‘Mr Bosco, hello. I’m very well, thank you, but you’re lucky to have caught me here at this time. Sarah would normally be working now, but she’s at a school play so I’m covering for her for the rest of the afternoon.’ She thought he was such a nice gentleman and always dressed smartly. He had a Mediterranean look about him with light-brown skin in striking contrast with his hair. He wasn’t much taller than her, and, unlike her, hadn’t kept his youthful figure, so now had a paunchy stomach. Yet he had the deepest dark-brown eyes, which Lena thought were his best feature.

‘I’m glad I’ve caught you then, as it’s you I was hoping to see.’

Lena carried the box of remaining tins towards the counter.

‘Here, let me help you with that,’ Mr Bosco said as he rushed across the shop and took the box from her.

‘Thank you. What did you want to see me about? I hope you’re happy with the way I’m running the shop?’

Mr Bosco placed the box on the counter, then turned to look at Lena, but she noticed he looked somewhat uncomfortable.

‘Yes, yes, I’m more than happy with all your hard work, and Sarah seems an asset to the business too.’

‘Yes, she is.’

There was a long, silent pause, then Mr Bosco said, ‘I have tickets to a dinner and dance being held at Battersea Town Hall. It’s one of those events to promote small businesses in the area, and, well, can be a bit stuffy as it’s a black-tie do.’

‘It sounds like a good excuse to get dressed up and I’m sure you’ll enjoy it,’ Lena said.

‘I’m not very good at this … It’s been a long time since I’ve asked a lady for a date, so please excuse my fumbling, but would you like to come with me?’

‘Oh,’ Lena answered, taken aback, and stuttered, ‘I … I—’

Mr Bosco interrupted, ‘It’s all right, I understand and I do hope I haven’t embarrassed you. Sorry, it was a silly idea. Anyway, I’ll be off now then.’

He turned to leave, but Lena called, ‘Yes.’

Mr Bosco spun back around.

‘Yes, I’d love to come with you, Mr Bosco.’

He looked delighted as a huge smile spread across his face. ‘Wonderful, I’ll pick you up at seven on Saturday, and please call me Albert.’

‘Albert, seven is fine, and I think you should call me Lena.’

Albert doffed his hat again, then left, while Lena flopped down on the chair behind the counter. She couldn’t believe she’d agreed to go out on a date. It would be the first since her husband had died, and suddenly she worried about what she would wear. Not only that, what on earth would George have to say about it?