Lena was pleased with her cut and set and even happier that she’d got home from the hairdresser’s with Tommy before the rain had started. The weather was always a bit iffy in May and she hoped it would brighten up for her trip to Brighton the next day. She ruffled Tommy’s hair. The lad had been as good as gold, even though he must have been bored stiff while she’d been sitting under the hairdryer. ‘Tommy, go up to George’s room and have a look under his bed. He’s got an old train set under there, and I’m sure he wouldn’t mind you playing with it.’

‘Cor, thanks,’ Tommy said, then ran from the kitchen and up the stairs.

That’ll be the last I see of him ’til teatime, Lena thought, remembering how George would spend hours in his room playing with his trains. She made herself a hot drink, then sat in the front room with her legs up on the sofa. She must have dozed off, but was woken by the sound of the front door closing and George calling out hello. She checked the wooden clock on the mantel. He was early, and she could guess why. It appeared her little chat with him this morning had fallen on deaf ears.

She got up and walked to the hallway as Tommy came flying down the stairs to greet George. The boy was unmistakably taken with him, and Lena thought it was such a shame that Sarah didn’t feel the same. She thought he’d be a smashing stepdad and a doting husband too, but if Sarah couldn’t see past his scars to see that, then the girl was stupid.

‘You’re home early, love.’

‘Yeah, I thought you might want a hand with this little monster,’ George said and scooped Tommy up from the stairs.

‘Oh, he’s no trouble,’ Lena said, pinching the end of Tommy’s nose. She pretended to accept George’s reason for his early arrival, but she could see straight through him and knew he’d come home to spruce himself up for Sarah. She’d have loved to see her son happy with a woman, and thought it such a shame that he was wasting his time on a girl who had no interest in him. She was blinded by Roger and his looks, which was a crying shame.

Later that evening, as Sarah walked through her front door, Mo appeared at the top of the stairs. ‘The kettle’s on if you fancy a cuppa?’

‘Thanks, Mo, but I’m done in. I just want to get indoors and lie on my bed with a good book.’ Sarah knew Mo was lonely as Samuel was working long hours, but she was so tired, she doubted she’d be good company.

‘Oh, OK. Have you both eaten? I could do you some sandwiches and pop them down?’