heading back to the shops.

‘Well, I’ve had a grand evening. I don’t know when I’ve laughed so much, or enjoyed a game of cards more, and I hate to be the first to break up the party, but if I don’t get my beauty sleep I’ll not be able to do my stock-take, which I like to do on a Sunday because there are no interruptions from customers.’ Albert Payne turned to his hostess. ‘So thank you very much, both for a delicious supper and for a grand evening.’

Tess saw that Snowy was nodding vigorously and thought with satisfaction that she too had enjoyed herself. In fact, she reflected that her first day back in Liverpool had been a great success. There had been the trip to Princes Park; Snowy had been a delightful companion, rowing her round the lake whilst they chatted. Then he had let her take the oars, and when she had made a mess of her first attempt had only laughed and praised her as her efforts grew more successful. They had eaten a sandwich at the café and drunk lemonade, and Tess had not failed to notice the envious glances cast upon her by other girls when they saw her tall, fair-haired companion. There was no doubt about it, Snowy was a handsome bloke, and she was lucky that for some reason – she was still not sure what that reason was – he had decided to befriend her. She supposed it was partly due to the fact that he had taken her side and prevented other pupils from bullying her, so that now he felt a bit possessive towards her, but whatever the reason, she was happy with the outcome.

Then there was Gran’s little party. By the time she and Snowy returned to the flat above the milliner’s shop Tess realised they were both feeling somewhat apprehensive, but once they were seated round the kitchen table enjoying an excellent meal, the initial stiffness which even Gran must have felt gradually melted as conversation became general. Indeed, by the time they had settled round the card table, and were discussing which game they should play, they might have been lifelong friends, and Tess’s niggling feeling that Mr Payne and her gran were becoming too close had completely disappeared. She realised that this was due largely to Snowy, who laughed and joked and told amusing stories, and she was grateful to him.